10 Weeks Until Western States

With the Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run now 10 weeks away, my training has been so-so. I have been consistently getting in 70+ mile weeks over the past few months. As we know, consistency is one of the keys to fitness. 

Unfortunately, demands on my time--on the home front and at work--have made it very hard to get in much beyond 70-74 miles a week. We all have to make choices with our time. I had planned on getting my mileage up to 80+ miles a week in April and that may still happen by month's end (this week could actually hold some promise). But as of now there have been no 80-mile weeks--just a bunch of 70s. I guess it could be worse--70 miles a week isn't bad.

Also, the weather has created challenges, which is to be expected in Colorado in the spring when it's 70 degrees one day and then dumping snow the next. There have been bright spots. Two weeks ago, I managed to get to Mount Falcon for a quality 3-hour run. The trails were in great shape and it was a fun morning on the mountain. But then more snow blew in this past weekend, covering the trails with a few feet of the white stuff. The snow over the weekend was, in fact, so severe that the 50K I had planned to race on Saturday--the Rattler in Colorado Springs--got canceled. 

This time of year, when you're a trail runner living in Colorado, you take what you can get. You run trails when they're clear and you run roads when spring snow storms come in and blanket the area. It is what it is. But it's kind of frustrating at times because I know what I need to do to be ready for Western States (lots of trail running with aggressive downhills) and the weather is making all of this quite difficult. That said, I feel pretty confident that May and early June will offer some opportunities to really take advantage of the trails and maybe even get in a Pikes Peak ascent/descent (which will be a great quad trasher). 

Anyway, with the Rattler canceled, I decided to enter the North Fork 50K on June 4. That's exactly three weeks before Western States. In 2014, I managed a solid North Fork, finishing fourth overall in the buildup to Leadville. This year, in lieu of racing it, I'll be using North Fork as one last long run. I'll be running it at "100-mile pace" and will keep my heart rate at or below MAF (~133-143). There will, of course, be times when my HR creeps up a little higher than that, especially on the climbs, but the overall goals will be to run North Fork at MAF, focus on good nutrition practices and then go immediately into my taper. It's a notoriously hot race, which is a good thing because, as we know, Western States gets quite balmy in the canyons.

As far as Western States strategy, it's really pretty straightforward. In the first third, the key will be to run conservatively. Above all, do not go out too fast and race up the mountain with reckless abandon. Instead, go out easy and don't look at the watch. I'm not sure what the snow conditions will be but if there's a lot of snow--again--I'll focus on conserving energy and staying upright. 

When the heat kicks in, especially in the canyons, the key will be to stay hydrated and use every opportunity to cool myself. I'm planning to have a third bottle on hand that I'll use to douse myself with stream water. Above all else, I think staying as cool as possible (physically and mentally) at Western States is of utmost importance. I feel that I learned a lot about cooling myself at Javelina in 2015. That aside, with the steep ups and downs in the canyons, I'll just do my thing and put one foot in front of the other and try to enjoy the experience. Western States is a dream come true!

In the last third of the race, where there's a lot of downhill, I really want to have the quads to take advantage of the descents. In order to have the quads ready for this stretch, I need to train as much as I can in the mountains, and that's why I'm feeling some urgency for the trails to stay open and not keep getting covered with snow! I want to stretch it out and run the last third of Western States. I know I have the ability to cover the last third of a 100 in a pretty quick fashion and so it's vital that the quads still be in good shape when I leave Foresthill (mile 62).

The goals at Western States:

1) Finish - always the #1 goal for any 100-miler

2) Sub 24 hours - really want that silver buckle!

3) Every man for himself!

After Western States, the name of the game will be recovering in time for Leadville 56 days later. This will involve some limited running, some cross-training and some hiking up in the mountains--but nothing strenuous.

Western States: The Super Bowl of Ultrarunning

Since giving up added sugars and desserts last month, I am quite confident I:

1) Recover faster between workouts
2) Sleep better
3) Have more stable energy
4) Benefit from greater mental clarity

I am sure of all four of those, especially #2, which, admittedly, could be a key driver for the other three...... I do not miss desserts and I have come to love nothing but cream and butter in my coffee. Being off sugar has a transformative effect. But I am still far from a low-carb runner. That said, I eat way fewer carbs than the average American (and probably the average runner). I have found that, as my carb intake has dropped, I crave fat, which makes sense because it's the body's preferred fuel.

***

It's hard to believe but in a little over three months I'll be at Squaw Valley Ski Resort getting ready to run 100 miles on the most storied ultra course on Planet Earth. The excitement is building. I have wanted this opportunity for over ten years and at one time in my life thought it might never come.

My only regret is that this opportunity didn't come sooner, like when I was younger and a little more fleet-feeted. Then again, I was more immature in those years and might not have fully appreciated the experience. Bottom line: Western States is the gold standard and pinnacle for ultrarunners.

Pacing me at Western States will be Mike Wilkinson and Kenny McCleary. Kenny, who's in the 50-state marathon club and also has run a marathon in every Canadian province, paced me at Burning River in 2007 and Mohican in 2008 and 2009. He promised me years ago that he'd be there if I ever got into States and, sure enough, he's going to be there. Mike, an ultrarunner, has never run States but it's on his bucket list and this will be a great opportunity for him to see the course, experience the race, and help a buddy. I am grateful to both of them and to my wife, our son, and my parents, who will also be there.

This past weekend, my wife and I watched "Desperate Dreams" (note: the YouTube page says 1982 but it's really 1983), a grainy documentary that chronicles the 1983 Western States 100. In that race, Jim King, 26, and Jim Howard, 29, battled it out until the bitter end. King reportedly went off course by an hour after leaving Red Star Ridge (it was a big snow year), losing his lead by several positions. Yet he managed to regain the lead only to lose it to Howard with a half-mile to go as the runners were at Robie Point with the Placer High School track only steps away (they both talk about it in this interview shot 30 years later by IRunFar.com). Howard won in 16:07 and King in 16:08.

As the drama unfolded on screen, I kept thinking about "Unbreakable," which chronicles the 2010 race in which Geoff Roes overtook a seemingly indestructible Anton Krupicka before the Highway 49 crossing. As an aside, I've always thought it so sad Anton didn't get a win at States. He was entered into the 2008 race, which got canceled due to wildfires. As almost anyone would attest, that was the year Anton would have won States...only it was called off. Sad.

Circling back to the two Jims, I would argue--and this is just my take--that guys like King and Howard would be just as good and probably better today. Howard was a 2:18 marathoner and ran a 2:32 marathon while in high school. 2:18 back in the early 1980s was smokin' fast. With modern technology, gear, etc., those guys would be dominant today. If you watch "Desperate Dreams," you'll know what I mean. King weighed about a buck thirty-six back then and his stride was smooth as silk.

Western States has seen its fair share of drama. I still remember when Brian Morrison collapsed from exhaustion and dehydration on the track during the 2006 race, losing his win to disqualification. Last I heard, Morrison is returning to the 2016 race. Then you have Gunhild Swanson's crazy exciting finish last year.

With spring in the air, it's hard to believe that in only three months, I, too, will be soaking in the experience and running that storied course.

On the training front, all is falling into place. I'm gradually increasing my mileage and am at the place where I'm clicking off 70+ mile base-building weeks without much of an issue. Weekly hill repeats are now under way (this is the workout that seems to give me the biggest bounce). As this is Western States, the Super Bowl of Ultrarunning, I fully plan on being in the best shape of my life by race day. That will be a tall order because there have been some races in the past where I was clicking on all cylinders. But I'm certainly gunning for peak fitness going into States and I am willing to make the sacrifices to get there.

Knowing my mileage will be there (though these days it sure is hard to get in 100 miles in a single week due to busy schedules), my focus is on two key areas:

1) Getting the quads downhill ready. It sure would be nice if all the snow in the mountains would melt!
2) Being ready for the heat. There's a sauna with my name on it!

I am confident I'll be ready in both regards.

I also know that the better shape I'm in for Western States, the better my recovery will be so that I'm ready for Leadville 56 days later. If all goes to plan, I genuinely believe Western States will help, not hurt, me going into Leadville. My quads will be very strong after States. With those 56 days being about recovery, I'll also be well-rested going into Leadville. Plus, this will be my sixth Leadville, so I have experience and course knowledge on my side. I will place no pressure at Leadville on myself; if I need all 30 hours, that's OK. States will be a different story; I will want to run my best race possible, but at the same time I know how important it is to go into a race relaxed and confident.

I hope your training is going well and that 2016 is your best year yet!

Western States Announces Zero-Tolerance Policy on PEDs

Despite my best efforts not to mix my work with this blog, I can't help but share the video from an amazing event in Boulder where I presented. The event, "Liquid Sugar: Drinking Ourselves to Disease," was held at eTown and had some incredible speakers. My very short talk starts at about the 41-minute mark and is only about 8 minutes long. Check it out. All of the speakers were top-notch. I am definitely bald and need to just shave my head bare!



***

I'm getting over a horrendous back injury that kept me from running a step for three days. Not sure what happened but on Monday morning I woke up and ran a few miles and did a lower-body workout. While making breakfast afterward, I could tell my back wasn't right. Soon afterward, I had trouble walking. Tuesday was horrendous--I literally could barely walk. Wednesday was slightly better but still awful. This morning, I was finally able to run but my back was still stiff and so my pace was slow. I decided I'd run only if I had no pain. The worst seems to be behind me. My best guess is that I sprained my back. Last weekend I did ski and do a few tricks--maybe that tweaked it and then the running and weights on Monday sent me over the edge. Not sure but this was a brutal injury and I'm so glad it's finally getting better.

With that, what was supposed to be a good week, in which I wanted to get in 75 or more miles, is looking to be a total wash. That said, it's all good because the training has been solid so far this year. Western States and Leadville are fast-approaching and I'll be ready for them!

***

A few weeks ago, the Western States Endurance Run board announced a new policy on performance enhancing drugs. Here's the actual policy:

The Western States Endurance Run has a zero-tolerance policy regarding the use of performance enhancing drugs (PEDs). Any athlete who has been determined to have violated anti-doping rules or policies, whether enforced by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), or any other national sports federation is ineligible for entry into the Western States Endurance Run. The Western States Endurance Run reserves the right to conduct pre and post-competition testing for any and all performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) listed on the current WADA Prohibited List. Any athlete who refuses to submit to anti-doping controls, if selected for testing, shall be disqualified and subject to a lifetime ban from the Western States Endurance Run.

The new policy was announced on WSER's Facebook page. Perusing the comments and reading other feedback, I was honestly blown away by some of the questions. Most folks commenting offered positive feedback but quite a few seemed bent on picking the policy apart with bizarre questions about false positives, therapeutic use exemptions, Lance Armstrong (why can't he just go away?), etc. A few charged that this rule was nothing but a way to keep Armstrong from ever getting into States (I'm all for keeping him out).

Maybe I'm simple-minded but the policy seems straightforward-enough to me. Whatever the case, reading some of the comments, it was another display of the pattern of a growing number of self-important ultrarunners pretending we're "elite" athletes when in fact most of us are just weekend warriors who will never, ever be tested because we'll never, ever win any races.

And, for those who are still freaking out over whether or not they're accidentally taking something on the WADA list that will get them a lifetime ban, here it is.

***

Now, go run!

Goodbye, Desserts!

Training for my Western States/Leadville double this summer is starting to heat up. I managed to get in 70.6 miles this week, capping it all off with a zippy 20-miler in which I paced a buddy, Mark T., on a Boston "simulation run" in the area of Chatfield Reservoir. I felt good pretty much the whole way. Being ski season, I'm getting in the miles when I can and trying to enjoy the slopes on ski weekends (without worrying about not running).

In the entire 20-miler with Mark, I had maybe 50 calories of Tailwind and nothing else (except plain water). For my pre-run fueling, I had a bowl of full-fat Greek yogurt with a banana and a little granola on top. That was about an hour before the run. My energy was stable and I got through the 20 miles without any lows. It didn't hurt that I was running with a friend.

I'm going on 12 days since implementing some tweaks to my diet. I hate to use that term "diet" because it's not really a diet--eating is a lifestyle whether it's healthy or unhealthy. But, alas, while I've always told myself my diet was pretty clean, it had its vices. Here are some examples of where it wasn't so clean. 

• For the past few years, my lunch included a protein bar--usually a Zone peanut butter and chocolate-flavored bar. Zone bars may be marketed as "healthy" but, in the end, they're candy bars--not a whole lot different than a Snickers.
• After dinner, I would have a graham cracker and a half with honey roasted peanut butter and (a lot of) dark chocolate chips on top.

These were my desserts on a daily basis, along with some sugar in my coffee (granted, I've never liked a lot of sugar in my java) plus a few other sweet concoctions here and there. That's a lot of sugar.

A few months ago, I started to notice how much sugar I was consuming and how I craved it at certain times of day--especially after lunch and dinner. I also started having problems sleeping. I realized that this was becoming unhealthy. An addiction? Yes. How addictive? Keep reading to find out.

Plus, I read a lot about sugar's impacts on our health on a daily basis (this is part of my job). At some point, I think I came to the conclusion that sugar is very bad for us. I'm not even sure moderation of sugar intake is healthy. I think sugar should be a rarity, and yet it's everywhere. Did you know Starbucks is one of the biggest sellers of sugary drinks?

But it's not just Starbucks. The problem is that sugar is in almost everything we buy at the store. It is no wonder our country faces an epidemic of diabetes (which usually accompanies obesity), and that the most common chronic disease of childhood is tooth decay. As sugar is in almost all processed foods (including "healthy" processed foods), you become addicted to it without even realizing it. It's kind of like how people got addicted to cigarettes before the whistle got blown on Big Tobacco for hooking people on purpose.

So, 12 days ago I implemented some changes to my "diet." I didn't make these changes to be a better runner. I don't need to lose weight so that wasn't a factor, either. I made them because I want to be healthier and to age well. A lot of this was inspired by my wife, who on January 1 cut out added sugars, including her beloved cereal and Dove chocolates. I watched her make these changes, and over time I started to realize that I, too, could and should do it. While I haven't taken it quite as far as she has, I feel that the changes I've made are making me a healthier person. For starters, I cut out desserts. Below are things I was deserting on that got bagged up and discarded for good.

No desserts wasn't easy! The first day was horrid. I endured horrendous withdrawal. I'm not even kidding. Day two was also tough (lingering sugar-withdrawal headache) but not as bad as day one. It's gotten easier every day and now, as I type this, I feel I've broken the "addiction." Addiction? Yes. Sugar is said to be as addictive as cocaine. I cannot imagine how hard it would be for folks who drink soda every day to break their addiction to sugar. Thank God I don't have that habit to break!

I've also made an effort to increase my consumption of vegetables, fruits and healthy fats (like eggs and avocado) while decreasing my consumption of meats (I do allow myself meat for dinner). In lieu of a turkey sandwich for lunch, I now eat hummus on a whole grain pita along with some cucumber and spinach. I'm also eating a lot of kale salad (usually with a hard-boiled egg, roasted peppers, etc. on top) and I'm finding that it's actually delicious. "Dessert" during lunch is an apple. I am still eating veggie chips. But more tweaks will come.

Since implementing these changes, I have found that my energy is more stable. My running hasn't suffered at all; if anything, it's improved. I sleep better, too. I still eat carbs--I've just cut down on how much of them I eat and I've really slashed my sugar intake.

It's a fact that, as we age, we become more and more insulin-resistant. This is usually because our bodies over time start to have issues dealing with all of the sugar (hidden and in plain sight) that we're consuming. So, as the years goes by, it's a good idea to start cutting back on the carbs. That's what I'm doing. It has nothing to do with running and everything to do with being healthier.

Here's to a low(er) carb life!

Check out this video to learn more sugar and its health impacts.

Training for the Western States/Leadville Double

First off, it's always nice when this blog is recognized as one of the best in the running genre. I certainly don't consider it one of the best but the recognition is nice. I am amazed that nine years have passed since I launched this site. I don't post as much as I used to, but I like to think the content is still fairly high-quality and helpful to others. My last post seems to have gotten a ton of traction. Some folks accused me of posting "click-bait" on that one but it was all genuine! Hmmm, what other top-10 lists can I think of (maybe the top-10 most annoying hashtags)?

***

Speaking of my last post.... Just to show you I'm not totally anti-selfie, here's a selfie I took on top of Camelback Mountain in Scottsdale, Arizona last week (but not with a selfie-stick!). GZ and I were both in the area on business and met up in the morning and made our way up the very rocky, technical mountain (all before breakfast!). There were a few stretches that required scrambling and damn did I love it!

***

Well, it seems the lottery gods were good to me this year. I got drawn in not only the Western States lotto but also the Leadville 100 lotto. So, it'll be two hundreds this summer. Unlike other folks who seem to click off the Western States/Leadville double with no problem at all, this will be my biggest challenge as a runner yet. The two races are separated by eight weeks. If they were both flat, then no big worries. But one has 41,000 feel of combined elevation change (plus high heat) and the other has about 36K and is high-altitude all the way.

Now in my 13th year as a "long-distance" runner, I am very proud of my longevity and to have the shot at Western States and Leadville in the same summer.

In looking back on my running history, the closet thing to what I'm facing this summer came in 2009. I ran in the Mohican 100 (race report) in June and then three months later lined up for the North Coast 24-Hour, which doubled as the 24-hour national championship (race report), clocking 131 miles in pursuit of a position on the US team (came up short). I never really allowed myself to recover between the two races. I trained hard going into Mohican, cut back for maybe two weeks, and then got right back into logging solid mileage for North Coast. After North Coast, I was physically broken. I had a sore and swollen knee, a battered arch, and various aches and pains that plagued me for months. I am convinced that these injuries then set me up for the worst injury I've ever sustained as a runner--a severe case of plantar fasciitis, which came in July of 2010 and required significant treatment after I managed to somehow, on a bad wheel, finish my first Leadville that year.

I say all of that not to rehash the past but to learn from it. I will be seven years older when I line up at Squaw Valley Ski Resort this June. Reflecting on 2009, I think it was a mistake to continue logging big weeks between the two races even as it got me two very solid results. Also, I now recognize the huge base I've built over the past several years--it means something. So, with that, I have devised a strategy for this summer's Western States/Leadville double.

First off, all of the heavy training will be done by the time I go into my Western States taper, which will start two to three weeks prior to the race. The training I put in between now and then will be for preparing myself for both races. My mileage now, in the early months (January and February), is/will continue to be about 55-65 per week, and I'm hitting the weights on a regular basis in order to build the strength I will very much need by the time the summer rolls around.

• In March, I will be up to 70 miles a week and will begin hitting the hill repeats and track workouts. My turnover right now isn't too good as I'm quite certain I'm not yet 100% post-Javelina.
• April will be 80+ miles a week, with a yet-to-be-determined 50K race as a tune-up (Rattler 50K in Colorado Springs?).
• In May, as time allows, I will be gunning for a few weeks of 90-100 miles, getting to the trails on the weekends for some ups and downs and as much heat as I can get. Memorial Day weekend will mark a huge training block. I will not be able to do the Western States training camp but that's OK--we have plenty of gnarly terrain here in Colorado, like the greatest place on earth to trash the quads (Pikes Peak).

Bottom line: I'll do what I can (as always).

What will be most critical is to feel some positive adaptation taking place as my training progresses and to then have a quality taper--that was certainly the case going into Javelina. Recovery will obviously be critical, so there will be some cut-back weeks to help keep me healthy and responding.

I will then give Western States my all, going for the silver buckle. I want to be running in those final 25 miles, when many are reduced to walking.

In the eight weeks between Western States and Leadville, rest and recovery will be the name of the game. Mileage will be very limited, as I'm able, and a diet conducive to recovery will be essential (lots of protein). I plan to get up to the mountains for some high-altitude hiking but will not be pushing the mileage at all. This summer, I really want to bag Mounts Elbert and Massive, Loveland Pass and perhaps even the DECALIBRON loop. It really comes down to finding the time. Time is very elusive. It's easy to be "planful" now. As the saying goes, everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.

Whereas the goal going into Western States is to be at 100%, I will be very happy if I can go into Leadville at 80-90%. I am being realistic in saying that I will not be fully recovered from Western States by the time Leadville rolls around--not at age 43. My approach to Leadville will be to NOT look at my watch or splits at all but to instead run well within myself and finish ideally in under 25 hours. There will be no pressure at Leadville. If I need all 30 hours, then that's OK.

As I said to my wife this morning, I think all of this weight lifting will pay off when the summer comes. I feel my body getting stronger and firmer. My recovery is better. I can actually now bench press my body weight. My legs are stronger. Everything is getting stronger. In 100s, you need every muscle from head to toe.

Here's to a great 2016! Please chime in with your plans!

10 Trends in Ultrarunning That I Hope Go Away in 2016 (Including the Eruption Over "Dale's Picks")

Some of this is tongue-in-cheek and some of this is sincere. I'll let you, the reader, decide what's serious and what's meant as fun. I'm sure some folks are going to get all twisted up over a few items listed below so let the hate mail begin. Without further delay, here are 10 trends I hope go away, or mostly go away, in 2016.

10) The beard. Every time we go up to the mountains to ski or whatever, all of the hipster dudes can be seen prancing around with their beards. Oh, how cool. Aren't you an original. Me? I still go with the Sonny Crockett five 'o clock shadow look now and then just because I can get lazy with a razor on weekends. Do you even know who Sonny Crockett is? Which brings me to....

9) Hipsters as ultrarunners, or maybe ultrarunners as hipsters. Please become original. Three-quarters of the music you listen to you don't even like. Admit it.

8) Selfie-sticks in ultras. Look, I have nothing against a selfie-stick, even though I'd never buy one. The problem is with selfie-sticks in ultras. They present runner safety issues and have no place on an ultra course or a race course of any kind.

7) Athlete ambassadors. It's one thing if you're an "elite" hawking products you use and like. Otherwise, please do not act like a sponsored athlete. I was once an athlete ambassador for Hammer Nutrition and I felt cool...for about five minutes. I even wore my douchey red Hammer shirt at a few races. Then one day I woke up, realized I was just an average runner, and asked myself, "why am I doing this crap for Hammer when all I get is a token discount and I could just as easily buy from whoever I damn please?"

6) The ridiculous argument that ultrarunning is anything other than very grassroots and a weekend/recreational gig for most of us. That is to say, it is not a "sport." Ultrarunning is for most of us a lifestyle and, to some extent, a very intense hobby.

5) IPA. (Full disclosure: I like IPA and just put this here to get people riled up. Actually, my favorite beer is Avalanche but I tend to drink more wine than beer.)

4) Public sniping and internet mobs. Between "Gordygate," "Lancegate" and the newest controversy to rock the ultrarunning world to its core, "Dale's Picks," the sniping has gotten way out of control. Rather than take to Facebook or a listserv to start an internet mob, how about write a private letter or e-mail to the party that has offended you? Better yet, call them if you have their number. And, please, no nasty websites about people whose views you don't like--yes, this is happening.

3) Bacon. It's horrible for you. I hate bacon.

2) Growth and too many damned people. Most of the time, growth is good, especially when it involves my 401K. But ultra has reached a point where growth is far-outstripping demand. We need for things to slow down a bit so everyone can catch their collective breath. This includes races that have been forced into lotteries because of crushing demand.

1) Whining. Enjoy the gift instead of whining about your ill-fitting race tee-shirt, the lack of vegan or gluten-free options at aid stations, the fact that you didn't get into the lottery, etc. (Seriously, I have never known a single poor person who was allergic to gluten. Everyone I know who's allergic to gluten lives in Boulder and shops at Whole Foods). Quit whining and just run.

Bonus:  The backlash against carbs. Not all carbs are bad.

Chime in with any other trends you'd like to see go away in 2016!

On the State of Ultrarunning

So this is going to ramble a bit. Accept it for what it is--a post that goes in many directions: PEDs, "Gordygate," etc.
 
It's hard to believe that this blog launched some nine years ago. In the past probably two years, I've been challenged to think up good, compelling content for posts because--well, to be honest--I'm not sure writing about what I do with my running is all that important or interesting. In some respects, blogging about one's self seems kind of narcissistic, and over the years the exercise has made me increasingly uncomfortable. Then again, as a writer, I believe in the virtues of journaling. There are some journal-style running blogs out there that I read daily and find great interest in because, in my eyes, they have value in their content. So, what I ultimately tell myself when I'm questioning the value of this blog is that it's probably reaching at least one person in a positive way.

Speaking of this blog, when I started it, I was 34 years-old, had been running for about three years, and was on the cusp of my peak. I had two really good years by my own standards--2008 and 2009--where I mostly achieved my goals. This graphic from Ultrasignup tells some of the the story but not all of the story because it excludes races shorter than ultra distance.

It's impossible to ignore the drop-off after 2009, when I stopped running sub-3-hour marathons (the sub-3 is in my mind the greatest indicator of my fitness level). I think the drop-off can be traced to at least three factors.

First, there's aging. I am slower today than I was in 2009 (but not a lot slower).

Second, my volume has dropped. I don't run 100-mile weeks anymore unless the time is there, which it rarely is.

Third, moving out West in early 2010, I started running in ultras with much deeper fields. My first big realization that the game was being played at a whole different level than what I'd experienced back East came in July 2010 when I ran in the Barr Trail Mountain Race, which goes part way up Pikes Peak and then back down. I ascended the trail just fine but then on the descent was passed by scores of runners who seemed to just float down the mountain. It was astonishing.

That was a long time ago. I'm now older, far more patient, and a bit more reflective. I've also made a ton of mistakes that proved to be great learning opportunities. The biggest lesson I've learned over the years is that, while I still do OK at shorter races like 5Ks and 10Ks, longer events are my friend and I have to run my own race. At Javelina, because I ran a smart race by my own standards, I passed a ton of runners in the final 25 or so miles. In ultras, it's not how you start; it's how you finish. The runner who's still running in those final 25 miles of a 100-miler will make up a ton of ground on most of the folks in front of him/her. This is where my plan for Western States in 2016 begins and ends--run smart from the start and finish strong. Details like strong quads late in the race and heat management in the canyons are tactics within the larger strategy.

So, now for some rambling. There's been a lot of talk about the state of ultrarunning. Two issues come to mind.

First, there's the "PED issue." PEDs in ultra have gotten some extra attention after the recent North Face 50-miler in San Fran, which included a known doper who'd served a ban, and Lance Armstrong's revelation that he wants to run an ultra. A lot of folks want a testing system. I would love to see testing and would gladly take part in it because I think there should be zero tolerance when it comes to PED use. You use PEDs and you're banned for life. Period.

But what is a PED and where does one draw the line? How come caffeine is OK when it's a known performance enhancer? What about ibuprofen? How about marijuana, which a growing number of ultrarunners use in training and racing as it can help ease stomach distress and promote appetite? Where do we draw the line? If we want PEDs out of ultra, then we might need to say no to all of them, not some of them. Something to consider?

But it's next to impossible to implement such a system in ultra when there's no governing body and when races are very grassroots in terms of their organization (in most cases, it's a lone RD who already has a full-time job but somehow finds the time to get the necessary permits and round up volunteers to make a race happen). To do good testing, you need a unified system that allows for a central repository of test results. You also need enforcement. This wouldn't be cheap. With that said, the issue of testing seems to be a non-starter since you have a sport that's so grassroots and unstructured. As of now, it's a dog that won't hunt.

Bottom line: A system for PED testing will likely never come to ultra unless some big sponsors make it happen. We have to self-police as best as we can.

Second, there's the Gordy Ainsleigh situation, which could be called "Gordygate." Gordy, as many of us know, started the Western States Endurance Run and is essentially the founder of the 100-mile trail race. He is not really the founder of modern-day ultrarunning; we can give that distinction to Ted Corbitt. But there is no denying that Gordy has made a huge impact as a pioneer. When I saw him at Javelina, I thanked him for "making this happen" in the first place. Anyway, as the 2016 Western States approaches, Gordy faces the prospect of not being able to run in the race he founded. The reason is that he's not qualified (yet).

The Western States board, as I understand it, has said to Gordy that all he needs to do is finish a qualifier and he's in the 2016 race. He's not subject to the lottery; he'll always have a spot so long as he qualifies. They even extended his qualification window to include a few qualifiers in early 2016.

Some people think Gordy should have a lifetime spot without the need for a qualifier. Others think Gordy should have to qualify to access his spot. Both camps have legitimate arguments and this is certainly an issue on which reasonable people could disagree. I happen to fall into the latter camp. I think Gordy should always have a spot--always!--but I also think he should have to qualify for it just as the rest of us do. That's where the Western States board landed and I think they got it right.

Interestingly, I know a lot of long-time ultrarunners, who could be called "old school," who think Gordy should have to qualify. I also know lots of newer ultrarunners who think Gordy should have a spot for life. Where you stand on the Gordy issue has little to do with how long you've been in ultra and probably more to do with your general outlook on life and maybe even your worldview.

In ultra, no one is better than another. Some of us may be faster than others but ultimately we're all equal. We love the stories of Scott Jurek, "back in the day," winning Western States in 15 hours and change and then hanging out at the track and congratulating all of the runners as they came in. We loved hearing that Rob Krar ran the last mile of the 2015 Western States with Gunhild Swanson, who finished the race with seconds to spare and, in the process, became the story of that race.

We love those stories because they speak to the essence of ultra: though we come from different places and have different perspectives, and though some of us are fleet-feeted while others of us are cut-off chasers, an ultra brings us all together as like-minded folks who enjoy running a long way. To give special privilege to some and not all goes against what ultra stands for.

Have a very happy New Year!