Running In Circles - Fossil Valley 6 Hour Race Report

Cedar Ridge Preserve (or CRP, as it is known locally) is one of the many Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex's urban recreation parks that has found a way into the hearts of area hikers, mountain bikers, and trail enthusiasts. Located in a hilly suburb just south of downtown Dallas, CRP played host to a 3, 6, and 9 hour timed event on a trail loop last weekend that ran from late Saturday night and into the early Sunday morning hours. Having been a little short on trail time in my current training cycle - plus needing to purge myself of the bitter aftertaste of another painful DNF at Pedernales Falls 60k a few weeks ago - I threw my name in the hat for the 6 hour event a few days before the race with the intention of getting a decent training run in. 

The Course

The course itself consisted of a 2.7 mile loop that surprised me in its moderate difficulty and technicality. Most timed events I was familiar with were on relatively flat, even, wide surfaces that offered little elevation change outside of perhaps stepping over a curb or the occasional root. They were the antithesis of technical. Not so here. The first half mile of the loop was flat and easy, but not long after, the trail would narrow and begin a series of rocky descents that required my complete attention. There was no loose debris, but the rocks and roots that protruded from the ground could easily catch the wary runner and lead to a painful crash if care was not taken. After 2 or 3 of these short descents, we crossed a small wooden bridge that would signal the start of the first of 2 moderate climbs in each loop. The first hill wasn't particularly long, but it was steep, and seemed to get steeper as the night wore on. After cresting this hill, the course would roll along through the woods and around a pond along a dusty trail that was not particularly technical or difficult until we reached a second climb - a set of switchbacks and stairs that would lead us out of this small valley. This was a more difficult climb than the first, and again, though not particularly long, it would seem to increase in difficulty with each passing loop. 

Step it up!

After this last climb, the course would flatten out and lead to a wide fire road that brought us back to the start/finish area and the course's only aid station. In the end, each loop offered around 320' in elevation gain - which may not seem like much, but it added up.

My Race (Short Version)

Given that it's July in North Texas, heat and humidity would be factors that would be in play all night. It wasn't exactly stifling but I was completely drenched by the end of my first loop. I felt surprisingly good given the 10 pm starting time (my typical bedtime!) and cruised  though the aid station area on my first couple loops without stopping. But as the night progressed, I grew to appreciate the hospitality of this little outpost and its tireless volunteers. Given the warm conditions, I was careful to make sure I was ingesting enough salt and electrolytes to carry me through the night. I was moving well, and despite the occasional bottleneck in the trail, felt like I was making good time on each loop. I was plugged in to my music (more on that later) and was very relaxed. 

At the starting line!

Leaving the aid station, heading on to the trail...

I had several friends running this event as well but we were separated not long after the start of the race. My family hung out at the start/finish area for the first half of my race which was a definite mental boost for me. After they left, I had many other friends who picked me up and kept me going through the night.

My goal was to finish 10 loops/27 miles.  But as the race went on, it became apparent that I would finish my 10 loops well ahead of the 6 hour cutoff. It was difficult to tell where I stood in the overall standings but I had a feeling I was in a pretty good place and might consider adding a loop just to improve my position a little. Rolling into the start/finish area after 10 loops in around 5 hours ans 22 minutes (it was 3:22 am)  and still feeling good, I decided I would give it one more loop and see how that went. I hurried through the aid station, refilling my water bottle and grabbing a snack. I ran quickly but comfortably, considering that I might actually have 2 loops left in me if I could get back before the cutoff at 4 am. I knocked out #11 in under 30 minutes and left myself room to head out again and try to improve my position in the race.

As it turned out, another loop didn't help me gain any ground on the winner or lose any ground to the field. I did enjoy it though, and after it was all sorted out, I finished the 6 hour event with 12 loops (32.28 miles) in around 6 hours and 29 minutes and in 2nd place overall. I was very pleased with the end result considering I never pushed too hard; in fact, keeping a relaxed mind and body may have actually helped me perform better in the warm, humid environment.

Afterwards I enjoyed the company of some excellent people as we watched the sun rise, feasted on some hot breakfast foods, and consumed a few cold beverages.           

A Few Takeaways

#1. As I just mentioned, I think remaining relaxed throughout the race definitely helped me perform better. I was never certain where I stood in the field as I was passing and being passed by people in the various events taking place on the trail for most of the night. I had also lost touch with my friends whom I had assumed would be near the front, so I had no idea what was going on. I was literally just running my own race. If I can keep this in mind in the future I might not only find more enjoyment from the event, I may even find myself a little higher in the standings. ("Run your own race." I should put that on a t-shirt or something.)

#2. I like to listen to music when I run. I know that's a hot topic amongst runners, particularly trail runners, who generally prefer to run without being plugged in. But it works for me. I find that in measured doses it relaxes my mind and body and pushes me to perform. (Or at least I believe it does. It may be a placebo. But either way.) I jammed during this trail run and I feel like it helped me run harder. So if I am running alone, I'll probably be rocking out. 

#3. I am a very weak climber. Very weak. This is something I need to work on. I struggle mightily on anything remotely vertical. This will be a problem in October. On anything flat or downhill, I can kill it. But climbs? Not so much.

#4. Lastly, I rarely (if ever) drink sodas anymore, but coca-cola is a godsend in the middle of the night. Between the simple sugar and the caffeine it was the nectar of the gods. I would love to sit here and say I am a purist, and that I made it all night on Tailwind and fruit - but the fact is that when I had a stomach issue or was feeling sleepy, Coke helped. It was great. 


So, on to the next one! I have a busy month of training set up for August, including several days of running and hiking in the Wasatch mountains. (FUN!) I may throw in another race between now and Grindstone but the priority now will be on working to improve my climbing ability and alternating increasing mileage in the Texas summer heat with recovery.

Well, there's that....

Well, I have good news and bad news on the great vegetarian experiment of 2015. The good news is that I made it 21 days! The bad news is I only made it 21 days. Unfortunately after 3 weeks I found myself completely uninspired by my dietary options, eating bland foods with relatively low caloric density. I was hungry all the time - not surprising, considering I was trying to fuel my aggressive training schedule with quinoa and bean sprouts (ok that's slight hyperbole, but it certainly seemed that way). I might be able to make this work with some full-time help from a dietitian or nutrition expert - or a lot more time on my part to do the research and planning myself.

The thing is, I am not now and have not been for a couple of years what one might consider a full-on "carnivore". Meat has been, for me, more of a side dish or garnish than a main course. I still consider myself plant-based in my dietary choices. Yet meat products do add essential amino acids and proteins that are difficult to get elsewhere (there is vigorous debate on whether these nutrients can be obtained from plants, but all I can say is that I have noticed a difference in how I feel during my strength workouts - that's not scientific, it's just how I feel). My diet is pretty simple and straightforward anyway. I'm going on 3 years without significant injury, I feel lean and strong, I'm running very well...should I mess with a formula that clearly works for me?

There's also the question of the ethics of eating animals. Rather than go on and on about that here, I would just say that while I am acutely aware of the problems inherent in the industrial farming practices and the mistreatment of animals for our food supply, I do believe there is another way that could be taken into consideration. 

In that regard, I do work hard to make sure my animal protein options come from responsibly farmed sources whenever possible. In many cases I pay a premium for this, but I believe it's worth it. I will still incorporate meatless days into my weekly routine in order to keep some variety in meal plans. That won't change. Nearly all of the meat I consume will be either chicken or fish (like it was before). My focus will still be on eating lean and clean.  

So like I said, there's that. I've gone down this road before and it may just not be for me. And that's OK. Who knows, I may have a go at it again sometime. I'll continue to look for ways to get better, eat better, and recover better. But for now I'm taking down my NMA badge. Although I still like to consider myself running on plants, for the mean time that will also include occasionally enjoying "not-plants" as well. 

A Story From The Sidelines at Muleshoe Bend - Drawing Inspiration, part II

This weekend I had the pleasure of working an aid station through the night at Captain Karl's 60k at Muleshoe Bend State Park in the Texas Hill Country outside of Austin. It's a night race in the same series as Pedernales Falls 60k (my personal racing nemesis) that kicks off just as twilight rolls in and the cicadas are at full volume. I have found that it's always a pleasure to give some of my time back to the sport because I always receive so much in return - as far as finding inspiration as a trail runner, there's no better place than an aid station in the middle of the night.

Case in point: a lady came through in the early morning hours roughly 27 miles into her 38 mile adventure. She wasn't moving quickly but her determination caught my attention. After filling her water bottles and helping her find some food, we found a quiet minute to talk about how her day (or rather, her night) was going. She talked about the stifling heat, how the rocks that had beaten her feet to pieces, and how a couple falls that had left her scraped and bruised. Her pace had slowed to little more than a brisk walk. And yet, her constant refrain was "But I'm not going to stop." She had made her mind up that be it a run, walk, or crawl, she was going to persevere. She would enjoy the starry sky, the calls of the animals in the forest, enjoy running along the lakeside at night, and take in the beauty that surrounded her. It was a gritty optimism that was shared by many a runner who passed through our little outpost that night, but somehow my chat with her struck a chord with me.

Trail runs of whatever distance are filled with rugged people and stories like hers, which is why being around them is so good for my soul. I have a tendency to rate an event by how I placed, or how I felt, or whether I hit this or that goal time. I do not often allow myself the chance to step back and look at the bigger picture. 

Being in amazing landscapes away from the bustle of urban and suburban life is a treat that comes along all to rarely in our lives these days. We're often plugged in, logged on, harried, trying to put out fires and meet our obligations. I'm certainly no different. I even commented to one of my friends at the aid station that I often forget how a sky blanketed in stars looks because I so rarely see it anymore. I need to remember that plugging in to nature and enjoying the company of like minded people is the real goal here. Perhaps I could even consider - perish the thought - slowing down to savor a moment on the trail rather than speeding up and worrying about a finishing time. 

I think the lady I met may have let me in on a little secret: that there is joy to be found in the good days and the bad days if you only know where to look. I think that if I can keep this in mind, I can learn to find even more enjoyment from these crazy little adventures on hill and trail.... 

Can you be an accomplished ultrarunner and a vegetarian (and not be named Jurek)?

Apparently so.

Hard Rock 100 - Drawing Inspiration, part I

This weekend saw the annual mountain race du-jour once again take center stage in the ultrarunning community, as the lucky few selected to compete in the Hard Rock 100 made their way through the San Juan Mountains of southern Colorado. I've been very fortunate to have had the opportunity to volunteer at this magnificent event for the past couple of years, and while it is my dream to one day toe the line myself, there are many days when such a dream seems almost impossible to imagine. Having been there, I have seen first-hand the ruggedness of those mountains. I've heard the stories of hypothermia, lightning strikes, animal attacks, sudden rock slides, frostbite, torrential rains, and altitude sickness that have befallen runners from the front of the race to the back. 

I wasn't able to be there in person this year but I was no less captivated by the stories that came out of Lake City, Ouray, Telluride, and Silverton. It seemed that this year, mother nature was more kind to the runners than she has been in the past - there was snow on many of the mountain passes, but otherwise the weather seemed cooperative. Course records fell, and whether it was the front of the pack or the back, we watched as one after another, athletes made their way around the 100 mile loop.

Whether I get my chance to step up in this event or not, simply the strength and resolve of each of these amazing people sets an example for the rest of us wannabe trail runners to follow. I tend to sell myself short, believing that I am not capable of stretching my limits. I listen to the voices in my head that tell me I'm not good enough, strong enough, fast enough. After years of being kicked to the curb by those who were better, stronger, and faster, the lingering doubts about my own abilities is a plague that eats away at my confidence - a plague that I have to confront each and every day.  

And then there are the Hard Rockers. Running 100 miles through the mountains is not for everyone, to be sure. But seeing these individuals - most of them men and women with families, jobs, lives outside of running - who have come to the mountains to test themselves reminds me that we can be more than the voices in our heads sometimes seem to allow. I could never possibly imagine myself to be capable of such a feat on my own, but seeing them makes me believe. It makes me want to take that step, to put myself on the line, and chase away the chorus of voices telling me "you can't do it."

Run Stuff

A solid weekend of running saw me clock some decent mileage on the roads, and even spend a few hours on a trail again! My mileage remains in the "intermediate" zone right now, as I continue to develop the solid base I'll need as my summer training progresses. I feel very good and seem to be adapting to the new diet rather well. I'll post more about that this week as I enjoy a lower-mileage schedule that will allow for some rest and recovery, before pushing ahead again with some more rigorous work later in the month.

Today's run, via Strava.

The New Me! (Sort of)

So I have finally done it. I've toyed with the idea for a while now, played around with it off and on over the past couple years, doing a sort of a one step forward/two steps back dance that, were I a politician, would clearly be labelled as "waffling". (I prefer to think of it as testing the waters.) It's a big decision I am have not taken lightly. It's a major lifestyle change. So, here we go-

I am going vegetarian. (No, really this time.)

There, I've said it! It's kind of liberating to get that off my chest. I like to think of it as my new "dietary identity". I've been what you might call a flexitarian for the last couple years, having basically eliminated pork and red meat from my diet, allowing for fish and chicken almost exclusively. I've been increasing the amount of vegetables, fruits, nuts, beans, and the like and have reduced (although not completely eliminated) my consumption of grains; in that regard, I have eliminated white and processed grains, opting for whole wheat and unprocessed varieties when available.

I've actually been at it for a couple weeks now. I have experimented in the past but my heart was never really "in it". After further exploring food choices and considering the wide variety of options available (not to mention reading the bios of some pretty incredible athletes like Scott Jurek, Michael Wardian, Bart Yasso, Brendan Brazier, Rich Roll, and generally cool dudes like Matt Frazier who are all plant powered) I feel much better about my chances of sticking with it on this go-around.

I've been asked on more than one occasion "Why"? I could go on and on about the state of our food supply, how destructive our meat supply is to the environment, use of antibiotics, etc, etc. That's already been covered by others in far more depth than I care to go into here. (I'm far from an expert anyway.) But the bottom line is that I believe that this is right for me. It's a model for the way that I want to interact with the world. I've been coming back to this idea time and time again. And I've found that when that voice in the back of your head doesn't stop talking to you, you might want to listen to it. 

So I am off - 10 days in and feeling great! I'm encouraged by the variety of vegetarian options at local restaurants that I had never noticed before. I'm also looking forward to continuing to add to my repertoire of salads and hot dishes that use some wonderful meat substitutes like tempeh, seitan, and yes, even tofu. We'll see where it goes from here - and, of course how it affects my running and recovery - but I think it could be a good move for me in the long run. 

So to speak.

They say that time flies when you're having fun. While it is safe to say that I have had my fair share of fun over the past couple months, it hasn't ALL been the proverbial bowl of cherries - and yet the time has flown by nonetheless. It's about time for some new posts and I certainly have a few topics running around in my head (as it were). I'm also toying with some format changes as well. I should be back on the blogging train again soon!