Back to Brotherly Love

It has been way too long. I completed another 50 miles in a 24 hour race. I ran a marathon... and all kinds of other things have started, ended and continued, as life has moved another 7 months since my last update. I thought I had a bad case of writers block after the 20 in 24, 24 hour race in Philadelphia back in July. There were many stories intertwining into one, and I just could not get all the threads sorted in my mind.


So to untangle the mess! July brought us back home to the South Jersey land. I ended up running 50.7 miles in 10hours and 59 minutes. I raised $1,000 for Back on my Feet. A great organization that is helping the homeless, get back their lives. At the time I finished the race, I was a little disappointed with myself. I had thoughts that I would go all night, see where that took me. Meanwhile I had said out loud that I would go further than 50.... so in telling Rose my thoughts, about it later, she said bluntly, "Well, then your right, you failed!" She was not condemning me, (at least I don't think she was) but more telling me. "Don't be a Jackass, you just ran 50 miles again, so accept what you did, enjoy it, and move on. " In looking back on it, time gains perspective, I realize that in keep keeping it within reason, 1.) I was able to enjoy the vacation down the shore we had planned and not be a cripple, and 2.) I was able to pick-up my training for my big goal race of 2009, a return to the Philadelphia Marathon.


But before I go into that one I do want to write a few more words on the July Ultra. There was something that made this race really enjoyable... Crazy to think its possible, but when you break it down there are not many more pastimes short of eating and and sex that is more indulgent than running (especially Ultra Running) Call a spade a spade, it is a very selfish pursuit. You go out for hours at a time, working and wondering, focusing on yourself, your body, your health your diet, your gear, Your, Your, Your, Self Self, Self. I try my best to be mindful of balance in my life, so my hope is that running brings me into that balance, its my "me time".


But I digress, what made this race enjoyable was it had so many people that are important in my life involved. Jake and my Dad took me to the start. Rose had the girls out for a Pickle Party. The Fogerty's came by, and Tom provided me with a never changing array of music to keep me on my toes. Carlos and Michele Santiago came out. Carlos ran a loop with me and confirmed with me that he too would be running the Philly Marathon. His first! (and we talked a bunch about running and fatherhood, 2 hobbies that he is taking up as well.) So many people donated to the cause, wishing me luck... it wasn't just me... the idiot running through the woods. Everyone was a part.


So as I took off on what would be my last loop I called Rose and I called Dad, both relieved that I was going to wrap it up. I was amazed, as were the two bike patrollers at the kick I had left in my legs after 50 miles. I sprinted to the line... told them I was done, then instructed Dad to get us to the Mt. Ephraim McDonald's. A Chocolate Shake never tasted so good.

So now on to the Marathon. Philadelphia my first marathon back in 2005. Jake was just a little guy in diapers... we did not know what a great prize we would have in Margaret in the coming, 7 months.... and I had no idea that this race would skyrocket me into my new hobby, passion, obsession. All I knew was that I wanted to do a Marathon and one of my goals for the race was to finish with the desire to run another . 14 long races later, and here we are. Part of the allure with running is it allows me to set goals. I have always been goal oriented. Big or small, set a date and give me the specifics and I will give it a shot. Even now my running is still filled with goals, complete a mountain race, run a race where I win a Belt Buckle. I'll explain later) Set a new marathon personal best. The latter was what I had in mind for this race. With all this running I have been doing, surely I am a stronger runner... now I just need to reharness what speed I have? Right?


So I designed my Training Plan. I would train myself for 3:30 pace. For the rest of the summer into the Fall, my training was going like clockwork... I was hitting all of my speedwork, long runs were a breeze. Everything was going great. The only glitch in the system was my travel schedule absolutely sucked going into November, just 3 weeks from the race... but hell, I am not a professional, I still have to go to work... I would just have to hope that the travel didn't effect me too much. Plus maybe a week running in Colorado would be some nice altitude work!

Usually there are some fun details to toss in about the trip out..... this time not really, the kids were great in the car. We picked up my number on Friday and we tried to rest up. The kids ran great at the King's Run Saturday morning. We had a great pasta party on Saturday with the Wilk's, Fogerty's, Wall's, Delano's, Santiago's Dunn's and Kuhn's. All was set!



I picked up Carlos just before 6am and we hustled into the City. Seeming that we heard early reports of bad traffic getting in. We did get through to the city with little difficulty and parked in the lot to the side of the Public Library. It was a perfect morning, high 30’s maybe in the 40’s. Not a wisp of wind. I was wearing my Wal-Mart sweat material grey mock turtle that I bought in Colorado Springs, with my black fleecy pants… I figured if I had to trash these, Rose would be glad. But hopefully I would be able to throw them to her and the kids waiting at the Puerto Rican flag on the Parkway.

Carlos and I walked to the start. This is where it is interesting going to the start with someone you really never trained with. Body rhythms are not in sync or something. I needed to use the restroom… Carlos was not so sure. We got into a long line. I gave it a good gaze and determined it to be a 20 minute line and we only had 30 minutes to the start. I looked back a block and across and we jogged over. Of course they were marked as “Post-Race Facilities” What kind of BS is this? Unfazed I gave a quick glance over into a construction lot… there are always outhouses there! And as anticipated, I just had to climb an 8 foot chain link fence to get over to completely untouched plastic bathroom! Heaven! Carlos seeing the merit in this idea jumped the fence as well, leaving us with the business of running the race. We got to our corrals, said a farewell and we went our separate ways. No special words of encouragement, it was time to be alone.

I got to my starting point. the corral moved up, Mayor Nutter was going on and on with some MC repeating the same thing over and over, I ran over gave his eminence a quick hand shake and we were on our way. Right from the get go I felt strange, like I was out of my body. At the time I did not know if this was a good thing or a bad thing, it was just how I felt. 8:15 for the first mile. About right considering it is always a little slow getting started, I would need to run about 8:01's for the whole race to hit my goal. We headed down towards the river. The 2nd mile takes you past Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell. It is amazing to think of the history… the literal creation of our country took place within the very streets that I was running down. As I passed Ben Franklin's grave, I thought what this great man would have thought of several thousand people, dressed scantily, running 26 miles through his city? It gave a new twist to his famous quote of “Everything in moderation”. Who determines what moderation is? I figured there would be time later to get philosophical.

A few more turns to get to the river, but before that I get a great surprise… none other than Dave Mory in a Big Red Rutgers sweatshirt. I went right towards him, gave him a big hi-5, we yelled something at each other and I kept chugging on. 7:58 for the 2nd! Damn, am I going to run miles in the 7’s today? That sure seems fast! Mile 3, 7:58. I don’t feel like I'm too fast, I don’t feel like I am going to slow… which in retrospect may have been how I should have felt. But still this feeling of not being in myself continued. Mile 4 had some crazy aid stops a little dangerous around some turns so 8:11 felt about right. Especially following it up with a 7:55 for the 5th. Back through the Independence Square… right by where Thomas Jefferson crafted the Declaration. The history major in me swelled. 8:03 for 6. Time to head up Chestnut. "Go Rutgers! Hey Rutgers… up stream Red Team." No matter how bad the loss to Syracuse was the day before, on Marathon Sunday the Block R singlet plays! The support was phenomenal. OK, any time now I would be seeing Rose and the kids… any minute now…Mile 7 in 7:54. OK, any minute now… Dad is wearing his black and Red Rutgers hat, got to be around here somewhere… people cheering for me… but all strangers… Jake has to be here somewhere, Mags??? Rose??? At 22nd street now. It would be weird to see them here. They should have been at 17th Street or so. Going uphill into Drexel. Mile 8 in 8:22. Damn it, I missed them, or they missed me. Jake is going to be pissed.

Jake is really into the races. I do not think Rose would mind me saying that I think he may have supplanted her as my number one fan. Since he was a baby he has always been there and behind me in any crazy race I have done. The 10K in Stone Harbor where he could not understand why Daddy kept running away from him. To the Baltimore Marathon, were he lost his best friend Pandy somewhere in the City, to where he ran his own mile race in North Carolina. Good or bad, he has been there to cheer me on. For training runs where he always says” Dad, have a good run!” This year was even more special, when he was able to ride his bike along side me on the Monon Trail for a 4 miler. I began to worry that he would be upset, even inconsolable, that he missed me. I know my sweet sensitive boy all too well! Mile 9 in 8:07 we are going through Drexel now. It getting a little warm so I take off one of my gloves to tuck into my shorts, fumble. This is why you don’t wear you good gloves in a race! I let it go… not breaking stride now. I sadly let its mate go… like Rose letting Jack Dawson go into the icy cold water in Titanic… my heart will go on!
Onto Fairmount Park, up (what I think) is the biggest incline of the race. 8:31 for the mile… a little slow but we’ll catch up. Back down hill, through mile 11 in 8:24. We head down West River Drive. I was looking out for Rose's brothers, Carlos, anyone. I was getting dizzy staring out into a crowd of people so I gave up on seeing anyone. Time to get focused on my race. Mile 12, 8:05. Better! Time to get to the half way point. Hopefully I will see them there. Again, this "not feeling good in my skin" kind of feeling persists. I decide to throw on my earpods. Nothing sounds good! Just as I do this I see signs that say “take out your Earphones” Is this for safety, or will they actually disqualify you? It is still against the rules of most USATF races to wear headphones; maybe they would DQ me? I took them out and let them dangle. Another thing to annoy me. I get to the half way point in 1:47. Basically 3:34 marathon pace. A number that I would be real happy with, but it is at this point where the out of body experience I had been feeling was replaced with an all too real crash back down to reality, where nothing would be good again, till I got to the finish line! I saw Rose and the kids; they were on the “wrong side” of the road . I cut across, said hello quickly, grabbed my standard race day bottle of mixed Red Bull and Gatorade. Rose asked how I was doing. I could not come up with anything other than to say I was "OK", which was a half truth. I was OK, being that I was stopped for the moment, but going forward, not so much. Immediately upon leaving them I got another natural urge… so after 2 minutes spent in a “During Race” out house I was ready to get going. I got a quick pick-up form hearing my name called out by my guy from the Haddonfield Running Co. After 3 years of not living in the area TJ still remembers me! Cool! Running store guys are the best… indulging all your crazy recreational, weekend warrior ideas. In other worlds, people like this would be called enablers,

It did not take long to get real upset. It seems they have changed the Philly race course since I ran it 4 years ago. Now we take a right turn up into the park, up some of the nastiest hills it has to offer. "This is bullshit!", was all I could think. And at that point I noticed my left foot feeling like it broke in two. OK, bring on the suffering!!! Mile 15, 8:39. Still If I can bear down, I can keep this under 3:40. This hopeful thought was wiped away 3 miles later as the 3:40 pace group went passed me, I tried to jump in and keep up. But 8:30 miles were no longer what my mind had in store for my body! Mile 18 was a whopping 9:38. The wheels were coming off the wagon fast. There is no way to explain it other than your legs just start to lock up, every fiber in you begins to ache, and they give the message to your brain that you need to cut this out!


In pure desparation, I grabbed a beer from the guys before mile 20 in Manayunk. I figured if the ship was going down, might as well have a little cold pop! It really didn’t taste good. I think I was still in the middle of thinking I was competing, with the other half of my mind saying "screw it", let’s have fun. This left my mental receptors saying that "beer does not taste good". After the turn around on Main St. my mind got the message. When I made it back to them, that brown ale tasted like it had been squeezed by the God’s themselves! At this point a fraternity Brother, Keith Gilman yelled out from the other side of the road. He looked good and I could tell that it would only be a matter of time till he got up to me.

They say a marathon is a race of two halves. The first half, a 20 miler, the second half, that last wrenching 10K (6.2 miles) I know this all too well, but on this day, when I had clearly spent everything I had on the first 14 miles, I knew this second half would be nothing less than a pain fest. I took some walk breaks, then mixed in some run breaks… but eventually the crowds become so thick on the way back to the Art Museum that I could just not take getting encouragement to keep going while I was walking along. Finally there was a pack of about 4 kids under 10 years old that read my name off my bib, “Come on Kevin, you can do this!” Something clicked in me, and I growled back at them, exchanged high fives and got back to a painful 11:00 minute mile pace, ever so slowly the miles clicked by till I came upon mile 25. I woman held out a bowl, what looked to be the remainder of Halloween candy. Dum Dums mostly, save for one last Kit Kat. I broke into the wrapper like a ravenous wolf and tasted the most vibrant piece of candy I have ever had in my life…. It did nothing for my physical condition, but it changed my mental outlook. As I struggled by the on-lookers, cheering us in, telling us how good we look, and "way to finish strong"… I laughed out loud! Liars! And from my laughs I could tell that the people knew I was on to their charade! 200 yards left I saw my family. My time was so off pace, it made no difference that I would stop and give them all a quick kiss. I dashed, well, maybe not dashed to the finish line, where I saw the Wall family ringing me in with there cowbells. I hit the line in 4 hours 7 minutes, meaning I ran the second half a full 20 minutes slower than I had run the 1st, and I was 19 minutes off my personal best. Not a good showing time wise, but I was glad with the effort. I went for it... I wanted something more than what I was capable at the time, and I lived to tell about it. That is the amazing thing about these races. If you guess wrong, there are major consequences! But shit... I just ran really far, and it was time to get some wings!

In all, it was a great year of running. I totaled more the 1,500 miles for the year. I ran 2 races of 50 or so miles and ran in my 15th marathon type race. Most importantly there wasn’t one injury or issue that kept me from running. For anyone that runs, that is a big deal... something crazy like 70% of runners report some sort of injury that prevents them from running. I have no secrets, just to be mindful of how you run. It isn't something that you can just haphazardly go out and do... that's why people get hurt. You need to learn how to listen to your body but more importantly, to understand what it is saying. If your tired, rest...if something hurts.... you need to figure our why it is hurting... because there is something you can do to correct it. (if you ever want to rap about injury prevention, give me a call, I am an excellent home garage Physical Therapist... and I have stayed at a Holiday Inn Express!)


Too look to the future, it should be an exciting year... boring but exiting. I will probably not "race" more than 2 times this year. I am planning a 50 miler in the spring as a tune-up for my first 100 miler. This is were the goal "earning a belt buckle" comes in. Upon completing most 100 mile races, they confer upon you a big honkin' belt buckle, which I will sport with pride! The choice are either western PA for the Oil Creek 100 or Cassoday, Kansas for the Heartland 100. I will keep you posted!


From us crazy people to you crazy people, we hope you have had a great holiday season, and wish you the best in the coming new year!!!

Dirt and Demons - The 50 Mile

"I can't believe I am standing up, talking to this guy about how to get cat piss out of a carpet... God, why do I have to work? I have more important things to do!"

This is all I can think about Friday afternoon as I am at a Dealership, working a Customer Appreciation Day in Kansas City. Its merely 18 hours till I start the longest race of my life on the toughest terrain I have run and I am on my feet in the sun. At least I have that 6 pack of Gatorade. Eventually, 2:30 comes... I hustle to the airport, avoiding standby, grab a Wolfgang Puck turkey sandwich (cause I am sure he made it) and jump on the plane. I get back to the house at 7:00. Rose and the kids are ready to hop in the van and we start the drive south to Gnawbone... actually Nashville, but Gnawbone does have a tougher ring to it! The race is being held in Brown County State Park. Its acres and acres of park space carved up over 10, 000 years ago by the melted glacial water.

We arrive by 8:30. Jake and I get to the tent to get my number, and we both notice how nice and muddy the field is. All I can think is: 1. I hope it doesn't rain anymore. 2. Considering that we will be running the hills, that up high it might be dry. I got one of my wishes.

I am delighted in that everyone is in good spirits, not one crying episode, no complaints of any kind... This could be the start of a great weekend. With the race to beginat 6:15 am and it now being close to 9Pm, I decide its time to get a quality pre-race meal. Where to go... where we will all eat something? Hmmm.... McDonald's... Perfect! I know what you are thinking... I need to carbo load, eat good food... well, lets face it.... I am anticipating on running for over 11 hours, a quarter pounder with cheese, fries and coke will be burned off in no time, and its not like I am trying to run fast. So I say, go with the calories!

We drive back to the Holiday Inn in Columbus, IN. The kids are excited cause they see the indoor pool, the putting green, the game room. The perfect vacation for a 3 and 5 year old... but they will have to wait a while... so their idiot father can go run in the woods for half a day! Everyone hops into bed and we go to sleep watching Oceans 11.

I wake up at 3:45am, with out the need for the alarm, which was due to go off in 30 minutes. I make some hotel room coffee, start reading emails and have a PB and J sandwich. There is a Starbucks across the street, but I am thinking I will wait till we leave. Eventually 5:15 comes around and its time to wake Rose to tell her its time to get in the car with the kids to drop me off. This is the time when I am amazed that Rose agrees to come along for these crazy-ass events! So out into the pitch black, with kids in pajamas we drive to Brown County State Park. I give everyone a kiss, and head over to the starting area. Standing there is Randy Step, AKA Head Goat, who is the race director. Kind of apologetically, kind of maniacally laughing about "HOW muddy the first leg of the course is... " I am absorbing all this, but really I had been in a zone where I was not dwelling on anything. My attitude, as cliche' as it sounds was "it is what it is"... we'll see... shit, I'm about to run 50 miles... its going to hurt... but no one made me do this, so no sense in complaining. My last thoughts before getting started... "Keep Moving and Don't QUIT!"

Dance Barn to Ogle Lake (5.3 miles)

With little pomp and circumstance, Head Goat gives us a few final words... follow the pink tape... and we are off. "Where the do these people think they are going... this isn't a 5K!" I really was shocked at the pace that people started off at. It was fast! Being the true mid-packer that I am, I was pretty sure that no matter what, I would not be the best , and I would not be the worst... at least I hoped I wouldn't be the worst. I stuck to my guns and went slower than the pace that I thought I needed to go out at. I would try to stick to a 25 minute running to 5 minute walk ratio. We quickly came through the Junkyard where the dogs luckily were caged and started to head up the horse trail. Uphill for the most part... through a thick, squishy, mud bog with tree trunks fallen across it every so often just to spice it up a little more. I really did a good job at this point of blocking out the Aw shit!" thoughts from my mind... I just kept thinking that eventually it would get better. I started up my Earpod about 30 minutes in and with no previously planned playlist... U2's Beautiful Day came on. (The song I sing to the kids before they go to bed) Definitely a pick me up, and got me thinking about how I had nothing else to do today, but to go for a nice long trail run.

Usually 5 miles, nice and relaxed will take me anywhere from 40 to 50 minutes.... on this day, with the mud and trail, it took 90 minutes. It was a rough start to the race. We go to the first aid station. I refilled some water popped a salt tablet and some GU. ( A corn syrup type sustance, with sodium and potassium that comes in a variety of flavors) Luckily I packed 2 pairs of socks in a "drop bag" that they bring on the course for you. I was not going to change shoes today, so getting into dry socks was a big relief. I got on my way to the first of 2 - 18 mile loops through the park.

Ogle Lake to Hoosiers Nest (8.8 Miles Into the Race)

Thank God we were now on relatively dry trail. I was behind a group of about 10, having caught all the "speed demons" at the first Aid Station, I lagged behind them as they lead the way. This was an overly chatty bunch and for what ever reason, I just wasn't feeling real social. Kinda just wanted to keep on keepin' on. As I had mentioned before, I was wearing my Earpods, but at the time was not playing anything. ( I was more afraid of the Ipod running out in 10 hours than my legs!) One woman exclaims" I don't know how people run with head phones on, on a trail... with or with out people around..." and all the other do-gooders, chime in "I know, I know, blah blah blah... " Well being that I was behind them, earphones in... I was feeling even less social than before... Frankly... It isn't that hard to run with music... stay on the trail, don't fall off the cliff... the premise doesn't change just cause you are listening to a little music.

The time started to click away as I projected my angst, pain, and discomfort onto the group, giving me sort of a sadistic pleasure. The thought "of just wait, cause I'm gonna kick your ass one way or another in this race", brought me comfort. The trails were real tight on this leg, maybe 12 inches at some points, with a 80 ft drop if you decided to slide off ! This leg of the course had an elevation gain of over 1,000 feet, with an equal amount of decent, meaning that this was up and down constantly... really starting to challenge your legs and your ability to stay upright. Eventually the pack got back to where we started, Hoosiers Nest and we hit the Aid Station. Aside from the drinks, I grab a slab of bread with peanut butter and Jelly, shove that down my throat and chase it with a chunk of boiled potato, dipped in salt.... yummy!

Hoosiers nest to NorthGate (17 Miles into the Race)

It seemed the Music Nazis fell in love with the Aid Station, cause I beat them all out of there, never to see them again... until the end. The next leg was downhill, with some good conditioned trail. For the most part, I was able to find some dry footing, which quickly helped to get in the groove. I flipped my music back on and was treated to a spiritual double shot of ... Elvis's rendition of , How great Thou Art and John Lennon's, Instant Karma... Mix a little Buddhism with your Christianity, I always say! That Elvis could sure do some gospel, and how can you beat a mantra like:

Why in the world are we here, Surely not to live in pain and fear, Why on earth are you there, When you're ev'rywhere, Come and get your share.

I was "shining on" by now. The trail was all mine. After finishing the down hill section we make a turn off-trail and into the woods... Bushwhacking. Stick, leaves, thorns, animals... Oh my! This might be fun while romping through the woods for a few miles, but when the thought of another 36 miles is on your mind... you do start hoping that there isn't too much of this... otherwise, I would be asking for a machete'. I turn the corner out of the woods and I see the Red Caravan, Rose and the kids are waiting for me at the Aid Station. Jake asks how I am doing? I tell him "great". Which was the truth, memories of the muddy beginning were long gone and I was on a good stretch of trail. This is the point in the race where the kids were introduced to all the delicious things at the Aid Station. Oreos and M&M's for Maggie, Licorice for Jake. At first I told them that it was for the runners, but the volunteer said they could have at it... which opened the door for the rest of the day. Another, PB and J and potatoes for me, which seemed to gross out the family. They walked me back on the trail. I yelled out a fair well and I was off.

North Gate to Hesitation Point (22 miles into the Race)

I was now on the trail that I "knew". I had come down to the park in April and scouted this out a bit and was running a section that I had done before.... just not after having done 22 miles. The trail was labeled as "easy". A nice, gentle rolling path, allowing me to enjoy some of the Indiana spring foliage. But quickly the signs changed to blue. "More Difficult".... then a turn later onto "Difficult". So much for the nature path... another 1,000 foot climb over the course of 2.5 miles. Still I was feeling good, this is the nature of the beast.... run where you can, when it becomes more productive to hike up the hill, then do that. I was zoning out to my Ipod, (much as I'm sure the Music Nazis had feared) when someone shot past me like a dart, followed by someone on a bike... Marathoner. The race had just about any distance category you could want and at points the marathoners and half marathoners crossed our paths... this guy would be done soon... I still had about 7 hours! Not too far behind them a woman moving at a good clip came up on me. She asked me what race I was doing, I told her the 50 mile, she was too, and I told her that she was moving good. She thanked me and said that she did the early start, leaving at 5:30am... OK? Not that my brain was working real well, but if she started ahead of me by 45 minutes, how could she now be passing me? At first, she wasn't quite getting me, she was pretty confused, then she kinda shrugged and said " I had been lost for a while, so I am not really sure what I'm doing right now." I left it at that, and we got up to the Aid Station safely.

Hesitation Point back to Ogle Lake (24 miles into the Race)

As I refilled my bottles, and popped another S-Cap, (one every hour or so) I overheard the volunteer, a loud and slightly obnoxious guy, saying that "you are on time, but the cut-off to get back here the second time around is 4 o'clock. If you do not make it here, you'll get driven back in the SAG wagon." It being around noon... and with roughly 20 miles to get back to that point, perhaps I should have paid this more mind... but hell, I was on pace. I was doing the mental math, or what math I could do... and envisioned myself getting back by 3:30... but regardless... it seemed like a slightly unfair cut-off. I mean at 4 pm you still had 3 hours left to complete the race in 13 hours. You would then have 3 hours to do the final 9 miles... which seemed like more time than necessary. I told Rose I would see her at the next stop a mere 1.8 miles away, back at Ogle Lake.

Hesitation Point to Ogle Lake (25.8 Miles into the Race)

A real quick leg... down a 100 foot staircase along some flat trails to the next Aid station. Cuts had been forming along my heals where my socks end and the dirt was rubbing off the skin were they came in contact. It was uncomfortable, but what can you expect running 50 miles.... at least no blisters to speak of.. The ball of my left foot was a little tender from running slanted on the narrow trails, but it was not debilitating yet. I had rolled each ankle once, but caught myself before they broke off.

Getting to the Aid Station, I decided to use the 2nd and last pair of socks I brought. I dried my feet, and thought they looked good. In talking to Rose about it later... she actually thought they were pretty rough, its all relative I guess. Rose was going to hang out at the Lake for a little while, let the kids play, then take them back to the hotel for a nap. I said goodbye and that I would see them in a few hours! Off for another 18 mile loop, before the final leg to the finish.

Ogle Lake to Hoosiers Nest (29.3 Miles into the Race)

Back on to the narrow section of trail. I feel good with the new socks and I now have another runner not to far away, that we start leap frogging each other, one takes a turn in the front, the other walks a minute, catches up, I walk 5 , he goes ahead, I catch up. It is a sort of unspoken camaraderie that we form. One guy slips, the other yells to make sure he didn't fall off the cliff. A branch the size of a pole vault pole crashes 10 feet behind me, I laugh and he asks what was that? "Just my life flashing before", he said he'd be kind enough to tell the race director that there was an impaled guy back on the trail, whose wife and kids are waiting for him. I told him I appreciated his efforts. So back and forth we went, a couple jokes here and there, but we each were listening to music so if we needed to speak we had to wave each other down.

Hoosiers Nest to Northgate (36.4 Miles into the Race)

Eventually we exchanged hometowns, me Indy, Him Lafayette... he had 2 boys, 14 and 16... we never exchange names.... funny but when you are 2 people out in the woods, names don't seem to mean anything... hey and you seem to suffice!

Northgate to Hesitation Point ( 41.3 miles in to the Race)

So now we've approached 3pm. I get back to Northgate and ask the volunteer how am I doing on time. He tells me I am actually 2 minutes behind, but not to worry, you are doing fine, and that he was sure that if you were close, the guy at Hesitation Point would let us go. I wasn't so sure after what I had overheard the last time through. I shared my thoughts with my new friend from Lafayette. He seemed a little concerned as well. To boil it down we had and hour and 10 minute to cover the 5.2 miles to Hesitation Point. Remind you, this was a leg that had 1,000 feet of incline mixed in... not exactly a track race. So without any word really spoken between the 2 of us we started moving along... with a big pick-up in tempo. Another guy had been at the aid station and seemed to share our concerns and started picking up with us. Back and forth we drove up the switchbacks. Constantly checking my watch, thinking of what bullshit this would be to not be able to cover 5 miles in 70 minutes... when meanwhile we would have 225 minutes to cover the last 9 miles... much of it downhill? I was bitching in my head, because , I knew if the word was "no" when we got up there, I would respect it. I may try to politely plead my case, but it would be done quickly and respectfully. You do not want to risk Karma by second guessing an ultra Race Director. These mythic souls put on epic events... and it sure ain't cause the pay is great... it is true passion, and to go against one of these earthly emissaries of the Running Gods, would be to question the Gods themselves... meaning: watch out for the next lightening storm!

Up and up, taking turns in the lead, running the flats and downhills, trudging the uphills. Minutes ticked away wondering when and if the trail would end and if we would get there in time... moving at a faster pace than we had attempted all day and this being around the 40 mile mark, where the speed cruve is already on the decline. Eventually we hit the horse trail and run up the final hill to the bald guy counting down the minutes, asking us if we knew how close we were... the 3 of us all slap five, fist bump or offer some form of human expression to tell each other job well done. It seemed to be a good thing that we pushed it... cause he was serious...but little did we know that he would call the race director after we left and was told to keep it open longer... thereby allowing others who missed the cutoff time to continue racing.

This however, was the end of my RACE! It would not be the end of the run... just my ability to compete had been spent over the last 5 miles stretch. I had given just about every ounce of quality that I had in my legs to get to the 41 mile mark... there would not be a joy ride 9 miles to the finish. Rose was there and I told her... "I am gonna get to the finish, it just might not be pretty. " The other two guys said they would see me back out there, I said, "Sure", knowing that there was no way I was to catch back up. I slammed down chunks of orange and grabbed a banana. The kids were asleep and Rose said she would meet me shortly back at the lake.

Hesitation Point to Ogle Lake (43.1 Miles into the Race)

Back down that huge stretch of stairs... my quads were starting to tighten to the point were I started to walk backwards down them. (Something I usually reserve for the day after a tough marathon) I walked a good deal of this short leg, really thinking that I needed a break for the final 6 miles. I ate the banana, listened to Joaquin Phoenix's version of FOLSOM PRISON BLUES and got myself in a positive frame of mind for the final "kick".

Ogle Lake to Mike's Dance Barn (50 Mile Finish)

The kids were still asleep. I saw Rose one more time and told her that I would hopefully see her in 2 hours. Now, as I write this, it seems almost incomprehensible to think that with 2 hours left... I was almost done... but that is how it felt... I had done 10 hours, what was another 2? My ankles were bleeding at this point, my quads were fried, but nothing was broken and I could keep moving forward. I looked back to the volunteers at the AS. "OK, 6 miles left, right? " "6.9". was the correction. Rose chimes in, "Well, that's really 7 ". Total buzz kill! But nothing to do but get going. The trail back home was one that we had not been on yet. There was no joy in getting to see something new at this point, uphill, switchbacks till you got to the park road. That was at least a little fun, because I shuffled past all the camp sites, with its inhabitants looking out across their campfire. The look in their eye saying what my dear Grandmother would say... "look at that poor slob!"

Shuffle, shuffle, shuffle till I got to an unmanned aid table. I grabbed 2 inches of Pringles and shoved them in my mouth. A sign read "5.4 miles to the finish... I had only gone 1.5 miles... Ouggh, this is going to get tough.

Onto the horse trail, or should I say mudbog, bringing us full cirle from the start of the race...a total joke. Nothing to do but move forward. I tried to run lightly through it, with each step the brown muck trying to steal my shoes. I continued on this slog till I spotted a blue shirt ahead... another runner looking in worse shape than me. I caught her a few minutes later, we said hello. I asked if she needed anything, a GU, some water. She said she was fine, just tired, confused, and not real sure how much more we had to go... I told her we were less than 2 miles, it would be over before you knew it. Eventually the downhill mudpuddle ended and we were forced to run straight down a ski hill! (Just in case someone's legs weren't trashed... this would be sure to shred the last of your quads and compact you feet into your ankles.) I was tempted to just slide down on my butt... but who knows how badly that could have turned out. Fittingly Springsteen's "This Hard Land" was the last song before I turned off my earpods, in order to be a little more present at the finish, and to avoid the ire of any music nazis present! I got across the line in 12hours 0 minutes and 44 seconds... I was awarded 4th place in my age group... receiveing a dog bone shaped Carabiner for my efforts (yes, there were only 4 idiots in my age group!...but that was all that finished, some other 30-somethings may still be out there!)

I met up with Rose and the kids, cleaned up, ate some BBQ Pig and listened to a little hillbilly music before we headed back to the hotel. I managed to summon the energy to go swimming that night with the kids and no one drowned. And we did the next morning as well. We had a lovely Mother's Day Brunch and hit the outlets on the way home, where I got some new Crocs... considering they seemed to be the only thing I could get my feet into.

I am taking away alot from this experience. For one, it was easier than I anticipated... with exception to the 5 miles to make the cut-off, I was well trained for it. I never pushed above my own capabilities and I stayed in the present... never getting to far ahead of myself. Tasks, any task may seem daunting and unmanageble, but when you break things down into smaller more "manageable bites" it is amazing what can be accomplished. I ran Aid Station to Aid Station.. dwelling on nothing longer than a 5 mile increment... I reasoned that no matter what, I could get through 5 miles.

As for how I feel, really awesome, with exception to the scabbing cuts on my heals and my sore thighs. But the soreness I attribute directly to having to push those miles. If it wasn't for that, I am certain I could have run the next day... not that I was going to. ;) Overall it was a great event and I could not be more thankful to Rose and the kids for letting me try this stunt! Everyone seemed to be in good spirits for the day and that really took alot of the worries away.

Now I am taking a couple day off, to recharge and then I will slowly get back into some light training. Because... of course the next challenge is never too far away!

Training for the Bone!

Yesterday, they arrived. I met the UPS driver halfway down the driveway. "Something actually for me." I said. "Yeah, looks like something fun, Dick's. No, Sports Authority." I took the package and hurried back to the home office, grabbed my golf club letter opener and stabbed at the box. Inside were the shoes.... its gotta be the shoes! My new Nike Zoom Trail S+'s. These highly technical, well made shoes from Vietnam... They will be my sharpened "Hell Feet" for my next race. THE Race! Dances with Dirt - Gnawbone 50 Miles.

Hell Feet

This is one of the great checkpoints in my own warped, weekend warrior mind. The game shoes arrive... getting close to the Big Day. May 9th, only 7 weeks away. It has been a quick winter! Up until the last few weeks, most of my winter has been spent on the treadmills of the local Y. I take the kids, drop them off at child watch... 2 hours free babysitting and hop on a machine. It has been good to avoid the elements. I am not training for the Iditarod, so no need to freeze.... though once getting outside it has taken some braking in to getting used to the roads and trail again. Little aches and pains... cropping up here and there, but also doing 40 to 50 miles a week, I am bound to get a couple twinges.... Pain is just weakness leaving the body... I remind myself of the Native American saying.

As of right now I have about 6 - 20 plus miles runs in the bank. I plan on having completed a 25 and a 30 before April 18th. At that point my confidence will be pretty high about getting through 50 miles. Its just the terrain that I will be worrying about. The race is held in Brown County State park. I was down there a few weeks ago for the first time... and wish I had gone sooner! It was actually rated one of the best places on the continent to Mountain Bike...and what's trail running, but Mountainbiking without the bike. I am going back on Saturday for a 3 hours jaunt.

While most people picture Indiana to be pancake flat cornfields... this part of the state could not be further from that description. It may not be where the glaciers were.... but it is where the melted glacier water went. Up and down carving up some major holes. 1000 foot peaks, 600 foot valleys... leaving us many 400 foot climbs and descents to run through. The important thing will be to take it out slower than I think I need to go... to remember that I will be moving for close to 12 hours, so just keep the heart rate as low as possible and to not overwork the quads in the early going.... I will need them later.

Knowing that this race will take more than just my legs, I have mixed in a little cross training... light weights, gym class exercises... all the stupid things you did in gym class or warm-ups before a game.... remember how silly you thought jumping jacks were? Try doing 50, right now! Sucks... doesn't it? I have also started to follow along with a crazy website.... basically giving you about a 15 minute workout doing various odd things.... but its getting me to work on all my weak spots... http://www.crossfit.com/

The last 2 weeks I have mixed in a couple short races. On the 21st I ran the DINO (Doing Indiana Off roads) 15K - 9.3 miles, but did a 12 mile "warm-up" before the race. This was a good training run, but mentally was tough, because I was getting passed left and right. I did "belly up" and started catching people on the last lap, but I decided to not to run so much before my next trail race. In order to be a little more "rested" for the next one, I pushed my long run of 20 miles to Wednesday night.. (of course it rained) Saturday, we had the local Holliday Park 5 mile race... its a great race cause it actually runs along the river, right where our house is. They also have some kids races so both Maggie and Jake were able to get in on it.

I kept my warm up to about 4 miles, nice and easy. It paid off.... I came in about the top 20th %.... (105 out of 530) Not bad for a plow horse! Jake ran a strong mile in the 6-12 year old division... yes he's only 5 and Maggie won her 2 year old race dressed in a bear costume! The picture will be posted once we get it, to be sure.

So all in all, training has gone well... I have paid my race fee... so no backing out now... the only stink right now is I need to fly back from Kansas City the night before the race... nothing like being well rested the day before the race! Oh well, I do still have to work!

Go, dis way, Daddy!

Jake and me, with comparison photo from same time last year! Jake and his hair have grown!

Ode to my Coffee Pot

It is hard to sum up what something has meant to you, that has been in your life for almost a decade. It has been with me since I was married... it has been there for job changes, before the big presentation. It has been an integral part of family gatherings, making wicked brew that some appreciate.. while others run and questions their man or womanhood. It has been there for the birth of both my children... while late night feedings occurred, and I asked God to give me the power to get through the day, my yellow Braun Coffee Pot was there. It was practically part of the family, the way a good pet was always there. To the point that Maggie, did an impersonation of it... "SSSSSHHHHHH".. and if you ask her to this day how does coffee go, she will make the same sweet sound!

Jake, me and the Coffee Pot making Christmas Cookies, 2007

It has brewed premium beans from around the world, from the strong pungent blends of Africa, to the spicy mixes of Indonesia. It enjoyed the velvety, almost buttery quality of the grinds of Puerto Rico.... it even chugged out a few pots of decaf for my parents... bless your heart, and I'm sorry for that!

We bought you at a Home Goods store in Parsippany, New Jersey. You matched the sunflower canisters that we had for our apartment in Cherry Hill. You made the move to our first house in Barrington and you clashed horribly with the terrible wallpaper... but never a thought of replacing you! You made the bold trip to Indianapolis, and blended nicely with the warm yellow of the kitchen.

You even traveled to races... Baltimore, Red Bank, Louisville, Chicago... you were there to give me the caffeinated energy I needed! I thank you for your years of service, and for all the cups of joy you served for just $.006 a day, the best Return on Investment I will ever have in my life!