tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49795453339797470892024-03-01T06:33:21.041-07:00The Running ManOne of the most popular ultrarunning blogs on the web today!Wyatt Hornsbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14224514798393011001noreply@blogger.comBlogger577125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4979545333979747089.post-37177760309474389272020-11-30T08:00:00.001-07:002020-11-30T14:34:31.120-07:00Coming Back from Muscle Damage, Rabdo and COVID2020 has been a hard year for almost all of us. In the running community, it’s been a year marked by race cancellations, constraints on group running, etc.<div><br /></div><div>For me, it’s been all of those things along with other forms of adversity that have brought me to the place of recognizing that health is not something to be taken for granted. By the time June rolled around, my training for the Never Summer 100K—the only race on my calendar as the others had been canceled—was going solidly. My Achilles heel still wasn’t 100% (and still isn’t) but overall my fitness was improving and I felt upbeat about the race. I capped off June with a backpacking trip.</div><div><br /></div><div>When I came back from the trip, I noticed I felt tired and sore. I didn’t think much of it and after a few days of rest embarked on my biggest-volume week of my Never Summer 100K training cycle. It was a hard week, and I finished it with a fairly strong 23-mile run along the Colorado Trail up at Kenosha Pass. After completing my run, I drove home, experiencing delays along the way due to weather and July 4th weekend traffic. The protracted drive home, along with an urgent DIY repair situation I had to address when walking in the door, resulted in me going over 4 hours after my last long run with zero nutrition.</div><div><br /></div><div>The next week, I felt sluggish, fatigued, mentally foggy and like my fitness had gone on vacation. The following week, which would have been my second taper week, my lack of fitness felt even worse as my legs were completely dead. I could barely run 3 or 4 miles. By race week, my fitness and legs had deteriorated further, causing me to pull the plug on Never Summer. It literally felt like my fitness had gone off a cliff.</div><div><br /></div><div>I decided I needed some rest but when I saw no improvement I went to my doctor. My doctor ran a bunch of tests and the tests showed that my liver values—notably my ALT and AST—were very high and my protein low. Everything else was normal. My doctor worried about hepatitis. As he said, some kind of toxin hit my liver. I remember leaving the doctor’s office that day worried that my liver was sick.</div><div><br /></div><div>Additional blood tests and an ultrasound revealed that the cause of my liver values wasn’t a sick liver; it was muscle damage. The muscle damage had hut my liver. This explained why my legs felt so dead. I had apparently experienced significant muscle damage in my legs, leading to elevated liver values. We suspected that I’d experienced some mild rhabdomyolysis.</div><div><br /></div><div>I have no proof of how I developed rhabdo except so say I wonder if I didn’t push myself over the edge on my Kenosha Pass run and then my failure to take in calories—especially protein—immediately after my run put me in the hole. I likely went into the run already a bit overcooked from the insane stress this year has brought on all of us and then sent myself over the cliff when I failed to take in calories after my run to help my body recover.</div><div><br /></div><div>On doctor’s orders, I didn’t run for two weeks after we honed in on the likely cause of my issues in order to allow my muscles to recover. No running, weight lifting, core work, etc. So I rested. After the two weeks, I started back up with running very gradually and noticed some improvements in my legs, though I felt a hit to my fitness. But I stuck with it and eventually started to feel fitter.</div><div><br /></div><div>It was right then that my wife and I both came down with COVID! We both had mild cases but even mild cases can really do a number on you. I didn’t run a step while I was sick and after my 10 days started back very gradually. My fitness has been slowly coming back, and my legs are better than they were in the late summer, but between both of these setbacks I have quite a ways to go in returning to a level of fitness where ultrarunning can be possible again. Currently, I am essentially in the aerobic base-building phase, though I am mixing in some higher-intensity workouts, such as going up the Manitou Incline on Black Friday.</div><div><br /></div><div>Because I had COVID in October, I was very delayed in going back into the doctor to get follow-up bloodwork to test my liver values. Finally, in November, I got in and they ran all of the same tests that they had before. The test results showed my liver values were back in the normal range and my protein, which had been below where it needed to be, was back in the normal range. What a relief! As I think about all of this, I am left with some takeaways that I want to share:</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Training & Recovery</b><div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>I am sure I went into the last long run of my Never Summer 100K training cycle a bit overtaxed but I feel I could have gotten out of the hole I was in had I refueled properly right after my 23-miler. I did not. I went 4+ hours with zero calories and zero protein, which my body needed after such an effort, especially at elevation. I believe this all resulted in significant muscle damage in my legs, which led to my very high AST and ALT values and my likely case of mild rhabdo.</li><li>At age 47, protein has taken on a new significance in my recovery. I simply can’t get away with sloppy recovery. I am now consuming Muscle Milk after more strenuous efforts (and sometimes even before) and have put more of an emphasis on consuming protein at the right times. With my protein level back in the normal range, I believe these efforts are paying off.</li><li>Stress is stress and your body doesn’t recognize what kind it is—physical, mental, emotional, etc. It has been a stressful year for all of us. I believe I entered my Never Summer 100K training cycle with elevated stress and, coupled with the training load, my body hit its breaking point. Stress can’t be compartmentalized. It all has the same effects and has to be taken into account when designing a training plan.</li></ul>At this point, I absolutely do not know if I’ll return to form. Only time will tell. I am cautiously optimistic I’ll be able to race ultras again but there could be lasting effects.<br /><br /><b> COVID</b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>I had a mild case of COVID but even then I was quite sick. I was very achy, had a cough, experienced bizarre stomach issues, dealt with severe headaches that wouldn’t go away, and was extremely fatigued. I didn’t run for the full 10 days they say you are infectious and when my 10 days were up started back very gradually and cautiously.</li><li>COVID can cause myocarditis, which is heart inflammation. I did check in with my doctor to see how I should return to running and he said to stop immediately if I felt off. I never felt off—only out of shape. Athletes with myocarditis from COVID face the risk of heart attack. Return to running must be done carefully. </li><li>As I was recovering from COVID, I dealt with near-crippling brain fog, irritability and non-diagnosed depression. When you have an illness that has killed over a million people since March—a tragedy that is not getting the attention it should get—it really has an impact on you. </li></ul>As I think about 2021, I feel quite excited to race again. I feel motivated to get fit and enter some long races, including a road marathon and also the Never Summer 100K. In 2020, I discovered that I really love backpacking and so I will use that as a way to complement my training, while at the same time enjoying relaxing time outdoors. I honestly feel more motivated to get back to racing than maybe ever before. </div><div><br /></div><div>Health should never be taken for granted. In 2020, I have faced two health setbacks that reminded me of the importance of health. May you be well.</div></div></div>Wyatt Hornsbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14224514798393011001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4979545333979747089.post-60362938715841642442020-01-03T07:30:00.000-07:002020-01-03T16:34:44.274-07:003 Things in Ultrarunning that Are Concerning (At Least to Me)Long time no post. If people actually still read blogs, I might post more!<br />
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All is going fairly well in my world. The last few years I have dealt with pretty bad pain in my ankles--likely the result of multiple sprains on the trail, with inadequate therapy to restore mobility and strength. Of particular note was a major sprain I suffered in 2013 during the Leadville Trail Marathon (one of my best-ever races) and that I then trained through (with no real therapy) and ran a 22-hour Leadville 100 on 6ish weeks later. You pay for stuff like that...maybe not then but definitely later. Well, "later" has arrived for me and being in my mid-40s I can't ignore the issue anymore.<br />
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Over the holidays, I finally started to get serious about addressing the matter and so I spent a lot of time working on strengthening my ankles and improving mobility. Happily, I am seeing results! My mobility is much better, the pain has improved significantly and I am overall hobbling less. I am also feeling more shock absorption in my ankles--a good thing.<br />
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On the not so great side, I am dealing with some minor Achilles issues. I have four dry-needling sessions scheduled in January and in the meantime am working hard with the foam roller and also have reduced my running volume and frequency. I took 8 days off from running over the holidays and used that time to cycle a ton on our Peloton while also working on my ankles. Let me tell you--you can get a killer workout on the Peloton, especially when it involves power zones! Not only do I think I didn't lose any fitness in those 8 days; I actually think I gained fitness.<br />
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I am now back to running but with my Achilles still not quite there I am running every other day, with Peloton riding on the "off days." I also started weight lifting and core training back in October and have seen some really nice gains from that work. My "overall fitness" right now is great and I think I'll be ready to start ramping up for the <a href="http://gnarrunners.com/never-summer-100k/">Never Summer 100K</a> pretty soon.<br />
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Over the past week+, I have listened to a lot of year/decade-in-review ultrarunning podcasts and read quite a few articles about the overall state of ultra. Given I've been running ultras for about 15 years, I think I bring a decent perspective to things and so I'd like to share three concerns on my mind. Not sure I have good solutions to any of them (I probably don't!).<br />
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<b>First</b>, the unstainable growth of ultra and the impact it's having on the community and the environment is a massive concern. As one example of what's happening with this growth, the <a href="http://www.wser.org/">Western States 100</a> has seen a nearly <a href="https://www.wser.org/lottery/">four-fold increase in lottery entrants since 2010</a>. While there is no doubt ultra has grown over the years because it's an awesome pursuit (growth in the number of people wanting to run trails is usually a good thing), the concern is around a big part of that growth not being among people who will be good stewards of the trail but rather me-first bucket-listers and buckle chasers who are used to others cleaning up after them. <br />
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Like many veteran ultra runners, I have seen in recent years a concerning uptick in trail litter, poor trail usage, poor trail ethics, crews that resemble celebrity entourages, and overall bad behavior, raising questions about the state of the community now versus what it has long-valued. If the community is growing with folks who aren't good trail stewards and who care about nature and the environment in their words but not in their actions, then it's going to be harder and harder for races to navigate permitting, minimize impact, work with property owners, create strong community partnerships, etc. because the bad behavior will bring problems that can't be undone--meaning more and more races will start to disappear.<br />
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I think for a long time I took for granted that it's well-understood we run on the actual trail, pick up what we drop (and even others' litter), and basically show respect for each other and nature. It seems those values should not be assumed to be in others anymore. Every day on my runs I pick up litter. In every ultra I run, I see more and more wrappers on the trail. Yes, the vast majority of trail runners are good stewards of the trail, but a growing number appear not to be.<br />
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Not everyone has time to volunteer or do organized trail work and that's OK. But we can all abide by solid trail ethics and do our best to leave no trace. We need to make sure that new entrants to ultra actually understand and practice the values of the community--and those values start with leaving no trace where and when possible.<br />
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<b>Second</b>, how clean is ultrarunning? Beneath the glossy veneer of ultra these days are a lot of simmering issues and PED use is one of them. A lot of people who really watch ultra closely share this same concern--there's just a reluctance to bring it up in the "public" domain in absence of a smoking gun. <br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></span></span>A few years ago, PEDs in ultra was a big subject. No longer, I guess because it's not a fashionable subject anymore or maybe more and more of us just expect it in sport and so it's not outrageous anymore that there are some athletes who will cheat by taking banned substances that boost performance. As an aging runner who doesn't get around as fast as I used to and seems to always have a tweak somewhere on my body, there is the allure of a magic pill that will make me feel younger (ah, the fountain of youth) but then I'd have to live with myself and actually look at myself in the mirror every day. <a href="https://www.marathoninvestigation.com/">The mirror doesn't seem to work as a moral compass for everyone these days</a>.<br />
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Most races operate on a shoe-string budget and could never afford drug testing so we are likely at the place where we just have to be honest and do it the right way and hold each other accountable. And God no to a governing body (yuck). There have been too many oddities not to question the cleanness of ultra. It is massively naïve to assume people will cheat only when money is on the line; ego plays a role, too.<br />
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<b>Third (and finally)</b>, the toll ultra takes on the mind and body is gravely concerning because people's health in the long run can be profoundly affected. Ultra is an endeavor that can be quite a healthy pursuit but the line between healthy/sustainable and unhealthy/destructive is narrow and sometimes a bit indistinguishable when you're in the moment. I have been on both sides of that line (above, I mentioned a failure on my part to care for my ankles as I felt the greater need to get in the miles for training--and now here I am with ankle issues I'm trying to fix). Keeping it sustainable, I think, goes back to one's purpose. If the purpose revolves around impressing others, then that is likely going to lead to unhealthy outcomes.<br />
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My hunch is that the high number of casualties in ultra these days could be traced to those who just want to cross off a bucket list item, those who can't resist the temptation to impress others on social media with their (over)training, and those who understandably register for too many races when there are a growing number of options out there and then find themselves burned out from too many events. I have flirted with all of that and fortunately came out the other side but not all do or will. Not sure what we can do about this except reinforce the importance of healthy training practices, recovery (not easy!) and balance across all aspects of life--including diet.<br />
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That is all.Wyatt Hornsbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14224514798393011001noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4979545333979747089.post-62429908893070678992019-08-19T07:30:00.000-06:002019-08-21T12:04:25.018-06:00Update on QualitySo just when I thought my "speed" was gone for good, I went out on Saturday morning for my run and set a new PR on a pretty locally competitive course.<br />
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The course is a hilly 1.5-mile trail loop near our house and adjacent to our local high school. It's frequently run on by the high school cross country team (which is a strong program). I've been running this loop for literally close to 9 years and have had a few really strong performances on it. I used to own the CRs on this loop (in both directions) but then a few young hot shots in their teens staked their claim of the #1 and #2 spots for the counter clockwise direction--the fastest time being 8:53 for these hilly 1.5 miles of trail--all above 6,150 feet.<br />
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On Saturday, after about 5.5 miles of feeling fresh, I decided to head to this loop and go hard and see what the legs could give me. This was a 10 out of 10 effort for me and I went deep in the pain cave, especially for the last 5 minutes. My legs were burning in agony and I was breathing hard! To say I was going all-out is an understatement. This was the hardest I'd run in months.<br />
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And it was getting warm, too. The sun was out in full force the temperature was in the 70s. I had major cotton mouth by the end.<br />
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Not until I got home and uploaded my data did I see that I'd run the loop in 9:22--good for third overall on this very competitive loop. I'd improved on my previous PR on this course, set in 2013 when I was but 40 years-old and coming off a pretty strong Leadville 100 performance, by 9 seconds.<br />
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To say I was surprised that I'd beaten my 40-year-old self by 9 seconds would be an understatement. In all honesty, it made my day...actually my whole weekend!<br />
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Going into Saturday, I'd done two track workouts in two weeks and already I was feeling a performance bump. My approach thus far has been--and will continue to be--to add a 400-meter interval every week as I work to improve my speed. So on week 1, I did four 400s. On week 2, I ran five 400s. This week, I'll run six. Simple, straightforward and hopefully "safe."<br />
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As my speed improves and my recovery from the 100-miler back in July continues, I'll start transitioning into other types of intervals, including 800s and the mighty 1600. But, right now, it's all about the 400.<br />
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I was thrilled to see such an exciting result on Saturday. I knew when I was done that it was a solid result but never did I think I'd beaten my previous PR by 9 seconds, especially when I recall some previous runs on that loop where I went all-out. It was very encouraging and more proof that I need to run hard a lot more if I want to get better. Less focus on quantity and more focus on quality! And the nice part of more focus on quality is that it'll ultimately make your longer runs more enjoyable.Wyatt Hornsbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14224514798393011001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4979545333979747089.post-6705084686269346872019-08-15T07:30:00.000-06:002019-08-15T15:44:42.511-06:00My Thoughts on Quality v. Quantity<div>
I’ve thought a lot about my race and finish at the Burning River 100 in Northeast Ohio and some conversations I had with old friends in Cleveland, where weekly track workouts are part of the running culture.</div>
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It hit me then--when I was in Cleveland--and I continue to ruminate on it that my training since we moved to Colorado from Ohio back in 2010 has changed significantly, especially over the past few years. While in Cleveland a few weeks ago, I was with old buddies who are still running marathons, getting after it on the track every week, gunning for Boston every year and maybe running a few ultras here and there. Typically, their ultra training is built on the solid foundation of marathon training they are doing for their spring and fall pushes. <br />
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When you are truly fit for a fast marathon (meaning you're nailing it at the track, in tempo runs and in your long runs), I have always believed that it only takes a few tweaks here and there to transition into being fit for 100 miles. That is how I used to approach my training in no small part because it's how the club I was a member of trained. It was our norm. If you were bagging the track or your tempos, you got razzed.<br />
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I really don't recall ever waking up back in those years and saying, "Oh crap, I need to run 30 miles today so I'll be fit for Mohican." My focus was more on a fast spring half-marathon followed by a big push in the marathon (usually for under 3 hours) and then some tweaks to the training to be ready for my summer 100.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPTlueDZdNlG4GzFl7KssRg3V5x3s79r-al_Qkr_c3scvQLX8aG3_MHkLUD35NYq3Ctb9O1n-jQBvyXkky6Mah6UN1m37NYz7ygTzlQ-muJP_PO61KWhCpfy7wKD01Y2Y6BLTaEN0r57Y/s1600/BR100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPTlueDZdNlG4GzFl7KssRg3V5x3s79r-al_Qkr_c3scvQLX8aG3_MHkLUD35NYq3Ctb9O1n-jQBvyXkky6Mah6UN1m37NYz7ygTzlQ-muJP_PO61KWhCpfy7wKD01Y2Y6BLTaEN0r57Y/s400/BR100.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the finish line and happy!</td></tr>
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I am not saying that formula would still work for me. I am older and if I did such a big push in the spring now I would likely find myself in the recovery hole and unable to absorb it all. What I am saying is that my training over the past few years has changed...for the worse. One thing I do think I miss is a club I can train with weekly. No such club in my part of Denver exists (that I know of) and I don't have time to drive a long way to train with the clubs we do have. But I don't need a club to train well (it's nice but not required).</div>
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I’m proud I finished Burning River but, man, was my training off—certainly a product of a busy life but that’s no excuse. The race showed that I had more than enough endurance to run the full 100 miles. Despite stomach issues that zapped my energy (nothing new there) and surprisingly trashed quads, I was still running at 90+ miles. My aerobic fitness was excellent. Where I failed in my training—and have been failing the last few years—was in over-emphasizing mileage/quantity and not doing enough quality to boost economy, strength, speed and turnover. Simply put: I could run a long way but I was slow compared to where I should be.</div>
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I have fallen into the trap of making my training revolve around 100s and then obsessing over making sure I can cover the distance and not around enhancing performance through structured intervals, hill repeats, etc. that create great fitness. I did some "quality" going into Burning River but it was never intentional and it seemed to happen only when I was feeling up to it. I was running too many miles, which was wearing me down to the extent that I was not able to bring my best self to the quality I needed to be doing, and as a result I got stale, never really getting better.</div>
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Even on my days off, I never really was able to recover.</div>
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I really think where I need to shift things is around structuring my training in a much smarter, more confident way, recognizing that I'm aging and recovery is now crucial. In the months leading up to the 100, I should have dedicated specific days to intervals (mile repeats are the King of Intervals, in my opinion), hill repeats and the long run instead of waking up every day with the goal of running "as many miles" as I could with the time I had that morning/day. With such a structure, I should have then used the other days (the days I wasn't doing quality) to run super, super easy or cross-train and emphasize recovery. The crappy trap I've fallen into, as a busy guy with a ton going on with my job and family, is to just put in as many miles as I can on a daily basis. I've lost structure and I don't train with confidence even though I have a gigantic base that I have been building for 15+ years and that doesn't go away when you train consistently like I do. You have to build on that base with quality--that's where I've gotten complacent.</div>
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At Burning River, I found myself unable to keep up with runners who are my age (some a little older) and who I used to not only keep up with but beat now and then in ultras of all distances. They are now more than a few steps faster than I--it was eye-opening to me.</div>
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My speed across all distances has deteriorated and no longer can I expect to run “fast” unless at my age I’m willing to pay my dues at the track and on steep hills the way I used to do. This was apparent early on when in May I ran a 19-minute 5K--really slow. I should have addressed the issue then and there. Instead, I told myself to run more.</div>
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For me, I need to trash the self-talk about training to "cover" the full 100 miles. Having run nearly 50,000 miles and counting with no significant pauses in my training (a gigantic base), I need to remember that being ready for a big race is about much more than volume—especially at my age and with my base. It's about building total fitness and that requires a structured approach that puts quality at the heart of it all.</div>
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Over lunch a few weeks ago, one of my old friends from Cleveland, who shall remain anonymous, told me that before one of his big races in 2008 he ran 20--yep, 20--mile repeats in one go at the track and all of them were under 6 minutes. He did quarter-mile recoveries. He knew when he could execute that workout that he was ready. He went on to win his big race...at age 47. Disclaimer: I am not so sure 20 mile repeats is the best approach; I'm merely making a point here that quality can have huge payoffs.</div>
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So I will probably do another 100-miler and go into it knowing my stomach will give me fits but I will also go into it "marathon fit" and having put in structured training that has quality at the heart of it all. </div>
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That said, if you asked me if I'd rather run a sub-3-hour marathon again or a sub-20-hour 100-miler again, I feel confident I would say the former. So I am confident that on the horizon will be a marathon push. No rush to do another 100--definitely not this year.</div>
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The important thing for me is this: I want to get better. The desire is there. The commitment is there. I've gotten to the track twice since Burning River and look forward to gradually improving.</div>
Wyatt Hornsbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14224514798393011001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4979545333979747089.post-72286352179421738592019-07-09T07:25:00.000-06:002019-07-09T15:55:17.818-06:00Ready for Burning River 100It's hard to believe but I'm now under three weeks out from the Burning River 100 (in Cleveland, Ohio), and the taper has commenced!<br />
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Overall, my training has been solid, though it had some rough patches as I battled occasional fatigue, an ongoing piriformis issue (which I am treating now with some interesting stretches, thanks to a <a href="https://www.irunfar.com/2019/04/joes-miracle-butt-stretch.html">Joe Uhan video</a> a friend sent me), and the overall demands of life and work. Nothing unusual there as training for a 100-mile run is not easy; it will bring peaks and valleys.<br />
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When you add it all up, I logged five weeks of 70+ miles and an additional two weeks of 80+ miles. The two 80+ mile weeks were my final two weeks of training before the taper started, so I wrapped up my training on a strong note and got in some miles on the trail. Within all of the miles I ran are a few 7-day stretches of 80+ miles as well. I really believe that volume of training is critical. Call me old-fashioned but you have to put in the miles. That said, I do think I was smarter this time around with my recovery, and I also took some zero days.<br />
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All of my training was at "altitude." I quote altitude because it's really quite a relative term, but, to clarify, my training was all at 6,000 feet or higher, which I guess constitutes "altitude" and may be beneficial as I race my 100-miler at sea level.<br />
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I managed to stay relatively committed to quality with hill repeat and tempo efforts. Overall, I would say my quality could have been better but it was still there. My quality suffered during weeks that I battled fatigue.<br />
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I had solid efforts at the NORAD Trail Marathon in May and the North Fork 50K in early June. At no point in those races did my endurance ever fail me.<br />
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Also, I have been putting in solid efforts with core conditioning and upper body strengthening.<br />
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My endurance is there and I feel like through my training I got my body and mind ready to run "all day." That is what this crazy endeavor called ultrarunning is really all about: transcending self as you run "all day."<br />
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In the next two weeks, the goal is to keep up with my stretching in order to help my piriformis improve, get my legs fresh, continue with my core and upper body strengthening and hone my walking game. I am a good walker but life has been so damned busy that I haven't had the time to walk as much as I'd like. <br />
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I will also start thinking about my drop-bag strategy. Honestly, as this race isn't in the mountains, I won't have to worry about insane weather and drastic temperature changes--really all I'll need out on the Burning River course are the basics: back-up shoes, back-up socks, a long-sleeve tee in case it gets chilly at night, some basic first-aid supplies, and some simple nutritional items. Over the years, I have developed a pattern of not using my drop bags very much. At Javelina a few years ago, I raced all 100 miles in the same shoes and socks and never changed any clothing. I think it's better that way. Just run.<br />
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It has been a few years since I last finished a 100-miler, so I am truly going into Burning River with the goal of finishing. Anything beyond that is icing on the cake.<br />
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Do I think a sub-24 hour is possible? Yes, if everything goes well and my stomach holds.<br />
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Do I think a sub-22 hour is possible? Maybe, if it's a good day.<br />
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Do I think a sub-20 hour is possible? It could be, but it would have to be a special day.<br />
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Ultimately, I just want to finish and get back in the Western States lottery pipeline.<br />
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Burning River is a beautiful course and I'm relatively familiar with several sections of it, having lived in Cleveland for five years. Burning River was my first-ever 100 in 2007 but that was a different course, though there are a few sections that are the same. The course this time around brings about 102 miles and over 8,000 feet of gain. <br />
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Having lived and raced here in Colorado for 9 years, and in that time collected 5 big buckles at Leadville, it is hard for me to imagine a 100-miler where I won't have to worry about going over big mountains and up 3,500+ foot climbs. But that doesn't mean Burning River will be easy. Far from it! The course will offer few areas where it'll seem obvious that I need to walk, which can be a silent killer. It may all seem/look runnable to me, which could get me in trouble. So I need to approach Burning River with a careful eye toward pacing myself and finding good spots to slow the effort and walk to conserve energy--I'm referring to the up-hills. The key with a race like this is to run as much as possible (hence my focus on training myself to run "all day," which I have done before) and choose your walking "breaks" carefully (the hills) so you don't lose too much time but yet are allowing for some recovery. And then on the downs I will let my Colorado-strong quads be an advantage.<br />
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Another variable will be the humidity. Not much I can do there except deal with it. We have very little humidity here in Colorado and so I'll just need to cope with it. I lived the first 37 years of my life back East, in some insanely humid areas. I am familiar with humidity and will be ready.<br />
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Other than all of that.... I will go into the race with no goal splits at any point. This will be good for me. At Leadville, it has been hard for me not to race against my best splits over the years. As you age, you start to see that it's not a good idea to race against your younger self--that is something I continue to struggle with. Though I am familiar with parts of the Burning River course, I am not so familiar that I'll have goal splits. It'll for the most part be new to me, especially as I have not stepped on those trails in over 9 years. I am actually very excited about running a 100 with no goal splits.<br />
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One final note that is of great importance to me: I will see many old friends, who I can't wait to see. I still miss my old running buddies in Cleveland and the incredible running community there. Reuniting with old friends will be special. I can't wait!Wyatt Hornsbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14224514798393011001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4979545333979747089.post-5737491906982021832019-05-20T19:16:00.000-06:002019-05-20T19:16:27.900-06:00NORAD Trail Marathon; Back on Track?Had a very solid race on Sunday at the NORAD Trail Marathon at Cheyenne Mountain State Park in Colorado Springs. Put on by <a href="https://www.madmooseevents.com/">Mad Moose Events</a>, it's a figure-8 course with 4,000 feet of climbing that you run twice. Cheyenne Mountain is where <a href="https://www.norad.mil/">NORAD</a> is located--hence the race's name. So a pretty cool location.<br />
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I know the course quite well as I've run several races there over the years (including the Cheyenne Mountain 50K and the Xterra Trail Marathon), meaning going into Sunday I knew where to press it hard and where to take my foot off the gas pedal. Experience was on my side in spades. That said, I've kind of tired of the course over the years--there's just nothing on it that is new to me. But it is beautiful and on Sunday I really tried take it in.<br />
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My decision to enter the race was pretty last-minute...as in I registered at the table the morning of the event. I had checked with the race directors a few days earlier and they confirmed I could register on-site. That said, when my alarm went off at 4:30 on Sunday morning, I decided right then and there to bag the race and get some more sleep. It had been a busy week at work and I needed more rest. So I turned off my alarm and closed my eyes.<br />
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But then regret crept over me and I got out of bed and went through the motions of getting ready. I ate breakfast and had my coffee and then out the door I went, driving to Colorado Springs with very low expectations and, quite honestly, not a great attitude. The temperature on the drive down was in the high 30s. That's what I call "no excuse racing weather."<br />
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In truth, what was really holding me back was my flagging confidence as a runner. It has been a tough two years, and the last thing I wanted on Sunday morning was to drive down to Colorado Springs and endure a 26.2-mile death march where I hated every step because I can't race the way I used to race.<br />
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I am so glad to ran the race! Right out of the gate--<i>trying to use my experience to my advantage</i>--I opted to keep my effort at MAF and only allowed myself to exceed MAF if I was toward the top of a climb and knew I'd soon be on a descent. I was quite strong over the entire race, actually running the second loop stronger than the first. I lost no strength; in fact, I got stronger with the miles. I was especially strong on the descents and I was quite surprised by my climbing. My average heart rate for the entire race was 138. On a few climbs, I allowed by HR to get into the 150s but only near the top when I knew I was able to level off.<br />
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Running the whole thing at MAF was a good decision. Back in my 30s and early 40s, I had the fitness to go out hard and know I could hold it. I am still fit but not like I was in my 30s and early 40s. So it's better to go out conservatively, hold the effort at MAF and let the race come to you--which is what I did on Sunday. I passed several runners during the second loop.<br />
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I finished 6th overall out of only 38 starters, with a time of 4 hours and 20 minutes. Not bad for a course with 4,000 feet of climbing on rocky trails! I even got a 90% finish on Ultrasignup! Good to be back into the 90s!<br />
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Just like that, I'm feeling good about my fitness with the Burning River 100 now about two months away. I just put in my second consecutive week of 70+ miles. I just started <a href="https://firstendurance.com/nutrition/optygenhp/">Optygen</a> and it seems to be kicking in. I am confident that, going into June, a couple of weeks of 80+ miles and at least one week at 90+ miles is all feasible. Hell, I might even be able to squeeze in a 100-mile week if I play my cards right (not counting on it).<br />
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That should set me up nicely for a Burning River 100 that I can run with confidence...and at MAF :-).Wyatt Hornsbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14224514798393011001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4979545333979747089.post-58630633844823763642019-05-17T07:35:00.000-06:002019-05-20T09:34:31.036-06:00Aging<div>
I am going to admit that I'm struggling with aging. I have friends who seem to be aging like a fine wine and yet here I am really struggling with it.</div>
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A few weeks ago, I ran a 19:07 5K--the first time in a LONG time I have not broken 19 minutes in a 5K. Admittedly, my 5K was run in Atlanta and it was super humid that day. Plus, the course had some rollers to it. But I always break 19 minutes and it wasn't that long ago that I was consistently breaking 18 minutes. Now here I am running 19 and change, barely able to hold sub sub-6-minute miles. It's hard to deal with...even though in that 5K a few weeks ago I was top Master's Runner and finished 3rd overall and walked away with a nice medal. Three or four years ago, it would have been an outright win as the winner, who was a teenager, ran mid-18 (which is slow for a 5K winner).</div>
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I definitely think I can break 19 again. I've restarted hill repeats and tempo runs--gotta use it or lose it as you age, as they say.</div>
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And then there is the Burning River 100 on July 27...... Ten years ago, I would have been thinking about winning or podiuming this race (I was always very ambitious and sometimes it paid off). In my head, I still feel like those are realistic--and yet in actuality they are not. Some guy who runs 100+ miles a week and is 28 year-old will win. I will be in the mid-pack. I am 45 and slowing down. In 2009, one of my closest friends, Tim Clement, won Burning River at age 47. I am not Tim. If I break 24 hours at Burning River this year, I will be thrilled.</div>
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My biggest regret in life is working too hard in a "real job" and being too responsible when I was in my 20s. Knowing what I know now, how I wish I'd gotten into ultrarunning when I was 24 or 25. When you are that young and training hard, it is amazing what the body will give you. Even at ages 35 or 36, my body gave me so much. It almost never failed me and it responded so well to the training load.</div>
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Jim Walmsley is on another planet as far as talent but, when I watch him run, I see the beauty of youth. Jim is 29 and he runs like a gazelle over distances of 50 or 100 miles. It is incredible to watch.<br />
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So I am struggling with aging. It's not easy. Oh, it has its benefits. I'm so much wiser than I was...more wise in life than on the run. When I see a "young person" making a mistake, I want to help them and usually I can if they are receptive to it. But I have not (yet) reached the point as a runner where I can use my wisdom and experience to compensate for my physical decline. Which is a nice way of saying I'm a bit of a head case at current. <br />
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I hope my ability to use my life experience in positive ways on the run comes. Right now, I'm in transition. Mentally, I still feel like a fast young buck. I need to accept what is happening and leverage my experience as a runner and recognize that experience has pluses to it just as fresh, young legs have pluses to them. I feel that experience can be leveraged to compensate for aging, to an extent, but I have yet to figure that out.</div>
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I am excited about Burning River and overall my training is going well. Come Memorial Day weekend, I'll have a little more time to train, giving me about 6 solid weeks to hit it hard and get ready.</div>
Wyatt Hornsbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14224514798393011001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4979545333979747089.post-4160406950302967662019-04-14T17:57:00.000-06:002019-04-15T13:52:16.495-06:00Training Update / Inspiration from Yiannis KourosTraining for the Burning River 100 (July 27) is going well so far. This week marked my third consecutive 60+ mile week and third consecutive Sunday with 20+ miles. Building the base....<br />
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Plus, I've dropped a few pounds, which is nice as over the winter I got up to about 173 pounds. As you age, the battle of the bulge is real! I think the pounds have come off for two reason: I'm running more, and I'm watching what I eat. Hummus is now a go-to staple. Back when I was running competitively, I ate a ton of hummus.<br />
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Also, I'm back to daily planks and I can tell they're working!<br />
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All in all, I'm feeling good.<br />
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I anticipate I'll be at 70 miles/week next month (May) and 80+ in June. I am hoping for at least one week of 100+ miles, which I feel I can do but it'll require some lunch-time runs at work and probably a day off (not easy with my schedule). I'm gradually introducing quality into the mix. All of this should be enough to have me ready for the big race on July 27.<br />
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I really believe that I can finish Burning River in under 20 hours...if my stomach holds together.<br />
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It's nice knowing I can train for Burning River off my doorstep! But I am getting the itch to hit the trails in a week or two. It's mud season in Colorado and we're still getting snow now and then, leaving the trails nasty. I'm not much for mud running so I imagine it'll be May before I'm hitting the trails with decent frequency. I'm envisioning some great runs in my favorite locations--Mount Falcon, Deer Creek Canyon, Roxborough State Park, Indian Creek loop and various sections of the Colorado Trail. But since my big 100 is flat and fast, no pressure to train in the mountains. Just go when I want/can.<br />
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It's not easy training for 100 when I have a full-time job, a family and ever-increasing responsibilities on the home front--I feel pulled in many directions every day. As children age, life becomes more complicated and problems more consequential. For the most part, it's easy when they're little. Not so easy when they become pre-teens about to enter middle school. It's because of all of that and more that I decided last summer that I can't run Leadville anymore--or at least for the next few years. It requires too much time away from home.<br />
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Last night, I watched "Forever Running," a super inspiring documentary about Yiannis Kouros. It has been a while since I'd watched it. Says Yiannis in the documentary: "The verb ‘endure’ is not a physical verb, it's a spiritual one. Endure means to withstand…you must be patient and then do solid training. Without patience, you will never conquer endurance."<br />
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So true...and so inspiring:<br />
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Wyatt Hornsbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14224514798393011001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4979545333979747089.post-31083522442700344562019-03-27T19:30:00.000-06:002019-03-27T19:30:01.950-06:00Burning River 100, Here I ComeYeah, I realize I fell off the wagon with my daily run updates. This happened for two reasons:<br />
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1) I have been really, really busy and posting daily updates just hasn't been a priority. Plus, I've been traveling a fair amount but am back home and, wow, does it feel good.<br />
2) There were few clicks on my daily updates. No one, it seems, reads blogs much anymore, which is sad. That said, my Syncroblogger entry got tons of clicks.<br />
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So I signed up for the <a href="https://www.westernreserveracing.com/events/burning-river-endurance-runs-relay/">Burning River 100</a>, which is July 27. Burning River was my <a href="https://nolimitsever.blogspot.com/2012/12/running-my-first-100-miler.html">first 100 in 2007</a>. Except pacing some friends in latter years, including my old pal Tim Clement to his overall win in 2008, I have not raced an inch of that course since 2007. Due to some construction going on in Cuyahoga Valley National Park, some major changes are coming to the course this year--changes that are not ideal as the course temporarily goes to out and back versus point to point. Yeah, sucks. Then again, Burning River just "feels" right and I can't explain why. I'm sure it has to do with going back to where it all started for me and at the same time seeing old friends. I weighed it against Javelina and Tunnel Hill and Burning River just feels good and the timing is perfect.<br />
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To say my training since January has been inconsistent would be an understatement. I have gotten out and run every day but I've been "consistently inconsistent" in terms of how I feel on a day to day basis--a product of aging. So we'll see how my training for Burning River goes. I tend to start feeling consistently better once spring is upon us and the weather warms up. As of now, I am not prepared for Burning River. But, I have a very deep base and something to work with.<br />
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I have 3 months of solid training I need to get in! That is not much! But, as Burning River is a "flat and fast" 100 (with very little technical terrain compared to what we have here in Colorado), I feel like what I need to do with my training is attainable. No pressure to go to the mountains to run. No pressure to hit the hills. Yeah, I'll be doing all of the above but only for pleasure within my training--not because it's "required." To execute a solid day at Burning River, I will need two things:<br />
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1) Lots of endurance<br />
2) Economy<br />
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Oh yeah, and enduring heat and humidity.<br />
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On a course as flat at Burning River, there is going to be a lot of running required. There will be some hills but not many--really just speed bumps compared to what we have in Colorado. This will be about who can run 100 miles. I have done that before but it requires a lot of conditioning--a lot! So, time gods on my side, I plan to get my volume up to over 90 miles per week on peak weeks. If the time gods really cooperate, it would be awesome to get in at least one 100-mile week.<br />
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Currently, the only race I have signed up for between now and Burning River is North Fork 50K on June 1. I may up it to 50 miles--we'll see. I may also add Cheyenne Mountain 50K in late April. Both of these races involve way more climbing than Burning River but finding flat ultras in Colorado isn't exactly easy. They will help condition me and I will make the best of them.<br />
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Although I have struggled mightily with the 100-mile distance in the past two years, I really believe I have a few more decent 100s in me. I just have to pick the right courses and do the work to be ready. Burning River feels right.<br />
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So it's on!Wyatt Hornsbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14224514798393011001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4979545333979747089.post-37061778784328652192019-02-24T19:30:00.000-07:002019-02-25T05:31:32.574-07:00Today's Run - Sunday, 2/24My folks are visiting and we wanted to go to church so I got up earlier than usual and busted out 12 miles in 99 minutes. A little sluggish and the long grind up Canterberry Parkway worked me over. The trails are all covered with snow so had to stay on the roads.<br />
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Then in the afternoon went to the gym with the wife and got in another 4.5 miles on the treadmill. Felt very fresh on the treadmill.<br />
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Ended the week with 60.1 miles. Another 60+ week. Would like to get a 70 or two in March.Wyatt Hornsbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14224514798393011001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4979545333979747089.post-90747705948620599472019-02-23T07:06:00.001-07:002019-02-23T07:06:34.874-07:00Runs for 2/19-2/22 - Cold!Overall, I have felt solid this week, even as it has been really cold.<br />
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Tuesday: 7 miles in 56 minutes on the dot on the treadmill. Was about 10 degrees and icy outside so opted for the 'mill. Last mile in 6:58--easy effort.<br />
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Wednesday: Once again opted for the treadmill as it was 6 degrees and icy outside. 6.7 miles in 56 minutes. Didn't feel as great as Tuesday but a solid workout.<br />
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Thursday: Decided to get outside and ran 6.7 miles in over 57 minutes. Holy crap--it was cold. That was the coldest 12 degrees I may have ever felt! Plus, the wind...… Just tried to stay upright and alive.<br />
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Friday: Oh, how the "warmer" 19 degrees felt so much better. 6.8 miles in just under 57 minutes. Felt good and fresh.<br />
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I also managed decent walks with the dog on Wednesday and Thursday nights. I am trying to get in more PM walks to de-stress from work, help the family dog see the world and burn some calories.<br />
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My big problem right now is that I'm getting out the door too late in the mornings. Between having to gear up for the cold and just not being into the cold and dark, my cheerfulness with heading out to get in at least 65 minutes per run just isn't there. This is about discipline.Wyatt Hornsbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14224514798393011001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4979545333979747089.post-67770406332402930982019-02-19T09:00:00.000-07:002019-02-19T20:01:51.649-07:00Then and Now: What’s Changed in Ultrarunning in the 10 Years Since the First SynchroblogI have been invited to participate in the latest "Synchroblog" project. How exciting!<br />
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What is the "Syncroblog" project? Craig Thornley, aka "Lord Balls" (who is also race director for the Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run), explains <a href="http://conductthejuices.com/2009/02/03/the-western-states-100-synchroblog-project/">here</a> on his "Conduct the Juices" blog. The topic for this latest Synchroblog installment is "<b>Then and Now: What's Changed in Ultrarunning in the 10 Years Since the First Syncroblog?</b>" and joining in this topic are <a href="http://conductthejuices.com/">Craig</a>, <a href="http://www.atrailrunnersblog.com/">Scott Dunlap</a>, <a href="https://ajwstaproom.blogspot.com/">Andy Jones-Wilkins</a> and <a href="http://sascharuns.blogspot.com/">Sean Meissner</a>. As far as I can tell, the first Synchroblog published on January 15, 2009.<br />
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Those who have been in ultrarunning since 2009 know A LOT has changed in the last 10 years, starting with the emergence of social media--now a dominant force in society. I ran my first marathon in 2004 and my first ultra in 2005 and in those days social media didn't really exist. In 2009, a growing number of folks were starting blogs and joining Facebook.<br />
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Putting aside the many changes that have occurred in my own running life in the past 10 years--namely going from a 35-year-old runner consistently putting in 100-mile weeks, running sub-3-hour marathons, and competing for wins and podium finishes to a 45-year-old dude who, while still fairly strong (all things considered), is definitely slowing down--I am going to focus this entry on...the Leadville Trail 100-Mile Run.<br />
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I am going to show--or at least try to show--that 2009 was a pivotal year for the Leadville 100--a year that changed the course of the race for at least the next decade. But it wasn't just the year that changed the trajectory of the race; it was also a specific history-changing day: May 5, 2009.<br />
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Further below, I am also going to list some proposed improvements that I hope the Leadville 100 organizers will consider to make the race even better in the next 10 years.<br />
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But first, let's go back in time, shall we?<br />
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<b>What Happened on May 5, 2009?</b><br />
In 2009, Leadville locals Ken Chlouber and Merilee Maupin co-owned and operated the Leadville Race Series. They founded the Leadville 100 run in 1983. As the "jewel" in the spectacular Leadville Race Series "crown," the Leadville Trail 100-Mile Run in the 2000s annually drew about 450 starters--among them uber-competitive athletes. These were the days of Anton Krupicka's dominance. Anton's legend grew from his <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9aDJfjBApI">shirtless, seemingly effortless wins</a> in Leadville. He reportedly <a href="https://www.irunfar.com/2018/06/anton-krupicka-and-the-2006-leadville-trail-100.html">slept in a public restroom</a> the night before his 2006 win.<br />
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The course back then had some key differences, though fundamentally it remains the same. Back in those days, you ran through the Halfmoon Campground (about miles ~25 and 75) and up and back down the dusty Winfield Road (miles ~48-52). Plus, the Leadville National Fish Hatchery was an aid station at miles 23.5 and 76.5 (it has since been replaced with the Outward Bound station). Quick aside on the removal of the Halfmoon section: a fatal Blackhawk helicopter crash, only days before the 2009 race, forced this change. I have never understood why the course has never gone back to the Halfmoon section.<br />
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So what happened on May 5, 2009...a day that marked a new era for the Leadville 100--an era that some say has been good and others say has been bad? On May 5, 2009, a blockbuster book by journalist Christopher McDougall came out. Entitled <i>Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen</i>, the book would go on to sell over 3 million copies.<br />
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I will spare you a detailed overview of BTR--because you have probably already read it--but among its many stories were tails of some truly legendary Leadville 100 races in the mid-1990s, when Ann Trason endured epic showdowns against huarache-wearing Tarahumara Indians for the win. Adding to the intrigue, the book also told the story of <a href="http://nolimitsever.blogspot.com/2018/01/monster-in-rockies.html">how and why the Leadville 100 was founded in 1983</a>.</div>
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<i>Born to Run</i> not only delivered Leadville to a mass audience; it also launched the relatively short-lived barefoot running boom. Anyone who ran the Leadville 100 from 2010 to about 2014 can recount many runners on the course wearing either <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vibram_FiveFingers">Vibram FiveFingers</a> or huaraches...or perhaps nothing on their feet.</div>
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The fame and intrigue that <i>Born to Run</i> brought to not only the Leadville 100 but also the town of Leadville could not possibly be overstated. A phenomenon, McDougall's book captured lightening in the "Leadville bottle." And this is reflected in the race registration numbers. In the 2009 race, with BTR only out 3 months, the Leadville 100 drew 498 starters--not far off from average but still the highest number in its history <i>up to that point</i>. Here's what happened in the next 9 years:<br />
<ul>
<li><i>2009: 498 starters</i></li>
<li>2010: 647 starters (I registered in May)</li>
<li>2011: 625 starters (closed out in January)</li>
<li>2012: 795 starters (closed out in January)</li>
<li>2013: 943 starters (closed out in January)</li>
<li>2014: 672 starters (lottery instated))</li>
<li>2015: 637 starters (lottery)</li>
<li>2016: 650 starters (lottery)</li>
<li>2017: 606 starters (lottery)</li>
<li>2018: 712 starters (lottery)</li>
</ul>
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As you can see, the Leadville 100 experienced a huge surge in registrations starting in 2010--as well as in <a href="https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&geo=US&q=leadville%20100%20run">web interest</a>. From 2009 to 2010, it saw a 30% increase in its starting field. The 2013 race saw nearly double the number of starters as compared to 2009. If you're wondering why the precipitous drop-off in numbers after '13, we'll get to that shortly..... But the surge in interest was so steep that in 2014 the race instituted a lottery, now drawing thousands annually.</div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
<b>New Ownership</b><br />
The surge in registrations for and interest in the Leadville 100 was only part of <i>Born to Run</i>'s impact. The book almost overnight increased the "value" of the Leadville 100 and larger race series to the extent that suitors stepped forward with interest in buying the budding enterprise owned and operated by locals Chlouber and Maupin since 1983. Among those suitors was Life Time Fitness, a publicly-traded fitness club company.<br />
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In 2010--my first Leadville 100--Life Time purchased the race series from Chlouber and Maupin for an amount I have never been able to confirm. I ran in the last Maupin/Chlouber-owned Leadville 100 run on August 21, 2010. Quick note: Also in that race was the CEO of Life Time, who came up short in finishing the 100 in under 30 hours to score Leadman distinction.<br />
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Overall, Life Time did a solid job with the 2011 and 2012 races, though in 2012 it made a significant last-second course change, subbing in a new trail section between the near-bottom of Hope Pass and the Winfield aid station (where you turn around). While this change enhanced runner safety, the organizers announced it only a few days before the race, angering many runners who felt blindsided.<br />
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<b>2013 Race</b><br />
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The 2013 race, which ended up being one of my best Leadville 100s, brought disaster to the "brand." Probably eager to cash in on the race's 30th anniversary and ongoing interest from <i>BTR</i>, Life Time let in many more runners than in previous years--a rumored 1,200 registered, with 943 at the starting line the morning of the race. Not only was the out-and-back course super crowded but many aid stations ran out of water and other key provisions. Plus, with many newbies on a course that is not appropriate for inexperienced ultrarunners, littering proved a problem. The 2013 race was a disaster.</div>
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In the aftermath of the 2013 race, the Hardrock Hundred dropped Leadville as a qualifier, accusing Life Time of failing to adhere to good practices related to "environmental responsibility, support of the hosting community, and having a positive impact on the health of our sport."</div>
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Understand that, going into 2013, there were rumors of Life Time marketing the Leadville 100 in its clubs nationwide. It also had instituted some really questionable promotional programs, such as a "CEO Challenge." Life Time had made the huge mistake of trying to further democratize a high-altitude, mountainous race that was/is really more appropriate for experienced runners, not your garden-variety gym rats. I am not saying that to be condescending. I am merely being straight-up that there is hard and even really hard...and then the Leadville 100. </div>
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<b>Transparency</b></div>
<div>
In the wake of the 2013 running, Life Time instituted a lottery and began "capping" the field but few still know what the cap really is. Whereas with races like Western States and Hardrock, you know the caps, with Leadville you do not. My guess is around 775 to 800 starters, understanding that 10%-20% will no-show.<br />
<br />
Additionally, with the lottery, which began with the 2014 race, Life Time never really explained its criteria, as compared to Western States, which is very transparent with its lottery. The Leadville lottery has never taken place in public. It is a process that, in my opinion, is in need of more transparency. </div>
<br />
<b>Life Time Bought</b><br />
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In early 2015, private equity firms TPG Capital and Leonard Green & Partners purchased Life Time Fitness. With this purchase, Life Time became a private company.</div>
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Today, the race series is still owned by Life Time but rumors of its sale abound. Meanwhile, strange and seemingly off-brand sponsors have come on board, like Century Link, making some of us wonder if Life Time's investment in the race series has been cut, or maybe its interest has waned, forcing the series to seek sponsors to keep it afloat. I guess only insiders know the low-down.<br />
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A few years ago, the race also institute group registration for the lottery, angering traditionalists who decried such moves as akin to the Rock 'n' Roll marathon series.</div>
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</div>
<div>
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Despite question marks about its ownership, the Leadville Race Series is still uber-popular, with many being denied entry via the ever-crowded lotteries for both the 100-mile run and bike ride, but some would say it's lost a bit of its mystique. I definitely believe its removal as a Hardrock qualifier cost the Leadville 100 some major prestige points.<br />
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The race still attracts quality runners, but is far below Western States, Hardrock and UTMB in terms of competitive fields.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>The Next 10 Years!</b></div>
<div>
Although it could be plausibly said by the purists that the essence of the Leadville 100 has deteriorated since Life Time purchased the series, it is still a great race that I love. It offers an incredible weekend in the mountains--an experience pushing you to the edge of your limits. While there are some concerning things going on with the race series, overall the Leadville 100's brand remains in tact...and I think that's largely because of the town, Ken and Merilee's ongoing involvement (thank God for that), and, of course, those mountains. <br />
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The race is still coasting a bit on <i>Born to Run</i> fumes. Rumors of a <i>BTR</i> movie have been circulating for some time, and quite honestly I hope it's never made. These days, you hardly see barefoot or huarache-wearing runners in the Leadville 100. It is now the age of Hoka.<br />
<br />
Some really positive changes have happened, too, such as the new "surprise" aid station toward the top of the Power Line climb. The Mount Elbert water station, added in I believe 2011, was also a very positive change. Plus, the volunteers at the aid stations continue to be exceptional. Another thing that hasn't change is just how hard the race is! Plus, the town...it's awesome!</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
Summing up much of the above, opportunities for improvement in the next 10 years, in my opinion, include:</div>
<ul>
<li>Create more transparency with the lottery, including a public name-drawing event similar to what the Western States Endurance Run has at Placer High School every December. It's a great way to build community and instill trust in the process.</li>
<li>Lock in the course and minimize changes. The section between the bottom of Hope Pass and Winfield has changed too much in the last 6 years. There needs to be more stability with this particularly critical section.</li>
<li>Create a board. I have been beating this drum for years but I really believe the Leadville 100 run needs a board of directors with some power--likely not going to happen so long as Life Time owns the series. If such a board exists, I know nothing of it. Look no further than Western States as a prime example of the importance a board can and should play in protecting the integrity of a historic race. If you're getting tired of me pointing back to Western States as the gold standard, sorry but it is the gold standard.</li>
<li>Institute a qualifier requirement. Leadville is a tough, tough race and one should be required to have completed at least a 50-miler--preferably a 100-miler--in the last year to enter the lottery. That alone would narrow the field of entrants.</li>
<li>Remove the CEO/Executive Challenge. It's ridiculous.</li>
<li>Remove the group registration feature. It's ridiculous. This is Leadville, not a Rock 'n' Roll Marathon.</li>
<li>Move registration to Ultrasignup or another platform that is part of the ultra community.</li>
<li>If possible, return ownership of the race to the community. This is a race that locals should own. At the very least, it should be owned by Coloradans.</li>
<li>Stop with the random stupid things, such as denying Jim Walmsley a spot in the 2019 starting field because he didn't get in through the lottery. Save a few spots for invitations for the best.</li>
<li>Add an aid station at Tabor Boat Ramp inbound (mile 93). As hardcore as I tend to like things, I think an aid station at Tabor, which is about halfway between Mayqueen inbound and the finish, will enhance runner safety.</li>
<li>Create a prize purse. Unless I am mistaken, Leadville has the freedom to throw down a prize purse for the top finishers. Why not do it?</li>
</ul>
What changes have you seen in ultrarunning in the last 10 years? Comment to share, please.<br />
<br />
Check out what my fellow Synchrobloggers have to say about what's changed in ultra in the last 10 years!<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://conductthejuices.com/2019/02/19/remembering-the-scales/">Lord Balls</a></li>
<li><a href="https://ajwstaproom.blogspot.com/2019/02/then-and-now-whats-changed-in.html">AJW</a></li>
<li><a href="http://sascharuns.blogspot.com/2019/02/ch-ch-ch-changes.html">Sean Meissner</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.atrailrunnersblog.com/2019/02/my-how-weve-grown-examining-growth-of.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+blogspot%2FaiSwz+%28A+Trail+Runner%27s+Blog%29">Scott Dunlap</a></li>
</ul>
Wyatt Hornsbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14224514798393011001noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4979545333979747089.post-67100561133695541112019-02-19T07:30:00.000-07:002019-02-20T05:06:21.785-07:00Today's Run - Monday, 2/19With it being snow and single digits outside, I hopped on the treadmill and powered through 7 miles in 56 minutes. Felt good. Last mile in 6:58. It is going to be a very cold week.Wyatt Hornsbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14224514798393011001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4979545333979747089.post-37356672788134003482019-02-18T07:45:00.000-07:002019-02-18T15:46:29.531-07:00Today's Run - Monday, 2/18Easy Monday. Hopped on the treadmill for 4.25 miles in 40 minutes flat. Goal was to keep it very low-intensity, as in 10-minutes/mile. I always get a bit impatient going that slow so after the first mile cranked up the speed just a bit.<br />
<br />
A little sore from yesterday's 20-miler but by the time I got off the 'mill I was feeling good.<br />
<br />
Had a solid stretching session before and after.Wyatt Hornsbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14224514798393011001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4979545333979747089.post-83213916103664610812019-02-17T13:57:00.001-07:002019-02-17T14:57:51.703-07:00Today's Run - Sunday, 2/17; Very Solid 20-Miler!All winter long I have been struggling in my long runs and in most cases my daily runs. I have felt off. I have felt achy. I have felt slow. My ankles have hurt. I have felt labored. Some days have been better than others. I have barely been able to run beyond 15 or 16 miles. It has been a tough winter on the running front.<br />
<br />
But then this morning I got up and out the door and I ran 20.1 miles in 2 hours and 39 minutes. I hadn't planned to go 20 but halfway through I was feeling good--so good--and decided I'd go 20. My feet were light. My legs were responsive. My ankles were great! My breathing was on. It was close to perfect. 1,400 feet of climbing.<br />
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Oh, and on my 20-miler I had a small flask of plain water and no calories. Before my run, I did eat a breakfast burrito, though.<br />
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It is hard to believe that in my mid 30s I was busting out "easy" 20-mile long runs in 2 hours and 25 minutes. But that was then...that was at sea level and I was younger and fast. Today, I'm 45 and I live at altitude. So, when you factor all of that in, today's run was freaking awesome. Every so often you get those great days and when you do you must seize them! I am going to create more of them!<br />
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Ended the week with 61.4 miles. 382.1 miles on the year.<br />
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In reflecting on this morning's run, I am trying to determine if I did anything that set me up for success. Yesterday I did eat a whole can of wild-caught salmon. Maybe that helped? I slept well, too. I'm sure the good sleep helped. Who knows? But I am hopeful that today's successful long run was a breakthrough, both mentally and physically, after what has been a physically difficult winter.<br />
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***<br />
<br />
I really enjoyed Billy Yang's <a href="https://billyyangpodcast.libsyn.com/jason-koop-byp-029">podcast interview with Jason Koop</a>. I believe Billy is one of the top content creators and artists in the sport of ultrarunning today. I loved this conversation with Koop and the call-in element was great. In particular, I found what Koop said about reducing intensity when you are increasing volume to be interesting. It was nice to hear an expert say that because it is hard to keep up with the intensity when your volume is high!<br />
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I continue to think about my 2019 schedule. I am eyeing the Colfax Marathon on May 19. I am signed up for North Fork 50K on June 1. I am eyeing the Leadville Trail Marathon on June 15. My Colorado Trail adventure would then be in late June. Burning River 100-miler in late July. Or maybe Javelina in the fall. I think I am leaning toward Burning River. I am about 85% there in signing up for a 100-miler. I think I am ready to make that investment.<br />
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Need to pull the trigger soon!<br />
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All these years later, this intimate portrait of Anton still gets to me (in the best ways).<br />
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<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="236" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GxvenwE6qGg" width="420"></iframe>
Wyatt Hornsbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14224514798393011001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4979545333979747089.post-42588814329464922052019-02-16T20:41:00.002-07:002019-02-17T07:35:59.566-07:00Today's Run - Saturday, 2/16; Colorado Trail PlanningGot out for 10 miles in under 82 minutes this morning. Two of those miles were at 6:40 pace. I felt good for a Saturday and this was my first 10-mile Saturday since before Leadville back in August.<br />
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At this point, I'm planning 18 tomorrow morning.<br />
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Later in the day, some snow blew in, dropping about 2 inches where we live. We're at 6,200 feet so I'm sure we got more than Denver.<br />
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I am well under way in planning my Colorado Trail hike this summer. The plan is to go from Waterton Canyon to Copper Mountain Ski Resort in late June--about 120 miles. I am willing to pay top dollar to go "light." As of now, between a backpack, tent, sleeping pad, sleeping bag, stove, etc., I am at 10 pounds. I am probably going to "need" a solar-powered charger for my phone--it'll cost me about 1-2 pounds. Then there are other "essentials." My goal is to keep my pack under 25 pounds, which is not going to be easy but it's doable. Less is more so long as you're carrying life-saving essentials.<br />
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There's just one problem with my CT planning: I still need a partner. I really don't want to do it alone. I am very experienced on the trail. I'm very fit. I'm resilient. What I am not is experienced with backpacking and backcountry camping. Could use an experienced partner/partners.Wyatt Hornsbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14224514798393011001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4979545333979747089.post-12137024825454897402019-02-15T07:47:00.000-07:002019-02-16T07:47:46.834-07:00Today's Run - Friday, 2/15Didn't feel like battling the dark and cold so got on the treadmill and ran 7.5 miles in and hour and 1 minute flat. Felt good.<br />
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Intrigued to learn more about <a href="https://ultrarunning.com/featured/bronco-billys-tough-21-strength-routine/">Bronco Billy's strength-building routine</a>. What that guy is doing at his age is nothing short of amazing.Wyatt Hornsbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14224514798393011001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4979545333979747089.post-42419878032839170352019-02-14T07:35:00.000-07:002019-02-14T16:00:41.194-07:00Today's Run - Thursday, 2/146.4 miles in 55 and change. So nice to see the sun rising earlier and earlier but it's still pretty dark. I have pretty much resolved that, as an aging athlete, the cold is harder on my body than it used to be and so I just need to bide my time, stay in decent shape and, above all, remain healthy.<br />
<br />
This morning I wrapped up an interesting interview on the Rich Roll Podcast Show. It's with <a href="https://www.richroll.com/podcast/todd-herman-422/">Todd Herman</a> and he's talking about the "alter ego effect." I get it, but if in this world we all had alter egos then I think it would be a pretty crappy world where few people could trust each other. Just because Bo Jackson, for example, had an alter ego doesn't mean we all should. In this world, one of the keys to happiness, I think, is integrated living and authenticity. Nothing against Herman but I'm not buying it.Wyatt Hornsbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14224514798393011001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4979545333979747089.post-29976020827581661322019-02-13T07:35:00.000-07:002019-02-15T05:08:08.305-07:00Today's Run - Wednesday, 2/136.7 miles in just under 58 minutes. Did the "Riva Ridge loop," which I always enjoy. Admittedly, I woke up in a bit of a foul mood and was not really sure why!Wyatt Hornsbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14224514798393011001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4979545333979747089.post-46411731209460866972019-02-12T19:10:00.000-07:002019-02-13T05:11:19.053-07:00Today's Run - Tuesday, 2/12Got out for 6.3 miles in a little over 54 minutes. My Garmin has me in "unproductive" mode right now. It seems to have a good pulse (no pun intended) on when I'm not feeling great. My stomach was still bothering me. It is so nice to see the sun coming up from the East earlier and earlier. Will enjoy it and then after Daylight Savings Time it's back in the dark for a short while.Wyatt Hornsbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14224514798393011001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4979545333979747089.post-27906226690845717582019-02-11T07:30:00.000-07:002019-02-12T05:06:13.511-07:00Today's Run - Monday, 2/11Easy Monday - hopped on the 'mill for 4.3 miles in 37 minutes and change. No issues but legs were a bit tired. Stomach is still not great--must have a bug of some kind.Wyatt Hornsbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14224514798393011001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4979545333979747089.post-43897428248998693292019-02-10T20:30:00.000-07:002019-02-11T05:36:47.110-07:00Today's Run - Sunday, 2/10Intended to go for 18+ but pulled the plug at 16.1 as my stomach was jacked. Not sure what the deal was but I got insanely bloated about 5 or 6 miles in and had to stop and walk for a short bit. Pace was slow as I battled gut issues. Stomach never rebounded and bothered me for the rest of the day. A really off day.<br />
<br />
Ended the week with 53 miles. Another meh.<br />
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While I ran, I listened to Joe Rogan <a href="https://jrelibrary.com/1189-alex-honnold/">interview Alex Honnold</a> from a few months back on his podcast show. I don't get the hype with Joe Rogan. He's entertaining but...… His constant cussing, combined with the fact that he seems to never do his pre-homework on his guests (e.g., didn't even know Honnold has a foundation focused on solar), just kind of leaves me disappointed. He just doesn't seem that informed. Plus, during the Honnold interview, Rogan went on a tangent about supplements and wasn't even able to answer some of Honnold's questions about them. Meh.<br />
<br />
The more I dig into the Colorado Trail, the more I realize that my initial goal of doing the first 120 miles from Waterton Canyon to Copper Mountain in 3.5 to 4 days, while feasible with a backpack, may not be a good idea. If I were running, yes. But with a pack on and with the logistics of setting up and breaking down camp daily, it may be cutting it too tight. I have been advised to consider more along the lines of 4.5 to 5 days.<br />
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Bottom line: What I am being told is that backpacking those 120 miles will be harder--a lot harder--than running them. That's OK. It's the backpacking and backcountry camping experience that I want. So if I need to carve out more time, OK. I just can't carve out too much time as it's limited.Wyatt Hornsbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14224514798393011001noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4979545333979747089.post-60988380121373141772019-02-09T10:00:00.000-07:002019-02-10T06:36:24.698-07:00Today's Run - Saturday, 2/9Felt good for a Saturday. Usually I'm pretty tired and hungover from a busy week at work. Got in 8.5 miles in 70 minutes and change. The majority of my miles were below 8-minute pace. Did the "Tomahawk loop," which offers some nice rolling terrain on dirt roads.Wyatt Hornsbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14224514798393011001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4979545333979747089.post-24989403199973267062019-02-08T06:31:00.000-07:002019-02-10T06:31:55.203-07:00Today's Run - Friday, 2/86.4 miles in 54 and change. Overall, felt reasonably good but it was cold--about 9 degrees. I am really getting burned out on the winter.Wyatt Hornsbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14224514798393011001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4979545333979747089.post-69366942791623789632019-02-07T19:46:00.004-07:002019-02-07T19:46:30.142-07:00Today's Run - Thursday, 2/7With it being minus 3 degrees when I woke up this morning, I hopped on the treadmill for my run. I have a rule against running outside when there is a fatal factor involved, such as this morning with below zero temps combined with ice. Ran 7.1 miles in 57 and change. Felt good. Last mile in 6:58--hardly worked for it. All good.Wyatt Hornsbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14224514798393011001noreply@blogger.com0