Western States – results are in…

Well, it looks like 2010 the focus is back to the 100k distance. I didn’t get picked in the Western States lottery held on the weekend. Not a big deal as we all get there eventually.

The cool part is that Adam Campbell got in. Adam is a great lad and other than Gary, probably Canada’s best shot at cracking the top 10 in an always competitive field. I always say that I hope Adam never takes up ultras full-time because I’ll just be bumped down in the placings! Adam is extremely fit, talented and ultra competitive – I am stoked to see how he does next year.

On to Miwok…crossing my fingers.

Skinny

That’s all I could think of today when I saw the results of a photo shoot from October.

Back in 2000 I was 208lbs.

Today I’m 158lbs.

I don’t feel 50lbs skinnier…

can you name the song?

under the sky cross the land with a horse.
it felt like a sky and the land were divorced.
the way it was easy, a rock in the past
so what’s the matter with you, when the rock just laughed
carrying a load for the conscious untoiling
I went to the water and the water was boiling
the load was heavy and rocks filled my pores
my horse drank the water and the water killed my horse
I tried to keep going, weak in the knee
a righteous wind blew and it was speaking to me
the way seemed harder since my house been dead
I couldn’t understand everything the wind said
looked up at the sky and seen something strange
returned to my country and my country was up in flames
the trees were bleeding, they said they couldn’t hide me
where will I run to without my horse beside me?

100 day burpee challenge

A strict burpee is a nasty burpee. Can’t image what it will look like when we hit day 30 and up…

5 common sense ideas to make you a better ultrarunner.

1. Run your longest training run at least 80% as long as your upcoming race – Don’t believe the hype on low mileage. The best runners I’ve seen, had beers with and chatted to through emailed have all said the same thing – run long in training and hit 80% of your race distance.

2. Supplement your running with cross-training – I don’t just say this because I am a Crossfit convert. Building muscle not only helps you with racing (especially for races over 50 miles), it makes you less susceptible to injury. The more over all balanced you are ensures that late in a race, you have a better chance at maintaining your form. Bad form leads to injuries. As well, having strong legs but a weak upper body leads to torque problems (especially on long downhill trails).

3. Practice your ‘in-race’ nutrition during training runs – Eating on the run is like peeing on the run (yes, I’ve done it myself). You need to practice… and you need to practice eating the EXACT food that you will be using during your important race – even if this means going out the night before a training run and leaving drop bags of food in someone’s front hedge (I’ve done this as well). Long ultras are complicated so learn to manage all of the intangibles and you will have better results.

4. Keep your feet in great shape – I have seen many a runner who neglected to take care of his feet and pay the price late in a race. During training here’s a simple formula: Keep your toenails short, don’t wear flip-flops or open toed sandals (the air draws moisture from your skin and dry’s it out) and coming out of the shower, cover your feet with a low alcohol hand cream. The bottom line is that you want supple skin – don’t believe people who tell you that you need to build up callous, they don’t know what they are talking about. (And if you don’t believe me, check out Fixing Your Feet)

5. Get rid of your iPod – My guess is that one day all of the sanctioned trail races will prohibit the iPod/mp3 player so you might as well get used to it. Ever seen a world class marathoners wearing earphones? Nope. Those who are able to associate with their state (i.e. be in touch with their body instead of being distracted by something external) have better races.

Tenderized.

Saturday was the Fight Gone Bad for BBBS at the Crossfit Zone.

I managed to get 240 points which surprised me a bit considering the last time I did it I got to 243 and I had been training for 2 months. I went in to event with no expectations based on the fact that I’m still recovering from H2H and I considered scaling down the weight but in the end, I couldn’t bring myself to ‘go light’.

I started off fast and was really moving on the rowing machine but I went anaerobic fast as well! The rest of the workout was just a ‘war’ in my head.

It wasn’t as terrifying as last time but I am really sore (especially traps and tri’s) this time. Can’t wait to get back to the Zone.

On to another great read.

I bumped into another great read, Confessions of an Economic Hit Man and am thoroughly enjoying it. John Perkins was employed by a not-well known consulting firm in the US (think Haliburton, though) to travel the world into resource rich third world countries and extend the US empire by subverting the country’s economy.

The method was complex but here is the short version;

1. Arrive in a country and present a study to corrupt government officials to show how a massive capital project (hydro dam in Ecuador, for instance) would move the country forward economically.

2. Arrange the financing terms in such a way that the country has no hope in paying down the debt.

3. Pay off the corrupt officials and wealthy families and transfer the capital funds to the consulting firms in the US (from US Gov. capital funds) to build the project (the money never leaves US soil).

4. Wait for the country to default on the interest of the loan.

5. Leverage the loan default to install US military bases, use the country’s UN votes, exploit more resources, etc.

On the mend.

I remember being in the medical tent at the Gobi March in ‘07. Racer comes stumbling in and the conversation goes like this:

Racer: “Doc, my knee is killing me. Is there anything I can do to fix it?”

Doc: “Absolutely…stop running.”

Doc to me: “These f’n guys think that we have the magic answer. The real answer is to stop running!”

My legs, finally, don’t feel sore anymore. Amazing that it took almost 3 weeks.

The one book you need to read this year.

I read constantly. All types of non-fiction and occasionally a fiction or two.

Recently my wife came home with what is likely the best book I have read this year (not only on the theme but also how it is written). I say this with one caveat: when I read passages from it, it sounds like it’s coming from the voice in my head. Not the crazy voice but the other one.

The book is No Impact Man written by Colin Beavan. “Funny, insightful but downright depressing…” – Rob Mackay.

How can it be all of those things? Well, it follows a year in Colin’s life as he moves from a life of conspicuous consumption to, as the title indicates, a life of ‘no impact’ on the environment. Funny when I read the title, I interpreted it as, “even though he’s taken these steps, he really has ‘no impact’ on changing the environment for the good of humanity…”

The changes he makes are far-reaching and show how entrenched he is in a society that promotes consumption, resource extraction and disposable living.

(He’s also a hell of a philosopher.)

Expecting a painful Sunday.

My second attempt at Fight Gone Bad is this Saturday and to be honest, I’m not ready in the least. My last attempt was the day after a 46km run and I wasn’t 100% but I had been training hard and my body was used to the weights. Going ‘all out’ on a workout like this would likely damage me for days as I am still in a recovery mode. I want (badly) to be back at the Crossfit Zone training full time but I’m also trying to respect the fact that 100km does some significant damage to your legs. Patience is my best friend right now.

So, on Saturday, I’ll be scaling down the workout and take an active role in cheering the other CF’ers on. There are some incredibly fit people who train at the Zone and it’s always a sight to see.