A new year means a new beginning. A new year?! Yes. It’s my anniversary of being on WordPress for 6/7 years. I started this blog 6 years ago, something like that and posted my first hello world on here. [A look back at Hello World | No. 6]
I wanted to blog about computer/technology, running, and about life. This was not my first blogging platform. I had another site that started about 10 years before that, mainly on technology, kind of on issues I dealt with at work. That site’s host has changed owner several times and went out of favor with the general public. This is quite common with social media. Then there’s tumblr and twitter (now X), and BlueSky. I have not migrated to BlueSky yet. WP lately has its tantrums, and I am not getting in to it. It is bad for everyone is my take.
I am still blogging frequently. It might not be as frequently as before, but I try to release something periodically.
Yep, not much running’s being done. I am at a crossroad. I know, I am not at my full potential. Years of my running is almost as long as my blogging. I ran for 7 years. This blog started when I ran my first ultra, The Seashore 50k in December. My experiences of first year of running during 2016 unfortunately was not recorded. Anyway, from my first 50k to my 1st 100 mile are all kept here. Not sure if I will reach my first 200 miler.
I am a bit at a lost of where I will be heading. Hopefully I will run many more races in the coming years.
This Hello World is a bit longer than a paragraph. Until next time~
[2023] last year report here for reference. I haven’t reread it before writing this post, so, my memory of last year might be a bit off.
It seems I was fast last year (8:16). This year, it almost took me 10 hours to finish. I finished just shy of 5 pm and I was granted an hour head start.
I was dragged kicking and screaming to this race last year, or at least that how I remembered it.
It was held in Connecticut, which means a long drive to get there from where I live. The six hours estimated time from the mapping software usually ended up way longer. It was nine hours, plus the pure rush hour insanity on the US Interstate of I-95, on the way there and on the way back. We paid a toll at every half hour or so on this road.
There was no easy way to bypass Washington DC, then Baltimore, then Philadelphia, New York City, and the Greater New York traffic, before we get to Connecticut. On the way back, you have to sit in traffic at New Haven, and many of Connecticut towns before getting back to New York. We left at 4:30 but did not reach Guildford until 2 am. Pretty much same story on the way back. We even skipped dinner this year. No thai drunken noodle soup with hangover Korean noodle bowl (or is it the other way around, drunken noodle with the hangover soup).
Was the race worth it? Yes. I love a hard technical race. I won’t say the race is super hard but it is sufficiently hard.
The trail is runable. There are some elevations, though after having been to Utah, couple hundred feet here and there is something to laugh about. The trail after a while like 15 miles in, you will feel it in your legs. I was sore and crampy even after first 5 miles.
A friend invited me to come. I don’t know anyone from Connecticut but one and she is not a trail runner.
There are some annual runners, Roy, I met him at the Vermont 100 this year. He is a good guy who kept me company for majority of this race. Roy finished Vermont 14 times! And I believe he also has maybe as many finishes at the Bimbler.
There was Nickmuck Dave. And a guy in a shirt, no, a kilt, forgot his name.
The race is known for its characters.
The RD, Raymond, has been at the helm for 4 years. Last year I went with a friend to retrieve her trekking poles. She had left at the race the previous year and he kept them for her until she showed up again last year. What an RD.
When I learned of the early start option available for those who think they are chasing the cutoffs, I wrote to him to add me to the early starting list. I guessed he pulled up my record and wrote back, you know the early start is for slower people (heavily paraphasing here), and if you run it, the early aid station(s) might not be available for you. I wrote back, I think I can manage running for a long stretch without supports as an ultra runner.
The race had good aid stations, which I completely skipped or overlooked the year before.
Not this year. We arrived a day early and ran into a local runner (Gretchen) at a shoe store. I brought a new pair of Altra, which I instantly tested on the course the next day. Let just say, I would not prefer Altra on that trail.
Gretchen said look for her midway for her Grilled Cheese. So for the first 15 miles of the race, all I could think about was the mouth watering grilled cheese cooked by lady Gretchen. I did see Gretchen when I got to the aid station and had the grilled cheese. People kept hustling me out there but I just wanted one more grilled cheese.
We had the warmest ever at the start of the race. I was still wearing three layers, a hoodie, a long sleeve, and a t-shirt under, plus a long sweat pant. The Race Director (RD) said, you don’t need that, trust me, he said. OK, I ditched my hoodie.
The early start at 7 (by the way, we were up by 5, my friend was up at 4 am). Both of us were excited to be back. The reason I wanted the early start was I can’t wait at the start for an hour while my friend was having all the fun on the trail. My intention was to keep up with her.
So off we went. I was the last one. All the old and young (youngest being 16 y o), and oldest was like 75. They all beat me around the loop at the back of the school before hitting the trail.
That’s fine. I was used to running (walking really) by myself.
A bit later I caught up to a 59 y o. He was having a bit difficulty but was moving fine. So we chatted a bit. He just did Grindstone. So I told him my misery there having done 13 hours on a 15 mile section of that course. He laughed. That was a pure hell. We expected some of that today. Bimbler was his first ultra (50k) many years (15) ago. He just had a hip replacement. Doctor said no more running for him. He did the Grindstone and now here doing the Bimbler. He will be back at the Grindstone next year.
A bit later I met Roy at the first aid station. I asked him if he saw my Friend. He said she’s just a bit ahead, if I hustle, I will catch up to her.
Little did I know I wouldn’t catch up until a few hours later at 2 pm, maybe with 10 miles left in the race.
We were also playing a guessing game of when would the first runner (at 8 am regular start) caught up. They caught us maybe by 9:30, at mile 10 maybe, before the first aid station.
I did not have to fear of running too fast and missed the first aid station opening. They were there when I reached it.
The rest of the wave caught me somewhere between the first and second aid station. I thought maybe 50 people had passed me. I did not know there were 80+ that passed me by.
I enjoyed the day out. I knew I would not be particular fast. Just as long as I don’t DQ or DNF I would be happy. By the time we reached the third aid station, I knew the race was in the bag.
We reached the fourth and final aid station after 4 pm. We had more than an hour to do the last two miles. We finally finished just before 5 pm, 4:46 or something, almost 10 hours.
I was sore but not too sore. I was happy. I had my workout. The friends I made and beauty of the trails were wonderful. I told them until next year we will meet again.
We are not invincible. No one would think they are. We though often time just don’t remember we might be taken from this world in an instant, unplanned and unprepared. My friend’s recent sudden passing away reminded me of how fragile life us and how I should live my life more purposefully.
I like to think I am still in my prime, like my friend, just a little over the hill, but still he was supposed to have many years left.
We even made plans about races to do. At least next year, I am going to go to this race or that race so on. Among several friends, we frequently share about our dreams and goals as we all do when after a race or something, we plan for the next.
When I signed up for Old Dominion this year, my friend mentioned he would like to do it too but the time requirement to finish is incredibly fast for a 100 mile. Normally, other races give 30-32 hours, Old Dominion sets it at 28 hours. It is not impossible but it a limit that stops many people.
We were also toying the idea of running Vermont 100, which has a 30 hour limit, so a bit easier. I had to do both since they were part of the grand slam which I was aiming for at the time. So there was no ifs or buts for me.
We made plans how to train to break the 28 hours. If we could not do it this year, we believed we would have many years to attempt them. There’s always next year or so they say.
All those plans came to a halt. We did not know how little time we (he) had left.
Sometimes, we wish if we had just a bit more time or if we only knew ahead of time how much time we have left. We would treasure those moments a bit more.
I could not say whether if I have done anything differently. It was a sobering moment when I woke up this week and found he was no longer here.
My friend left memories he had spent with his daughters, his coworkers, his golf buddies and his running friends.
My friend was commended for the community he built. At his service, various people from his circle of friends spoke of his traits and the special moments they had with him.
As an ultrarunner, I paid more attention when someone told of the time he overcame a hard race known as The Ring (our local club’s famous mountain race). No one in their right mind would do something like that for fun. As an ultrarunner, we knew but could not explain why either other than we enjoy doing hard things.
It made me to reflect on my own life and what if it were my own funeral. What would people say about me. In a sense, I don’t really care. They can say whatever they want. However, deep down, I think anyone would want to know they are less of a jerk and more of qualities someone would love to remember by.
My friend was a decent guy. Even though his brother-in-law said the guy had a lot of flaws. I was all ear ready to hear what I did not know about him. They said he spoke his mind and did not mince words. He loved eating. He drove fast and lived life to the extreme (being an ultra runner that is, anyone who ran a 100 mile to the world is a little craze craze). I translated that to living to the fullest.
All those things are not too bad. He was one of us. Not sure how to end this. His family was heartbroken as is anybody who knew him. I knew through running. Surely, he will be missed each year I am running the same race he was in and he won’t be there. Some of us, as his running friend will remember him throufg our runs. I have not gone out the trail, but today, I made it that at least I made some effort to do a mile for my friend Tony.
Fall season is here! And so too for signing up for races
I just paid a lot of mulla for this website. It is not yet due but they already took my money. But they asked me for payment the other day. No they don’t ask, they just charged it to my card.
I am poorer by the minute. Now race sign up season is upon me.
I have not decided which races to run for next year. Never look back. Always step foward.
Looking back, I have done a lot. I only want to run a marathon. Now I have ran close to 20 one-hundred milers. Ran 8 this year alone and there are couple more left. Where am I heading next?
Tough. I want to have an over arching strategy of where I will be heading. The original mission was to run across the US one day. Still is. It is the reason I am running ultras.
Next goal originally was to do the UTMB and Hard Rock. I do have the lottery tickets (stones), from having run the Western States this year, but feeling cold feet at the moment making the next step.
My motto is to reach for the impossible. Never look back always forward.
There is the Rocky Slam, Hard Rock, Big Horn, Bear, and Wasatch. I might go for one of them.
Then there’s the Midwest Slam, Indiana, Hallucination, Mohican, and Burning River, Kettle Moraine
Personally, I want to do Bootlegged, or Red Dirt, some easy 100, like Pine Creek or Oil Creek. There’s also the Pinhoti some said is doable.
Then there is the Cruel Jewel. I have been avoiding that one, but it pops back from time to time. It will going take a lot of self talk to get me to sign up.
I am thinking of running some of the same race over, Burning River, Devil Dog, Massanutten and maybe C&O Canal. Doing something familiar is easier than doing something new.
Enough for now. I have to sleep on it.
(I have nothing to write, so I am just filling up the paper with my thoughts on next year plan, which I don’t have any at the moment)
I sat out of running in the Iron Mountain 50 this year, hoping to recover from Wasatch and getting ready for Grindstone.
I had about two weeks of very little of running events.
Grinstone 2024, was a repeat for me. I did not finish (dnf) last year and my goal was to finish it this year. A good report, here, reminded me I faced with similar circumstances as last time.
The trail was familiar to me. Compared to Wasatch, there was not anything too big of a climb to scare me.
The race started at 6 in the evening. We (my crew and I) drove down to Harrisonburg a night before.
The race went well for the first night. I was moving at relatively same pace as previous year, maybe 10-15 minutes slower at the earlier stations.
By midnight, I made it up to Reddish Knob, unfortunately the aid station there ran out of water. They did have plenty of food (pizza), the best food in all aid stations, so I took a slice of pizza, and drank a can of soda (only liquid they had).
By 3:15, I made it down to North River Gap, in line with my goal pace. I enjoyed the cheese and deli table there. They served coffee out of a giant container. I did not take any, but went for refilling my water.
My water pack was leaking, so I was drench the whole night. My crew later patched the hole found. This helped kept me relatively dry for rest of the race. The leak was still there but was not as big as before.
About gear, just the moment before my race, I realized I left my hydration pack at home. I quickly repurposed a small backpack into a hydration pack (I found a spare hydration bag, but leaky). My crew found me a soft flask, since it was a cupless race. I tossed in a few required gear into my bag (a jacket with hood, lights, batteries, food). One thing I missed of not having my traditional hydration pack was lacking pockets in the straps in the front. I was unable to keep my phone, pace chart, or food in the front pocket. There was no easily accessible pockets with this pack. Also the backpack hangs low in my back and it just does not move as well as a usual traditional hydration pack, which goes high in the back.
I was concerned that the straps would cut into me. In the early of the race, the shoulder straps were annoying, cutting into my neck and shoulders, but I got use to it and it was not a source of irritation later on. One thing I did right in this race was carrying medical tape on me, so I could patch myself at any time. I used tape to tape my nipples which were rubbing against the shirt I was wearing. Usually, I don’t have chafing issues but today, the shirt I was wearing was a bit rough. I was planning to tape my neck too, but the issue went away.
Morning on Saturday brought me renew energy. I met my crew at 7:15 am at Dowells Draft, mile 45/46. My crew refilled my water. It was the first station allowed pacing. My crew left with me to her car. I told her, I will see her again in 8 hours.
We had a 26-27 mile loop at Crawford Mt and Elliot Knob. I was pushing my pace a bit to make sure I could arrive back at Dowells before 6 PM. Last year, I was cut at Dry Branch (mile 52), and I determined not to do it this year. I had to get there before 11 AM. It took about 2.5 hours to climb Mt. Crawford. Last year, a friend and I tried to do the same but we were a bit late. This year, I was able hit the pace on the dot.
I arrived around at Dry Branch by 10 AM and got back at Dry Branch by 2 pm. Climbing up to Elliot Knob and then descending to Cold Spring was time intensive. We arrived By then, I knew, we had plenty of time to get back to Dowells before 6. I was feeling good to be ahead of pace.
We (Wayne, a fellow friend and runner and I) arrived back at Dowells by 4 pm, two hours ahead of the cutoff. Looking back, things were going downhill for me — my energy was low, and sleepiness started setting in. However, I was high on adrenaline at the time and did not properly diagnose my actual condition. I left the aid station thinking I was fine.
My crew fixed my feet with taping, refilled my water, and got me couple cups of ramen. I did not realize at the time, I was behind on my calories. I should have eaten more solid food here as well as taking a nap if necessary since we were ahead of pace. Wayne, a fellow runner and who crewed for me last year, spent maybe up to an hour at Dowells to sleep and eat real food. As for me, I stayed about 15 minutes. He was a smarter runner.
It had rain (a thunder storm moved in) as we descent from Crawford. I was drench from head to toes. So I dried off myself with changing into a bit drier clothes from the morning.
Rain started again after leaving Dowells. I was surprised arriving at Magic Moss by 6:30 pm (early). I did not stay long except grabbing some M&Ms and off I went. It rained hard as I made my push to Camp Todd, arriving at 8 pm in line with my goal.
Looking back, this was a turning point. I stayed at Camp Todd, maybe for 5 minutes, fixing my feet and shoes. My crew now turned pacer showed up. Originally, I planned to have my pacer meeting me at mile 92 to do the finally 13-14 miles with me.
My pacer believed I needed help earlier on so plan changed (at 4pm) to meet up with me earlier.
This was supposed to be the final hardest climb, and race would be easier after this. We were at mile 82, with 10 hours left to finish the race. At the time, there were no doubts the race would get done. As long as we could walk, we would finish.
The short version, the next 11 hours, from 8 pm to 7 am was the hardest part of the race for me. I was extremely weak. We had couple thousand feet of climb, and we did get up to the top. It might had taken us two hours. 10 pm, we arrived at Little Bald. There was no aid station there, though I wish there to be one. I had expected the next 6.5 miles descent to take another 2 hours, which would still put me on pace for reaching mile 92, by midnight.
Soon, it was apparent midnight goal was impossible to reach. By midnight, I had moved only 3 miles, there were three miles left. I was moving at a 40 minute mile pace. It was a rude awaken (for not wearing a Garmin watch). I had no idea of my location and how many miles were left, until I asked a fellow runner. I was heartbreaking to know still how far away was the aid station. I was already in this trail section for 4 hours. My water I carried on me was empty by now.
The conversation between me and my pacer were at the worst. Language flew and feeling hurted we carried on. We still had to get down the mountain even if we decided not to continue with the race. There were still only 1 hour and 45 minutes left before the cutoff. Every minutes count. Many runners passed us by including many friends. We stumbled down with a few struggling runners in conditions like me.
I had mentally checked out. My pacer refused to let me dwelled on the negatives but to me there were no way to finish, much less reaching the aid station in time.
In my mind, I believed we had 2 miles left, but the aid station just happened to pop in front. I saw a car, went past at the edge of the forest and I thought I was seeing things. I could not believed it. In dazed, I arrived at the aid station with 15 minutes left.
Here, volunteers helped refilled my water. Another volunteer looked for my drop bag, so I could change into fresh socks and get a new head lamp. Another volunteer asked if I would like some broth and broght me a cup.
We made it out mile 92 (North River Gap) before the cut along with couple other runners.
Little did I know, the next 7 miles, had just as much climbing as the previous 10 miles. It was a struggle bus from 2 am to morning. We went up and up maybe with couple thousand feet climbing. Then we descended just as many thousand feet to a valley onto a jeep road. Time no longer was a concern for me. I was still hoping to only get to the aid station by 5 am, hoping once I reach the road/asphalt portion, I would maybe still move at 15 min pace on the road and still finish. 5 am came and gone and then 6 am. I was actually moving at 45 min pace, even slower than before as expected (runners only get slower not faster, in late stage of a race).
The sweepers caught up to us. They know my friend, having been to another event couple weeks ago. Together, we climbed the 1.5 miles jeep trail. By 6:55 we finally reached the last aid station at Lick Run.
It was probably two hours after the aid station closed when we arrived. No one was there. Luckily the tent and all supplies were still there. I could take some refreshment (self-served) but soon I realized I could not eat much and food wanted to come back out. I was done. All I wanted was to sleep. We still had 5 miles left to the finish. We were still in the middle of nowhere. The group said, we had to run to the finish because the station here is closed, but I asked if I could sleep a bit. (to do a self-extradiction).
In moment of despair, a volunteer drove up on the road. We were saved. He was there to take down the tent and take supplies back. He agreed to give us a ride back to the finish with him. My 11 hours ordeal was finally over.
Looking back, I made several tactical mistakes. 1. I was moving at 10 miles in 6 hours (35 min pace). There was no way I could pull 4 hours in the final 14 miles (18 min pace). I should have dropped at mile 92, in order to avoid delaying the sweepers at their job, and everyone else, plus putting myself at risk of serious injury for being out longer than allotted.
2. I pulled my left calf before 8 pm. I should have aware of it as early as 4 pm (Dowells) to take care of it or even fix it at Camp Todd, such as putting on an ice pack or applying Biofreeze (which I had in my drop bag at Dowells) at the aid station. I should have carried oilment on me for issue like muscle ache.
3. I should have eaten more food, at Dowells and at Camp Todd. What different between Wasatch and here at Grindatone was I filled up my hydration with electrolyes (calories), sometimes doing 50-50 mix, but at Grindstone I drank only water. So I was behind on electrolytes and calories. Dowells Draft had good food. Camp Todd, does not have much food (we had watermellons). Their ramen soup was too thin to do me any good. Here, I should have brought my own food.
4th. sleep, sleep as much as possible during the day, because the race has a night time start. I was kind of tired during the afternoon before the race start. I should have taken a nap.
Final words, I would like to run it again and get it to the finish next time. I had a good time over the weekend. My pacer arrived at the right time. It could have been worst if I were by myself. It was bitter sweet. I came so close yet so far.
I had not written much. After Western States 100, Wasatch was my next biggest huddle to get over. I was not even remotely confident I had it in me to do the grand slam.
By any measurement, Wasatch is hard. I read about it and I watched enough Youtube videos. There is not enough training one can do to have the experience running at 10000 ft high and climbing 24,000 ft of elevation especially near where I live near sea level.
I was concern about running in the high elevation. I spoke with couple people in my running club who has gone to Wasatch before. Some went out a few weeks before. One gave me the statistics of how long it takes the body to acclimate. And he basically said, I could show up Wednesday and I would be fine.
I took a gamble, since I don’t have two weeks or even one week. Hotel cost would add up quickly.
My crew and I arrived in Salt Lake City two nights before i.e., Wednesday night. Looking back, I wish I arrived a week earlier since I traveled for Labor Day anyway, so the cost, was only couple more nights for hotel. I think the best place to stay at would be Brighton, which was at 8000 ft.
Our location at Layton (near Kaysville) was not bad (3000 ft). It was actually a blessing since it was actually only 15 minutes from the start and 30 minutes from the airport. It was about 90 minutes from the finish.
The next day we dropped off my drop (supply) bags (I packed some change of clothes and socks, and warm clothes). I had three, for Big Mountain, Lambs Canyon, and Upper Big Water. I did not have one at Brighton because I would have my crew there. I have my crew at Big Mountain and Lambs too, but these two locations are too important, if my crew missed me, I would be screwed, (too cold to run without night gear).
Then we went to couple places on the race course, including the start, Lambs aid station and Brighton aid station. Because each location was far apart (like an hour or more), before long the day was over. We did not have enough time to check out Big mountain, Alexander, Washington Park or the finish, or do a small training run at Bontiful B etc. Having three more days would have been ideal. We also did some shopping beforehand.
I was blessed in that, a guy I met at a local running club referred me to his friend, Sean, who would be my pacer at the race. I would not able to have a smooth race if not for my team of pacers and crew.
The night before, we went out for dinner at a Korean BBQ, which was a first for me at 100 mile race, but it provided me ample of calories.
It was my first time meeting my pacer. Sean fed me well. Sean had met Caroline, my crew chief, prior in former running events.
Sean asked what things I think I would need and he would provide. I said I could not find my winter running gear (cap, and gloves), so he brought those along. It was not too cold but at night it did get cold enough. Those gloves and cap kept me warm.
Next morning was the race. We woke up around 3 AM. Note the race is unusual that the start time was on a Friday (and not Saturday). Weather was typical good, blue sky, with very little wind. We showed up an hour before 5. I had a can of Cambell soup for breakfast.
There were very little fanfare, no race briefing, no music, no celebration. I did not know who was the race director until few hours into the race at an aid station called John Grobben’s Shed. Some old timers filled me in about the lores and factoids.
We staged at a parking lot by the trailhead. I started in the rear as typically. It finally sank in of how tough the course was as I started climbing the first 8 miles.
My friend Wayne also ran. We were pretty much together in the early phase until Lambs (9 pm). He was a stronger runner and I did not want to hold him back.
We climbed the first eight miles with no sight indicating the end. We actually knew where the end was because we can see from the parking lot up toward the radio/radar station at the peak. It took us several hours before we arrived there.
As we climbed, I can see those who could and who couldn’t do it around me. Of course, the front runners were strong. Those in the mid pack too were strong. Wayne was part of that group. I was at the tail end, like the last dozen. And we could see everyone were all walking up, and not just normally walking, but extremely slow one step at a time. Even then, some had to double over to breath from time to time. I was blessed with a strong body that I did not need to stop but maybe twice.
The attitude was affecting some. Some seemed unable to go on. You could see they started to lose their footing as fatique set in. I asked them to take a break and they did and they let me pass.
Once we got to the ridgeline, it was easier. The trail was wide and we all starting running in an easy trot. I ran with Mary from Washington, a runner my friend talked with before the start. She was strong and I had no doubt that she would finish. We passed some older folks and arrived at the aid station together (John’s Shed, RD). The race director was there serving us drinks. Mary then took off running, but I needed more time to catch my breath. I wouldn’t see her again.
The rest of the morning and early afternoon, the race course took us up to even higher mountains, like at Session Take Off. The scenery was something I only have seen in movies, like in the Lord of the Ring or The Sound of Music. It was stunningly beautiful. We felt blessed being just a few of us given the chance to run across those mountains. The race motto, 100 miles of heaven and hell. We were in heaven.
We climbed one peak after another. The Big Mountain was the last summit before we descended to the first crewed aid station also named Big Mountain AS.
My crew, Caroline was waiting for me as I arrived. She probably was there the last 8 hours. I reached it at 3:45 pm. I would not see her again until 9 pm.
Wayne, a fellow friend and runner had arrived probably 10-15 minutes ahead of me. He was still there when I arrived. Wayne initially suggested he would pace me from mile 70 onward at Brighton. I was hoping for that too, but our race pace was too different. We were not sure who would arrive at Brighton first. In the end, I gained like 45 minutes ahead of Wayne, so the plan was not workable. By the way, Wayne provided me his pace chart, and I used it.
I left the Big Mountain thinking I had everything I needed. Apparently the afternoon was hotter than expected. Future, Wasatch runners, day time is Hot! Big Mountain is Very Hot! I finished all my water in a mile or two after I left and I was still hungry and thirsty. This was like 13 miles, which took me like 5 hours to get through. I regretted I did not stay long enough and sufferred while out on the trail. I rewatched some youtube videos, they said one should not rush through the first crew aid station at Big Mountain. Indeed. It was my mistake.
I took my frustration out on my crew. One thing I needed and failed to receive enough fluid and food before I left. I was calorie deficient, not having been eaten much because the distance between earlier aid stations were 10-11 miles apart, so I did not have the recommended calories (300 per 20 minutes, equivalent to a gel pack, 3 packs every hour). Basically, I have not eaten the whole day. A crew station is a place to get some real good food.
While the trail from mile 30-45 was generally runable, I was not having fun. Once I reached Alexander, the Aid station before my next crew location at Lambs, I sent a list of tasks to my crew, also, I was a bit ahead pace (an hour). I would like my pacer to know that. My crew chief arranged all that while I was at Alexander.
I arrived at Alexander with Wayne again. This time I stayed awhile to get enough fluid in me as well ate my fill. It was my second mistake of eating too much in too short a time that I did not feel good by the time I left. From Alexander to Lamb’s Canyon is generally runnable. I was targeting to arrive Lambs by 8 pm. However, I was too full to run. Sun was setting and it was cooler now. So I arrived at Lamb’s after dark at 9 pm.
I met up two fellow grand slammers (Berg and Eli). Eli is a stronger runner, but he was cramping up. He said he stayed over an hour ar Big Mountain. He had expected to pass Lambs an hour or two ago before nightfall but now caught in the dark without a headlamp.
I lended mine to him since I carried two (one from the morning, and one I just picked up at Big Mountain). I usually use two on my run. I knew I was a slow runner and had expected to arrive at Big mountain at 7pm and Lambs after 10 pm, so I needed all the light early. Eli was grateful. I might have saved his race. Imagine he had to descend 2-3 miles to the aid station in the dark, but I am sure he could have double up with another runner, but sometimes that is still hard.
At Lambs, my crew and pacer were ready for me. I was tired but they got me ready for the night. I had blister forming on one of my toes. My crew (Caroline) cleaned up my feet and taped it. Sean got me plenty of food and drink. I put on an extra shirt and jacket for the night. We were then on our way. I felt proud, we only used about 10 minutes. My crew took care of my cramping. The leg cramp did not come back at all, even after I finished the next day.
From Lambs to Brighton was just one humongous climb, like for 9 hours. It was good having a pacer. Sean kept me engaged. At each aid station he took care of my needs before attending his own. He helped keeping my stop at the aid station to as short as possible. We reached Desolate Lake I think, and the aid station had a nice warm fire going and five or six runners were sitting around. We could not stay too long. Sean reminded me to go. He got a coffee for me and we headed off.
We continued to climb until we reached Scott (?) Pass. It was the highest point in the race, I think. I did not remember much afterward.
There must have been a long descent. At times we passed other runners. There was (#87) he kept with me all the way using me as his pacer. It bothered me when someone constantly hiking behind me, but since he did not want to pass, over time I accepted his presence.
Initially, my goal was to reach Brighton by 6 am. While nearing Brighton, I was doing mental math in my mind, and noted I needed to run 33.3 miles at every 12 hours. So by 5 am on Saturday, I should have reached mile 66.6. I felt I needed to reach Brighton, mile 69.6, by 5:45 am, in order to be on pace. So Sean and I picked up our pace. We reached Brighton around 5:35. I told Sean, I had to leave the station by 5:45. (my watched was 5 minutes fast, so I think I left actually left at 5:40). I only used like 5 minutes.
I had expected my crew to have my stuff ready for me at Brighton. There was a miscommunication because my crew never knew I needed help and what kinds of help.
As I came in the station, my clothes, a change of socks, were in the crew’s car. It was too late to grab them. I wanted to fix my feet because it seemed more blisters were about to form. Sean did what he could, he made sure I had enough food and fluid before I leave. Whereas about my feet, I just had to tough it out for the final 30 miles. My crew said it as much since I need to make cutoffs, I must go.
This I knew, but in gamer’s term, I was tilted (mad/frustrated). It was a fire raging in me for much of the day for the next 9 ish hours.
I had expected the last 30 miles to be easier. I did not check the elevation chart. I knew we had one big climb. We did. Ant Knob aid station too had a very big climb and apparently that did not show up on the elevation chart.
I reached Pole Line. Pole Line too had a decent climb. And it was way farther than I anticipated like 3-4 miles longer. It might have been in my head and I was getting tired. From there to Decker was about 11 miles. It was known as the Dive and Plunge. For fast sub 24 hour runners, this was a dangerous section. Even in day time, it was hard running downhill, because one misstep would mean plunging many feet down the mountain. I reached one more aid station at mile 88.
By then, I started worry that I might not have enough time to reach the finish before 5 pm. It was 1:30 pm. I had 3.5 hours for the final 12 miles. The math was very hard to do in my head at the time. I knew I needed to run to make it. Earlier in the morning, I could go at 21 min pace and still would finish. Now, I had to go at 17 minute pace.
I wanted to reach the Top-of-the-Wall (final 8 miles) by 2:30 pm. That means I needed to do 4 miles in 45 minutes. The sun was very hot at this time. Everyone around me was running. I sprinted down with them and arrived at 2:15, meaning I am in the game. Caroline was there waiting to pace me of the final 8 miles. I did ask, but did not expect that she would since she had a slight injury. I had expected the last 8 miles to be on the road but there were 3 miles of trail left and we had some serious descending (maybe 1000 ft or more). I was afraid the trail might be too hard for her. Caroline seemed to have a blast of time. I just followed.
It was final a relief when we arrived at the aid station 5 miles out. We had 2 hours left on the clock. By now, we knew, we could walk and finish.
I did not want to walk, fearing the course might be longer (some 100 mile races are 104 miles long). Caroline assured me not this course. The last five miles were on the road but we had rolling hills, with a net down hill run. It seemed forever before I saw the finish line. I finished at 35:27. Happy to have it done.
We had a small gathering. I did not know that # 87 finished after me. Eli finished couple minutes ahead. I thought I was the last grand slammer to finish but there was another who came in after me. Berg was still at the finish. Wayne had dropped at mile 92, unfortunately. He met us back at the finish. The race closed at 5 pm. I went and collected my drop bags. There were food out but I did not feel like eating. The race officials were friendly. A few came by and chatted with me. Berg and I went to collect our grand slam trophy and had our photos taken.
It was surreal. I did the grand slam. It was an incredible run. My phone blew up with many cheering messages. I had it on airplane mode most of the time until I had finished. Some had followed my journey since Western States. Some followed my live tracking the whole Saturday and night before. I was cutting close to cutoff at some point, giving many of my followers a scare. We all breathed a breath of relief once I crossed through the finish line.
I accomplished only a few (14) had done this year. A lot people run a 100 miler but only a handful went for a grand slam (in a given year). Nowaday, there are so many type of grand slams, but this one is the original and contain 4 of 5 oldest 100 mile races. So now my name is entered into the grand slam list as runner #418, listing along with many who were/are much more accomplished runners than me.
The start, up the slope over Kaysville (to the right, back of me). We were maybe a mile up from the trail. We explored the start line a day before the raceI wish I had taken more pictures because it was just so beautiful, though I was very focus to get the race done. Salt Lake City was the location for 2002 Winter Olympics
An annual event. This was an annual event for me for the last few years. I had set my goal to run this race since 2018/2019 when I first hear of it.
After some setbacks, I finally attempted in 2021. 2022/2023 did not fare any better.
This brings us to this year. Because of my 100 miler schedule, I did not sign up to run in it. I still wish to be there.
I was tapped to serve at the first aid station’s captain (mile 5), Straight Branch on the Virginia Creeper Trail. I pulled my mom into coming with me. She was an amazing helper. As captain with two strong helpers, I could relax and talked with runners.
We were expecting bad weather, wind, rain, and thunderstorm. Luckily, storm came the night before and the second one came during lasy half hour of the race after most had finished.
The trail was wet and slick. Several runners, maybe as many as a dozen or so runners out of 300 fell on the relatively flat terrain, before reachingy station a mile 5.
Oh Boy, I was expecting a long day.
We served sport drinks and water at our station and helped runners along their way. After our station, they would enter the first major climb and many other steep ups and downs before reaching their next station at mile 9.
I was prepared to face with 300 runners coming through. They were spreaded out over four events, so it was not too much a shock. Each event was about half an hour apart. They came in waves.
By 9:30 we were done (actually by 9:15). Couple runners trickled through right after the cutoff. We let them through. Shh, hope they reached the finish. They did. They seemed be strong enough to continue and we did not have to drive runners back. The sweep arrived and we could close our station.
During my watch, I saw familiar faces. Many runners from previous years were running again. Some stopped to chat with me, including Lance (C&O race director), whose wife was running in the 30 mile event and won it. I spoke with famous Horton. I spoke with the Cato, whom we saw again the following day when we hiked the Grayson’s Highlands. I met the Cato this year at the Waterfall 50k.
Next, we moved to work at a later aid station (SkullS Gap, mile, 27 and 37). Note, Skulls Gap had two locations and it shift during the day. We moved to the later station, mile 37 down the road. The front runner was supposed to show up around 11:03, which he did. We were ready around 10 am readying for him.
We joined with couple others volunteers in setting up the aid station at Skulls Gap. The first runner of the 40 mile event came, with only couple minutes behind the predicted pace, 11:05.
The second and third runner were about 9 mins apart.
The early hours at the second Skulls Gap Aid Station, were relaxing. There were very little to do.
I spent time with some families/friends of runners while they waited. It was a good thing they talked to me because they found out they were waiting at the wrong Skulls Gap station. They were waiting for their runners who were doing the 30 mile event, which was one up the road. The 30-milers do not come through our second station (but a different Skulls Gap station). I sent them along their way.
Later, more volunteers and runners came. A runner was dropped off along with some dropbags. I helped unloading them and spreaded them out.
We then drove back to the start/finish area. Reason was a runner had dropped and we were providing him a ride back. Also I wanted to show my mom the way back since ahe would have to do it later in the day while I was sweeping the course.
We arrived at the finish when the 30 milers were coming in. We were able to part take in the excitement. We stayed a little bit before heading back to Skulls Gap.
I signed up to do sweeping duty. It was what I look foward to do. The radio team did a good jump in communicating who had dropped and once we had that clear that no more runners were expected to arrive at Skulls Gap, I could start my sweep.
The last runner had came through my station at least 15 minutes prior. I was hoping they wouldn’t run too fast so I could catch up to some of them.
I caught a runner near the final station and walked with him. He arrived as the station closed. It worked out he wanted to drop.
I continued my sweeping duty from FS90 and I tried to run fast to catch more runners. I caught up to Javon at the final two miles. I encouraged him to run so as to make the final cutoff.
It was thrilling. In my own race several times, I could not make the cutoff. Javon is youngnand had the potential to sprint. Indeed, once we were off the mountain, Javon took off. Unfortunately, he did not have enough time and was over by couple minutes.
I was a few minutes behind. I was happy to finish the sweep so early. The race director was happy too and we could close the race and clean up.
The following day, we drove up to Grayson’s Highlands and did a short run. Then it was a long drive home.
This year, my friend Caroline joined us.
Various cutoff times, we had to be aware of and I am all to familiar with them for having to chase them every year
I’ve been quiet lately. Not much going on in term of running.
My last race was Burning River. Then I did a training run/club event MMB 50k.
From that event, a friend, Robert, hooked me up to his friend in Salt Lake, who will be my pacer for Wasatch 100. I am blessed with a string of coincidents.
I don’t consider that I have Wasatch ready. I am actually very anxious about it. It is the same feeling as when I prepared for Old Dominion, Massanutten, Western States, Vermont, and Burning River.
Some might think I have done so many 100s this year, it should be easy. No, Wasatch is like 10 times harder.
Then there is Grindstone right after. I am concerned about that race too. I wish I could be on the course and do a few more laps.
I said I was going to look into my fall schedule. I haven’t. Guess what? Fall is here!
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I was able to put a tiny bit of training last weekend. I traveled down to Damascus (VA) to do course marking for the Iron Mountain race for the Labor Day weekend.
It was such a fun course to run on. I have been doing this last couple years. This year, the trail condition is good. Trail is clear and dry. I tried to run my fastest while on the course. I love it. (I spoke too soon, it is forecasted to be terrible weather on race day).
The drive down was long though. I had to work late that Friday and did not start on my trip until almost 9 pm. I got to Salem, which is like 2/3 of the way and I was too tired to continue. I stopped at the hotel for the night. Slept for maybe an hour and had to get up.
I felt refresh though and continued down, arriving on time. The marking did not take too long. I marked the same section as the previous year. Finished a little over 3.5 hours. (I finished in 3 hours, but I went for a little more).
Somehow, I used a bit less ribbon this year than before. I only used a little over 1 roll. Two years ago, we used 4 rolls to mark the same section. I am praying that no runners would get lost on this segment. It is the same prayer every year. They shouldn’t get lost since, three of the major turns should be heavily marked and one of them is an aid station.
How I have so much left over ribbons? I was given 3 rolls of 150 ft. I was estimating my section was about 13 miles (actual 11). I cut 4 ft per ribbon. I figured I could mark 8 times per mile, so every 8th of a mile. At my pace, it would mean marking every 3 minutes. I must have either run too fast or did not keep an accurate time, so my eighth of a mile might have been more like a quarter mile or 0.3 mile. So I had a lot of left over. I should have marked at every tenth of a mile 🙂 Anyway, that is for next year, yes to mark every couple minutes.
The rest of the Saturday, I rented a bike and biked up to White Top. I only reached Green Cove. It brought back memories from last year when I paced a friend in Yeti 100. We spent the whole night, about 12 hours to travel up to White Top and Back. Biking only took me like 4 hours.
It was so fun though. Riding up was hard but coming down was all cruising. The bike rental even gave me a discount since I showed up toward the afternoon. I think was a 25% off. I ate lunch at the Wilson’s Grill next door. Biking and eating in Damascus is highly recommended.
Sunday, I stopped by the Grindstone 100 course on my way home and did a bit of out and back on the Crawford Knob and Chimney Hollow trail. Apparently the mountain (on the former Grindstone 100 course) is a private property. I am not sure yet, because it could be I’ve gotten lost the Crawford Knob trail and wandered into someone else property. I hope it was not so, since I love to run around those mountains. Anyway, I’d stay away from there now that I knew it is private (or assume it is).
Damascus, near the swimming pool, I think is a millI asked a biker to pose for me on the Virginia Creeper Trail, I rented a bike and did the sameHighest point, I think. Last year, I thought I reached at the highest point at the junction of Chimney Hollow, a mile more down (up) the trail, you get here with a sign of 3728 ftVisitor Center at Green Cove (an aid station during Yeti 100, not shown) The actual AS during Yeti (now in day time). I sat here and nap during Yeti while waiting for my runner to recover
Running in Damascus always brought back memories, of my early trail running days. It is still a race I haven’t conquered. It gives me an incentive to go down here every year
Last year, I did this training run for Grindstone (here).
So much happened since last year. They say you could never step into the same river twice.
I planned my schedule like last year. There were so much going on this weekend. There was a training run down at Damascus (VA) for the Iron Mountain. I have been going there every year, but not this year. I will be there on race day to volunteer. I missed being there for the training runs. I have redeemed so many of my races, Devil Dog, GSER, MMT, and finally Burning River. The only race I have not been able to “finish” is this Iron Mountain. So ever since 2019, I have been trying to run it. I have showed up at the training run years after years, but it is not happening this year.
Instead, this year, I hope to do better at Grindstone, a race I DNF’ed (did not finish) last year. It hurts a bit but it was also a very hard race. Last year, I started training for it since February. This year, this weekend was my first training run.
I am familiar with the Grindstone course by now. Still, every year I learned something new. This year, I explored the road portion a bit more than I needed. So, I know can tell my crew how to get to each aid station because I hiked all those roads.
I booked two nights at Camp Stokesville. This is different from last year, when I only showed up on Saturday night for a Sunday run.
The run is still on Sunday. Most people did trail work on Saturday. 8 hours of trail work is required to run in this race. I fulfilled my trail work with the PATC (our regional Appalachian Trail club), so my Saturday was free.
For me this year, instead of heading down to Damascus for Iron Mountian training run on Saturday, I joined the vhtrc people to do the MMB (Martha Moats Baker) Memorial Run. It is a 50k/60k. The story goes, Martha (I don’t think was a member of the club, yep, about 100 years before our club was founded) died one winter while hiking the trail here (the Wild Oak Trail – Twot), so our club made a run in her memory. Twot is a wicked hard run. Sorry for so many acronyms, but Twot, etc, is one of my favorite trails. It is probably the very first trail that I know besides the Shenadoah, and Blue Ridge.
The Martha Moats Baker’s course is almost identical to the new Grindstone Course and has almost 40 miles of it. I found out about this event from last year when some people who showed up for the Grindstone training and said they did the MMB the day before. I said what? How come I did not know about the MMB. So this year I was prepared. MMB run is the best training you can have for Grindstone and will mention below, way better than the official/unofficial training run (why unofficial? UTMB Grindstone training run no longer wants to be officially recognized or being affiliated with its training run — the run was still managed by the two race directors but Grinstone did not provide money for the weekend; I still called it the Grindstone training run).
So, I did this other run, MMB, which is not part of Grindstone, but it really helped me to get ready for it, because it runs on the same course, just a day before the official/unofficial training run. Hope I did not confuse anyone.
My whole purpose was going down to Twot to do the Grindstone training run, but instead, I ran the MMB. I would recommend future Grindstond runners to do likewise. MMB gives far greater value.
MMB though a 50k is one of the hardest 50k you can do. There is actually a 60k option. The mileage might be 30-32, but the climbs total to 8000 ft.
I was planning to run the full 60k route but after the first 6 miles, my thighs started felt cramping up. I knew it was not my day, so I took the shorter route.
I ran with Costi and Robert. Soon Robert felt behind and Costi disappeared ahead. He was fast and strong climber.
I then ran with Claudia. She is a fast lady. She did Grindstone 100k last year (and finished). She also ran the Iron Mountain too. I was impressed. Two races that I could not finish but she did. She also when down to Copper Canyons to run with the Tarahumara. Ureka, Chihuahua, Mexico, which was a race on my bucket list. So she was telling me about that. It was a race (and a place) I always wanted to visit but was fearful of security concerns. They say don’t let that be your last bucket list item, or you never will come back alive. Claudia said it was not that bad. Security has gotten better over the year, and there was heavy police force present when she did it.
After we reached the first aid station at Reddish Knob, she raced down ahead. She is a fast at going downhill and there was no way for me to keep up. We had the next 15-20 miles of downhills.
A little fact, I have been to Twot so many times and heard about the Reddish Knob but this was my first time ascended to there, because it is like 4-5 miles out of the way. The view was incredible. Too bad I did not have time to grab a picture. At the Grindstone race, we would be here around 9-10 pm, so we won’t be seeing anything, even with a full moon or not.
For the rest of the day I was mostly by myself. I was hoping to catch back up to Claudia. I caught up to Nick, who normally was fast. Then an older guy, Allen? (he was over 60, but is still going strong. He taught us how to use poles. Then Two older couples (Christiann and Andy, also over 60). Lastly, a mile from the finish I caught up to Costi on Tillman Road.
Costi too originally wanted to do the full route but due to time constraint, chose what was known as the party route for a 50k finish. I already decided to go the party route, so he and I ran the last mile in instead of climbing Grooms Ridge for a quad buster 3+ hours up and then descending the Grindstone Mountain/chestnut hill — I could not tell which mountain is which.
I think it was a great decision to finish early. We got back before 4 pm. It took us nearly 9 hours to do a 50k. The 50k course closed about then at 4:30. The sweeper (Charleen) came in.
We stayed to watch the 60k runners finishing. Our in house chef Jeff cooked us an amazing meal. It was a free event but the food beated all other paid races including UTMB Grindstone or Western States. We had shrimp and chicken Tacos. They were all you can eat good food. I love the watermellon salad the most.
I stayed the next three hours eating. I was waiting for Claudia to finish, hearing that she and Nick were the final two people out on the 60k course.
Then it was getting late. I was getting sleepy and also badly need to use the bathroom (not because of the food). I needed to clean up. My things and car was at the Stokesville campground about a mile away so I started walking back to the camp. As I left, I heard shouting of Claudia’s name and the claps. I knew she made it in around 7:30. I wish I was there to see it but also I had my own needs to take care of. (I had a ride back to camp, from someone, I forgot his name, one of the older folks).
The rest of the night was taking care of camping stuff. Showered, set up tent, cooked a second meal and prepared for bed. By the time all said and done, it was already dark.
I slept like a baby that night for almost 10 hours. We had to meet at 6:30 am for our Sunday run, so I had to be up when it was still dark. My body did not want to run. Getting up was hard. I dragged myself out the tent. Packed up everything.
I came for this Sunday run and there was no way I would skip out. The whole weekend was planned around this one and only event. MMB was a side thing that happened to be nearby.
I was smarter this year to pick a campsite right across where we were going to meet. So I had a bit more time to get dress and had breakfast while watching everyone gathered.
I did a last minute check on the route we would be running and was surprised that we were not doing the same route as last year. Instead we were going to run the first 20-ish miles of the race course, which was the course I ran on Saturday.
I did not like it. I felt I already knew the first 20-30 ish miles. I ran on those miles the day before. I preferred doing the true Twot loop, which was a combination of mile 30-50, and 70-90. I felt this was a bit better and longer.
I understood the race directors’ reason for having a shorter training course this year (16/24 miles), because he wanted everyone to finish by noon, so we could all go home. They had a long day on Saturday doing trail work, so no one wanted to stay too long on Sunday. Last year, I did not finish the run until 3 pm and we had a runner stuck on the mountain until 6 pm. So the RD was smarter this year to choose an easier and shorter route in opinion for the training run.
There were 36 people signup but only about 13 people showed up for the run. I was kind of hoping the other half were doing their own run out on the trail, though that did not seem to be the case.
They might had done it the day before.
Instead of joining them, I went and did my own route, primary the Twot route. My opinion is the Twot route is way tougher and better as a training run.
I ran with them from the camp to the park the while they took a right turn on Tillman, I went on and took a left to Twot and climbed the Lookout Mountain and did the Twot loop clockwise. I loved it.
When I descended from Magic Moss (Dowell Draft, on Betsy trail) or Hankeye Mountain, I took a right on the road, ran to Lake Todd and from there used the road FR95 back to Stokesville Campground. I glad the map on my phone worked, otherwise, I could have gotten lost in the park. Hence, this training helped me understand all the roads in the park.
This year, the trail was not busy. I did not encounter even one runner or mountain bikers. This was unlike the previous years where some runners started at night so in the morning we saw them finishing while we started out. No runners at all this year when I did the Twot loop.
While on the road, there were a few cars, but usually they were far and between. Probably at most 10 cars during my two hours while on the road. I saw couple fishermen at a creek.
I got back to camp by 1:15. Most people had left. I assumed maybe the RDs were still there. Camp felt empty. I heard and saw couple cars still at camp spots up on the hill. The signup sheet was still at the pavillion. I went by to check if my name was on there and to cross it off to indicate I was back. It was not necessary because my name was not on it. I purposefully did not sign in during the morning briefing since I took a different route and I did not want people to look for me if I did not get back in time. It seemed all other names were checked off, meaning everyone was back. There were a bunch of left over food from people’s dropbags. I wanted to have some but was not sure if it was acceptable. I had food back at my car anyway. Note, last year when I got back, my friends and RDs were still waiting in the finish area, but this year was completely empty. It was just a different feel.
I went home. Conclusion, I mentioned it was not like last year. Reason being, last year, I came to this camp with a few friends and we ran together. This year, everything seemed different. I came a day ahead. My friends did not come. Not that I expected them to come since they are not running in the race this year. Everyone was new. It was one of those things, if a tree falls in the forest, does it make a sound if no one is around. I went to Grindstone trainimg, though mostly I wasn’t there.
Claudia said she would be joining us but I did not see her. I bet the MMB event from the previous day wore her out as it did to me. Her drive back home was longer than mine and I bet she left earlier, probably on Saturday night. I ended up doing the Sunday training by myself. It was fine. I enjoyed being out on the trail on my own.
For the last two weeks after Burning River, I knew I needed to train for Grindstone. It was hard to plan things on my own. I planned them but usually I ended up not following them through.
Why? They say its the post Marathon Blue! It is real. I ran a lot of marathons and at the end of each of them after you gave your all, you enter a period of exhausion, mental, and emotional emptiness. A very dark place. It was very hard to get myself back out on the trail. I needed the group run to give me that extra motivation to do it even though I was mostly by myself while on the trail.
This weekend was great that finally, I got to do something I enjoyed deep down on my favorite trails. There were so many memories and thoughts from previous years. I almost know every rocks by now. The trail was not as hard as the first time I did it. It was a joy to be on it again.
Looking ahead, September is coming. Meaning Wasatch 100, then Grindstone. But before these, I have Iron Mountain (trail marking, plus the actual race I will be volunteering in, I hope to do some running there too). It is a lot of activities. Then there is Rock and the Knob. And then Stone Mill. Yes. Fall is an amazing time, like Spring is. And then we will do it all over again next year.
My whole point is, sometimes when you plan for one thing, like the grindstone (un)official training run, then there are better options to do. Keep your eyes open. Also even when I tried to attend the same event, it did not turn out like in my memories.
What else I did? I watched a lot of Asmongold TV reaction videos. Yep, he has quite insightful on how to be a Twitch streamer/content creator. I do consider myself one, even a small one. His primary take is be yourself and don’t be big head.
I finally have a bit of breathing room from all the races I have been doing.
Since the end of last year, I have been on edge because of the race of Western States 100. It was a big race. I did not know if I was up to the challenge to do it. Days and nights, and every waking moment I was consumed with the race. I watched countless videos, formulated many plans, listened to other people who had run it, and waited for more than six months to run it. It was finally over.
No more training. No more worrying. No more thinking if I have done enough or having the dreaded feeling that I could do more or feeling regretful that I might have taken too many off days.
It is like a balloon deflating. Finally everything is over. Almost… But we can call it done.
Now I am thinking about next year. What do I want to do? I could do the same thing. It is a question I asked myself each new year. What are you planning to do! The answer always have been “To take over the world” (reference to Pinky and the Brain in Animaniacs, one of my favorite cartoons). To me it has always been to run more races!
Somehow, I don’t want to run any more races. Yes, I would run races, but they are no longer part of the must-do things for me. It would still be nice to run some more races, but they are no longer my sole goal.
Several years ago, I wanted to run in all 50 states, primarily marathons, and only marathons but now I wanted to do the same for 100 miles. However, both of these goals now seem pretty boring once I realize there are no longer “risky”. I could now run 100s, or at least I feel like, with my eyes close. They are still hard and there are plenty hard 100s out there, but I felt I figured it out at least for the average 100 races. At least, I can have a completion rate of above 50%. The key to 100 miler, is as long as you run like the first half, you can walk the second half and finish.
Something in me wanted to try new things. It is not just because of seeking new riskier or dangerous things to do. Partly yes, I wanted more thrill but risk of physically harm is not part of the calculus. I just want a new type of adventure, at least that what got me into running the first place. The Adventure and travel.
Sorry, this feels a lot like ranting.
Maybe next year should be rim to rim to rim year I always wanted to do. I don’t know. I would like something like that, something off the beaten path, something more organic. Rim to Rim is a run (self supported) to cross the grand canyon (big G), in a day and back. It is about 40 miles. It has some element of danger (people do die doing it, usually from the heat). It is something that involves a bit of planning. Somehow, it requires months of booking in advance. Plus dealing with the uncertainty of the weather and such and to have a plan B in place.
Anyway, I hope to do more of this kind of thing instead of signing up for races, I should make my own kind of races.
I have been bored out of my mind the last week. I know, do something. (Yes, I did, a lot boring stuff: I totalled up the cost of this year race and it was a lot of $$. I figured out next year race schedule, like 50% of it, there are a few races I haven’t committed to yet. The schedule will be released later in the year once I signed up. I signed up to a marathon in the fall! Which one? The one I have been jinxed since the pandamic. I’ll reveal once the date is closer. I believe this is only one marathon left I have not done in my area. It is quite famous. OK. I will leave it at that. It is already added on my calendar for those who want to know 😉
Yes, I love running marathon a lot still, more than any other distances.
In awe 