Six Days

It's Monday Again...

2012-02-06T15:09:00.000+08:00

I want to do the cape to cape track after hanging out in the Magaret River Region the last 5 days.

And not the “1 more day to go” Monday. Rather, today is Blue Monday. This evening, I head back to camp for 8 days of work. So the few days I had camping out, being wowed by surfers and kite boarders, meeting new people, hanging out with friends, testing my balance on a stand up paddle board, and roaming a foreign land have now come to an end for the time being. Back to the long, albeit necessary grind I go. But I am well aware that the numbing routine will leap frog me ahead to Terrific Tuesday before I even start thinking about the nex Six Days.

I’ll jump on the bandwagon here: Sh*t Perth People Say. Really not funny unless you live here but my favourites are:
“I’m thinking of doing a fly in fly out from bali” "Rotto? You can go to bali for half the price"
“40 dollars for a pub steak…Yea, OK”
“I just paid $14 dollars for a pint of beer”

Here is some more Australian Pop Culture. I do plenty of driving so naturally I listen to the radio a lot. The best station I have found consistently in rural Australia is Triple J. It is is a no commercial, government funded radio station. I still don’t know why or how the government sponsors such a station but I won’t complain. The top 3 songs of 2011 as voted for in Triple J's Hottest 100 as voted for by 1.3 million Australians were the following (I personally like #3. Intense). I saw #9 at Southbound:

1.

2.

3.

Arizona to Australia

2011-12-27T21:18:00.000+08:00

Merry Christmas All

I have actually slept in the same place every night during my last 6 days off which gave me some much needed time to catch up on the pictures and videos I took during the last 6-12 months. I had a pretty good year of travel. I visited USA, Netherlands, Belgium, France, Italy, Mexico, and Australia. Not bad. I decided to quickly put together a little video to share. Otherwise, the 140 videos and nearly 2 hours of footage I have taken the past several years would remain untouched and unshared on my hard drive. These videos make me smile and allow me to remember the sights and sounds I have experienced over the years. I have been over the years. So enjoy….

Places in the Video (in order of appearance):

Emus- Cape Range National Park, Near Exmouth, Western Australia

Ribbon Falls- Grand Canyon

Nankoweap Ruins- Grand Canyon

The Cirque- Wind Rivers, Wyoming

Delicate Arch- Arches National Park, Utah

Leighton Beach- Fremantle Western Australia

Maah daah hey Trail. Theodore Roosevelt National Grassland, North Dakota

Forrester Pass, Sequoa National Park, California

Treetop Walk, Walpole, Western Australia

Badwater Basin, Death Valley National Park, California

Mona Lisa, The Louvre, Paris

Pinnacles Desert, Cervantes, Western Australia

Ole Faithful, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Coconino National Forest, Flagstaff AZ

Havasu Falls, Havasupai, Arizona

Flat Tire, Hackberry Rd, Arizona

Indoor Track Meet, Penn State University

Perth, view from Kings Park, Western Australia

Lunar Cup, Imogen pass (Telluride), Colorado

Off Roading, Swansea ghost town, AZ

Dudes with wooden swords, lake tahoe California

Undisclosed mine site

Big Horn Sheep…Or Mountain Goat, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

Va Tech Drill Field, Blacksburg, Virginia

VT vs Miami, Lane Stadium, Blacksburg, Virginia

Imogene passrd, Telluride to Ouray, Colorado

Aboriginal guy, Perth Cultural District, Perth

Christmas Nativity, Forrest Chase Plaz, Perth, Western OZ

The Ball Drop, Times Square New York

Lastly,

Music by Big Eagle – Anywhere the Wind Blows

Australia

2011-11-14T10:47:00.001+08:00

New Life. I’m living in Australia. If the speed at which the last two months went by is any indication of how the next few years will go, I better hold on. Time has been flying by. So much has happened in the past few months it will be difficult to properly update everyone. I moved from the Southwest of the USA to the Southwest of Australia (Bagdad Arizona to Perth Western Australia) in August 2011. It was a difficult decision to start over in a foreign land and leave friends and family on the other side of the planet but hopefully I will learn from it and grow as a person.

Accommodation. I work an 8-6 roster. 8 days on, then 6 days off. I live at the mining camp during the 8 days I work, then I’m on my own for the off days. The camp is located in a small town about 2 hours’ drive southwest of Perth. The company put me up at a sweet apartment in Perth for the first two months. Unfortunately, they would only pay for two months so now I am on my own. I have been bedding down in a variety of ways: camping out, sleeping in the car, staying at a friends house, hostels...

Booming. Western Australia seems to be doing really well. There are cranes speckling the Perth skyline indicating a construction boom. This recent boom appears to indicate the destruction of any structure less than 5 years old. .

Lifestyle. The 8 working days are long and busy. I pretty much start to get sick like clockwork after day 6. I get up at 5am, get ready for work, get breakfast, make lunch, then meet the team at 545. I get back to my chalet around 5-6 pm. Then I work out. Lately, due to injury, it has been about 30 minutes of cardio. Then I gorge myself on a large dinner because the dry mess (cafeteria) serves a delightful spread. Then I go to bed. I repeat that for 8 days until I am released.

The roster makes for an interesting social life. I haven’t had any trouble meeting people in Perth. I always end up having a really good time with the people I hang out with but sometimes I won’t see them for a month. I always say to friends or new people i meet "I’ll see ya guys next break" but then I realize I had a trip planned for the next break so all of a sudden I don’t see a group of friends for nearly a month. Haha.

Backpackers. The Aussie backpacking scene is alive and well here. By backpacking I mean grungy, world travel via a campervan or ride share. Most backpackers are from Europe, particularly Ireland, who come to Australia to escape economic woes back home. I have only met 1 American backpacker so far. I cross paths with backpackers frequently because we have the same goal: see as much as Australia as possible on the cheap.

Running. Not going so well for me right now. Reading about former high school rivals qualifying for the Marathon Olympic trials doesn’t make it any better for me. I got off crutches from my stress fracture back in June. I slowly built up while battling hip/femur pain only to have my lower leg start hurting. It has been bothering me for the last 4 months and still does. I have been running about 30 minutes every other day. Not really sure what to do. I am guessing it is some sort of inflammation in the shin/calf complex but could be another stress fracture. I'll just keep grinding away with stretching, massage, icing, and strengthening like any humbled competitor would.

10 Year Rule. Things here are generally 10 years behind the good old USA. There are no pay at the pump gas stations. You pull up, pump gas, then walk inside the store to pay the cashier. Get this, and I know its out there, but they actually actually expect you to not pull up with your license plate covered, pump gas with a ball cap to cover your face, then drive off without paying. I actually almost ran out of gas one time because I drove back to work after 6pm and all the gas stations were closed. Everything closes early. There are no 24 hour Walmarts over here. I bet they will start to pop up in say 10 years.

Smoking. I think the 10 year rule applies to smoking as well. It seems quite a bit of people smoke here. I'm not saying everyone does its just more common. I was chit chatting with a guy during a break in the new hire training:

So what do you do here?
Inhale, exhale huge puff of smoke. I'm the Health and Safety Manager he said proudly.

One other time I was sitting in Perth's Hay street mall in the Central Business District (CBD)eating some nutella and cookies when a fit looking girl nursing a smoothie sat next to me. Then, she took out a cigarette and inhaled it away to nothing. Then repeated that process a few more times. Doesn't it defeat the purpose of exercising and eating a smoothie if you are going to pollute the lungs. I just love how we, myself included, can find ways to justify acts or behaviors that we know are questionable at best to suit our desires and wants.

Shark Attack. Apparently, shark attack is a real risk in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Western Australia. There have been 3 fatal shark attacks since I arrived here in August. The most recent occurred off the shores of Rottnest Island where I snorkeled one week prior to the attack. That is a little bit scary. Government officials regularly send helicopters around the popular beaches to look for sharks.

On blogging or not. I have thought a lot about if I should even bother blogging and or what I should blog about. Should it be a running only blog or just a general life blog or Australia adventure blog or should I even bother at all? Here’s my answer… I have a kept a sporadic blog since 2006 when I started my first adventure in New York. I wish I was more consistent over the years because I really enjoy recalling my old adventures, places, and people. Otherwise, I suppose I like the idea of creating a body work, a band of followers (friends) with similar interests, and a platform with more than 160 characters (facebook/twitter) to adequately share my adventures with family and friends and also . That’s how I feel today. Tomorrow, I may never want to waste another second blogging. We’ll see.

Chest hair. Everyone at work is issued a uniform to wear to work: jeans and a long sleeve button down shirt. Many, if not all of the guys leave the top two, sometimes 3 buttons undone exposing massive amount of chest hair. I find this hilarious. I find the Aussies I work with to be much more animated than previous coworkers.

Bagdaddy or not. I thought about changing the domain name to something more catchy and different but Bagdaddy is who I am and what I am all about. Ok, not really but its simple, unique, and I don’t have to do anything more than just continue doing what I've been doing. I decided to just rename the title of the blog to Perth Dreams. Karl came up with name during our last trip on the Clarion before I left the USA. It is a spoof on Jon Krakauers book Eiger Dreams. I haven’t read it but based on his other books, I think I will like it.
Nomad. I lived a semi-nomadic existence while in bagdad az. I would spend weekends on in my truck beating around in canyons, on dirt roads, up mountains, through deserted mining towns...hippies, water holes, flagstaff, phoenix, grand canyon, Jerome and the like. This move to Australia and the favorable roster will allow me to continue living a mobile lifestyle. However, I will likely not keep it up forever. I think at my core I am a homebody. Something that I dont have right now that I would like having is a workshop or garage to tinker around in.

Second guessing. There’s no question I have my doubts about moving here. There’s always going to what ifs or should’ves, But I think I am settled down now and am looking forward to the next few years. After all, the greatest risk in life is not taking one.

100 million dollar question. My Brazilian buddy brought this to my attention as I didn’t pick up on it the first time. I was at a meeting where we discussing different options for the mining sequence going back and forth over the pros and cons of each option. One guy said, “if we do this and that and so and so, then what happens with this? That is the 100 million dollar question.” People here don’t ask the 1 million dollar question. In a land (Perth)where the average house costs 495,000 dollars, 1 million isn’t really a lot of money. The point is things are expensive here. Minimum wage is 18 dollars (21 if you have a college degree), Petrol costs $1.40 per liter (5.50 $/gal), cars are nearly double the price in the US, car maintenance is ridiculous. I inquired about an oil change for my Accent- 180 dollars. Ok. Actually, 110 dollars for just the oil change portion but come on. FYI Aussie Dollar is about equal to the greenback. A good genral rule would be things cost about 1.3-1.5 times as much as they would in the USA.

Fortnight. If you don't know what that word is, It means two weeks. People say that a lot here. I used to say it as a joke, but now I can use it in regular conversation without people looking at me funny. Reckon is another one they use here quite a bit. Instead of saying what do you think, they would say what do you reckon to which the response would be I reckon... There are heaps of other words, like heaps, that people say but I won't overwhelm with all the news ones yet.

Future Dreams. I have a million, sorry, 100 million different ideas running through my head about what to do on my days off, and more generally what to do with my life. The beauty is I can do anything I want…But not everything. I’m anxious to see what I actually do.

Goodbye America Tour

2011-08-29T11:19:00.000+08:00

I did an epic road trip last month covering over 4100 miles (~6600 kilometres) from Arizona to Pennsylvania through 11 states. It was my last hurrah in the states before moving to Australia and solidified my thinking that the American West is the most remarkable landscape on earth. The thing I will miss most, other than family and friends, is the big snow-capped mountains and the burning lungs and the mountain culture along with deep canyons, abandoned mine workings, and oddball desert folk. Goodbye America.

Rather than write a long story about the journey, I will post my training log during the trip and a link to pictures. It pretty much tells the story.

Pictures

July 14th: 20 minutes, Bagdad Radio Tower route, LAST DAY IN Bagdad

July 15th: 60 minutes out and back on Poland Rd, Prescott Valley, AZ

July 16th: 20 min run-20 min walk/hike- run down, Had to walk because altitude, steepness, and lack of fitness destroyed me, ran up past Bridal Vail Falls in Telluride, CO, DOPE, need to come back here and do the Via Ferrata if I ever overcome fear of heights, Drove over Imogene Pass Rd later in the day and rekindled old memories of racing the same route a year ago, Lunar Cup grassroots ski race was going on near the Pass which was an unexpected awesome surprise, gave two ladies a ride to the top because their vehicle couldn’t make it over the high clearance section.

July 17th: 3.5 mile F.A.S.T run with James in Denver, FAST= 26 minutes

July 18th: 6 mile hike with pack to Big Sandy Lake, Wind Rivers Wilderness, Wyoming, Awesome scenery, rugged, crazy amount of bugs which nearly ruined the experience for me, Need to come back here in September and traverse the entire range

July 19th: 90 minute mtn bike ride on Maah Haah Dey trail, Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota, 2 mile hike to Petrified Forest in TRNP to camp out.

July 20th: 55 minutes on Spurgeon River Trail near Boundary Waters, Superior National Forest, Minnesota

July 21st: 30 minutes in downtown Duluth, MN

July 22nd: 30 minutes while watching Mcvey’s criterium bike race in Milwaulkee, WI

July 23rd: Drive home to Pittsburgh, exhausted but excited about all the changes happening in my life.

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-This will be the last of my Bagdaddy Adventures. I am now ready to move on to the Aussie Adventures to begin. I may start a new blog for it.

-Running has been really rough for me. It appears 30 miles per week was too much since I have gotten some kind of shin pain or shin splint. I backed off completely to let it heal and will slowly rebuild.

-I’m in Australia. I have to pinch myself every couple days to remind myself of that.

Foreshadowed

2011-08-10T12:40:00.002+08:00

While most people will recognize Mountain Lake for Patrick Swayze and Dirty Dancing, I will remember it for the sparse, yet cherished running memories it provided. Tucked away and perched at over 4000 feet in Virginia's Appalachian Mountains, the Mountain Lake mystique continually beckoned teammates and myself to run to the top from campus. Less than a week after I had my diploma in hand, Andrew and I made the dream a reality.

I'm pretty certain nobody in Australia drinks Fosters, but Andrew and I (and Natalie + Liz) did over 3 years ago on the summit of Bald Knob to celebrate the Mountain Lake run from campus. I found this old can a few weeks ago as I was packing up my apartment on Copper Dr. in Arizona. I couldn't help but reminisce about the run and other runs in the area (rock-paper-scissors to determine which direction to go after getting lost).

So flash forward to today. Today, I will get on a plane and then a few more for 30 hours and land in Australia where I will start a new adventure.

Good Day.

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Good article on some Flagstaff runners I know and raced against. Mike and Jeff are good dudes and both offered me to put me up for a night in Flag if I ever needed it. I love Flagstaff and will miss bumming around there on weekends.

Gold Rush Alaska TV Show Review

2011-03-01T12:35:00.000+08:00

"There isn't one man in America, if he's got anything inside him, who wouldn't want to be here with us" ~Jack

Have you seen that show on Discovery Channel- Gold Rush Alaska? The show follows an economically distraught group of men who head to Alaska to strike it rich mining gold. The show appeals to me both as a mining engineer and as an adventurer (and I can't seem to get enough visual stimulation of the Alaskan Wilderness). I love what Jack said in the opening episode, "There isn't one man in America, if he's got anything inside him, who wouldn't want to be here with us." I sense that they felt the same way the earlier pioneers did when they left their homes to populate the West in search of Gold. The the anticipation of striking it big, the stunning and unfamiliar country, and the element of fear surely fired up those first gold rushers. Most failed to make any money at all, but I bet they had stories to tell and little regret for going after it.

I enjoyed watching the show. How could you not with all the guns, gold, and glory. I really, really wanted these guys to succeed, but my sensible side kept telling me that they were doing it all wrong and striking it rich would be nothing short of dumb luck. So much potential seemed to be wasted.

3 lessons they should have known beforehand but learned the hard way:

Know what your're digging. For the most part, they were just digging holes with no real rhyme or reason. It was a poke and hope approach. They must have said "just a few more feet and we'll hit the good gold" about a million times. How could they know? Lets see...it cost them $1000/day to mine. All they need is 1 oz of gold per day ($1400) to make a profit. Going a step further, they put 1000 tons per day through their processing plant. Therefore, to make profit they would only need a gold grade of 1oz per 1000 tons. That is an extremely low grade. Chances are the gold grade is much higher in areas of their claim, possibly 1 oz per ton or more but who really knows? That is the problem. What they were doing is guessing, gambling even. In modern, large scale mining operations, you know what is in the ground and have a computer model to guide you. Companies spend millions of dollars on exploration drilling so they don't waste time digging where they shouldn't be. It takes all the fun out of it then, doesn't it?
.
Short haul is king. Towards the end of their mining season, they shortened their haul road significantly. Why weren't they doing it all along? This is a pretty basic concept in mining. If you can decrease the amount of time it takes to get a load of ore from the mining pit to the processing facility, you can get more loads. More loads=more money...assuming there is gold in the dirt to begin with.

It takes big time capital investment to run a mine- They dumped over a quarter of million dollars into starting their small scale gold mine and essential have nothing to show for it. They spent money frivolously and borrowed without hesitation. The capital to start a modern, "real" mine could exceed 1 billion dollars.

I applaud them for their efforts though. They took a chance and went all in. Despite many failures and setbacks, they learned from their mistakes. A few more seasons of mining and they will be raking in the dough. Gold prices are so high right now that even modest success could bring significant money. It is a perfect time to try one's luck at gold mining.

I wish I had the Guts to do something like this...

2011-02-28T03:06:00.000+08:00

or this...
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2011/03/alaska-trek/koeppel-text

John Muir Trail: Start to Finish in Pictures

2011-02-07T13:49:00.000+08:00

It's been over 4 months since I stood triumphant on the Mount Whitney Summit but my thoughts frequently drift back to that snowy Saturday evening in October. You see, every time I get up to go pee, I am reminded of the price I paid to experience the glory of thru-hiking such a classic trail. I am on crutches due to the femoral stress fracture (oblique cortial defect technically speaking) which came on as a result hiking the John Muir Trail (my trip report). The past few months have been difficult and frustrating. I frequently wonder if that 8 day journey in High Sierra Country was worth breaking my leg for? To me, the answer is irrelevant. It's done. I can't let myself look back on the trip and second guess things like pace, pack weight, or lack of preparation. Perhaps, the trip wouldn't be so ingrained in memory had I not got the stress fracture? It seems fair enough to say that the things that are unplanned or unexpected are the ones that are most memorable- surprise birthday parties, taking a wrong turn, missing flights, big snow storms, coming home after a week off to a swimming pool in your kitchen because the pipes froze then thawed, or getting a flat tire while taking a 40 mile "short cut" across a seldom traveled dirt road. These things are part of life. So for me, the stress fracture makes this trip simply unforgettable.

Here is my visual documentation in case I get amnesia:
*To skip all the pics below, watch my 3 minutes compilation of the trip: 3 Minutes with Muir
For the rest, continue on:

Food for 10 8 days on the trail

Mileages. Add 11 miles to hike down from Whitney Summit and you get a grand total of ~222 miles.

The Cal Berkeley Rowing team doing an annual hike/run up Half Dome. Ironically, the Stanford team was there too. There were millions of people on the trail when I started out. It wasn't until exiting Yosemite that the people thinned out

The top view of day 1- Half Dome as seen from Cloud's Rest. *I chose to deviate from the John Muir Trail to get to this much talked about viewpoint. Muir Trail purists may scold me for this alternate route but it added 2 miles and 1000 ft of elevation gain...so scold away. **I didn't have a permit to hike that marvel you see pictured above, but I want to after seeing the massive dome from this vantage point.

Lyell Canyon

Making my way up to Donahue Pass

One of the thousand lakes I saw on day 2

At this point on day 3 my feet were killing me from fatigue and blisters. This loose, sandy section of trail added to my aggravation.

Burn

Steep descent

Fire in them hills...Fall Aspens providing some color contrast.

Slurp. Slurp. Slurp

I don't know what that means, but I like it.

The rotating meadow

Just couldn't blow by this lake. I stopped for nearly 1 hour, had some snacks, and fished. Didn't catch anything but it didn't really matter.

Following in the footsteps of Mr. Muir

Halfway Point Video mile 112.6- Crossing the South Fork of the San Joaquin River

A day in the life- Just the standard scenery on the JMT

Making my way up to Muir Pass

Muir Pass Hut- Elevation 11,995'

Heading down into Le Conte Canyon

My first and only bear of the trip. See the little guy?

I just love the glow of the sunlight off the granite- and the fall colors

Cool suspension bridge around mile 166

Going Up

The last time I was below 10,000 ft on the JMT

My final night on the JMT. Situated at 12000 ft just below Forester Pass

Best Pass of the JMT

Forrester Pass Panorama

Some things never change: Drilling and Blasting. Trail builders during the early 1900's used explosives to split granite slabs into manageable units. Put the explosive in your drill hole and light the fuse- the same way we do it now.

Lovin it

Mysterious. Beautiful. Epic.

Getting more mysterious as I creep closer to the finish line

The final 2 mile push to the Mount Whitney

Mount Whitney Summit 14,495 ft and completion of JMT victory speech

I didn't eat the last 12 hours just so I wouldn't have to abide by this policy

Laser Vision. The finish line at 11pm. I hiked the last 4.5 hours under cover of darkness. 38 miles on the day.

A wonderful view of Mount Whitney the morning after my snowy summit bid.

Heading into Death Valley

The lowest spot in the U.S. Less than 24 hours after standing on Mount Whitney.

Most Ridiculous Slackliner

2011-02-04T09:44:00.000+08:00

I have been going through some old files on my computer. This video is almost a year old. I happened to have my camera at the right time in this particular case.

more Salome

2011-02-03T11:04:00.000+08:00

mountain biking near Salome...

2011-02-02T15:35:00.000+08:00

Things that made me smile last week

2011-01-22T11:12:00.000+08:00

Winning Meb's Book "Running to Overcome"- I wanted to buy Meb's book because he had a stress fracture like mine, worked really hard to rehibilatate it, fixed it, and went on to win the NY Marathon. . I thought it would be inspirational for me and give me hope that I could also, for lack of a better word, "Overcome" it. Well, it turns out that there is a giveaway for signed copies of the book. I signed up on a Saturday and on Monday (1/10/2011) I won! How Ironic?

Pipes Froze- Pipes froze over winter break. Water was everywhere. I didn't leave the heat on. The temperature inside my apartment was 42 degrees. I don't think that was to blame since 26 homes in town had pipes freeze and the pipes were routed to in the roof above the insulation.

Bagdad Cafe- Though it doesn't take place in my bagdad, this movie has been on my list to watch for a long time so when it popped up on Hulu for the right price of free, I jumped at the opportunity. This movie is ridiculous. It made me laugh a lot simply because I run into so many genuine and interesting (weirdos) people out here in the desert. Gold panners, militia men, miners, ranchers, hunters, off grid retirees, and most recently hippies.

Rainbow Family- I never thought I would live to see the day when the hippies invade Bagdad. I know many old mining towns, namely jerome and bisbee, attract "artists" but not current mining towns. The reason for their sudden interest in Bagdad is the annual gathering of the family near Burro Creek.

Gunner the Hitchhiker- Maybe he will find this post and comment, I hope he does since he was genuine and a pretty nice dude. I saw Gunner in the morning during my run. He popped out from behind a berm next to the laundromat carrying a thermarest and sleeping bag. Did that guy sleep next to the laundromat? I've seen weirder stuff so I didn't think much of it and continued on with my run. A few hours later, I left town for Phoenix. On the cutoff (highway 97), I saw a shaggy haired dude with a huge backpack carrying a skateboard. He stuck out his thumb. Now I already said I have seen a lot of strange things but this one takes the cake. Here was a free spirit in the middle of the desert, walking along one of the most infrequently traveled highways in the state, in one of the most "conservative" areas of the state, and miles from anything. And to top it all off he was carrying a skateboard. It was too good to pass up. I picked up Gunner the hitchhiker. He was going to north to Wikieup and I south to the big city so the ride only lasted a few minutes. At any rate, he was just living the dream wandering the great American Southwest with all the possessions he owned on his back. I was envious of his lifestyle. Surprisingly enough, he seemed a bit envious of my lifestyle- the stability, consistent relationships, confidence in having a decent place to sleep and a full belly every night. I suppose if you doing anything long enough, it will get stagnant.

JMT'ing It: Life on the John Muir Trail

2010-12-20T12:33:00.000+08:00

"The Mountains are calling and I must go"

-John Muir.

The old man’s possessions were strewn about on the alpine floor next to his yellow North Face 4 season tent. He sifted through the pile of gear; maps, pots, bandanas, tall Nalgene bottles wrapped in duct tape, boots, butane stove canisters, and small Ziploc bags grouping everything from masking tape to marijuana.

“Here it is,” the man blurted, relieved that he hadn’t misplaced it.

From the Ziploc bag he presented me with 3 orange prescription drug containers stuffed with his fishing tackle and live worms. The man was quite please that his entire fishing system, including rod, weighed less than 2 lbs. He had already cooked up 26 pans of fresh trout. One pan for each day he had been out in this wilderness alone. I nodded in admiration and willingly egged him on with many questions.

Every year this man, who insisted I call him Troutbo (like Rambo- I know it’s a stretch), takes the entire month of September off to let his mind and body wander this vast playground. Troutbo takes his time and savors the surroundings setting up one camp every two nights. He avoids trails and people by traversing seldom travelled ridgelines and criss-crossing between the countless trout infested lakes. I was the first person he had seen in 10 days proving that you can have the calming lakes and the snow speckled peaks of the Sierras all to yourself if you just get off the trail. (Talk of this solitude makes me want to try the Sierra High Route- A unmarked, off trail “Route” which parallels the John Muir Trail.)

Troutbo was the first and last person I saw on my final day before standing triumphant on the summit of Mount Whitney. It marked the end of my 8 day, solo thru-hike on the John Muir Trail. What a Journey it was.

The John Muir trail stretches 222 miles (JMT=211 miles but you have to hike down from the Whitney summit which adds quite a bit of mileage) from Yosemite Valley southbound to Mount Whitney. Elevations range from 4000 feet to 14,495 feet at the summit of Mt. Whitney with the majority of the hiking at around 9000 feet. The trail does not cross any roads which make resupplying, if you choose to do it, a logistical challenge. I chose not to resupply carrying with me 10 days and 25 lbs of food to eliminate this one extra complication in my already halfheartedly planned trip.

Getting myself to the trailhead falls into that category of halfheartedly planned. It was an adventure in and of itself. First, I managed to finagle a ride and dinner from Whitney Portal (where I left my truck) to Lee Vining, a 2+ hour drive north, by some exhausted and gracious Mount Whitney day hikers named Carmen and Matt. Then, as Friday was turning into Saturday, I found myself sitting shotgun in a Ford King Cab, with two climbers sitting in the backseat. They were also hitchhiking because they ran over a rock which pinched the exhaust shut on their Prius . They were left stranded a mere 20 miles from the granite spires of Cathedral Rock which they planned to climb in the morning. Together we listened to the global exploits of an international Geothermal Energy Consultant called Big Bob in the driver’s seat. I ended up at the Toulomene Meadows at 1:30am where I mooched a campsite with the two climbers, a full day ahead of schedule.

The first two days of the trek, though splendidly beautiful, didn’t feel like the adventure I had hoped for. Yosemite National park is characterized by waterfalls, huge gray granite domes, and hoards of people. It seemed too accessible to the weekend warrior just trying to get a quick wilderness fix. I craved being deep in the wild, hiking over big mountains, and generally working really hard to experience sights that few would be willingly to work for.

After cresting Donahue Pass on day 2, I looked back down the glaciated valley that directed me up the mountain and realized that the trip would take on new character. Yosemite National Park and its man-altered wilderness with bear lockers, parking lots, and people was behind me and possibly the most beautiful stretch of the entire JMT lay in front of me: The land of one thousand lakes. With every corner I passed, with every valley I descended, there was yet another speckling high alpine lake with snow capped crags displaying immense vertical relief. When I see such splendor, my mind wanders back to conversations I have with people I meet on the trail who, on the same magical journey as I, declare there is no God and that religion is a crutch and cripples imagination. I have to wonder how they believe something so inspiring, so beautiful, just happened by chance. There must be a creator, a hand behind the paintbrush of nature. How can one not be moved by it?

Day 3, the day where I celebrated the first quarter century of my life, was without question the most miserable day of the trip. My feet screamed with every step. Sharp pain from inflammation and fatigue preceded the burning pain of raw flesh blistering away between my toes. I think pain like this is unavoidable when walking 25 miles per day with a heavy pack so I could accept it and deal with it. The thing that I couldn’t accept was the dang sand. The trail meandered through the forested valley floor on loose, ankle deep sand. With every step I sunk in twisting and turning my foot upon impact adding friction and insult to my already blistered toes. It made me blame anything and everything for my misfortune; my shoes, the scorching sun, the fast pace, incompetent trail builders, John Muir himself, Barrack Obama, and you get the picture. Of course, nothing would have prevented such discomfort except better preparation. I muscled through enduring 28 miles before calling it quits on day 3.

Every day got more enjoyable after emerging from the pit, albeit shallow on day 3. The pain started to subside, my pack started to lighten, and I found my walking stride. With less internal stress I could really start to enjoy the hike. The scenery was now pretty much cliché: High snow capped peaks, lakes, streams flowing from every crack, and turning aspen trees. The sights created an overall dream of color contrast: Gray granite, white snow, blue water, and red-orange-yellow leaves.

The colorful transformation of aspen was one of the advantages along with less people and fewer bugs to hiking the Sierras in late September/early October. Leaf peeping, as Arizonans goofily call it, is one thing I took for granted while growing up on the east coast. I have since learned to treasure it as a resident of the Copper State. While descending down into the San Joaquin River I was so memorized by the colorful aspens on the mountainside across the valley that I did a double take to confirm that it wasn’t on fire.

The weather was so perfect the first 5 days that I never wore more than two layers and slept cowboy style. I never even thought about the elements until day 6 when it got unpleasant. The temperatures dipped and dark clouds started to fill the blue skies showing me the true character of October in the high country. So now the weather was all I thought about and the previous 5 days of good fortune were quickly forgotten.

I arrived into camp that night on Day 6 cold and damp. I joined two other southbound JMT’ers who signaled me by flashlight to their camp about 150 yards off the trail. I was fortunate to find them and a flat spot with trees to try setting up my poncho tarp for the first time. I felt I had to rise to the occasion and impress my peers who had a stable, seemingly indestructible REI brand tent. Eventually, after they had long since gone to bed, I had a taunt lean-to to retire under for the night.

That night was silly. I was on and off with my sleeping because the rain would sporadically wake me from either a mist on my face or a pounding noise from rain drops on my tarp. Then, as I was dreaming of getting punched in the face, I awoke with a massive nose bleed. I leaned away from my sleeping pad and let the blood pool onto the dirt. It was a lot of blood.

In the morning, my fellow comrades sang praises on my tarp set-up. They were unaware of my nosebleed. I carefully covered the dried blood pile with debris so my new friends wouldn’t think I was a nose picker. I wished them good luck and was on my way. That’s the way relationships work on the trail. They’re quick, to the point, and rarely do they extend beyond the trail.

The start of my second to last day on the trail was wet. In fact, the rest of the trip would be shrouded by precipitation in multiple forms. My original plan to back off was trumped by the nasty weather. I pulled the same tarp that sheltered me that night over my head and pack and pressed on.

One ultra light hiker skill that I am slowly picking up on is the idea of using one thing for multiple purposes. My tarp tripled as a shelter, poncho, and pack cover. The trekking poles I carried doubled as tent poles (and for fending off trail monsters). These little tricks helped reduce load on a trip where every pound can make a difference. However, the bear canister I was required to carry curbed my efforts as it was bulky and weighed several pounds.

I nestled myself in a grove of pines just below Forrester pass on night 7. Again, I set up my poncho-tarp for shelter. I lay down for that night 27 miles from Mount Whitney summit and 38 miles from the warmth and comfort of my truck waiting at the finish line. I hadn’t planned for it, but night 7 would be my final one on the John Muir trail.

Day 8 was absolutely epic. The sky was dark and vociferous. The air was moist and chilly. This was the day to climb Whitney. I could taste it even though it would require 38 miles of grinding to do it. I knew it would be a long day, but I feared the weather would worsen overnight and thus diminish my chances of making the summit safely the following morning.

I awoke to a fresh canvas of snow on the mountain tops and a childlike excitement to press on through it. I anxiously restrained myself as a rumbling thunder held me captive for an hour underneath the pines. I was concerned about being exposed to lightning while ascending up and over 13,200 foot Forrester Pass. Eventually, the weather let up. I finally made it to the pass safely and with a fresh set of snowy foot prints behind me. I rate the view from Forrester Pass as the best on the entire trail. (Maybe Whitney would be better if it was a clear day?)

The terrain takes on new character south of Forrester pass. The country was big and open. The trail was smooth and fast. Ironically, as I was getting pounded by rain, this section of the JMT seemed the most dry and barren.

The miles came easy after Forrester. Perhaps it was the final day adrenaline kicking in. Perhaps I was actually coming to into really great hiking shape. Either way, it was a welcomed break to cover ground fast and comfortably.

The thunder seemed to retire just in time for the final ascent to Mount Whitney. I felt comfortable summiting although the sky was dark and cloudy. It was grim but the powerful force of Mother Nature on full display proved oddly beautiful.

I reached the junction of the snow covered Whitney Trail some 2 miles shy of the summit. At this point, the sun was starting to set and getting darker. I left my heavy pack at the junction and made an Alpine Style summit bid with my headlight, camera, and water bottle. I started running up the mountain, all 14000 feet of it, out of pure excitement and the fact that I was freezing cold and the fact that I was running out of daylight and the fact that it was snowing pretty hard and I was afraid my tracks would get covered up making it nearly impossible to find my way back down.

At 6:33, on October 2^nd2010 I stood triumphant on the Mount Whitney Summit. It was very anticlimactic. I could not see a thing because of the snow and the darkness and there was no plaque indicating I had actually reached the summit. There was a lightning shelter which later confirmed I did in fact make it.

I quickly got off the summit and started a careful but speedy jog back to the junction where I had left my pack. I gorged myself with a power bar, loaded up the pack and hustled down 6000 feet of vertical and some 4 hours in complete darkness back to Whitney Portal. I tell you that there is no better sight than seeing your vehicle intact after leaving it for 9 days.

I was aching all over from the 222 miles in 8 days but mainly the last 6000 vertical feet I chose to pound down as quickly as possible. I joked with some guys at the finish line that I was going to celebrate big time at the bars in downtown Lone Pine California. I couldn’t even if I wanted to. At 11 pm on a Saturday night, there was nothing open. The town was dead. I had 2 gas station hotdogs and went to sleep in the back of my truck. The following day I swung down through Death Valley and Badwater Basin just to say in 24 hours I was at the highest and lowest points in the United States. Badwater concluded a remarkable but sometimes physically miserable trip.

I knew from experience on previous hikes and running marathons that the memories of beautiful sights, sounds, and childlike freedom would prevail as dominant over pain and fatigue. So I pressed on. Up and over 12000 foot passes, withstood chilly nights, endured aches and pains and blisters while ultimately remembering to savor the moment. I slurped streaming mountain water from cupped hands, I casted my Panther Martin spinner into beaver dammed creeks, I stood waist deep in rushing snowmelt to invigorate my sore legs, I broke through the glass surface on countless lakes with the throw of a stone, I shared my joy with other hikers, I cooked fireside dinners, I ate 3 lbs of peanut m&m’s. I sang songs aloud as I hopped from rock to rock to cross a rushing stream. I gazed googly-eyed at a shooting star which seemed to burn an instant too long. I made promises to lead a better life, to change lives, to inspire people only to have those feelings dwindle away upon returning to my real life. I, if for only an instant, saw my true inner character and passion revealed. And for that I must thank the JMT.

Things That Made Me Smile Last Week

2010-12-09T08:57:00.001+08:00

Mexico- Had a great time biking to Mexico, meeting like minded and amazing people, serving the community, attempting to speak Spanish, and playing with kids there. On Sunday, morning I went on a 1 hour long jog to the top of this mountain right next to the beach as the sun was rising. Couldn't really beat it. There was a cross at the top and as I was driving back to the States I noticed that nearly every hilltop had a cross on top. I will be back.

Sometime during late 2009, I was asked to give permission to use my video from the Nankoweap Ruins during my Grandaddy Trip. I said sure and pretty much forgot about it. Yesterday, the writer who asked for permission (Stacey) emailed me with the link to her story. Here it is.

I finally put together a John Muir Trail report/story from my thru hike over 2 months ago. I will post it next.

I thought this was a wonderful illustration of how you can show represent numbers and data with graphics.

This video was recommended to me by youtube. It is ironic because this is the guy who inspired my nickname of Spanish in college.

My sister just sent this to me.

Mexico Bound Tomorrow

2010-12-01T11:11:00.001+08:00

Would have really liked to have been healthy enough to race the North Face 50 Miler (2nd article)...

But then I would not have been able to Ride a Bike To Mexico

Things That Made Me Smile Last Week(s)

2010-11-30T12:43:00.000+08:00

Jessica Posner: Girl goes to Kenya, Girl lives among poor in the slums, Girl Starts a school, Girl changes lives, Girl winsVH1 Do Something Award for under 25 year olds.

While I was perusing REI, a guy came up to me and asked me how tall I am. We were about the same height and build. He then went on about how he could never find a pair of pants that fit him the way my pants fit me. I looked around to make sure he was talking to the right guy. Then thought to myself, You mean the hand me down, old, pair of pants ive been wearing for 3 weeks straight while working in the mine? I said to the guy, have you tried, and i know this is out there, 32x32's?

This guy is amazing at what he does. I like the back flip off the piece of drift wood:

I like his older video better though when he was unknown and just doing it for the love. The opening stunt is my favorite:

And last but not least, I was able to run 6 miles without sharp pain in my inner thigh. I'm on the road to recovery.

3 Minutes with Muir

2010-10-07T11:26:00.000+08:00

Recap since Pikes

2010-09-24T12:48:00.000+08:00

I shouldn't be blogging right now. Instead, I should be carefully planning and meticulously packing for the John Muir Trail. I take off tomorrow after work and scheduled to begin the trek early Sunday morning from the Happy Isles Trail-head in the Yosemite Valley. I am a bit nervous about this one. I don't know how my body will do. I put myself in a state of fatigue, injury, and sickness from the previous weekend and never had a chance to recover as I had a busy workweek. Add in the self inflicted pressure and drive to not only complete the entire trail but do it fast. That being said, I need a break from the daily grind- 2 phones, 3 email accounts, work, obligations, and general get up and go go go lifestyle I have been leading the past few weeks. Starting with the Pikes Peak weekend some 4 weeks ago, I have to found myself in Colorado twice, Pittsburgh, Blacksburg, and just about every town in Arizona North of Phoenix. I have "raced" every weekend since Pikes Peak: Run for Creeks (2 mi and 10k), Chino Valley, Jerome Hill Climb, Imogene, Alumni Race. I have been blessed to be healthy and happy these past few weeks of racing but I am tired. Let the Sierras rejuvenate me.

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Imogene was a really cool race. Basically, it is a 10 mile grind uphill to 13k feet, then a 7 mile pound down the mountain to the beautiful resort town of Telluride. It's like Pikes Peak Ascent but not. The similarities include altitude, elevation gain, and atmosphere. The difference is, well, I felt good at Imogene. For once I got the best of the Colorado high country. What a great weekend with some great people.

The Alumni race weekend was equally great. I ran well but more importantly I had a blast reminiscing and sharing some good times with great old friends. I need to go back to VT more. I can't believe I hadn't been back for over 2 years. Dumb me.

The others races were more low key, local type races.

Well, time to finish packing for the JMT

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People always ask what I eat out there. So, here at 10 Dinners I made up (11 actually, i need to ditch one of the last 2):

1/2 box Barilla Angel hair Pasta, Basil sauce mix (add olive oil)

1/2 box Barilla Angel hair Pasta, alfredo sauce mix (add dry milk)

1/2 box soba noodles, added salt and garlic powder and olive oil for sauce

1/2 box (6 oz) soba noodles, added salt and garlic powder and olive oil for sauce

Curried Cashew Couscous (1cup dry couscous), will add cashews and raisins or craisins

Curried Couscous (1cup dry couscous), will add cashews and raisins or craisins

Spanish rice (lipton side) plus 2/3 cup dry seasoned dehydrated refried beans

Taco rice (lipton side) plus 2/3 cup dry seasoned dehydrated refried beans

Mountain house macoroni and cheese, wow look at how much saturated fat is in here!!!

1 pack lipton side teriyaki noodles, A great tasting simple side

1 pack baby red mashed potatoes, a simple quick extra meal if I need it

Pikes Peak Again

2010-08-27T09:05:00.000+08:00

I ran up a big hill on Saturday. Yes, I did the Pikes Peak Ascent (PPA) again. And once again it humbled me.

For anyone who doesn’t know, the PPA is the premiere mountain running event in the USA (maybe tied with Mount Washington): 13.3 miles of uphill running at high altitude with an average grade of 11%. Runners start in downtown Manitou Springs, CO (elev. ~6,300) and follow the Barr Trail to the summit of Pikes Peak (elev. 14,100’) gaining roughly 7,800 vertical feet. There is also a race the following day, the Pikes Peak Marathon (PPM), which requires runners to tackle the same uphill portion as the PPA and then pound all the way back down to Manitou. Elite PPM runners cover the down portion at 6 minutes per mile pace or faster! Personally, I would be fearful of running downhill for 13 miles at 6 min pace. Most PPM runners I talk to agree recommending never doing it. I know I will do it someday but for now I need to learn how to run up this mythical mountain.

Race day started at 4:30am. I was escorted outside to Gertrude (James red Ford Windstar) where I would start the 1 hour drive to Manitou. I hopped on the I-25 southbound with Gertrude boisterously humming and engine warning lights brightly glaring from the dash. I confirmed with James that Gertrude would actually get me to the race so my mind was at ease even though every critical warning sign was telling me otherwise.

During the drive my thoughts drifted back and forth between the upcoming race and the sights of keg ball players spilling beer all over them from the previous evening. I had the opportunity to watch the Denver Keg Ball league in City Park. Basically, it’s a kick ball game but you have to always have a full cup of beer in your hand at all times. I was quite impressed with the organization and sheer number of twenty somethings out there. As you might imagine, players spill most of their beer on themselves while balancing their cup during all the running, catching, and throwing. It was quite the spectacle. I did not participate as it was plenty fun to watch.

I finally pulled into Manitou right around 6 am, picked up my packet, parked Gertrude, dropped my sweat check bag off, and went to the bathroom with 30 minutes to spare. I warmed up 10 minutes and before I knew it lovely vocals of “America the Beautiful” paused and silenced the anxious crowd from their pre-race routine. There was certain intensity that came over me, which always comes over me, while staring at the stone cold faces of other competitors during the ceremonial playing of a nostalgic song before sporting events such as the “Star Spangled Banner.” I was ready to get after it.

The gun went off and I settled into somewhere around 20^th place. At Hydro Street (I apologize to all you Barr Trail aficionados for not knowing every landmark along the course) somewhere around 8 minutes. Mike Selig commented on how fast the pace was so I felt more comfortable with my position and decided to take the next steep couple miles really easy.

I felt in control and comfortable during the first 4 miles. The course levels out after the first 4 so I opened up my stride a bit. I felt ok and was consciously holding back a little to make a late race push above Barr Camp and more importantly above A-Frame where most runners crumble.

Somewhere between 5 and 6 miles my race took a turn for the worst, literally. I made a wrong turn. I took a right when I should have gone straight. I acknowledged there was a sign but didn’t read it. I blew by the sign as I was running at a good clip. It wasn’t until I started downhill for a long while and saw wood planks in the shape of a foundation that I knew I was off course. I stood waiting for 30 seconds to see if anyone was behind me, then slowly jogged back, then rapidly ran back and still didn’t see anyone. Finally, I made it back to the intersection where I went wrong and saw tons of runners. It was a pretty stupid mistake but I didn’t feel as bad because one local guy who runs the mountain frequently also made a wrong turn. It happens.

I covered that mile, from 5-6 in somewhere around 15-16 minutes at a point in the race where I was averaging ~9-10 minute miles. For the next mile I did exactly what you shouldn’t do when you make a mistake or fall down- Try to make it all up as soon as possible. I ran the next mile in under 8 minutes which is fast, a little too fast. I don’t have exact splits as I reset my watch upon finishing.

I was picking off people by the handful until I realized I wouldn’t be able to maintain the pace, especially above tree line. Eventually, I settled in behind a group of 3 who seemed to be working together at a sustainable pace. I inquired about our position and they told me 35 place.

I passed A-Frame and saw a guy lying on the ground in obvious discomfort and pain. I quickly came to the conclusion that despite the day I was having things could be worse for me. I later found out it was defending champ Tim Parr. I don’t know the guy personally, though he looks striking similar to former Tech top distance runner David J Atkiss, but I admire him. He is a mountain runner, Chrisitian, and isn’t afraid to run or win a 5k or 100 miler. But mainly I like him because of this blog post where he sleeps in a park next to La Guardia Airport in New York City after being stranded without a rental car. I could definitely see myself doing something like that. Kudos to Tim for gutting it out and finishing the race.

I worked my way to roughly 25^th with a mile to go before starting my death march. Last year, my death march started with 4 miles to go so comparatively I was feeling stronger than last year. However, my finish time was roughly 4 minutes slower than last year. I was a bit disappointed.

The top two ladies passed me the last mile as my competitive juices had evaporated. As much as I hate to admit it, I succumbed to the discomfort and reasoned that I was really 5 minutes “ahead” of everyone around me so what was the point in trying to pass them. I ran my best but once again the mountain got the best of me mentally and physically. Humbled again. 0 for 2 at Pikes Peak.

It is truly one of the better organized races I have run. Hopefully, I will get a chance to go after it again and run fast. Maybe next year. But in order to run well, I need to work harder and train smarter for this unique event.

I wasn’t too disappointed after the race. On the plane ride over and back, I read a book called In the Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day. Great book. The first couple chapters basically say that failure is a good thing and you can learn from it (Hmm, never heard that before). So I am thankful for this less than perfect day because I will learn from it and get better.

The ride down the mountain went better than last year. I didn’t vomit everywhere after getting off the bus at Manitou. So that’s a plus.

A Tale of Two Tapers

2010-05-20T09:07:00.001+08:00

I was really bored and day dreaming about a better time when I was running consistently so I started looking through some old training logs. Here is a look at the 3 weeks leading up to my two marathon attempts.

As you can see I ran significantly faster on my second attempt with much less emphasis on the taper. Of course, there are several other factors that come into play- experience, training buildup, number of long runs, a very lighthearted approach to marathon #2, luck...etc. Admittedly, I was nervous about doing the longest run of my life at the time, 30 miles, the week before I ran Lost Dutchman but it worked out great for me. It took the pressure off, I had the excuse in my back, and there was nothing to lose.

I think the main conclusion I draw from this very small sample set is just don't think. Don't worry about the taper or lack of taper, just run as fast as you can. Secondly, the long run is key. I had 3 or 4 runs over 20 miles leading up to Lost Dutchman vs. only one 20 miler before Vegas. These long training runs definitely gave me strength to finish off Lost Dutchman with poise. With all this being said, I still wonder how much faster or slower I would have ran Lost Dutchman with a bigger taper???

I'm ready to get back to it but my body doesn't want me to so I must be patient.

It's Snake Season

2010-05-19T12:06:00.000+08:00

I saw my first snake of the year today. It was a little one with purple stripes. I saw it at the last moment and just stepped over it. As temps begin to rise more of these guys will come out especially the rattlers. I find that generally when temperatures are north of 70, snakes are out and about. I will run mostly on well graded, wide dirt roads for the rest of summer so I can see them coming...

Havasu Canyon: Top to Bottom

2010-05-02T06:28:00.005+08:00

I took a 3 day weekend to go explore Havasu Canyon on the Havasupai Indian Reservation. The Reservation land touches the southwest portion of Grand Canyon National Park. The most stunning features of the Havasu Canyon are the magnificent waterfalls. Access to these wonders requires a 10 mile trek and payment to the Havasupai Tribe.

Parking Lot to Campground - 10 miles

Campground to Colorado River- 7 miles

Total Round Trip Distance- 34 miles

I hiked down to the campground on day 1 (10 miles) and relaxed, then hiked to the Colorado and back on day 2 (14 miles), and finally hiked out on Day 3 (10 miles).

Most people stop at the campground and hang out at Havasu and Mooney Falls. But I highly recommend the additional 7 mile trek to the Colorado River. It is an adventure, feels more wild/pristine, and there are far less people.

View from Parking Area

Typical view on the way down

My first glimpse of the village of Supai, 8 miles into the hike. There are no roads into the village and the only access is by foot, mule, or helicopter.

Another view of Supai

Havasuuuuu Falls

Havasu Falls from bottom

There were stray dogs like this all over the campground. They were incredibly docile and friendly.

Starting the descend down to Mooney Falls

The steep descent down to Mooney Falls. There were chains and metal bars drilled into the rock for some reassurance. Mist from the waterfall makes the surface extra slick. I was a little tentative at first but got the hang of it after a few times up and down.

The view of Mooney Falls from the base makes the difficult descent worthwhile.

Another view of Mooney a couple hundred yards downstream.

Heading down canyon from Mooney falls. The 7 miles to the river looked like this the entire way with the red canyon walls growing in height every mile. There was a trail for the most part but I had to cross the stream numerous times. These 7 miles are the best part of Havasu Canyon.

Should have brought a fishing rod

Getting close to the confluence with the Colorado River

Getting closer...

Made it!!! Colorado River vs. Havasu Creek: The color contrast is incredible

Mission Accomplished: The mighty Colorado River of the Grand Canyon

I wasn't alone down there...It's a little weird being so far removed from civilization, in such a remote area, yet there are so many people down there with fresh fruits and vegetables, stereos, and beer. It kind of ruined the wilderness feel to an otherwise majestic hike to the Colorado River.

One last parting shot of Havasu Falls before beginning the long hike out

Sustainable Training

2010-05-02T02:35:00.002+08:00

Written on 3/15/10

Sustainability as it relates to industry generally means that a company can consistently produce long term profits. This means that a company should not ravage the land, break laws, and do whatever they have to do to make quick profit. Instead, they must pay attention to the minor things that don’t add immediate value: invest in the community, educate its employees, abide by the law, and establish good will with community. In other words, a good company must invest time/money/energy now so they can continue to prosper far into the in the future.

I see now that my training has not been sustainable. Since the fall, my running has been consistent and of good volume. But I have been lazy in many aspects. I never stretch, I have done little core strength training, working longer hours, and lately I have been staying up late. I don’t feel that doing sit-ups or stretching makes you a faster running. I do believe that consistent, high volume running over a long period of time makes a fast runner. Therefore, by doing the little things: core strength, stretching, and resting adequately, you allow yourself to train consistently over time and indirectly make you run faster.

This concept isn’t rocket science and most coaches teach this and most athletes know this. I Know this. I have just been a little greedy and lazy. Pushing the envelope to see how little I can do and still run well.

I finally broke down after a wonderful start to 2010. Since my half marathon run I have been hanging onto thread with constant aching in my right knee and IT band. Instead of correcting the problem, I just did the minimum amount of body work needed to correct the symptoms. The 50 miler exposed my weakness and shut me down. I don’t blame the 50 miler for the injury as it was a long time coming for me. The 50 just put me over the top.

My knee hurts badly. I haven’t run in over a week since that epic run and my right knee still causes me to walk with a limp. It seems I will have to take a long time off and slowly build back up. This is a bummer as my early year training volume would have been a good spring board into the summer/fall trail racing season. Instead, I have to start over, be patient, and rebuild the foundation that I laid over the winter.

These things happen. I just have to learn from it, recover, be happy for the good runs that I got in and look forward to the future runs and races I will no doubt enjoy. Time to climb out of the pit.

Update: I have been feeling better and slowly getting back into it.

ULTRA Lovin

2010-03-14T01:59:00.001+08:00

I took a leap into the unknown last weekend. I raced 50 (51) miles at the Old Pueblo 50 mile Endurance Run. The race takes place annually in the beautiful Santa Rita Mountains about 1 hour southeast of Tucson. The hilly course consists of single track trails, graded dirt road, and most commonly double-wide quad trails. The one screwball in the course was the half dozen or so stream crossing over the last 10 miles.

The weather was as perfect. Conditions were overcast, crisp 40's at the start, and a slight increase of temperature during to the race to low 50's. This ideal weather seemed to dampen the misery of running 50 miles.

I prepared bottles to drop at different aid stations spread out throughout the course. I also utilized aid stations to top off my bottle. I carried one hand bottle at all times. I consumed 5 20oz bottles of Perpeteum, 20oz of h2o, 20 oz of Heed, and 1 Gu. I did not have any caffeine which may have been a mistake. I did not take sodium or electrolyte tablets which is another thing I would try for next time.

I bolted from work early on Friday arriving at my camp under cover of darkness. There were two things that surprised me as I rolled into my resting place for the evening. The first was the heavy border patrol presence. They had a check point right before I turned off the main highway onto the dirt road. And then as I turned down the dirt road a large sign read something like this, "Caution: Smugglers, Drug Runners, and Illegal immigrants…Enter at your own Risk." This certainly isn't something you want to see when you are camping alone the night before a big race. But it's a reality of being near the border. The second thing that surprised me was the number of runners camped out in the parking area before the race. There were probably a dozen or so vans, RV's, and tents grouped closely together. All fears concerning a smuggler waking me up at 3am, stripping me naked, and stealing my truck were dismissed because there were so many others camping there as well. Spoiled road marathoners or 10ker's would scoff at the idea of sleeping on the ground the night before a big race. However, in the subculture of ultra running (and trail running) it is common practice. I parked my truck about 300 yards away from the group, went for a 10 min shakeout jog under the stars, unraveled my sleeping setup, and plopped down for bed in the bed of my pickup truck at 9:55 pm.

I slept great. I awoke at 4:45 am naturally without an alarm clock as if my body knew what was to come. I quickly packaged all my sleeping gear and took care of all my pre-race business. Before long the race was underway. I contemplated warming up for this event by jogging 5-10 minutes but it just seemed silly. 50 miles is a long time to warm up.

I didn't feel great as the race started. Two guys (Todd and Josh) led immediately from the start and were just cavalier. They were talking and chit chatting like it was a Sunday long run with an old pal from college. I on the other hand was nervous, butterflies in my stomach, and just plain scared of what was to come which elevated my focus. I was content to just hang behind them and let them guide me through the maze of dirt roads and trails along the course.

I made the decision to just get the through the first hour with as little mental energy as possible. Heck, I peed 3 times and pooped once during that first hour. I figured why struggle through carrying this garbage in my body. It's a 50 miler not a 5k. Instead, I'll just take a few extra minutes now to get my body right for the meat and potatoes of the race during the middle 35 or so miles.

As we came through the 7 mile/ 1 hourish aid station, the two guys in front stopped talking to one another and appeared to get focused. The three of us pretty much ran together for the next 10ish miles. Todd seemed to take a hard fall while running downhill at around mile 16 (or 17 or 18?). He said he was OK at the time but later dropped out at Mile 29.

I took lead as we approached the mile 19 aid station. I decided to use the relatively flat, well graded dirt road to pick up the pace and use my, and I use the term loosely, "speed" to create a gap and use different muscles in my legs.

I came through the mile 25 aid station feeling good but the course quickly got hard. I think the 25 mile point was the low point on the course but a high point for me physically and emotionally. For the next 4 miles the course was all uphill. The second half of the course was much more difficult and I'm not just saying that because I already had 25 miles on my legs or maybe I am.

During these middle lonely miles, I tried to keep the run light hearted. I occasionally took a look around to take in the scenery, especially the snow capped mountains off in the distance. It was a beautiful course… for the first 30 or so miles. After the 30 mile point, I remained totally focused on the run and my body. Every step hurt a little bit all over with concentrations of pain shooting down from my hips and knees and it felt like a roofing nail was stuck in the ball of my right foot. The cumulative effect was downright miserable.

Survive and Advance. Like the March Madness college basketball tournament, you have to win one game at a time to move on. Just get to the next aid station, then the next one, then the next one.

I tip toed over the first couple stream crossing starting somewhere around mile 39. As I came upon more and more of these steam crossings over the last 10 miles, I just said screw it and ran right through them. The freezing cold water rejuvenated my legs and for a brief period of time numbed the pain in my joints. On one stream crossing, I stood in the water for 15 seconds before moving on.

Survive and Advance. I made it to the final aid station at Mile 46 (4.6 miles from the finish) at about 6:20. I knew I would have to hammer it home to break 7 hours as my pace had severely fallen apart during the previous 10 miles. I picked up the pace then slowed it down, then picked it up constantly torn between backing off and not feeling so awful or hammering it home. Did it really matter to break 7 hours, I mean 50 miles is an accomplishment in and of itself, right? Somewhere at around 6:40 the old "Pain is temporary, Pride is forever" slogan flashed in my head. I reasoned that I may never be in this situation again (or more like may never do this again) so just suck it up, finish as hard as possible, get the stupid time, and have no regrets.

6:58

I wasn't elated as I crossed the finish line. I was just completely spent and everything hurt. I managed to keep attention and take a few pictures with Lynda, the Race director, before konking out. I could hardly walk or stay awake let alone eat or drink anything. Fortunately, two nurses (pam and mary) who happened to be volunteering took good care of me and brought me drinks. I felt like a little baby.

Josh came in pretty soon after me. He seemed to be a veteran at this sort of sadistic endurance sport as he bounced back a little quicker than me after he finished. He is a nice guy. We talked a little after the race. I would have liked to talk more with him and pick his brain a little bit but I was just feeling awful. I finally lightened up and regained my strength after lying down for over two hours.

It was an overall a great day and a big accomplishment for anyone who had the gumption to toe the starting line at Old Pueblo. I was in awe and inspired by many these warriors. Many of them had spouses and kids on hand. One guy had his wife and 8 month old daughter cheering him on. To me, it is just incredible for someone to balance some many different things in life, to dump the mindset that people can't run 50 miles much in a day, and rise up to the challenge. What an Event.

Smoke Breaks

2010-02-19T12:58:00.001+08:00

I work in a blue collar industry. People employed in this type of
setting, or anyone who works for a corporation, tend to believe that
the earlier you start working, the better, more productive worker you
are. This is hardly true.

I am fortunate enough to essentially show up and leave when I want
within reason. Most people show up at 7 and work until 4 but some show
up at 7:30 or 8 and leave at 5 or 6. I think this is perfectly ok as
long as you get the job done. What difference does it make when you
come in to work? Furthermore, what difference does it make to only
work 6 hours instead of 8 if you get the same amount of work done?

Last week I came into to work at 7:20am. As I entered the office
building, I was teased by a group of "hard" working, "blue" collar
individuals standing by the door smoking. One guy looked down at his
watch and joked' "Banker hours, eh?". I laughed it off and went to
work without really thinking about it. Ha ha ha have a good time out
here polluting your body.

It dawned on me later that these guys are brilliant. If you smoke, you
get more breaks. How silly would it be if they were standing around
outside playing jenga or hopscotch? It simply wouldn't be tolerated
and the employees would be reprimanded. But when there is a group
bs'ing off on a tangent about Obama's failed economic recovery plan,
literally sucking their own life away, no one even blinks an eye.

Maybe I should start smoking.

Lost Dutchman- Back to Marathoning

2010-02-16T13:08:00.001+08:00

I made a solid return to marathon yesterday. Last time I ran a marathon was December of 2008. I remember limping in the last 5 miles and feeling terrible after the race. My brother had to help me to the car and back to the hotel room. I could barely walk for 4 days after and my IT band still bothers me to this day. Yesterday's race was much of the same but it felt a little sweeter.

I managed to run over 10 minutes faster than I did 15 months ago. I can attribute it to consistent training, running up and down mountains at high elevation, and more experience with running longer distances.

I questioned even running this race because my right knee was bothering me. I planned on hanging with the leaders for the first half and keeping an eye on the knee. I did exactly that. The first place guy set a solid pace, 5:40's, so I tucked in about 100 meters behind him. To be honest, I felt the pace was a bit hot and I didn't think I could maintain it.

My knee had noticeable discomfort through miles 7 or 8 at which point I seriously contemplated stopping or at least backing off the pace. I had been overstriding with my legs trying to make up the ground between myself and 1st place. I wasn't focusing on my body but instead on him. I was constantly questioning my ability to beat him and monitoring his stride for any signs of weakness. The beautiful thing about the marathon is that you can make adjustments on the go. I made a mental effort at this point to shorten and quicken my stride with the hopes of reducing the stress on my knee. It worked.

By halfway point, I caught the leader and any thought of knee pain was thrown out the window. I was just competing. I just wanted to blow the doors off the second half and run as fast I could.

We ran together through 19 miles where I created seperation on a long uphill. At this point, we had joined the half marathoners and would share the course with them for the rest of the race. They were an enthuiastic bunch who pretty much cheered for me the entire way to the finish.

At mile 20, I made an effort to push the pace and get away because I surely didn't want it to come down to a final sprint. I ran a mile 20 to 21 in 5:16 and literally never looked back. By mile 23, I was feeling it bad but still managed to run in the 5:30-5:40's range for the final 3 miles. As I turned the 90 degree corner at mile 26, I looked up to see the entire course lined with spectators. I think I slowed down noticably as I pumped my fist and raised my hands in the air. I was as excited as one could be after running a hard 26 miles. It was an awesome experience, one that I will never forget.

To put it all together on race day feels awesome and justifies the hours of time I spend pursuing this silly and seemingly meaningless pastime.

Last Week

2010-02-11T19:44:00.001+08:00

I ran 85 miles in 6 days in singles last week. That's like 14 miles
per day (running 30 in one day tends to skew the average a little)!
On the 7th day, I did a 6 hour hike in the Superstitions. This is the
most mileage I have done in quite some time.

My Training

2010-02-11T19:38:00.001+08:00

I typically run 60- 70 miles per week. I know that sounds like a ton
and I must have no life but it really isn't too difficult. Here's how
I do it without mentally breaking down or burning out.

Run consistently (every day)- if I only ran 5 days per week, I would
have to average 14 miles per day to get 70+ miles for the week. That
would be very difficult for me becuase after 10 or 11 miles it becomes
a chore and requires extra focus. Instead, I prefer to run every day
and average 10 miles per day to achieve a higher mileage week. Its
psychologically liberating to commit to running everyday. I simply
don't accept taking the day off and always make it a priority to run.
Of course, I'm not a professional so if I miss a day its not the end
of the world, just the end of the streak.

Run easy- I take runs as I feel. Most of the time I don't feel good
enough to run a hard workout so I just do an easy 10 miler. It is
common for me not to do any workouts for weeks. It doesn't take a lot
of mental energy for me to run 10 miles after work everyday thus it
allows me to be consistent and not get burnt out. That stigma that
you have to blast through 3 workouts per week is wrong. When training
for the phoenix half, I didn't do a single mile in training faster
than race pace. Yet I was able to maintain those 5:20 miles and even
close in under 5 minutes.

Run long and strong- I think the long run is the most important
workout of the week. And hilly running will strengthen the connective
tissue in the legs. I run hills everyday because they are all around
me forcing me to be a stronger runner. I think building a solid
aeorobic base will set you up well to run fast. Whenever I would
rejoin the my college xc team after summer break, I would crush the
workouts for the first few weeks. Then I would level off, then my
performance would decline. The reason is that I was in such good
aeorobic shape after a summer of easy strength training and my legs
were fresh from the lack of hard running. As the season progressed,
the heavy dose of workouts took its toll and my performance suffered.
However, I do believe that running so many hard workouts made me a
tougher runner. Without that background of speed and intensity for so
many years, I may not be able to get away with my current routine.

Stay sharp- I do strides at least once per week so I don't forget how
to run fast. Also, in case I need to outkick Deena I will be ready.

Run workouts as they come- I only run at most one workout per week. I
may run 5xmile at 5:30 to 6:00. Not all that hard but it reminds me
how to run near race pace. This way when I race comes, my legs are
fresh and I can run hard.

My training- I run an easy 60-90 minutes during the week after work. I
do 10x100m strides on Mondays and a workout on Tues. Or Wed. My long
run is 15+ miles (this last month has been 20+ miles) on Saturday
morning. Pretty simple.

Summary- run a lot of hilly, easy mileage with an emphasis on the
weekly long run. Throw in strides and a light workout once per week.

This is a barebones training approach that works for me. I think I
could run faster if I ran more race specific workouts and increased my
mileage but then I would be training like a pro. I simply don't have
the mental capacity, time, or energy to commit much more effort than I
currently put in. This routine allows me to be competitive with a
commitment of 90 minutes per day maximum.

Random thoughts

2010-02-10T11:11:00.001+08:00

Ipads ipads ipads

You don't really have to know anything about them, you just have to
mention them in any conversation involving technology and every one
will instantly look upon you as a guru. That's what I do. I say
something like: the ipad looks cool but come on it doesn't even have a
camera. That is pretty much all I know about but everyone thinks I am
really technologically inclined. Ipads ipads ipads. An impractical
device overly marketed by Apple to genrate hype and divert attention
away from their rivals. Ipads ipads ipads.

Barefoot running is a real hot topic now especially after reading
Christopher Mcdougals book "Born to Run." I read the book and liked
it a lot mainly because it touches on the primal joys of running. The
other main thesis is pretty much shoes are the cause for all injury
and that humans were made to go barefoot. My take is that he is right:
Humans were designed to go without shoes but to imply that you will
eventually be a great runner if you simply ditch the shoes is
misleading. I think most people could benefit from supplemental
barefoot training but few could make the transition to total barefoot
running. We have been wearing shoes way too long. I typically do 15
minutes or more BF running at the end of a training run about 3 times
per week. I believe this helps eliminate fatigue of the foot during
trail races where the foot is often twisted and turned.

Not blogging everyday. Obviously I have not been posting a blog
everyday. I have to use my phone to write and post so it is just too
time consuming. I have benn trying to write a post on the computer in
hopes I will someday post it on the weekend when I can get a
connection.

Tyypically I connect to the internet at the prescott library.
Libraries are great. Everything is free. I just found out I can
download pretty much any magazine on the library webpage with my
library card. No need for subscriptions anymore I geuss. Last time I
was there I downloaded an issue of Backpacker magazine dedicated to
alaska. I might go there this summer so that is a great find.

Running 30 Miles

2010-02-07T05:48:00.000+08:00

Today, I ran 30 miles: 15 miles out from my apartment toward Campwood
and 15 miles back. I covered the distance in 3:33 averaging 7:10 to
7:15 per mile. I consider that a solid workout and I was quite
pleased.

Running for this length of time exposes areas in your legs and mind
that are weak. My hips (IT band), feet, and lower midsection (abs and
back) are my trouble areas. I pretty much had to limp through the
last 5 miles because of sharp pain shooting through all parts of my
legs. Other than this acute pain, I felt pretty good muscularly,
areobically, and nutritionally.

I carried two 22 oz hand bottles- one filled with a dilute
gatorade/protein powder mix and the other filled with water. I
stashed a third bottle with another 20 or so ounces at mile 4 to
refill with on the way back. I consumed three gels. I had a fourth
gel with me and I could have used it with 5 miles to go but I decided
it wouldn't really matter at that point so I saved it for another day.

Why run 30 miles? During a dull, rainy day in December, I put my
name on the wait list for the Old Pueblo 50 mile endurance run on
March 6th in the Santa Rita Mtns of southern Arizona. I got an email
in January saying I am in. I accepted.

The prospect of running 50 miles in one shot is a scary one. I know I
can do it and finish the race but at what cost? It will hurt really
bad and with my history of IT band problems, I may never walk without
a limp again, haha. Also, so many things can go wrong: nutrition,
blisters, twisted ankles, heat, and loss of focus over the 8 hours of
running. However, I welcome the challenge and I'm curious to see if
the hoopla sorrounding ultramarathoning is justified.

Friday Fun Running

2010-02-06T14:25:00.001+08:00

I had such a lovely run today after a busy work week. It was a good
busy though, the kind of busy that made me feel like I was actually
earning the paycheck. It is satisfying to give your best effort.

The run I did today was a standard after work jaunt from the
apartment; up to radio tower and back, along the dirt road (bypass)
that sits at the foot of airport mesa, up the mesa to the airport
fence, to Bruce Mine rd and back through the neighborhood to the
apartment.

The thing that I like about running is that even though I have run
this course countless times in the past year and a half, no two runs
have ever been the same. I notice different rocks outcropping from
the hillside, I see javelina or snakes or deer or cattle, and the
unique feeling before, during and after each run.

I felt like I was running on clouds today. Mind my was finally clear
and looking forward to a good weekend. Thirty minutes into the run
the sun began to set. The sky looked hand painted as streaks of
orange-pink-purple-red decorated a clear blue canvas. It was one of
those fortunate times times where I was truly trapped in the now and
aware of such a moment.

Races I Ran in 2009

2010-02-05T10:53:00.001+08:00

Race for the Creeks, Prescott, 6.1 mi
Gaspin in the Aspen, Flagstaff, 15k
Pikes Peak Ascent, Manitou Springs, 13.1 mi
Jerome Hill Climb, Jerome, 4.5 mi
Flagstaff Marathon, Flagstaff, 13 mi
Soulstice, Flagstaff, ???????

Man, those were some good ones. Pikes was by far the most well
organized event and most memorable. How do u describe running
alongside 1000 people to the top of the world? You can't. The
soulstice is a cool event that any flagstaff trail runner must do.
Jerome is a classic that I have ran twice. The town is sweet. The
other two flagstaff races are beautiful and well worth running. The
Race for the Creeks was of the smaller variety but it will grow as
2009 was the first run.

Bring on 2010 baby.

My Sisters Blog

2010-02-05T10:37:00.001+08:00

stbanter.blogspot.com

My sister followed in her little brother's footsteps and created a
blog. Good for her and us. She has guided me to creating healthy
recipies including one that I made yesterday: creamy sweet potato
soup. This happens to be the second time I made this fun to make
soup. Basically, you just boil the sweet potatoes in a veggie broth,
add a few spic and some onions, and then the fun part of putting it
into a blender and watching it magically change consistentcy to a
thick, creamy sweet potato soup. Yummy. Maybe, she will post the
recipe.

She also wrote abot running the Pittsburgh Marathon this upcoming May.
She ran an awesome race last year. I had the honor of running the
last mile or so with her. Big road races like this give me chills and
make me want to compete. Suddenly, I can justify the sacrifice of
running 1 or 2 hours everyday after experiencing such a spectacle.

Needless to say, that race happened to be the turning point in my
training last year. I had been struggling with IT band problems all
last spring. I went to the Pittsburgh Marathon and it got me fired
up. I decided to stop making excuses and work through my leg issues.
And I did. I had an awesome summer and fall of running and racing.

I raised the bar for myself by running up mountains and running for a
loooong time. Every race I ran in 2009 took place above 5000 feet
with most at 8000 ft. The fear of altitude is overhyped unless you
are above 10K. I had little trouble moving up from 4k to 8k to race.
I also learned that you can recover rather quicker from a high
altitude trail race. The day after Pikes Peak last year, I felt
good...I suppose it should be rather easy to recover from 12 minute
miles haha.

Test Post via Email

2010-02-04T12:48:00.001+08:00

Hello

--
Sent from my mobile device

Pen Lady

2010-02-03T07:45:00.000+08:00

Last week I was resupplying at Walmart. I stumbled into the office supplies isle. It was there that I saw a woman who looked dumbfounded. Clearly, she had been standing in front of this wall of pens for quite awhile. I was gawking at her trying to understand what she was thinking. Suddenly, she turned toward me. I tried to glance away but she caught me. She looks at me then back at the pens then back at me to pens to me to pens and sighs, " You borrow someone’s pen and think 'this is the greatest pen ever, I need to buy some' and then you get to the store and you can never find it..." Instinctively, I just smiled and concurred and quickly went on with my business. But she was absolutely right. That feeling of trying something new for the first time is exhilarating. It happens all the time with everything, not just pens. I remember riding a friends bike to class and thinking to myself, “This bike runs so smooth. Why doesn’t my bike feel this good?” Then after a week of riding that new, smooth feeling is gone and you notice all the imperfections. Another instance of this phenomenon is when you go to a friend’s house for dinner and try this great tasting Thai chicken stir fry. So you get the recipe make it yourself like 50 times in the next week. It becomes just like your own cooking and you quickly forget how it tasted the first time. So my advice to that lady buying new pens is don’t buy new pens because after 2 weeks the pen will lose that good feel.

blogging everyday

2010-02-03T07:43:00.000+08:00

Question: What if I wrote an entry on this blog everyday?

Answer: You would probably be reading one poorly written, random blog on issues that you could care less about.

What the heck. I will attempt to write one blog per day for the entire month February (notice I chose the shortest month). And if I don't, then I will be punished severely. No, actually who cares? No one really reads blogs anyway. Instead, most blog readers just skim over and leech out any information that may be of some personal benefit before moving on to the next blog in their list of several hundred. Anyway, I have no obligation to actually follow through on this and nothing really to write about but I think it will be a fun experiment. Let's go.

PS. I tried to post this yesterday from my phone but failed miserably.

Phoenix 1/2 Marathon

2010-02-01T06:50:00.000+08:00

Where's Waldo???

2 weeks ago I ran the PF Chang’s Rock n' Roll "we're gonna make you pay big bucks to run a race even though we are heavily sponsored" half marathon in Phoenix. The weather was amazing, the course was flat and fast, and I had a fantastic cheering section. I ran just under 1:10.

I felt remarkable. I started grinning ear to ear as I passed through the water station at mile 9. The scene intrigued me: this small town band trying to make a name for itself playing popular 70’s music, these bored volunteers handing out refreshments to weary runners, brainwashed high school cheerleaders dancing to pop music, and my awareness of everything that was happening. It felt artificial. I wanted to make light of the situation so I began rapidly raising my right hand up and down knowing that they would cheer louder for me and in turn get my adrenaline going to finish strong. This whole ordeal made me laugh.

I passed through mile 10 in 54:10. The quick math made me realize that I would have to run a fast 5k, sub 15:50, to finish under 1:10:00. I picked up the pace a bit and came through mile 11 at 5:11 gaining confidence as I blew by a few guys. Hmmm. I finished the last two miles in less than 10 minutes and the rest is history. I felt great and finished a happy man even though the 36 year-old American record holder Deena Kastor, a girl, beat me haha.

I had one of those days where you feel like you can run forever and wonder how much faster you could go. I don't know how or why or when they come, but it happens if you run enough races. I can speculate that a combination of the following led to a good day:
I did very little speed work which resulted in fresh legs

I was extremely consistent in my running
I ran a barrage of mountain races at altitude over the fall.
The race day atmosphere was incredible
My mom and brother were on hand as well as family friends so I felt obligated to run fast
I was relaxed and had fun

Thanks family and friends for the support and sharing the experience with me. It wouldn't be the same without you.

It's baking season

2009-12-13T05:20:00.000+08:00

I have not turned on the heat yet. I know I live in Arizona but still it gets cold. The temperature inside my apartment hovers between 50 and 53 degrees from the time I get home to the time I go to bed. I wake up to temperatures in the upper 40's. Last year the, lowest reading was 44 degrees. The pipes won’t freeze, will they?

So in an effort to cope with these chilly temperatures, I have been baking. After one hour of baking at 350, the temperature climbs 2 or 3 degrees to somewhere around 54. This is entirely manageable, especially after a long shower. By the time the quick high from the shower wears off it is time for bed. I crawl into my mummy bag, light a candle for the warm aura it gives off, and read for a little bit before falling asleep. I make sure to keep a pair of sandals next to the bed for late night bathroom breaks. The cold tile floor can suck the warmth right out of you without proper insulation.

Back to baking. I typically bake 1 big meal per week, 1 small snack, and 1 or 2 deserts. For example, last week:

1 Big Meal- Spinach and cheese stuffed shells (I was eating this for 3 days lunch/dinner)

1 Small Snack- Thinly sliced sweet potatoes w/ some oil and salt (very good, only lasted a few minutes)

Desert 1: Pumpkin Cookies (I bought 4 big cans of pumpkin on sale)

Desert 2: Pumpkin Bread (I know I know that is why I run everyday)

So there you have it. Turn the oven on because it heats you twice, once while baking and once while eating.

The Granddaddy- END

2009-12-06T08:12:00.000+08:00

The wonders of the Grand Canyon cannot be adequately represented in symbols of speech nor by speech itself. The resources of the graphic art are taxed beyond their powers in attempting to portray its features... The glories and beauties of form, color and sound unite in the Grand Canyon... It has infinite variety and no part is ever duplicated. Its colors, although many and complex at any instant, change with the ascending and declining sun... You cannot see the Grand Canyon in one view...but to see it you have to toil from month to month through these labyrinths...but if strength and courage are sufficient for the task, by a year's toil a concept of sublimity can be obtained never again to be equaled on hither side of Paradise."

Powell, John Wesley 1909

Conclusion

Not much to say. This trip was a wonderful experience. I wish I had more time to do longer (1 week +) hikes like this. It’s hard to have a true adventure like this one on a weekend and you have too much to think other stuff to worry about. I can’t help but wonder how much greater it would be if I had nothing to worry about when I returned. Things such as bills, loans, work, appointments, and all that stuff that were in the back of mind during the trip. In no way did these thoughts consume my mind. It’s just that it would be that much more enjoyable if I was completely free.

The Grand Canyon is beautiful, diverse, huge, and pristine one you get outside the corridor trails. It is so much more than just the view points. I could do 10 seperate weeklong and see a new area of this Canyon. how wonderful to have something so marvelous in my own backyard.

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

Part 7

The Granddaddy-Part 7

2009-12-06T07:57:00.002+08:00

Friday, Day 7- 19 miles, Tonto, South Kaibab, Back BABY
I couldn’t sleep. I laid awake in my sleeping bag from 3am to 5 am. I was anxious to complete the journey. I packed my gear up and was out on the trail at 5:30am. It was still dark and the trail hard to follow so I ended up just sitting in the dark eating some trail mix and energy bars.

As the sun rose I began hammering out the miles along the Tonto Trail. I was so ready to be back. It wasn’t that I was getting sick of the canyon, but that I craved the finish line, to break the tape, and to complete the quest.

I arrived back to the South Kaibab trail after hammering out about 15 miles in the early morning. I still had about 5 miles of hiking and a few thousand vertical feet to climb out but the adventure was over. There was so much commotion along the South Kaibab corridor: perfume scented tourists, tent cities, smelly mules, chainsaws, construction, and 10 foot wide graded surface which the park service calls a trail. It didn’t feel like the wilderness that I trudged through the past week. The trail felt fake. At this point the trip was over; I was just trying to get the heck out.

I finally made it back to the south Kaibab trailhead, the same place I started the journey 6 nights and 5 hours earlier. It was suprisingly anti-climatic. I did the following things after the trip ended:

1. Drank the Old Chub brew that I carried for 56.3 miles from LCR, thanks for that one Ron.

2. Got in bus, rode to backcountry office, weighed pack=18 pounds total, went to truck

3. Texted family to tell them I made it out alive. (I would have called but my phone was about to die.)

4. 2x hot shower, cost me 4 bucks total for 16 minutes of pure bliss

5. Ate food at Market Plaza…It was good but not what I dreamt about… I should have waited until I got to a better restaurant but I was ravenous so I gorged myself on pretty crappy food.

6. Drove to Flagstaff

Thats it.

Big horns

The horns above must have come from the grandson of this big boy. Such a large creature living in such an inhospitable place. Amazing.

Final view of the canyon from the South Kaibab Trail. So beautiful.

yea yea yea yea yea yea yea

good Old Chub

The Granddaddy- Part 6

2009-12-06T07:38:00.001+08:00

Im out of quotes...

Thursday, Day 6- 26 miles (probably close to 30), Escalante, Tonto

I awoke from an unusually short night of sleep. I went to bed last night almost 4 hours later than normal. I was in bed by 8pm the previous four nights of my trip. I guess when there are people to talk to and a warm fire there is reason for a solo hiker to stay up later.

The rafters treated me to one final warm meal. Eggs, bacon, and fresh fruit. The cantaloupe and honeydew was refreshing. There’s something about eating fresh fruit while camping that just feels good. I was stuffed, refreshed, and mentally prepared to finish off the adventure. I parted ways with my rafting friends and hiked onward.

I expected the Escalante route to be difficult, hard to follow and dangerous based on the reviews I read. It wasn’t. The trail was wide, smooth, and marked frequently with cairns...for the most part. There was one steep section where I had to scramble/climb up a 30 foot rock face. I kept my pack on and made it (I probably would take pack off and hoist it up next time).

I did make one mistake on Escalante. I was walking so fast I missed 75 mile canyon. I figured out I made a mistake after 45 minutes when I came to a very difficult descent down to the River. I was not comfortable with the descent so I reviewed my topo map and turned back. I descended 75 mile canyon. I’m glad I did. 75 mile canyon is an awesome slot canyon.

After conquering Escalante, Tonto was the longest and final section of trail before coming full circle to the South Kaibab. The trail itself is flat and windy and offering view after stunning view of the canyon from the Tonto plateau over 1000 feet above the CR (Colorado River). This portion was beautiful, but I felt ready to be finished. Also, the windiness of the trail was tiresome. The trail would follow the plateau rim for a short distance offering beautiful glimpses of the CR. Then the trail would jut back one mile into the canyon to go around a deep wash and one mile back to the plateau rim. I estimate that that about 3 miles of Tonto trail advances 1 river mile.

As night approached I ran into my first hiker since Nankoweap Creek close to 40 miles away. The hiker happened to be a backcountry ranger, Ranger Ed. Ranger Ed was a big dude with a BIG pack. It must have weighed over 80 pounds. He was partly to blame for making some poor equipment choices such as a steel thermos, but more to blame was the stun gun, two way radio, satellite phone, oversized first aid kit, pepper spray, and whatever else he was required to carry. How could he enjoy the backcountry with so much stuff and weight? Less is better when you are trying to enjoy the wilderness and cover some earth. I felt bad for Ranger Ed for having to haul around such a load. Ranger Ed was a nice guy, I mean how could he not be when his job is to spend 8 days hiking in the canyon backcountry. He checked my permit and even advanced it so I could legally get ahead of my itinerary.

I passed Ranger Ed and hiked for another 3 hours under Moonlight. I finally arrived at Grapevine creek where I spent the night.

Waking up after sleeping next to the warm fire. At least I don't have to stand.

75 mile slot canyon

Life on the Tonto Trail

Abundant Life on the Tonto Trail

Surfs up

Sun going down down down

The Granddaddy- Part 5

2009-12-06T07:20:00.001+08:00

Such a fire will keep all night, with very little replenishing; and it makes a very sociable camp-fire, and one around which the most impossible reminiscences sound plausible, instructive, and profoundly entertaining.
-Mark Twain, Roughing It

Wednesday, Day 5- 12 miles, only 4 hours of hiking, cross river, Beamer, Escalante

The wait continues. I was so anxious to get moving again. I wanted to be on the trail hammering out miles, sweating, and admiring the canyon from yet another viewpoint but I was content. Whether or not a boat came was out of my control. All I could do was wait and enjoy the peaceful solitude in the canyon.

While I was waiting I really started to assess the feasibility of building the raft. I collected several large logs and sticks, sketched out a plan for a log raft, and scouted the river for slow spots to cross. I figured if the raft could keep my torso above the water and get me across the river before the rapids down stream, then it could be done, sort of. Fortunately, I was getting ready to put this thing together when I looked upstream and saw several blue boats and a few kayaks.

BOAT. Yea Yea Yea Yea Yea Yea. What a relief this was. The wait was over.

The rafting group was awesome. Their trip leader was a riot. He was, I want to say, like 72 years old and on his 41st Grand Canyon Expedition. The rest of the rafters came from all walks of life from all over the map. There were sixteen people along for the ride. I’d say most were married, over 30, and very experienced with Grand Canyon rafting trips. They were all very nice and eager to talk to me. Most were wandering what in world I was doing out there.

After they took me across the river, I was treated to a gourmet Lunch. I ate a sandwich stacked very high with turkey, provolone cheese, Dijon mustard, lettuce, tomato, and avocado. Then I ate several cookies. Finally, I washed it all down with a Fat Tire beer. I don’t know why I had a beer. It was very cold, windy and generally not ideal beer drinking conditions. I just wanted to say I had a beer while sitting next to the Little Colorado River (LCR as Grand Canyon pros call it) 18 miles from any trailhead.

The LCR is Awesome. The Beamer Trail is awesome. This section of the Grand Canyon is a well kept gem. I saw zero people out on the trail between LCR and over 30 miles later on the Tonto Trail.

After finishing a satisfying lunch, I hiked for about 12 miles until nightfall and ended up meeting my rafting buddies at their camp. I was served a nice spaghetti dinner w/ tossed salad. Yummy. Two wholesome meals in one day.

The fire that they had going was crucial. Everyone was huddled around it trying to keep warm. It was very cold and I didn’t have much to wear. One of the rafters could see me shivering and gave me a fleece jacket to wear. I ended up wearing it until I left the next morning.

The fireside activities were plentiful: music, poem reading, storytelling, and joking. As usual, most of the conversation revolved around storytelling. Mainly stories about past adventures…Alaska, San Juan River, previous Grand Canyon trips, near death experiences, anything you could think of. I asked many questions. I love learning about new places to explore. It gives me something to daydream about while I’m punching the keyboard at work.

Then there were the jokes. The jokes were dirty, rude, and obscene. Anywhere else in society, except maybe a team locker, this kind of talk would be frowned upon. However, around the campfire there are no rules or etiquette to abide by. You don’t have to worry about getting sent down to HR or sued or arrested. Fireside conversation is unfiltered. People tend to release all their built up emotion here. I’m always amazed at what is on someone’s mind when you let them speak totally unconstrained and without any consequence. It was a very entertaining evening. Today was day 7 of their trip and I had to wonder how they could still have so many funny jokes.

Beamer Cabin and LCR

Life On Beamer Trail- Walking on the cliff edge and enjoying the view

Standard epic view looking up river.

The Granddaddy- Part 4

2009-11-22T03:51:00.002+08:00

“The whole value of solitude depends upon one's self; it may be a sanctuary or a prison, a haven of repose or a place of punishment, a heaven or a hell, as we ourselves make it”
-John Lubbock

Monday, Day 3- 10 miles, shore of Colorado River

I woke up before first light and quickly hiked up to the Nankoweap Granaries. I left all of my gear at my beachside camp to pack up later and just took myself and my camera. The ruins are really quite amazing for many reasons:

1. They are still intact and standing after hundreds of years.
2. The view is just spectacular
3. To think that someone actually lived down hear: It is so beautiful and peaceful.
4. Remote. It is really difficult to get to: 14 strenuous miles and 6000 vertical feet hiking one way or a multi-day rafting trip.

After hiking the ruins, I began the hike. I was feeling pretty rested and I expected this day to be relatively relaxed. On paper, the route appeared to be 9 river miles and flat. However, there is no trail along the shore of the Colorado River so the route is a bushwhack. There are some deer trails to follow but for the most part it is a combination of beach/sandy walking, scrambling over rocks, and pressing through thick brush. It beat me up badly.

I took time mid day to go swimming/shower in the Colorado even though it was chilly outside. I had to. I wasn’t about to spend a week in the Grand Canyon and not swim in the Mighty Colorado River. The water was absolutely freezing. My heart almost stopped and breathing became erratic as soon as I jumped in. I was told later that the water temperature is 48 degrees at Lees Ferry and increases temperature 1 degree every 20 miles. I was at mile 60 so the water temperature is approximately 51 degrees.

I finally made it into my camp at around 3:30 after the most difficult 9 or 10 miles of my life. I was discouraged. I thought it would be easy. I was wrong.

As I lay in bed that evening under a starry evening and a bright moon, I thought about life outside of the canyon for the first time since starting the journey 3 days before. I wasn’t thinking about hot showers, steak dinners, a cozy bed, or any other creature comfort, instead I thought about loved ones and questioned the purpose of the trip. I wrote in my journal, “The trip couldn’t have ended after day two and I would have already had my adventure fix. To think that I covered more ground, saw more of this wonderful canyon in two days than most people will ever see.” I contemplated options for shortening the trip so I could get back sooner. I was tired, scraped up, and lonely. I was at a low point in the trip.

Me looking down river from the Nankoweap Ruins

Bushwacking it along the Colorado River

ICE- Taking a dip in the freezing cold water mid day

Tuesday, Day 4- Wait for boat, no miles

Video taken from my island retreat. I stayed here for 45 hours.

I slept in as late as I could today…8am. I knew I would be waiting for until about noon for a boat. I slowly peeled myself out of bed into the chilly, windy morning air and fired up the stove. I made some tea and ate some trail mix. I explored the surrounding area to warm up. And then I just hung out. My body needed a rest. It was good for me.

Why not swim? Too cold (51 deg), temps in the 40's, 30 mph winds, fast moving water, weak swimmer, alone, people die trying

Why not continue the bushwhack along River? Very Difficult hiking, had enough already, not on itinerary, not much to gain by doing this.

Why not turn around? And go where? 60 miles back to the only bridge across river

Why not build a raft? haha, actually thought about this, plenty of wood, nothing else to do, drew up plans, not that much rope, rapids about 100 yards down river, Rafters came just as I started gathering wood, Saved by the bell...Haha.

I really analyzed all options and the only choice, the best choice, was to wait for a boat. I was told by numerous reliable sources that at least one rafting party per day leaves Lees Ferry. I geuss this was the only day, the day that i needed to cross the river, that no rafters came through.

While eating dinner more doubts and questions stirred up in my mind. What am I doing out here? Why didn’t I plan this better? Why did I choose this Route. I just wanted to get across that stupid river and get moving. I was getting very anxious. I wanted to get home as soon as possible. But then I thought about it… What is at home? Pseudo obligations: bills, cleaning, oil changes, doctor/dentist/eye appointments, or re-apply for annual memberships. All this stuff that doesn’t directly add to my enjoyment in life but must be done because I have a job, car, and apartment. However, out there in the Canyon I was free from all of it. I was actually living. So for the rest of the trip I was in good spirits and savored every grand moment. This is my vacation, my time to get away. Why should I be anxious? I should enjoy this and relax. I am in the Grand Canyon.

My camp for 2 nights. I stacked some logs up to protect me from the wind and sand blasting at night. There was sand everywhere.

The Granddaddy- Part 3

2009-11-22T03:15:00.000+08:00

Point Imperial

Sunday, Day 2- 20 miles, Ken Patrick, Point Imperial, FR610, Nankoweap

I awoke this morning completely stiff from my lilttle rim to rim stroll I took the day prior. 27 miles + 10000 feet of vertical gain and loss + peak pack weight = a very hard first day.

The goods news, at the time, was that today’s route on paper looked to be a rather easy, downhill 20 mile day. It was straightforward for about 6 or 7 miles while hiking on level ground along the Ken Patrick Trail until I started down Nankoweap.

The Nankoweap Trail is classified as the hardest Rim to River trail. It has the largest vertical drop of any trail in the park (5600 ft). I thought it would be easy because I was going down hill but I was wrong. It was difficult and slow going. However, the few who conquer this punishing route are rewarded with the best views I have seen in the canyon and a chance to explore the only intact granaries (ruins) in the Park. Also, I heard there was a sweet waterfall 6 miles upriver but I only found out after my trip.

I took my time coming down Nankoweap because the views were breathtaking and I was getting a little shaky from the heights. There are no places on the trail where you have to use rope or climb across but there are places where you are within one big misstep of tumbling 2000 feet down into the canyon. I think I was a little more nervous than I should have been due to the wide open nature of this route. It allows you to see the narrow bench which the trail follows and the corresponding 2000 foot drop below it.

Nankoweap turned out to be my favorite trail on this trip. With that being said, I was relieved to make it down to the bottom of the canyon safely and correctly. It was here at the bottom of the Canyon where I saw my first hiker and water since the North Kaibab Trail, some 25+ miles and 24 hours prior. The solo-hiker, Eric, hiked down for 1 night to see the ruins and check Nankoweap off his robust list of Grand Canyon hikes.

I made finally made it to my camp on the shore of the Colorado River just below the Nankoweap Granaries at around 5pm. I was just plain beat and started to develop a sharp pain in my left quadriceps. The 11000+ vertical feet of descending on rough trails with a full pack took its toll on my body.

This was to be my first of many splendid nights below the Rim, sleeping on the beach, 5000 feet below the rim, on the shore of the abnormally clear Colorado River, under a star filled sky. It was starting to get chilly but I relished the opportunity to enjoy this beach camping experience. I was instantly relieved when I stripped off my shoes, then my shirt and walked shirtless and barefoot on the cool sand. The red canyon walls glowed under the bright light of the waxing gibbous moon, so much so that I put a shirt over my head while sleeping to drown out the light. I spread out my sleeping setup and fired up the stove for some Instant Potatoes, trail mix, and m&m’s. I curled up in my bag looking up at the sky, so clear and star studded, so inspiring. After seeing 3 shooting stars pass by within 1 minute, the thought crossed my mind that I have 4 more days of this. NICE.

Sweet campsite on the N. Rim next to Nankoweap Trailhead

Life on the upper Nankoweap Trail- It's a good life

The Nankoweap Trail follows that first bench (about 1/3 down from top of Pic). Its a long tumble down to the bottom.

Life on the middle Nankoweap Trail- This section was fun.

Good view from Nankoweap

Nankoweap Creek- First water in 31+ miles.

Colorado River- I'm back. I made it down just in time before sunset. I was beat and ready to settle down for the evening.

The Granddaddy- Part 2

2009-11-22T02:40:00.003+08:00

“There was a freshness and breeziness, too, and an exhilarating sense of emancipation from all sorts of cares and responsibilities, that almost made us feel that the years we had spent in the close, hot city, toiling and slaving, had been wasted and thrown away.” -Mark Twain, Roughing It

Saturday, Day 1- 27 miles, South Kaibab, North Kaibab, Ken Patrick

I awoke at exactly 5:12am. I wanted desperately to stay in bed because I was very tired from a long work week and the scramble to tie up all the loose ends with packing and seemingly meaningless life obligations. I eventually peeled my self from beneath the covers, threw them in the back of the truck, and within minutes departed my campsite on a Forest Road outside of Tusyan (which is a great, free place to camp when visiting the Grand Canyon). I passed through the park entrance and arrived at the backcountry visitor center at 5:45 AM leaving me 15 minutes to pack before the Hiker Express Shuttle came. The Hiker Express Shuttle was jammed packed even at 6am. It was ridiculous and I was eager to be released from the crowd. As soon as the shuttle came to a stop at the South Kaibab Trailhead, I bolted down into the canyon.

There were tons of people on the South Kaibab and North Kaibab. I wasn’t upset; instead I talked to several people because I knew in the next 5-6 days I would see few. Most people were astonished with my trip and I could sense jealously, a disappointment of sorts. I could hear it in their voices: the eagerness to be free, to explore such a beautiful wonder, and to incorporate some risk and adventure into their lives. I received so many questions, excuses rather, such as: Are you are going alone? Do you have a Tent? What about the animals? What if you break an ankle? Water? Food? Cold? This? That? I asked one of the river runners that I met about the risk of rafting down the Colorado River for 3 weeks: “The most dangerous part of our trip is the drive here.” I tend to agree. In my limited life experience I have found that most accidents happen during typical day to day events like driving to the grocery store or walking down the street or sitting in class. You just never know. Anything can happen at any moment. Should I try to be “safe” and never do anything remotely dangerous or should I cherish the moments I have to do something I love? The soldiers who were killed a few weeks ago at Fort Hood were not doing anything out of the ordinary the day they were killed. Sadly, they will not have a chance to do the things they love ever again. They won’t be able to hug their spouses or children. They won’t be able to go on a run in the park. They won’t be able to play football with friends. They won’t be able to travel to Europe or New York City or the Grand Canyon. So I hope to cherish the things I can do today because, and I know its cliché, but they literally might not be there tomorrow. I don’t want to be the person who says, “You don’t realize what you had until it’s gone.” I want to enjoy what I have now and be thankful for it. Lets go hiking now...

Bighorn Sheep on the South Kaibab

Heading UP-->Starting the North Kaibab Trail

If it isn't clear to you by now, Ribbon Falls was the Highlight of Day 1

Life on the Ken Patrick Trail- Wrapping up a long day numero uno

The Granddaddy- Part 1

2009-11-09T06:50:00.004+08:00

"...a descent into the Canyon is essential for a proper estimate of its details, and one can never realize the enormity of certain valleys, till he has crawled like a maimed insect at their base and looked thence upward to the narrowed sky."
-John Stoddard

Intro

7 days
113 miles
Epic Adventure into the Grand Canyon

Why did I choose the Grand Canyon for a vacation? Why not somewhere far away such as Europe or Mexico or anywhere outside the state you reside in? I feel that the Grand Canyon is so spectacular, so breathtaking that to not explore and deeply experience it while I live within 3 hours drive of it would be criminal. I think it is awesome that people from all over the world take their vacations to visit my backyard. I feel fortunate to live within three hours of such wonders. I must take advantage of living so close and experience everything I can while I can.

I submitted a permit request to hike the Grand Canyon way back in July. At the time, I wasn’t even sure if I would be able to do this hike because four months out is a long time to plan for on my time scale. What if I something comes up or I get sick or have a change of heart? Fortunately, the stars aligned and the trip came at a time when I wanted a break from work and craved some much needed excitement. So off I went. I got all the adventure and excitement I desired along with inspiration and refreshment.

ROUTE- Grand Canyon Eastern LOOP

South Kaibab
-Difficult
-6 miles
-Tons of People
-No water
-Very open, good views of canyon
-Fast descent

North Kaibab
-Difficult
-15 miles
-Tons of people
-Prevalent water fill ups
-Tighter, more intimate canyon than South Kaibab
-Enjoyable hike but difficult towards the top

Ken Patrick
-Easy
-10 miles
-Zero people
-No Water
-Mostly flat, easy walking through burnt forest
-Sweet rim walking from Cape Royal Road to Point Imperial

Point Imperial
-Easy
-2.4 miles
-Zero people
-No Water
-Essentially an extension of Ken Patrick to FR610

Nankoweap
-Difficult
-14 miles
-I saw one guy, Eric (I think), at the bottom hiking back out
-No water until Nankoweap Creek 12 miles down
-Absolutely stunning views on the way down
-Walking along cliffs edge was awesome and quickly overcame fear of heights
- I don’t know how they put a trail through here, I found myself stopping and saying, “There’s no way the trail goes this way, I must be off course.” I wasn’t off course.
-Most enjoyable trail I have done in the Canyon

Colorado River (Nankoweap to LCR)
-Difficult bushwhack along river
-10 miles
-Zero people
-Water in Colorado River (for drinking)
-This section beat me up badly…Difficult hiking/scrambling, cuts on legs and arms, and took longer than expected

Beamer
-Moderate
-9 miles
-Zero people
-Water in Colorado River to drink
-Relatively flat, not much vertical
-Awesome trail 400 feet above the river on cliffs edge
-2nd most enjoyable trail to Nankoweap

Escalante
-Difficult
-12 miles
-Zero people
-Water in Colorado
-Route descriptions on net scared me, but trail was easy to follow…Kinda
-I passed a turn off and ended up adding on 3 or 4 miles
-Very fun trail, especially 75 mile slot canyon

Tonto
-Moderate
-30 miles
-3 or 4 small groups, including a backcountry ranger
-Sparse water in springs and creeks (Grapevine, Cottonwood, New Hance)
-Relatively Flat, Easy, 1000 feet above river on Tonto platform
-Sweeping views of canyon, Windy trail
-I was ready to be done about 10 miles in on this trail

South Kaibab
-Cake Walk
-5 miles
-Trail felt like a Phoenix International Speedway
-So wide and smooth compared what I was on the past 5 days.
-Even though it was uphill, it felt easy
-Home Sweet HOME

Total Mileage ~113 miles

Equipment and Food

I decided not to buy any new equipment for this trip. I wanted to see what I needed and what I didn’t need to make it on a 7- day backpacking trip. I found that you really don’t need much to be comfortable. Next time I would pack even lighter and invest in lighter gear. I believe that the less weight you carry and the fewer things you bring, the more enjoyable the trip becomes. However, I don’t like the idea of obsessing and glorifying the gear instead of the adventure, natural beauty, and true solitude.

Weight: I never did weigh my gear before heading out but I did at the end of the trip. My finished pack weight (as I stepped off the trail) was about 18 pounds with water and what little food I had remaining. At full capacity with food, water, and fuel I bet I topped out at about 40 pounds at the start.

Weight of Pack as I stepped off the Trail (~18 pounds)

To wear: I brought the following: trail running shoes, thin synthetic socks, thick wool socks, running shorts, half tights, Sporthill running pants (best pants I’ve worn for running/athletics), Sythetic tee shirt, cotton t-shirt, underarmour tight lonsleeve, and a running long sleeve, oh and a trash bag in case it rained. At night I wore all clothing I brought to keep warm. Adequate amount of clothing but could have used a shell for wind protection.

To cook: I used a homemade alcohol stove (a fancy feast cat food can with notches cut into it), aluminum foil wind screen, and a 2 cup stainless steel pot. The stove burns denatured alcohol at a rate of less than 1 oz per day (to boil 2 cups of water).

To sleep: I used my old mummy 20-deg sleeping bag, Thermarest Prolite 4 regular, and a 5x7 space blanket. It was just enough to keep me warm. I counted on not having rain but I had the space blanket and some string in case I had to rig something up

To eat: Breakfast was typically just snacks/energy bars. Lunch was normally peanut butter and tortillas and some energy bars/snacks. Dinner consisted of either soup, couscous, or instant Idaho potatoes. The couscous wasn’t very appetizing on the trail. It is simply too bland. I should learn some better recipes because the food got dull and unappetizing. Luckily, I ran into a rafting party on Day 4 whom fed me three fresh meals.

Some of the food I brought before I consolidated and re-packaged it

Illegal Gear: Ok… I brought an mp3 player w/ voice recorder along with me. I know hardcore backpacking enthusiasts would detest having an mp3 player in the wild, but it turned out to be a saving grace. I used the mp3 player to record messages while hiking or during blustery nights when it was too cold to write. Also, while waiting for 45 hours for a boat to take me across the river I listened to audio sermons and books. Additionally, darkness came at around 6pm so when reading got old; I turned on the mp3 player. I know this is “cheating” but I hardly felt like it ruined the wilderness experience.

NEXT POST will show the hike pictures and videos.

I made it out alive

2009-10-31T08:18:00.000+08:00

I just finished a 7 day, 115 mile Grand Canyon backpacking trip. It was a true adventure, an epic adventure. It absolutely thrashed my body, but it was awesome. I will have a big post on it in a week or two with pics and maybe, just maybe I will show some of the videos. Yea yea yea

The Magical LOOP:

south kaibab
north kaibab
ken patrick
point imperial
nankoweap
colorado river
beamer
escalante
tonto
south kaibab

i like this

2009-10-18T02:13:00.000+08:00

This is from the book My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers
THE SPHERE OF EXALTATION
October 1st.

"Jesus leadeth them up into a high mountain apart by themselves." Mark 9:2

We have all had times on the mount, when we have seen things from God's standpoint and have wanted to stay there; but God will never allow us to stay there. The test of our spiritual life is the power to descend; if we have power to rise only, something is wrong. It is a great thing to be on the mount with God, but a man only gets there in order that afterwards he may get down among the devil-possessed and lift them up. We are not built for the mountains and the dawns and aesthetic affinities, those are for moments of inspiration, that is all. We are built for the valley, for the ordinary stuff we are in, and that is where we have to prove our mettle. Spiritual selfishness always wants repeated moments on the mount. We feel we could talk like angels and live like angels, if only we could stay on the mount. The times of exaltation are exceptional, they have their meaning in our life with God, but we must beware lest our spiritual selfishness wants to make them the only time.

We are apt to think that everything that happens is to be turned into useful teaching, it is to be turned into something better than teaching, viz., into character. The mount is not meant to teach us anything, it is meant to make us something. There is a great snare in asking - What is the use of it? In spiritual matters we can never calculate on that line. The moments on the mountain tops are rare moments, and they are meant for something in God's purpose.

White Mountains & Blue Range Primitive Area

2009-10-04T03:10:00.001+08:00

Intro

I took a trip over to the wonderful White Mountains and the Blue Range Primitive Area in eastern AZ a couple weekends ago. This area is incredible. The remoteness, lush vegetation, mountain streams and lakes, high elevation, diverse wildlife, steep canyons and extensive trail network make it one of the best patches of forest I have ever experienced. Late September or early October is the best time to visit because the leaves are just starting to change color and the elk are in rut. I could hardly sleep the first night because the elk were bugling (squealing and grunting) so loudly. I would probably visit here every weekend if it wasn’t a 5-6 hour drive. But the fact that it is so difficult to get to keeps it pristine, empty, and largely undiscovered.

Highlight of Trip: Mount Baldy Loop Run

The highlight of the trip was my run to the top of Mount Baldy, Arizona’s second highest peak (~11,400 ft). There are two paths approximately 7 miles each to the pseudo summit (b/c the peak is on Apache land technically you are not allowed on top): The West Baldy Trail (#94) and the East Baldy Trail (#95). There is a connector trail (#96) about 3.5 miles long that ties both these trails together creating a ~18 mile loop entirely above 9,000 feet. Naturally, I wanted to do the loop because going up and back down the same trail is just not fun. This is the way I went: Sheep’s Crossing Parking Lot 94 Actual summit 95 96 94 Parking Lot

I wasn’t feeling too good early in the run. I was tired because the bugling elk kept me up all night and I had already wiped out after I tripped over my own feet. I wanted to quit and turn back after about 25 minutes but then I heard some rustling in the brush and a monstrosity of an elk bolted out of the brush 30 yards from me. What a large, stunning creature. I stood there for a minute; the elk had long since disappeared, and I just started laughing: That’s why I come up here. I was too focused on my own discomfort (and the 18 miles) to really soak in the scenery around me. From this point forward everything just clicked: I started picking up the pace a little, the rocks and roots on the trail seemed to disappear, I saw more elk, turkeys and deer, and I was enjoying every moment.

random airplane wreakage @ 11,000 feet

jogging over the Little Colorado River

Another Good Run

The day after my long Mount Baldy run, I did a spectacular out and back stroll on the Foote Creek Trail (#76) in the Blue Range Primitive Area near Hannagan Meadow. This trail was relatively flat and soft which my body required after the difficult 18 miler. The trails here remind me of the ones back home in PA because they are so soft, rolling, wet, and shaded verses hard packed, dry, and exposed where I currently live. I enjoyed this trail so much that I ended up going twice as far as I wanted: 90 minutes instead of an easy 45 or 50.

Escudilla

After my morning jog in the Blue Range, I headed up to Arizona’s 3rd highest peak Escudilla. It is a pretty simple 3 mile hike to the top. This is a national recreation trail so it is pretty popular and very scenic. The first mile or is thick with Aspens trees while the 2nd and 3rd miles are a cross between aspens, spruce and open meadows.

firetower at the summit

BILLY MILLS

2009-09-13T07:13:00.000+08:00

If you don't know who Billy Mills is check out the video and make sure the volume is up.

Another longer video with Billy talking about his Tokyo win. Note that smile of his.

I had the honor to hear him speak last night. It was awesome. The jovial 71 year old emphasized that "the choices we make in life choreograph our destiny." He went on to talk about how he never drank alcohol or used drugs. One other interesting tidbit from his talk: during his summers in high school, Billy and a friend worked for a Nebraskan farmer. The farmer had no space in his house for the boys to sleep. So they had to sleep in their choice of 12 old, wrecked cars next to the house and bathe in the stream. He went on to win the South Dakota cross country state championship that year.

Here is picture of Mr. Mills and that beaming smile of his signing a poster for me

jerome run 2009

2009-09-08T13:00:00.002+08:00

I had fun running my second Jerome Hill Climb.

The runners are happy, encouraging, and easily approachable.

I like this little town a lot. However, it has become too busy with tourists.

I went into a store after the race to buy some souvenirs for my mom. One guy yelled, this guy won the race today. So the lady at the store gave me a 5 percent discount. She said I should get free meals and hotel rooms and all this stuff because I won. I agreed wholeheartedly.

Another fun racing experience. Yea yea yea.

labor day special p2

2009-09-08T08:37:00.003+08:00

Sign Holders

I have recently noticed an explosion in the number of people who get paid to stand on the side of a busy road and hold signs advertising for Subway, Home Depot, or some going out of business sale. How boring must that job be? Well, last weekend I randomly asked two different sign holders about the job.

Sign Holder comments in bold
My mental comments in italics

Sign Holder 1: Male, mid 30’s, scruffy looking (maybe homeless)

I get paid 7 $/hr for a 5 hour shift.
I can understand minimum wage salary but why the 5 hour shift? Maybe because A) the job is so mundane, so mind numbing that no human could make it a full 8 hours or B) it is economically feasible to only pay the sign holder during peak traffic hours.

I just hang out here and check out the girls.
What girls? You stand on the side of a 4 lane highway, cars pass by going 60 miles per hour so you can’t see the passengers, and you are in Chino Valley. It’s not like you are setup next to a Victoria Secret.

It can get boring sometimes but at least I can make some money. I can’t find any other work.
He’s right. At least the guy is trying to earn his money. It would be very tempting to beg or shoplift or rob someone’s home.

Sign Holder 2: Female, unemployed, 30’s, not homeless

No. I don’t get any bathroom breaks.
What? That’s illegal, isn’t it?

I get one 15 min break during my 5 hour shift.
Ok…So you do get a bathroom break.

I am paid 35 bucks a day under the table so it’s good.
That’s a decent deal but how does it work? You are working for a business so shouldn’t you pay taxes. It’s not like you are watching you neighbors dog for a week while they are on vacation. A zillion cars drive by you everyday. You can’t really hide from Uncle Sam.

It’s a really good job.
Huh? You don’t seem at all discouraged about your situation. Good for you.

I’m unemployed. There are a lot of fast food jobs in the valley. That’s where I’m hoping to get a more permanent job.
I am lucky to have a good job.

labor day special

2009-09-07T04:48:00.004+08:00

I often think about the various jobs that a person could have: auto mechanic, web designer, school teacher, window washer, park ranger, sherpa ... There are so many things out there a person could do in life. How could one ever truly know if their current job is the right for them? I am still trying to figure this out. I am constantly analyzing my current position and wondering if it’s right for me. It’s not that I hate my job; rather I just wonder if there exists a job that would be completely fulfilling to me.

My flight to Colorado for the Pikes Peak Ascent got me thinking about this more.

TSA BAG Screener

I arrived at the airport the day before the race about 1.5 hours prior to departure. As usual, I went as quickly as I could to the security checkpoint. I took off my belt, shoes, and backpack and proceeded through the metal detector. All was good. I put on my belt and shoes and waited for my backpack. I waited some more. Finally, the guy looking at the X-ray scanner pointed to my bag and said to one of his older coworkers (who probably lacked the computer skills to work the X-ray scanner), “That one. There is a gel in there.” My body temperature rose. What did I forget? What did I leave in there? OH man.

I remembered that I had a 32oz vanilla yogurt container filled with pasta I made specifically for this occasion so I could have a quality prerace dinner. No big deal, they will open it and I will be on my way. The older gentleman opened the bag and took out the container. He squeezed it with his glove covered hands careful not to open it.

He looked irritated, confused, dumbfounded, and questioned, “YOGURT?”

“No, No. It’s pasta,” I informed him.

He examined the container again careful not to open it, “What is it?”

“It’s pasta…that’s all…to eat…for dinner…pasta,” I calmly told him.

“What do we do about this,” he asked his buddy at the x-ray scanner

“I don’t know. Ask the boss,” he sighed with tired, red eyes.

“What’s the Problem,” the boss asked?

“Pasta. What do we do about pasta,” the older man asked?

“Well we would have to do some testing in the back and check this guy out and…”

I stopped her, “Just throw it away. No big deal. Feed the rats or something. Just keep it.”

“Ok. Alrighty then. The passenger isn’t going to protest. Let’s throw it out.”

So I spent what felt like a ½ hour waiting for these guys to just open the dag-gum container and take a bite to prove that it wasn't liquid explosives. They never even took a whiff. I guess this is their policy.

Airport Fast Food Worker

After my dinner was confiscated, I went in search of some airport food. Of course the terminal was tiny and only had three options: A sit down restaurant which I had no time for, McDonald's, and a Mexican burrito place. Against popular running folklore, I chose the Mexican Place. I ordered a chicken burrito without beans. It was filling and tasted great. It sure beat my two day old pasta creation.

The big thing that caught my attention was that the girl working the cash register was just so happy. I love people like this. In fact, it even made me happy after my ordeal with the TSA workers. This girl was singing, dancing, and being overly courteous to every customer. My question is how could someone working at a burrito joint, making 7$/hour, be so happy. I probably make 5 times as much as her yet I am never that excited to be at work. I, and just about everyone I know, is generally bored, tired, or not thrilled to be at work. I concluded after this ordeal that I should be happy while at work. There is simply no reason to be miserable and gloomy. If I truly dislike going to work, I should change my situation for the better and quit complaining about it.

Pikes Peak Ascent 2009 Report

2009-08-23T02:29:00.005+08:00

Pikes Peak Ascent 1 – Me 0

Pikes Peak got the best of me last Saturday.

Let me first say that this race is excellently managed. Race organizers devised a scheme to:

- Shuttle runners off the top of the mountain in a timely fashion
- Shuttle spectators up and down a portion of the mountain
- Backpack in and set up aid stations in remote areas of the trail
- Recruit the assistance of medical personnel/search and rescue
- Recruit hundreds of joyful volunteers
- Give out cool finisher’s jacket and other race day goodies
- Manage everything else that goes with organizing a race

The Race:

I took it out real easy from the start making sure not to get caught up in the hype. After 1 or 2 miles, someone shouted out, “18th place.” I figured this was accurate based on how many people were ahead of me from the gun. (*But then around mile 10, having only passed maybe 2 or 3 people, someone shouted I was in 7th. How was I in 7th? 18-3=15th…Maybe there wasn’t enough oxygen going to the brain or I simply misheard).

I maintained my position (18th or 7th) during the relatively flatter middle miles of the race. I felt pretty good considering I earlier questioned my ability to finish after the steep first 4-5 miles. Furthermore, around mile 7 I was rejuvenated by a large deer standing within 20 feet on the trail between the summit and I. I got excited and even commented to the guy next to me on how great this was. So for the next few miles I chugged away gobbling up distance and elevation.

The last 3-4 miles were torture. I was a disaster. I could hardly see or even lift my legs at this point. I veered off the course due to my own stupor on two different occassions during the final 3 miles. First, I ran right past two volunteers standing at a switchback who werent paying attention. They quickly redirected me back on course. Second, another runner coming from behind gained a spot on me going in the correct direction on the swithback and yelled out to follow him. I was a disaster and I’m not ashamed to say that I walked the majority of the last few miles. With 3 miles to go I probably jogged/walked 70/30. With 2 miles to go that ratio were more like 30/70 and the last mile had 1/99 ratio with the final 60 feet making up the 1% run portion.

I don’t remember how I managed to stay upright without tumbling down the mountain nor can I explain what it feels like to have a guy pass you going 15 min/mile pace but I made it to the finish line. All that matters is that I finished. In the shuttle down the mountain after the race, I learned that I was as high as 6th place. I have no idea how I got as high as 6th place because I felt like there were at least 10-15 people ahead of me right off the gun and I only passed 2 or 3. Haha. This meant in the final 3 miles I squandered 7 positions. I hardly remember anyone passing me let alone 7 people. I suppose all of this amnesia is a good thing…I may forget how painful it was and be dumb enough to sign up for next year.

Happy

I felt really good after the race. Any time you finish a race and give your best effort, especially longer races, you can’t help but to feel good about your accomplishment. Also, I felt extraordinary after emptying the contents of my stomach on sidewalk of Manitou Ave after that horrendous bus ride down the mountain.

Sad

I was partly disappointed after the race, not so much in my finishing place or time, but rather the fact that I didn’t train harder for it. I am eager to return back next year and go after it again.

Thank You:

Julie D- The sole member of my race crew.

The Bus Driver- Sorry for the mess I made on your bus. I tried to hold it in.

The Department of Health and Safety, Manitou Springs- Sorry for the toxic spill on the sidewalk on the 550th block of Manitou Ave.

Standing on Manitou Ave with coveted finishers jacket

Manitou Ave

Camping after the race

Red Rocks Outdoor Concert Venue

I can't get away from these things

I'm in: Pikes Peak Ascent and Grand Canyon

2009-07-26T06:35:00.003+08:00

1: Grand Canyon Backpacking Trip

My request for a one week long backpacking trip in the Grand Canyon has been accepted. My trip will take place in late October unless I decide not to go.

2: Pikes Peak Ascent Competitive Entry

A few months ago, I randomly decided to apply for competitive entry into the Pikes Peak Ascent. On Thursday, I got an email from Matt Carpenter informing me that I was selected for free entry into the Race. This is good news but there are two problems:

1. I did not expect to get into the race. Therefore, I have not been training for a high altitude mountain run.

2. The race is in Colorado Springs. Where am I going to stay? and I have to get to Colorado Springs somehow.

3. The race is in 3 weeks. At least I only have to focus for 3 weeks instead of 3 months.

These are not huge problems so as soon as I got the email on Thursday, I made a plan. Here is how the last 3 days went in accordance to my plans:

Thursday Afternoon: Recieved email confirming entry into the race.
Thursday Evening: Ran my first workout in a month: 12 x 2.5 min hill
Friday Evening: Drove to Flagstaff, stopped and ran 50 minutes around Bill Williams Mountain in Williams, camped near Schultz Tank in Flag.
Saturday Morning: Completed the longest run of my life by time, 4:14:32.

My run this morning was EPIC. I completed a 20-25 mile-ish loop in the Kachina Peaks Wilderness which included a summit scramble of Humphrey's Peak, Arizona's Highest point (12,637ft). More to come on this bad boy tommorow when my headache goes away.

Gaspin in the Aspen Result

2009-06-22T05:18:00.002+08:00

See results here. I will write a report someday.

Run for the Creeks Race Report 2009

2009-06-13T10:58:00.006+08:00

The Result

Last weekend I participated in the Race for the Creeks 7 miler in Prescott, AZ. I averaged a blistering 4:47 per mile over the windy dirt course. Ok, fine... The course was short, way short. One guy with a fancy Garmin GPS watch said the course was approximately ~6.1 miles. I ended up winning the race with a finishing time of 33:31 (or about 5:30 per mile). I was rather pleased with the day. I got a good workout in and to my surprise ended up taking home a $50 gift certificate.

The Course

The course was narrow, windy and, in my opinion, pretty flat. Some racers noted the "hill" about 1/2 mile from the finish so you could argue that this course was rolling. The running surface was smooth and consisted of dirt and fine pebbles. The scenery was great around Willow Lake. I warmed up and cooled down on the slick rock trails which displayed some cool rock formations.

The Race

I pretty much ran alone from start to finish. One guy talked with me for the first mile or so but then he kinda let off the gas. The other racers were very supportive as I passed by them on my way back after the turnaround point. It was fun to get back out there and race again. The pre-race anxiety and the post race elation made me feel alive for the first time since my last foot race.

The Post Race

The post race refreshments were quite good for a small race. They had all the basics plus some deli sandwiches. Yummy.

What's Next

Next Saturday 6/20: Gaspin in the Aspen 15k in Flagstaff, AZ

I'm scared.

Juniper Mesa Wilderness: Failed Summit Attempt

2009-06-07T02:20:00.008+08:00

Juniper Mesa is a remote wilderness approximately 45 miles by graded dirt road from Bagdad, AZ. The area is surrounded by rolling wooded hills and ranches. There are few houses except those owned by ranchers. The registry at the Trail #3 trail head had about 100 entries in the last year. Elevations range from around 5000 ft to about 7000 ft on the flat top of the mesa. Map of Area and good resource on Wilderness Areas in AZ

I chose to start my summit bid at Trail #3. From Trail #3 there are two ways to the top: Trail #3 and steeper, more direct ascent up Trail #100 aka Bull Springs trail. The Bull Springs Trail branches off of Trail #3 after 1/2 mile. The trail juts steeply upward after you pass Bull Spring (the six foot long bathtub next to the trail).

This is as much as I can tell you about the trail because my summit attempt was curtailed by heavy rain and lightning. Who would guess rain in Arizona? Here are my pics and unedited VIDEOS haha.

I'm not feeling too shy right now so here are all my videos from the trip.

My only outtake of the afternoon

Mogollon Rim: Mem. Day Wkend

2009-06-06T10:55:00.006+08:00

I took a trip to the infamous Mogollon Rim in central Arizona over the long weekend. Situated a few miles north of Payson, the ”Rim” extends 200 miles to the east creating a remarkable geologic wonder. I don’t know the geology or geomorphology of how the Rim formed, nor do I feel like researching it on wikipedia, rephasing it in this blog, and passing it on as my own brillance. But this area of Arizona would make you unsure that you were actually in Arizona. I felt like I was back east in Allegheny National Forest running up to the firetower in Cook’s Forest State Park. It was quite the green experience (not the forward-thinking, hip lifestyle but the actual color). I will definitely be back here soon.

Me sitting in the green, moist forest

Me playing in the green, moist forest

A picture (why say “a picture of” when its obiviously a picture) of the Arizona Trail just below the “Rim”

A railroad tunnel from long ago that workers abandoned 100 feet in. On a personal note, I’m not a railroad designer but this terrain is not ideal for a railroad.

A view from inside the tunnel looking out. Notice the shear cliff. Not ideal for a Railroad. I can picture workers with picks and shovels working 16 hours a day pouring their sweat into this project until they realized they would have to build a bridge as well. Umm what do we do about this big cliff here? Ahhh budah dum I’m going home

A view from all the way inside the tunnel

Some ruins right next to the tunnel or should I call it a hole in the mountain because the word tunnel implies that the underground excavation actually connects two points

Water, non potable, heavy mercury content

Great view. Note that the “tunnel” is about 100 feet to my left. Not suitable terrain for railroad building.

Bike, really long tree

Hiking into Chevelon Canyon

Chevelon Canyon

Chevelon Creek at the bottom of Chevelon Canyon

More views from bottom of Chevelon Canyon

More Views from bottom of Chevelon Canyon. I was impressed with Chevelon Canyon. I will be back in the fall when the fishing is “5-6 times better” according to this old guy. He also claimed he saw 4 black timber rattlers, a bear ravaged his group’s camp the night before, and saw a herd of 6 elk. Sadly, I believe it all. There were bear and elk dropping everywhere and it was sunny enough for the snakes to be out. This guy carried a huge gut over this rugged terrain. I was impressed.

Standing in Chevelon Canyon

This peak beckons me. I was going to run it that afternoon but I was lazy. I will be back for it.

Sunset

My future employer

297-FR52A-299-9984-62-305 Loop Run

2009-05-10T03:29:00.006+08:00

I did a long run this morning in Prescott and it hurt. The run started off with a 30-minute hill climb up the Smith Ravine Trail (297) to over 7,000 ft. I then made a right turn onto Forest Road 52A. A second right was made onto the Watershed Trail (299). My plan was to turn around at about 45 minutes to get a solid 90 minute run in but I remembered that trail 62 would take me back down the mountain. The problem was that I did not know how far trail 62 was.

I continued on the Watershed trail until I hit 57 minutes and paused to think: I could turn around and cut my losses or just keep pushing on until I find Trail 62 or hit town where I could refuel and take roads back to my truck or hitchhike or something. I decided to just keep pushing and two minutes later I came to a fork with the trail I was on (299) and 9984. I vaguely remembered running on on 9984 before and recalled that it would eventually join up with Trail 62. At this point there was no turning back.

I was right: 9984 intersected Trail 62. "Yea I got. Smooth sailing form here," I thought before realizing that I was already at 80 minutes. There was nothing else to do except keep pushing forward. I meandered down Trail 62 until I hit the bottom at around 100 minutes. I was feeling "it", the "it" being achy joints, fatigue and thirst. I hopped on 305 for a bit before hopping off at the next road intersection. I reasoned that the windy 305 would take far more time than the road back to my truck.

I began down the road with a sense of relief. "Smooth sailing from here." Nope. The mile marker on the side of the rising road read "1 mile" meaning that I had over 4 more miles to go. I did not remember hills on this road. It was flat when I was driving I swear. I was out of gas. I ran on fumes for about 1 mile to a nature center. Luckily, they had a water fountain. I stopped for a few minutes soaking my shirt in water and guzzling close to a liter. Yummy.

I began the final stretch at what felt like a deathly slow pace, so I thought. 6:10 between miles 2 and 3. No way. What is going on? The next two miles were well over 8 minutes per mile which seemed more realistic. I stumbled to my truck at 2:10, 2 hours 10 minutes. This feels good.

I just feel good right now.

Upcoming Races

2009-04-16T10:53:00.010+08:00

I have been battling IT band problems for the past few months. It has been frustrating but I am ready to move on. I signed up and paid for a few races last week even though my IT band is still bothering me a little bit. I figure that if I sign up and pay for races it will motivate me to get healthy and train harder. I decided to go a different route for the next few months. I am going to test myself on some high altitude trail courses including the Salomon Flagstaff Mountain Trail Series. Summers can get hot here so it will be a good opportunity for me to get to the mountains and escape the heat for a weekend. Additionally, the softer racing surface should reduce the chance of my IT flaring up again. I may get back on the roads later this year and go after a marathon PR.

Race for the Creeks 7 Miler, June 6, Prescott AZ
-May run this just for a tune up
-Seems like more of a "charity" run

Gaspin in the Aspen 15K, June 20, Flagstaff, AZ
-Race 1 of 3 of Salomon Mountain Trail series
-Already paid for this one
-Looks pretty competitive as most races are in this trail series

Pikes Peak Ascent 13.32 mi, Aug. 15, Manitou Springs, CO
-I applied for a competitive entry (aka free) so I am not sure I will get in
-Just like it sounds: A footrace to the top of Pikes Peak. The 1st half of the Pikes Peak Marathon.
-Nearly 8000' of elevation gain climbing to an altitude above 14,000'
-I think I will die but if I get in I am willing to try it.

*Updated
Jerome Hill Climb 4.7 mi , Sept. 6th, Jerome, AZ
- I ran this event last year and won.
- Jerome is a neat old mining town with little hippie shops and artsy people.
- They had a cooler of free beer at the top. Nice

Flagstaff 1/2 Marathon, Sept. 26, Flagstaff, AZ
-Race 2 of 3 of Salomon Mountain Trail Series
-Already Paid
-Said to be toughest marathon course in southwest
- 8000+ feet altitude
- 1100 feet elevation gain

Soulstice Mountain 11.25 mi Trail Run, Oct. 11, Flagstaff, AZ
-Race 3 of 3 of Salomon Mountain Trail Series
-Already Paid
-8000+ feet altitude
-Very Popular Race apparently- Sold out in 2 days

November or December Marathon: Options listed Below

New York
San Antonio
Richmond
Marine Corps
Las Vegas
Tuscon

We'll see what happens. I'm excited to feel the pain that cross country racing typically brings to my body.

Catch Up Time

2009-04-15T12:09:00.007+08:00

I need to catch up on my blogging. I have not posted in quite sometime and to be honest I am not that upset about it. I have just been lazy and don't like to force myself to write. This isn't my job and I do have other hobbies besides writing to an audience that may or may not appreciate my work. So I am not sorry for not posting but I will "try" to post more frequently. With blogging, like anything else, you have good days and bad days or good months and bad months or good years and bad years (if you are having bad years you may want to re-evaluate your situation). I think in all things you do there will be times where you don't want to be there or do it or care. You just gotta to keep showing up when things get hard. Some days, most days, I don't especially want to go to work or run or be nice but I just keep showing up. Just walk through the door day after day and the difficult times will pass by.

My Past Few Weekends

Camping, Spring Break USA, City of Angels, Valley of The Sun, Pistol Shooting Match, Emerald City I think.

Wabayuma Peak Wilderness

I finally had my chance to visit this lesser known wilderness Area. This Wilderness area is about 45 minutes south of Kingman Arizona. Recent estimates geuss Wabayuma Peak Wilderness sees 200 visitors per year. The fewer people who know about it, the better. After a few hours of driving on rough jeep roads, a boulder (pic 7 below) in the road left me no where to go. I had to maneuver my truck 180 degrees on a single lane dirt road and head back down the Peak. Stupid boulder. Here Are my Pics:

W-I-L-D-E-R-N-E-S-S

Old Mine Workings

My New Car

Mine Tailings and View of Valley

Man, I really wanted to cool off

Baby Joshua Tree

Boulder that made me turn around

Lake Havasu City- Spring Break

I was here a little early for spring break but I did see some stupid people dancing on their boats blaring obnoxiously loud music. The London Bridge is located here oddly enough. Check out the pics below

View of the Lake

London Bridges

Epic View of Bridge

LA

I went out to LA for my brothers birthday. Don't have many pics. Just a pretty typical weekend in the city. Watched a lot of tournament march madness.

Phoenix

Just went down to the big city for a one night. Watched a movie. It was that one with John Cena. I don't remember what it was called nor do I care.

Pistol Shooting Match

I went down to a small town outside of Prescott to watch my co-worker shoot in this pistol match. It was quite entertaining and and opened my eyes up to the underground world of competitive shooting. It is scary what these people can do with guns. Speed and accuracy was extraordinary.

Seattle

I went to visit some friends up in Seattle. My main impression of the city is that it is pretty far left. They recycle, HUH. It was good to see my friends and hang out. It reminded me of the old college days. Crazier times back then ey. I didn't take any pics but this guy might some:

Bye

My New Running Partner

2009-03-05T13:33:00.002+09:00

I finally found a new partner to train with. The conversation is pretty much one sided between us with me doing all the talking. He hardly speaks. He is not one of those guys who has to have constant stimulation during the run. He is very task oriented and focuses on surviving each grueling training session except when something diverts his attention like a jack rabbit in the bushes. He makes up for his silent demeanor with heavy panting. The weird thing about his breathing pattern is that it's always the same intensity regarless of how fast or slow he is running. I sometimes feel like he is working too hard on such an easy run, but then I remember guys who I used to run with in high school and college. Some of whom couldn't tie their shoes without letting out a few grizzy breaths. These were the same guys who were right there or faster than me during track repeats and races. Similarly, I have raced against guys who never made a sound, just controlled, quiet breathing, who I could dismantle in the later stages of a race. So my conclusion is that breathing volume just doesnt correlate well with finishing place. With my new running friend, nothing seemed to correlate.

We met yesterday while I was running my standard "easy" day route. The route bipasses the vast majority of the town (aka paved roads) and traces an old, dirt ranching road at the base of the airport mesa. This section of the run ends approximately 1.5 miles from my apartment where it spits you out into a neighborhood. It is in this neighborhood where I met my new running partner. At first, I did not want him with me. It was just something else I had to worry about: him getting hit by a car, him being beaten by his owners for leaving his home, or him dying on me 6 miles outside of town on some old ranching road that no one ever travels. I attempted to convince him to return home but he wouldn't budge. He wanted to run. He wanted the freedom that so many people crave that only running can provide. I gave him that freedom and then some, the choice to feel the lovely fatigue after a hard workout.

As much as I tried to put him away I couldnt. At first he thought he was the top dog, literally. He led the way for our first two miles together galloping with his head up high smirking as caged onlookers howled. I geuss jealously got the best of me after trailing this new runner so I decided to make a run for it as we hit the start of the first big hill climb. I just blew by him and didnt look back until I reached the top. I saw an animal possessed, poised to reach the top. This guy is pretty good.

We regrouped at the top and started along the rolling terrain where I typically do tempo runs. The pace started out moderate and soon progressed rapidly as pride once again got the best of me. He and I found ourselves cruising along side eachother on this rolling ridgeline under an orange and pink arizona sky. I glanced down at my watch to check the mile pace: 5:57. Not bad for an easy day and for taking the first half of that mile slow. This was my scheduled turn a round point but we continued on silently into the next mile. I felt a little spunky so I turned it up a notch and increased my stride frequency. Everything in my legs felt smooth finally after battling IT band problems all winter. Unfortunately, my new partner wasnt feeling as well. He started to fade back. I glanced at the defeated canine who was struggling to hang on and I growled, "come on." I kept pressing on and on until the next mile point which meanders uphill for the second half. The watch read 5:28. I let the legs wind down to a stop and looked back for my new friend. There he was finishing as strong as he could 25 seconds back. I gave him a pat on the head and some words of encouragement. He gave it everything he had. That's all you can ask for. Thats all anyone can ask for.

I started the run back home easy feeling satisfied with the effort. My legs and lungs, heavy and tight, I steered the course for home. We could relax now until next time as this cycle continues forever with all runners. . .

XC Skiing

2009-02-21T11:16:00.003+09:00

Last weekend I went XC Skiing in Flagstaff. It was a great workout and plenty of fun thanks to the 8000' elevation and the Ponderosa pines. The scenery at the Flagstaff Nordic Center was refreshing. I haven't seen that much snow in a long time. It was great.

There are two styles of XC skiing: Skate and Classic. I did not know this until someone blew by me going 3 times as fast. So skate style skiing is much more efficient and looks like you are roller blading. The track pattern on the snow looks like a V-shape. Whereas classic style XC is more straight on. I was given classic skis because I told the woman I had never skied before and I had fun. But i would like to try skate skiing because it looks more involved and you go faster.

The Nordic Center advertises that they have over 40km of trails. I spent the entire day trying to hit every trail. I managed to do it but I had to stop for lunch. Needless to say I was sore for the better part of this week.

Right in My Backyard: Lawler Peak

2009-02-14T11:55:00.002+09:00

Lawler Peak is the tallest mountain in Bagdad. I am not sure of the elevation nor do I care. All that I know is it is a lot taller than it looks and the reward for conquering this peak is glorious.

Lawler Peak is an agro crag. There are no trails leading to the top. It is a really difficult hike, or should I say climb, for two reasons: steep gradient and thorny overgrowth. I had to throw away the pants I wore on this hike because there were so many prickers from cacti and cat-claw stuck in them (and in my legs). Fortunately, the new gloves I acquired from the mine sampling department held up nicely. The rough granite boulders could cut through my elbows and knees but not these gloves. I was on my hands practically crawling up the mountain. Needless to say I was pretty beat up after the hike. In all my hiking and exploring experience, I have never had such visible reminders of the pain I suffered during a hike.

The view from the top justified the difficult and infuriating hike. The scene epitomizes the high desert Arizona landscape in all directions. The 360 degree view shows workings of a 19th century open pit copper mine, narrow canyons cutting through sparsely vegetated mesas, Saguaro and Prickly Pear covered hills, and distant peaks pushing 8000 feet in elevation. See for yourself.

The road to the top is steep and protected by stabby plant life.

The way up.

A view of Coors Lake and Sander’s Mesa. *Bonus Point if you can see the airport on Sander’s Mesa. **I’ll give you a dollar if you can see the truck (hint: lower left quadrant).

Can you see her now?

Now?

Thumbs Up.

Open Pit Copper Mine. Note: The mouth of the pit is over 3km across.

Yes.

The way down.

“The will to win means nothing without the will to prepare.”

Right in My Backyard: Lawler Peak

2009-02-14T11:26:00.000+09:00

Bored-Hiking

2009-02-03T13:36:00.005+09:00

Bored-Hiking? What is it?
It’s pretty simple: Hiking with a board over rugged terrain. You grab a board, preferably a 2”x8”x8’, and start walking across the natural land, no trails allowed. Might sound easy but it’s not. It requires a great deal of stamina, balance, and core strength. Bored-Hiking is a total body exercise that is posed become the next mainstream workout fad.

How it came to be?
I am a runner by trade but I have been sidelined due to injured. I don’t know what to do with the excess energy and time I have from not running. Last week I decided to go on a hike at nearby Coors Lake and burn off some of those dormant calories in my tummy. My original plan was to hike to the top of Lawler Peak and watch the sunset. I soon realized that I had hardly enough daylight to reach the summit so I decided to do an off-trail hike around the rugged lake shore.

The hike started off with me blazing my own trail over large granite boulders and prickly pear cactus around the east shore of the lake on foothills of Lawler Peak. After 20 minutes of leisurely hiking, I came upon an old, decrepit piece of lumber measuring 2”x8”x9’. I decided that I could use that piece of wood to construct a frame for my garden: see 2009 Goals. I hoisted the massive piece of timber up onto my shoulder and continued walking.

Several minutes of walking with the BOARD proved to be exhausting. I started sweating and breathing heavily as I carried the board up and over rock obstacles. I was on to something here. This was a great workout. I was physically challenging myself without putting heavy strain on my injured leg.

As the hike went on, I began doing push presses with the board while walking to replace my daily weight lifting routine at the gym. Later, I would use the board to cross a small channel of water by spanning the gap with the board and walking across it. Then, I used the board to span the distance between two distant boulders. “This is kind of fun,” I thought.

I continued carrying the board for about 1 hour until I arrived back at the truck. At this point I was beat. I decided that I would try it again in the near future so I stashed the board behind some scrubs. I don’t know why I stashed it because it has absolutely zero value. No one would steal a rotten piece of wood. Well, no one except me.

So that’s the story of Bored-Hiking. I was bored so I went hiking. While I was hiking I found a board. I picked up the board and went hiking with it. I integrated the board into the hike by using it to span obstacles or lifting it to simulate weight training. There you have it: Bored-Hiking. (More like Bored-Writer)

Sounds Cool, How do I get started?
It’s really simple. Find a cool location with many obstacles, grab a board, and start walking.

Essential Gear
A board- Awkward is better. Bigger is better. Older is better. Plywood is not better. Preferably a board you can integrate into the hike like a 2x6 or 2x8. The heavier the board, the harder the workout.

Lightweight gloves- So you don’t get splinters.

Hands free water consumption device with waist strap and sternum strap- You can’t carry a board and a water bottle at the same time if you want to fully optimize the board. I suggest a 70 ounce water bladder.

Digital Camera- So you can document the madness.

Ultra-lightweight, sub-compact notebook computer with SDD hardrive and Linux operating system- So you can instantly upload your pics from the field to your blog and justify your existence to all your friends.

Non-Essential Gear, but Highly Recommended

Extremely lightweight, low profile shoes that simulate barefoot walking or running- Preferably the type of shoe an Imo kid would wear.

UK Expatriate- You are automatically 6X better at Bored-Hiking if you originate from London town.

Fixed gear bicycle- Mainly, I’m looking for the ability to ride backwards on a fixed gear bicycle.

Baggy pants but not so baggy as to limit your dexterity on or with the board-

Tight fitting, goofy tee shirt that makes some kind of alternative lifestyle statement about yourself- A shirt that would likely stir up conversation at the Pub.

Ultra Left Wing Lifestyle-

The will to Win-

Bored-Hiking in Action
Here are pics from my latest Bored-Hiking outing

The Board

The Playground

Let the Games Begin

Incorporating the Board in the Hike

Board Walk

"The only limits, as always, are those of vision"

The Next Generation of Boards

Sycamore Canyon Wilderness Expedition

2009-01-28T12:51:00.008+09:00

Here are my pics from the Sycamore Canyon Wilderness camping trip last weekend. My plan was to hike up the canyon from the southernmost point to the start of the canyon at the north end and then hike back. That plan changed drastically as I underestimated the flow of this supposedly tiny creek. Fortunately, my alternative plan offered a different look at the canyon, a glimpse into the the past. I obliviously wandered into ancient artifacts and cliff dwellings. A guy and his dog, the only person I saw all weekend, directed me to these local treasures. He maintained that native americans controlled this rugged area and stashed supplies in the hard to reach cliff dwellings. It was really cool, especially since I read nothing about this on the internet and saw zero signs directing hikers to these wonders. I geuss the 41 mile, 2 hour plus drive on 4x4 only dirt road was worth it. Here are 13 lovely photos.

1. The view from trailhead 1. Do you notice anything that may cause some issues for a hiker without a boat?

2. Where's Tom Sawyer when you need him?
3. Exhibit A: Raging waters. I'm sorry, I forgot my wetsuit. I got to this point after walking through a much smaller tributary. The chilly water instantly sent numbing pain up my legs.
Vid: Shoot

4. The view from trailhead 2, approximately 5 miles as the crow flies from trailhead 1. It only took a half a day to get here. Can you spot my truck? (Side Note: I spent the better part of a day, on two seperate attempts, trying to get to the top of that cliff/mountain. The dog guy told me there was a massive cliff dwelling up there with 6 rooms and perfect stucco walls. I never did manage to get up there and find it but I will attempt it again sometime.) 5. Another view from trailhead dos. Now can you see the truck? 6. Cliff Dwelling 7. Cliff Dwelling Closer 8. Pretty Dope view from cliff dwelling 9. Did I get taller? 10. Another dope view from cliff dwelling 11. Right after sunset 12. Random dope view 13. Me realizing I placed the camera too high and jumping to get in the shot. Great Pic. Great Trip. Great...

Bagdad Running Report & 13 Hilly Miles

2009-01-23T11:47:00.005+09:00

IT Band Issues

Today, I managed to get in about 90 minutes of running with relatively little pain in the IT band. It has been bothering me pretty bad since I ran the marathon almost 2 months ago. The pain hasn't been so bad but the tightness is noticeable. The fascia cracks over the side of my knee every time I lift my heel to my butt. The thing with the IT band is that it takes a loooooong time to heal. It has almost no muscle mass so nutrient rich blood rarely reaches the area. I have been foam rolling and stretching like crazy but I'm still running nearly everyday. As long as the pain doesn't get worse, I'll keep running.

The Run

I did the big loop of the "Mine Overlook Run" or "MOR" as I like to call it. The "Mine Overlook Run" has recently become one of my favorite runs. The meat and potatoes of the run is a old ATV trail that snakes its way up a mountain for about one mile to a rolling ridge line. The rewards for conquering this rough and rocky foot trail are epic views to the north of snow capped peaks (seasonal) in the distance and portions of a behemoth open pit copper mine.

Views to the south are spectacular after 10 minutes of running on the ridge line. The mountains and hills almost look fake. The scene can be compared, in some ways, to the conglomerate of bubbles in a frothy bubble bath. The mountains are stacked tightly against one another. It truly is a wonderful site that few people really take the time to appreciate. Deserts really are pretty cool places once you spend some time in the them and overcome fear of snakes and scorpions.

Bagdad Running Report = Project to Document Bagdad Runs

I have yet to take a camera out on a run with me but I will soon. My plan is to take the camera out once or twice on each of my favorite runs and compile a scrapbook to document these memories. Be on the lookout.

Upcoming Plans

2009-01-22T12:39:00.002+09:00

I really need to get the NET so I can Blog more. AH well.

This weekend:

I get half day Friday and Monday off sooooooo: Backpacking trip to Sycamore Canyon Wilderness & finally get my truck registered in AZ. YEA YEA YEA

Racing Plans:

I would like to run a marathon in the near future. My original plan was to run Boston but my IT band has really been bothering me since the last marathon. I could probably run Boston if I really wanted to but I would rather wait until I am more ready for it. Stupid IT Band. Plus, flying out of Bagdad is a logistical nightmare. Oh well, I have a lifetime of running ahead of me. No need to rush. Here are some of my options:

BOSTON, April 20th- Probaly can't beat this experience

PITTSBURGH, May 3rd- Homecoming, parents would get to to see me race, and I could see sister graduate

SAN DIEGO, May 3lst- Close driving distance, More time to prepare, and fast course

FLAGSTAFF TRAIL SERIES, June-Oct.- I would really like to participate in this because I love the trails around Flag

My tenative plan is to run half in Pitt and full in San Diego. I have time to decide though. We'll see. In the meantime I must work this IT band issue away. I must have weird hips or something because IT band and I go way back. Peace

Backyard Adventure: Upper Burro Creek Wilderness

2009-01-14T13:24:00.005+09:00

Here are some pics of my adventure to Burro Creek Wilderness the week before the Marathon. I geuss there was something in that water that rejuvenated my legs and put my mind at ease prior to the grueling footrace. PS I'm sorry for double posting today but I dont have the internet so when I do I go big.

A scenic view of the ranchland.

Twisty, turny road into the canyon.

The big canyon. Not Grand, just big.

How the landscape changes. Gorgeous.

Me going for a soak in the Fr-Fr-Frigid water. Keep in mind this was December.

Racing the Antelope. First time I ever saw an antelope.

1st time I saw 8 antelope.

2nd time I saw 8 antelope.

Only in Bagdad: Most Reeediculous Gaas Prices Ever. Geuss what kind i got?

Tips For Runners

2009-01-14T12:36:00.003+09:00

La Corredora (an ultrarunner, thats not a translation) asked a some questions on her blog about training that I think many people struggle with as well.

href="http://lacorredora.blogspot.com/2009/01/future-workoutsadvice-needed.html#links">

As I went to type my response in the comment section, I realized I had too much to say so I just put it here for easier reading. She asked many questions about mileage, intensity, and core training. Here is my response:

You want to focus on three things in this order:

1. Consistency- Don't run 50 miles one week, then 20 the next. Keep it steady. Train consistent, race consistent. Stay healthy, but keep in mind number 2.

2. Volume- You want to run as many miles as you can without being inconsistent. I think volume is key. If you could run 100 miles without getting injured or sick, then do that. If you can only run 45 miles, then do 45 miles consistently. For me, 75-80 miles is the most I can do in singles while working 45-50 hours per week without getting sick or injured. At 80 miles, I am walking a proverbial tightrope. If I lose focus on rest and recovery, then i will likely get injured or sick. I think you should feel a little weak and tired during the high mileage weeks but not completely worn down or sick. Know the difference between aches/pains and injury.

3. Intensity- After you find a comfortable, yet challenging weekly training volume, add in some speed/hill workouts.

Other Things:

Doubles- The best runners in the world run twice a day and it keeps you from getting super tired when trying to ramp up the mileage. If you are that dedicated, then do doubles (i know its hard with work).

The long run- The long run is the single most important workout of the week. You must do this. My suggestiong is alternate a long run one week and a really long run the next (like 2.5 hours one week, the 90 min the next, and repeat or gradually increase).

Workouts- Workouts don't have to be killer but should be challenging. I think a combo of hill repeats and tempos are best for you based on what you are trying to accomplish. Fartleks never hurt either.

Weights/Abs- Do abs everyday. Yes, Everyday. The core is a unique muscle, you can work it out everyday just like you can run everyday. I suggest 15 min after every run changing it up every day (planks, med ball, cruches...etc). Do weights twice per week lifting light reps 3x12-15 with little recovery in between. You live in a relative flat area so some leg work wouldn't hurt to help you absorb the abuse from running up and down big, scary, traily, rocky hills. Also, since you run fewer miles than most ultra runners, doing weight training can help you increase your overall training volume without so much running impact.

For La Corredora: My Suggestion is this

-Run 6 days per week and rest or cross train the 7th
-Run one long run per week
-Run one workout per week (Alternate hill repeats and mile repeats/fartlek)
-If you feel up to it: Run two workouts per week, 1 tempo and 1 interval workout like hills or fartlek
-15 min core work after every run

Example weekly training program:

Mon: 45 min and weights
Tue: EZ 45 min and 8x100m stride
Wed: Workout- Hill repeats or mile repeats/fartlek (a simple workout I like to do is 6x6 min hard w/ 1 min ez.)
Thu: 30 min and weights
Fri: 60 min
Sat: Long Run 1.5-2+ hrs
Sun: off or xtrain

Ok that was long but it should be helpful. Let me know if you have any questions

2009 SUPER Goal List

2009-01-08T13:09:00.003+09:00

The New Year offers the opportunity to re-evaluate your life and set goals (and gives me something to blog about). Most people fail to keep their New Year's Resolutions and I will likely join that vast majority. After several minutes of deliberation, I came up with these random goals for '09:

Plant a Garden
Read Entire Bible
Become Active Member in the Church here
Have fun and don't tiptoe through life
Try that Outside Magazine "Eat all items on this list in One week" thing
Keep in touch with old friends (Maybe once per week via Internet or phone)
Run Rim to Rim to Rim Grand Canyon
Explore every south rim trail at the Grand Canyon
Run with Someone at least once per week
Run PR in the Marathon
Run some "New" races like a Trail marathon or some ridiculous hill climb or an Ultra
Run more workouts instead of just easy running
Blog Twice per week
Eat No Fast Food
Give to a Charity regularly
Floss Daily
Visit 3 new States or Countries
Make a Fixed gear bicycle
Get a Mountain bike and explore natural wonders with it
Get the Internet at Home
Clean my kitchen floor at least once per week
Clean my bathroom at least once per week
Finally unclog drain in bathroom (or stop shedding hair)
Donate Hair to Locks for Love
Take a course or two at the community college
Wash Truck Once Per month (with soap and water) and wax twice in 2009
Be grateful for the position I am in and don't get down about work and life
Cook a new recipe every week
"Read and run everyday" (I heard Will Smith say this during an interview. I thought it was pretty catchy and wise. Plus the fresh prince is a cool guy)
Sleep outside 50 nights
Open Roth IRA
Buy some stock
Improve Relationships with people, friends, and family
Talk to a random person every time I go to the store
Go on Multi day backpacking trip
Visit a 3 New National Parks
Watch sporting events at 3 New stadiums
Bike 100 Miles in one day
Add 100 more goals to this list

Anyone have any additional suggestions? I would be happy to add it.

A Tranquil Place: Kadoka, SD

2008-12-19T13:32:00.007+09:00

I wrote this while on my trip across the country this summer. This is one of the many places I stopped and found interesting.

Friday the 13th (June 2008)

Kadoka, South Dakota is a lovely little town of about 500 people. About 1 mile off Interstate 90 and 20 miles east of Badlands National Park, Kadoka is a popular place for weary travels to spend the night. The main drag in the town is a unconventionally wide street. It was desolate at this hour in the morning but I could tell that is the hub of all social interaction for the residents. It has a grocery store, bank, post office, hardware store and a blue water tower which proudly displays the word “KADOKA” in flat black paint. Most other buildings are vacant or boarded up and resembled 1950’s construction. To be honest, it reminded me of the town in Back to the Future.

I stumble into the grocery store confused by the outdated advertisements and canned goods stocked on the shelf. There were hardly any fresh goods like fruit or meat. I had to check the date on my watch to see what time period I teleported to. In a brief conversation with the grocery store owner, I found that most people are employed by the state- meaning the school district or road construction- or ranchers. I went on to tell him that I was impressed by the laid back lifestyle that he led and was eager to see the Badlands.

“Badlands is about 20 miles down interstate 90, right?” I asked just to keep the conversation going.

“Yep. The weather is great for it… Come back and visit us sometime,” He said for lack of anything else to say.

I nodded and headed out the door.

As I was hopping into the truck, the shop owner came scurrying out, “About 14 miles south of town on 71, there is this cross made out of scrap iron and steel. Take a left when you see a sign for Swift Horse Ranch. It is pretty neat. Some old farmer built it. I know it is out of the way but take a look.”

“Thanks. I will check it out,” I eagerly announced. I always love when I get the inside scoop on a town and the “secret” things to do that tourists don’t know about. I left Kadoka happy that morning with a 45 minute run under my belt, hearty breakfast, stockpile of fresh rations, and some insider knowledge on the area.

Swift Horse Ranch Road is a hardly-maintained, windy dirt road peppered with cattle guards (rows of steel bars largely spaced on the ground so cattle cannot escape). On the grass next to the entrance to the road are two or three rusted metal sculptures about the size of a person (I cannot recall what they were, possibly some type of abstract art that I am to technical minded to discern). The discrete wooden sign simply states “Swift Horse Ranch Road” without any discussion of the cross. I guess you have to know what you are looking for. As miles two and three churned on the odometer and the road became riddled with larger roads and bigger holes, I grew skeptical of this so called cross. As soon as I started to look for a place to turn around I saw the cross on a grassy hill in the distance. I stopped to take a few pics and continued on.

The road, rocky and rough, winded around to the backside of the hill where it abruptly climbed. I had to switch into 4-wheel drive to climb it but it was worth it. I was able to park right next to the cross. The cross stood over 50 feet tall and was constructed out of scrap metal. It was not solid cross rather just rusted pieces of metal welded together leaving large gaps in between for the suns rays to shine through. Upon further inspection of the cross, I was able to determine the origin or each piece- engines, tractor frame, I-beams, steel rods, pipes, wheels and countless other things. The guest book indicated that only about 9 people have been there in the last month. I felt like I was in an elite group.

2008 Las Vegas Marathon: Review

2008-12-17T11:56:00.004+09:00

It’s been over a week since I ran the Las Vegas Marathon but it is still fresh in my mind. Here is a detailed analysis of the Las Vegas Marathon. Keep in mind this was my first marathon. Enjoy

Management: 2.5 out of 5

Race fees were a tad steep ($85 early and $95 late) but they did close down the strip so I think the costs are justified.

The 6am start wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. I felt like I was awake all night anyway. I guess I was scared of the pain to come.

Water and aid stations every mile. I didn’t like how there was no 1 or 2 mile split. You have no idea what pace you are running until mile 3.

I won my age group but I don’t think they gave out awards for that. I didn’t make the awards ceremony at 9:30am (45 minutes after I finished) because I couldn’t really walk. And I did not know there was an awards ceremony until after I got home.

I dislike starting both the marathon and half marathon at the same time. It was congested and the course got slightly confusing in one area: the half runners had to stay to the left and the marathoners to the right. I was running in the half marathon lane but soon realized I had to move over.

The worst part of the race was the final 3 or so miles when the marathon and half marathon merge. Nothing sucks more than weaving in and out of walkers while giving everything you have to hang onto a modest pace. To their credit, they did try to move to the side and gave me words of encouragement as I raced by.

Pre-Race: 4 out 5

Everything went smooth for me. We hit little traffic driving there and parking was easy. The start is a 6 am which is a little early but I lying awake at 4 am anyway so what’s the difference if it starts at 6 or 8. I had a seed time of 2:50 so I was put all the way at the front. It was congested a little bit because the half marathoners started with us. But you have to remember it is a marathon and people spread out very quickly. And there were adequate Porta Jons and Casinos to release some toxins if you had to.

The Course: 4 out of 5

A flat course. Last couple miles had some short down hills to help you avoid totally tanking at the end. I did not notice running up hill for the middle miles all though it supposedly gained a little elevation. There were Porta Jons every mile or so if you had to use them you could.

Starting on strip was probably the coolest start you could ask for. I can’t see any other city marathons having a better first 5 miles which is the main reason why I gave the course a 4. The remainder of the course was desolate. You run through neighborhoods which aren’t anything special.

Porta Jons every mile. This is a must for some people.

Post Race: 2.5 out of 5 (5 out of 10. Why not just rate out of 10? I never understood why people always rate out of 5)

Pretty weak. I was mildly upset with the post-race amenities because the Half Marathoners got their first. They got the best selection (ripest fruit) of post race refreshments and created a massive line at the massage tent. However, the finish had everything you would need: space blankets, Gatorade, bananas, oranges, and cookies.

Location: 4 out of 5

Las Vegas offers so much do and see. Shows, gambling, clubbing, site seeing, museums, and much more. I had already been to Las Vegas so I only stayed one night and focused on the race. If you have not been there before, the excessive visual stimulation may take your focus off the race. However, it would make for an enjoyable weekend or week for someone who wanted to do more than just run the marathon.

Crowd Support: 2 out of 5

I expected there to be more people on the strip. There were consistent pockets of spectators early in the race but some of them had that “What the heck is going” on look on their faces. Maybe they just stumbled out of the casino and didn’t know where they were. Beyond the strip, the course gets desolate. The only spectators past the strip are the volunteers and police officers blocking the streets.

Climate: 5 out 5

I got lucky and had perfect weather on race day. Dry, overcast, and 48 degrees F at the start (52 degrees F at the finish). Perfecto.

Race Swag: 1.5 out of 5

I was disappointed with the swag. We got a simple gray cotton tee-shirt and 3 or 4 little things like a sample of Gatorade powder for example. I was expecting a technical Tee especially since the entry fee was nearly 100 bucks.

Would I do it again?

Yes. I had a good experience for a first time marathoner. I would do it again because it is only 3 hours from home, the course was fairly fast, and the climate was great. Additionally, I like the fact it is in early December so I can relax during the holidays. Decent Run. Dece Run

I Feel Like a BUM

2008-12-13T11:04:00.002+09:00

I always feel like such a bum after the running season. I finished my so called season on Sunday after the marathon. Now, I am in that break or recovery phase until I am ready to start training again. I haven’t done much in the way of training the last few days. I get up, go to work, come home, eat dinner, kill time in the apartment, go to bed, and repeat the whole cycle. I don’t know how normal people do it. Its just such a boring cycle. To me, the brightest part of my day is when I am out running or soon after I complete a run. Without running or training, I just feel like the everyday 9-5’er. When I run I feel different. I look around at my coworkers and think, “I just ran 12 miles yesterday, what did you do?” I have a quiet self confidence walking around the office as if I live a more well rounded life. I feel better about myself and my life.

Without running, I just lose all focus and self respect. I turn into a slob. I actually snack constantly and gobble down any garbage food I can get my hands on. I find myself wasting more time because I don’t know what to do with myself. I have less energy. I sleep longer hours and feel worse when I wake up. I have trouble getting out of bed in the morning. I lose focus spiritually. Long story short, I just stop caring about myself.

During the most intense weeks of training, I can’t wait for the season to end so I can go on a long hiking trip or some other escapade. I always tell myself the break period is going to be a great time for me to do other things with my time. It’s funny how it all works out because when the season does end, all I want to do is train and prepare for the next challenge. I have come to the general conclusion that no matter how bad it sucks during the season, the hours of training and pain are worth it.

I often think I am making too many sacrifices just so I can run at an enjoyably competitive level. There is little time or energy for other hobbies. I read somewhere that it is more beneficial to be in the top 20% at everything, than to be the best at one thing. In other words, be a jack of all trades. In the corporate world, this idea holds true. CEO’s and bosses aren’t the best at any one thing, but have good knowledge of all areas in their respective fields. In my world, with regards to running, I would rather pursue the unattainable dream of being a world champion than to settle for beating 80% of the field.

2008 Las Vegas Marathon: Recap and Reaction

2008-12-11T12:56:00.003+09:00

Background and Training

I decided to run the Las Vegas Marathon shortly after winning the Jerome Hill Climb over Labor Day weekend. I just had so much fun racing and competing (and actually running with other human beings) that I wanted to get out there and crank another one off. I suppose my mind was in that post season mode that every runner goes through after a good (or terrible) season where all dreams are possible: breaking the tape in epic fashion to clinch the conference championship, making the state championship for the first time in school history, or consistently running 100 mile weeks. My dream happened to be completing my first marathon fast. I could envision the perfect high volume, high intensity training plan. My training was consistent but hardly perfect.

My first week of real “training” began shortly after that coveted Jerome Hill Climb victory in early September. I was on an emotional high from the thrill of the victory and the distant dream of clicking off mile after mile en route to a fast marathon. Needless to say, September was probably my best month of training. I didn’t miss a day during the entire month. I lost that focus in October but maintained the fitness I gained in September. I missed several days of training due to some distractions. It was a good though because I was starting to overdo the training. It gave me a much needed break. I got back on the serious track in November mainly for fear of making a fool of myself in the race. I logged several long runs including a hilly 20 miler at sub 6:30 per mile pace and a Grand Canyon Hill run (see previous post). In late November, I began taking it really easy to taper. I slept a good 9 hours per night and took the running slow.

Pre-Race

Many people wonder what I did in the few days before the Marathon. Here is a day by day account of what I did the week before the race:

Mon: 55 minutes EZ

Tue: 40 minutes EZ

Wed: 6-6-6-3-3 minutes hard w/ 1 min EZ jog

Thur: Off from running, Stretch, Cold shower

Fri: 30minute run in Bagdad, 10 minute weak ice bath solution

Sat: A couple strides in the parking lot of Buca di Beppo

RACE DAY: 4:30AM wake up call, Ate Cliff Bar and half a banana, drove to course, took crap in Mandalay Bay Casino and Resort, Jogged around for 10 minutes, 6:07AM race start.

The Race

The race started and it felt like your everyday morning jog down the Las Vegas Strip. Running down the strip with fireworks bursting and flashing bilboard signs shouting “GIRLS! GIRLS! GIRLS!” was quite a surreal experience. I had to remind myself that I was in a race and would surely be hurting very badly soon. I tried to focus on running at the agreed upon speed limit which happened to be 6:15 mile pace. I was mildly disappointed that there were no mile markers until mile 3 so I had to go by feel to keep from getting a speeding ticket. I ended up running about 6:13 pace for the first 3 miles. I was comfortable with the pace so I just kept it up. I tried to keep as relaxed as possible by chit chatting with some people the first 6 or 7 miles and made sure to take down water at every aid station.

After the strip ended at mile 6, the course got extremely desolate. There was no one around. I was alone just out there running and soaking in the scenic mountains on the horizon when some dude just pulled up next to me at around mile 12. We started talking a good bit while cruising at sub 6 pace. This was the first time I ran with someone in almost 4 months so I wasn’t really focused on the pace or pain. I could tell he was running faster than I wanted to go but I would have been all alone out there if I didn’t keep up. His advice to me was to break the race down into a 20 mile tempo and a 10k race. He certainly stuck with that philosophy by dropping me and putting over two minutes on me in the last 8 miles to claim a 2000 dollar purse. He is a 2:23 marathon so I didn’t feel too bad about him humiliating me.

Around mile 16 was the point where I was starting to hurt a bit. I had trouble keeping Gatorade and water down. I burped up banana and cliff bar almost every time I told a swig. My stomach wasn’t working properly. I had side stitches and felt like I had diarrhea. I thought about just letting it out but wasn’t ready to join that club yet.

From mile 20 to the finish my focus was just one mile at a time. I was struggling to maintain pace. My right hamstring locked up possibly from a muscle cramp. Consequently, I was basically limping the last 6 miles. I could tell because the next day I had extreme soreness in my right leg compared to my left. Surprisingly, the last 1.5 miles I felt good and finished up strong. The final 400 may have been a personal record for me (85 seconds). I got a loud cheer from the crowd during the final sprint because I appeared to be going fast. People love to see that in the final straightaway. Our culture loves speed and power.

My plan was to run 6:15’s until it got hard. Guess what, it somehow got easy. Maybe it was running so many hilly trials at a little bit of altitude or the adrenaline from being in a race, but I never ran faster than 6 min pace in training. I was surprised I could maintain that pace for the entire marathon.

Splits:
3 mi- 18:39
10mi- 61:30
13.1mi- 81:18
20mi- 2:01:30
24mi- 2:25:10
26.2mi- 2:38:48

Post Race

I had no appetite for about 4 or 5 hours after the race. I had trouble walking. I had a terrible headache all day. I couldn’t nap because of muscle spasms. And I generally haven’t felt worse. With that being said, I can’t wait to do it all over again.

Conclusions

-Do at least 1 training run in flats before running a marathon in them.
-Practice taking cups at aid stations
-Learn how to hydrate properly during the race
-The marathon puts a great deal of stress on the body. I hate running on pavement. I would probably limit myself to a maximum 3 pavement marathons a year.
-I have never regretted running any race. There is always something to learn even if you run terribly.

*I would like to thank my brother for encouragement, support, and advice during my marathon quest

A Few Reasons Why Arizona is Best Place for Outdoor Enthusiasts

2008-12-01T11:48:00.007+09:00

I am going to let you in on a secret; Arizona is the best state for outdoor enthusiasts. I am only telling you this because I know no one will move here because of the whole sub-prime mortgage debacle (I love Buzz words). So you can visit on occasion but don’t relocate here permanently. There are already enough old people who want to change their fate by eating organic and riding mountain bikes on rough mountain trails. I applaud them for their efforts but, I just don’t see how eating organic is going to prolong their life when they have already poured dum dums down their throat for 90% of it. The point is that it is important to start good habits early in life. Ok back to the topic….

You choose the weather: Maybe you like day long downpours, I don’t. With 300 sunny days per year, there are no excuses to be inside. But it is too hot you may cry….WRONG. This thing called altitude changes the temperature. Apparently, as you rise in elevation, it gets cooler. Cool. The driving time from Phoenix to Flagstaff is 2 hours. The difference in temperature is 30 degrees F. That means when its 110 in Phoenix during the summer, Flagstaff is 75-80. During the winter when Flag is 35, Phoenix is a comfortable 65-70. Essentially, you enjoy any temperature you desire by driving less than two hours.

Remarkable Scenery: A two hour drive can take you past the highest mountain, the deepest canyon, and the most desolate desert in the state. The terrain varies rapidly. In the high country, there are plenty of dense pine forests and snow capped peaks. The high desert landscape provides rolling hills and fields of juniper trees. The low deserts show off the classic terrain of Arizona complete with Saguaro Cactus and Joshua Trees. And of course, the Grand Canyon region has a big freaking hole you can explore.

Left Wing Lifestyle: I know it’s a red state but just hear me out. People here tend to be active because of the year round sunshine. Additionally, There are tons of health food and organic stores. Most of these are concentrated in the mountain towns of Prescott and Flagstaff. There are also ultra liberal colleges in both of these towns. Go figure.

Culture: There is plenty of history in Arizona, especially in mining. Bisbee and Jerome are two of the most well know boom and bust towns from the glory days of mining. They have now turned into hippie towns but the coolness factor is still their. Jerome is carved into a hillside and reminds me of a old European city. It’s weird. There are plenty more towns and sites like this to explore also.
Biking, Hiking, Running, Camping, Star Gazing, Kayaking, Canoeing, Canyoneering, Rock Climbing, Skiing… and more

I Know this this isn't very specific about where to go and what to do but I’m not going to give away my secrets. Also, I came across this blog about a girl who does ultra hard core endurance stuff in Arizona. Check out her reasons for liking AZ and scroll down to see the pictures on the right side:

runningdownlife.blogspot.com/