Mark Twain Endurance Run

Finding my way through a hot summer, maintaining my mileage has been a challenge.  Finding the sweetspot between time, hottest point in the day, and putting in 4-14 mile runs has proven to be a challenge, especially living in a town that offers all paved roads, and only one option of a park to hit the trails.  In order to prepare for this race, 50 miles, two laps on single track trails, 25 mile loops, my strategy has been to take on as many hills as I possibly can.  

The Mark Twain 50 mile run is also a 100 miler.  I am feeling ready to run another 100 miler again in the future, but my only options really are to wait until next years winter season.  Until then, I am going to take on a series of races next year in Febuaray, March, and April.

After th Mark Twain 50, I will continue training for the Sylamore 50k in Febuary, Three Days of Syllamo Stage race which is a 50k, 50mile, and 20k in March, and then the Ouachita 50mile in April. I am excited to see how my body and mind hold up during these three months as I also juggle school, being a new father, and mainting some sort of a life, which who am I kiding..I lost a long time ago.

So as of now, I am mentally getting prepared for this race in September.  Trying to get in my mileage which is anywere from 40-60 miles a week, depening on the week, heat, and time.  I am excited as this will be my first ultra distance race outside of The Natural State, yet I know I will stil feel at home as I will still be running through the Ozarks...Just the northern part. 

The most important thing I have learned as a runner is that it is not everrything.  It is not the most import thing in the world.  It is however, a strong part of my life.  It is a very important part of the human build and created potential that all people can harness if they choose.  Running is not the one thing I wake up for and go to sleep for, but it does drive me to wake up and get my sleep each night.  It is not the ultimate concept, but to me, it does trump the "Normalcy" of the world.  Running is the most normal thing I can do in my life.  When I run, I live.  When Im not running, I am thinking about it.  When I cant run because I am tired, I do What I can to recover so that I can run again in the future.  

Running is not everything, but it is the most normal thing in my life. 

-Cheers-

Reason to run

What it means to run

            Many paths embark on a quest to find the inner self.  One such path is to examine the capabilities of progressive movement.  Man made devices are widely used, and looked at as the norm, but what trumps their modern idea of travelling distance.  Where did the origination of tackling many miles derive from.
            There is a light that flashes in our head in today's age that says not to go to far, not to suffer to long, or to avoid suffering all together.  Is that what existence is about, finding a way to refrain from the emotional fatigue of exhaustion.  Or, are we put together as creatures that are enduring, persistent, and adaptable to our minds conjurations in order to use it for the greater good.

            In North America, many communities from Native Americans, Mormons, Adventurers and so forth traveled willingly, and unwillingly, thousands of miles with human locomotion.  Was it out of pure want and desire, survival, an ideal of a greater existence, or a known concept that by enduring and pushing the body’s capabilities, maybe an ultimate feeling of success, happiness, and fulfillment will overtake their emotionally unstable minds.

            As day to day creatures, are we content staying in our cave like dwellings, traveling to other enclosed sites to communicate our worth, translate it to some sort of universally accepted value as money, and then return home to sit and bake our minds in the dull existence of the commonly accepted normal life.

            We move.  We Travel.  We explore.  Once we find a destination, we begin to develop another unattained valley to find, or mountain to climb.  Or do we.  Maybe we just accept the dull feelings and emotions of an uneventful life.  Maybe we do not believe in fairy tales, fantasy worlds, or happy realities.

            Happiness can be derived from many viewpoints in life.  What is your view point.  Are you happy with your items, your things you accumulate.  Do you even use them, do you just look at them as if they are a trophy of your collection.

            Happiness first came from movement.  Hunting game for food.  Running from the predator.  Running for the prey.  Chasing the sunset over the hill.  Making it to the family dwelling before nightfall. 

            Before wheels on carbon a fiber frame, what was the means of locomotion.  Before, the hoof beats of horses carried us along the path we chose, how was it possible to chase the dreams of the mind.

            Running is faster then walking, quicker in close duration, and the most basic meaning to the human person.  We are physiologically designed to move with our own two feet.  Not petty distance, but abundant kilometers.  Our bodies are designed to regulate our emotions, or dilemmas, fulfill our anxieties and be our prescription medications.  Our body creates chemical regularities that promote overall well being when it is used in a forwardly progress manner.

            I do not just run because I am obsessed, an addict of sorts, or simply destined to remain antisocial.  I run because at the end of the day, when everyone remains in their modern day dwellings, feeling a little empty, longing for adventure, or wondering what they are missing out in life, I know that I did what I was created to do as a creature on this Earth.  I ran.  Simple and Free.

-Cheers-

Jonathan Miller

OT 50

(Left: Brother and Law and First Place finisher, Right: Myself)

The Ouachita Trail 50 Miler was my Ultra Running Debut in 2011.  This year was my third time to run this race, which turned out to be the hardest effort for me on the course.  I started out at a very fast pace (for me), holding around 8:30-9:00 minute miles before and after the climb at Pinnacle Mountain.  I told myself going into the race that I was either going to experience one of two things:

1) I was going to run fast, feel great, and smash my old record...

2) I was going to finish, but I would endure much pain due to my initial plan.

Of course I relished in pain for over a majority of the race.  When the hardest part of the race is the flat sections, I learned that it means that I probably went out too hard in the beginning.  By mile 20, I started feeling uneasy in my legs.  My feet and knees felt fine, just my hamstrings and Quads started to act up, which usually is fine around mile 35..BUT MILE 20!!??!  I always hear the best way to learn is to experience, well, this was one of those moments when I realized, that even though I knew not to go out hard because it would really hurt in the end, I did anyways.

Before the turn around I was experiencing a ton of pain in my leg muscles, and was feeling hopeless.  Once I reached the halfway mark, a light started to shine, and I knew I could mentally think past the pain and finish, hopefully breaking last years time, worst case, simply just finishing.

The last half, turned into a race from aid station to aid station, just try to make it to the next one, and the next.  My other Brother-In-Law paced with me the last 14 miles from North-shore aid station to the end, and was a huge help.  I probably wasn't very fun to be around for the first four miles, but as soon as we hit the last 10 mile mark, then 9, then 8 and so-on, I started feeling great..It might have been the Red bull, V8 Juice, and tylenol I took, but I am just going to say it was my positive mental game taking over. HA!

The last 2 or 3 miles or so is a finish on the road, leading to the finish.  We stepped it up to run a blistering 10 minute pace(which felt as though I was a full on sprinter at the time) to get me to the finish line.  Last years time was a 10:09.  This year I finished in 

10:05.

So even though I blew up before I even hit the turnaround, I still got a PR, which was kind of bittersweet.  I should have held back the first 15 miles, stepped it up a little, then come the turnaround turned on the jets.

Of course that was not what I did this year. Next year I will change my strategy and go for a 9:30 finish, maybe even better.

Ouachita 50 Mile

The last major run I completed was the Sylamore 50k.  I have logged consistent miles from 40 to 50 a week and have felt great.  There have been little pains here and there, no swelling, just tender muscles throughout my training.  Feelings I always get when I am days from a race are sensations such as pain in a knee or a foot, or I feel somewhat burnt out from my training.  I never take it as I am injured or hate running, I have learned that it is my minds way of giving me one last chance to back out of running for 9+ hours.  Of course I can’t take it up on that offer because then that would make me a normal person.  There is something about an Ultra Marathon that lures me out of the day-to-day marathon/city/thousands of people mindset.  It is the feeling of escape and isolation from society at its finest.  It is a chance for a day to freely pursue something that I truly love to do EATING!..HA no, I mean running ;).

         My brother-in-law, Ted Herget, and I will both be running in the Ouachita 50 mile officially two days from today.  This is my third time to run this race and will be Teds first.  He’s going to kill it no matter how bad of shape he tells himself he is in ;).  He is a secret professional athlete, who thinks he races at a normal, if not slow pace.  He doesn’t.  Whether he wins or not does not matter.  The fact of the matter is he is going to either win, or make the winner earn his keep come Saturday.

         As for me, I’m competing with myself.  My first year I ran the OT50 in 11:29.  Last year was 10:09.  So this year I would like to run a 9 hour pace.  It is going to be hard, considering I feel undertrained, but hey, race days are meant to promote complete potential success out of each and every participant, so I’m feeling pretty confident.

Sylamore 50K-2013

Sylamore 50k-2013

-Thoughts Before the race-

            The night before the race was probably up there on the scale of Christmas Eve night as a child, or moments before a long road trip begins.  I was too anxious and ready for trail running bliss that nodding off seemed to be too challenging to accomplish.  I finally fell asleep only to wake up at 2:30.  Of course I couldn’t make it any longer.  My body could not handle the battle to go back to sleep so instead I thought about my game plan, my strategy, my moral code for guiding my body throughout the day.

            I have learned that in order to reach a certain goal in a race, I need to have a goal, or a set of goals to mentally shoot for.  Every race I have participated in I have had a best case, and worse case scenario that I could leave happy accomplishing either way.  As long as I stick to my game plan though, I usually always leave feeling satisfied.  Except for the Traveler in 2011, that was pure survival to get to the finish line (which my worst case goal was simply to finish).  I am proud of that accomplishment but still wish I would have listened more to my body.  I have learned though that races are your experience.  You take what you get from a race, and you either try to mimic it in the future, or try to avoid old mistakes.

            Today was a day that I wanted to blend my knowledge from past races and give a great attempt at a faster time.  I wanted to be on the verge of a bonk, but I wanted to still stay shy of cramps, negativity, and a bad time.  I had to find the balance between to hard, to reserved, fun, and frightening.  Sometimes you cannot be sure with how your body will work, and sometimes you just have to find out by trying –or- (doing).

           

-3,2,1 GO-

            A mile on the road to warm the legs up followed straight down a dirt road to the creek crossing.  The crossing was only knee height, so it was easy to navigate through.  I didn’t take my time, I actually was able to pass 15 or so people right from the get-go by trudging through the creek.  Most people were taking there time making sure they didn’t fall, but my mind said get through quick and you wont feel the cold.  The trip to Blanchard Springs from the creek crossing is very pretty to me.  It was the most technical trail of the day because of the roots and rocks that are hidden everywhere.  There are up and down sections of course, but rolling sections don’t usually classify as tough to me, they are more of my style I suppose.  Many switchbacks lead you right under cliff lines and (little) waterfalls, which were pleasing to see, but it’s hard to admire such beauty when I’m in race mode.  After a few miles of rolling switchbacks, we run with the creek that leads us into Blanchard Springs.  Of course the Volunteers are the best ever!!, After a short stop to take off my jacket, it was time to climb out of Blanchard.  The climb is long, but to me, its not painfully steep.  It is more of a pleasant climb if that makes any since.  I guess I like it so much because my mind tells me, “What goes up, must come down.”  Anytime after a hill that I have a flat section or downhill, I take full advantage and take off.

            The Trip to Gunners Pool is spectacular.  After the climb out of Blanchard springs, the trail becomes truly scenic.  At one point, you find your self running on the trail that is no more then 10-15 feet from a 200+ foot cliff line, in fact at one point you get so close that if you tripped and fell in that direction, you’re toast.  After descending out of that area, you run through an open plain, alongside the creek once again, passing a monument of an (Arkansas State Trooper.)  The trail is relatively flat for a while until you hit the next big climb, which leads to a downhill stretch to Gunners Pool. 

            The trip from Gunners Pool to Barkshed is more uphill on the way out which I thought was a great thing.  Once I reached Barkshed and knew that I had made it half way, something switched inside of my brain that told me it was time to turn it up now.  The trip back to Gunners Pool was my fastest leg of the day.  I flew down the trail all the way until I reached the aid station feeling great!  I had followed a simple eating strategy all day, of One GU, drink One Bottle, take two S-caps, in between every aid station.  I would also eat what I could and drink a couple of cups of liquids at each station too, to make sure I was not tapping into my Glycogen reserves throughout the race.  I think the cooler temps are what did it for me, but I never got to a point where I felt sick.  I stayed hydrated, full, and energetic the whole day.  I actually felt better on the way back to the finish then I did on the way out.  Gunners Pool on the way in was perfect, Grilled Cheese, potatoes, Mountain Dew, and I was off again.

            From Gunners Pool To Blanchard Springs starts with a climb and a little test of your fitness, but once the treacherous hills are taken out, nice rolling, sometimes flat sections open up, plus some gigantic long down hills here and there.  Especially the hill that descends into Blanchard, man that was so much fun on the way back.

            Once I was at Blanchard Springs, I knew I was going to meet my time of 5:30, well maybe I didn’t know, but I figured I was going to finish strong for sure.  I think I made a lot of people uneasy on the last couple of miles leading to the creek crossing again, because the trail becomes ridiculously muddy, and I was running through them like I was on a dirt bike with no brakes.  Simply couldn’t help it, I felt great and wanted to finish.

            The creek crossing was not scary at all!  I aimed to run on the water I didn’t stop!  I just trudged through with no hesitation because I was tired and ready to be done, And honestly, I felt like the Crossing was never going to show up.  I guess I knew that before I could finish, I had to cross it, so the whole time on the way in from Blanchard, I just kept looking and looking for it.  Once it finally appeared I had no reservations, just flew through and continued onward.  Of course, there Is a ridiculously steep hill to climb out of before hitting the concrete to finish. It was hard, but I didn’t walk, I sprinted (which was probably a shuffled jog) up the hill, and then when I hit the concrete, I was off.  Blazing In, I was ready to be done, and rest.  Its funny because you spend so many months getting ready for a race, and then half-way through a race, you anticipate finishing.  Either way, once you run through a finish line, it all makes since.  The commitment, the sacrifice, the time spent on your feet in the hot and cold.  Running is such a strong test of will, and when you cross a finish line, everything makes since!  Euphoria is not good enough to explain what it feels like.

             It is just a sense of, I did it, and most people think it can’t be done, but I did, I made it happen!
Finish: 5:20

Tapering for Race Day

      Tapering for Race Day

      Things I have learned:     

            A very bittersweet time is that of a taper.  As a mid packer, I am not a 100-mile a week kind of runner, in fact I’m barely a 50-mile weekly kind of guy.  I am working my way up so that I can handle a higher stress load each week in preparation for races to come.

            The thing about a taper that is sweet yet sour is the fact that I get to lighten the running load compared to how I trained previously in preparations for my race.  My taper is for a 50k so it really does not have to be so intense as it could be for a 50-mile or beyond, yet, I always like to stick to the safe side and insure past racing pains have to time to stay away.

            Racing pains are odd feelings I have that either existed in the past, or just are similar to past pains I have had.  After the Traveler in 2011, I screwed my left knee up and left foot (Metatarsal around the second and big toe) due to over use, I simply did not train enough for my race.  I did finish it, and I was proud, and at this point I know that I finished with enough room to spare of not having a bad injury, but man, I pushed it very close.

            Many runners say that it is better to receive a dnf then to push through what is perceived as a “serious” pain.  This concept can truly only be understood by a persons own proprioceptive understanding of their body.  A doctor can tell you a regular breakdown of how things go for the body on an average basis, and an experienced runner can explain his or her own lessons learned through pushing through the pain.  Both words of wisdom are highly valuable, but in my opinion, with running, the persons understanding through experience and training is the only true way to know whether you can push onward or call it quits.

            When I taper for a race, my body tends to speak to me so much vibrantly (vividly).  I feel so many little pains, almost as if my body is becoming hesitant of the moments to come (which usually starts about 2 weeks out of race day).  I believe that it is my bodies’ way of connecting with my mind, explaining what feels weak, what is strong, and in the spirit of the realm of an ultra runners silly passion, maybe it’s the bodies way of pleading not to do it too.  All I know, is when my body tells me what hurts and what feels good, I am able to concentrate on that given area, determine if it is an injury or just an awareness to watch out for, and I can usually push onward with the race.

            I have never had to drop out of a race do to injury, even though I have had these tender pains beforehand, I usually focus on my taper, and heal up to 100% so come race day I’m ready to roll with the punches and complete the distance.  It is almost inevitable that a race is going to hurt, that is just part of what you sign up for!

            Its all good and fun, and as a runner I have been able to find that connection within myself that speaks to me how I feel, who I am, and what I can push myself through.  Ultra running is simply running, I can’t say I am different then a 5k runner or half-marathon runner because we are all the same.  I just simply enjoy the feeling of pushing further then most people like to think possible, and what makes me feel good about it is that there are many people like me who do not put up with normalness, instead they run and love it.

-Cheers-