Run Rabbit Run

Photo: Paul Nelson Photography

"For Everything that comes next, Ego is the enemy"    -Ryan Holiday

"I don't care what Karl Meltzer says, 100 miles is a long way" Fred Abramowitz exclaimed in the pre race briefing, "You can do more than you think you can do, but it's gonna hurt a lot more than you think it's gonna hurt" He exclaims make a slight tweak to Ken Chlouber, the founder of the Leadville 100s famous moto.  100 Miles is an intimidating distance, there's a level of uncertainty of whether or not you're even going to make it to the finish that lies underneath that just isn't found at other distances, I guess that's what makes it so alluring.

Quad Rock 50 Mile

"You're on the Highway to Hell" the signs read lining the trail on the return trip up Mill Creek, one of the steepest climbs on the course which lands around mile 34 right in time for the hurt to start setting in.  This was my 4th time running QR50, and I couldn't help but smile at the signs because I was actually feeling pretty solid at this point as opposed to others years where it did truly feel like the highway to hell.  My Coach John Fitzgerald was waiting toward the top part of the climb leading up to Tower's Aid Station at mile 35, and dumped a ice cold water bottle down the back of my shirt which as the temperature for the day was creeping up into the low 80's (really not that hot but when you were shoveling almost 2 feet of snow from the driveway 2 weeks earlier, it feels pretty darn hot) made me feel like a brand new person.  The signs reminded me of one of my favorite AC/DC songs and life mottos "It's a long way to the top if you wanna Rock and Roll!"

North Face 50 Mile Championships

A couple weeks ago I raced the TNF 50 Mile Chapionships in San Fran.  I ran this race back in 2011 coming off a fire season and being layed up with a heavy dose of stitches in the bottom of my foot from the last jump of the season so I was pretty excited to get back to this race again.  While living in Redding, CA and Arcata, CA in 2010-2012 I cut my teeth in the trail running and ultra running realm.  With being so far away from any skiing which was my previous passion, running became my outlet and set forth my path for the years to come.  North Face was the race I was most excited about this season and really had my main focus training throughout the summer.

The Adrenaline Project

A couple weeks out from the North Face 50 Mile my friend Luke Jay had contacted me and asked me if I wanted to join/represent The Adrenaline Project team along with existing team member James Walsh.  I had talked to Luke about the team on a training run earlier during the summer and the concept of having a group of runners/ bikers competeing under a team to generate sponsors and media content sounded like a interesting concept.  I was really excited to join up with them and am really excited to belong to a team of guys/ gals that share the same   passion for the mountains as I do.  Excited to train and compete with them in 2017!

Flagstaff Sky Race 55K

So a little after the fact on this, but I guess better late than never and also have gotten some good time to reflect on the race.  Leading up to Flagstaff I had a really solid consistent training block consisting of a lot of steady state intervals which I really enjoyed.  Something I've come to really enjoy about the workouts that John has been giving me focusing on one system at a time is that you get really tuned in with the system that you are working and the mind gets a really good

Pikes Peak Marathon 2016 Recap

Pikes Peak has always been a race that grabbed my attention.  Run 8000 vertical feet up to the top of a 14er as fast as you can and then turn around and run back down as fast as you can to where you started..... It's just a great setup for a good old fashion footrace!  Ran Pikes for the first time last summer with scrapped together training due to moving and remodeling our new house and keeping time for the family so this year with life a little more stabilized I was excited to give the race another go with some consistent training under my belt.

Coach

After running Steamboat Marathon in June I decided to look into working with a coach for the summer mountain season to help iron out my training and help to hopefully guide me through a consistent an injury free season.  After reading Jason Koop's book Training Essentials for Ultrarunning I decided to go with Carmicheal Training Systems and was linked up with Coach John Fitzgerald.  For the 2 month leading up to Pikes John dished out intervals, intervals, and more intervals.  I have really enjoyed the challenge and structure of the training and do feel like it has been doing a great deal to help improve my running.  I had always read and been told that every workout should have a purpose, I don't think I ever fully grasped what that meant but having started to work with John and the CTS philosophy I'm gaining a great understanding of utilizing different types of workouts to work different body systems and making my recovery workouts as actual recovery days to be ready to get the most out of key workouts.  So far I have really enjoyed the challenge of the workouts which have included much more focused intensity than I had previously incorporated into my training but have also kept me excited and engaged going into each session with a objective rather  than just running and putting in miles for the sake of putting in miles.  I'm excited to see where this summer leads and have really been enjoying the journey and the team dynamic of working with John so far. Adelante!