tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36811175497874285142024-03-05T10:01:24.726-05:00Chasing the WindA collection of personal thoughts and experiences - mostly centered around running.Cassedayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06903493546022429763noreply@blogger.comBlogger210125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3681117549787428514.post-87618930981827799492023-12-31T18:56:00.006-05:002023-12-31T19:06:21.400-05:002023: Year in Endurance<p>2023 was a year of transitions. Transitions in mode/s of enduring and enduring changes in my aging body. I spent more time on the bike than I ever have and thoroughly enjoyed the humbling experience of learning a new sport.</p><p>Two rides of note were GRUSK and my first participation on the longstanding, and world famous, Deer Camp Ride:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCyf28BRBfCGoYPhNHuZJxtjVgJIhCnv8dfDzAPjuqic9898hJANIHFQ29y2icUYKv1SZFxGayLSx52sMfUV_jN1b_IBtWSyvBij0NwyPSzWkXwg2-8Aj_5zqU8uviCA-NSz_GGmVvt2iXENeJeeXPz8tYyeZFZvUdVHiPY-nEBI2P1MQ1GZ_st1cIcvPq/s2016/image1%20(4).jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCyf28BRBfCGoYPhNHuZJxtjVgJIhCnv8dfDzAPjuqic9898hJANIHFQ29y2icUYKv1SZFxGayLSx52sMfUV_jN1b_IBtWSyvBij0NwyPSzWkXwg2-8Aj_5zqU8uviCA-NSz_GGmVvt2iXENeJeeXPz8tYyeZFZvUdVHiPY-nEBI2P1MQ1GZ_st1cIcvPq/s320/image1%20(4).jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">GRUSK <a href="https://www.strava.com/activities/9414632855" target="_blank">Strava Link</a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisIbzhH3wqil7b_JLrWxvVAMnmK2ST_Jb9J8sfwstKXzIpyjPH0C4oSbACDBRKwKZnKPO0OK2M_Ywt6ji2vUEzko0Kk1OxYoeMCe40Ccb_xSgbn47owjfpJ3tR-BKmHtAWZhcgcSGGme639RwEphQGJtHiW2jben3s33Jvryd7310JrIXXC8XbXcyLZPwq/s1280/image0%20(10).jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="963" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisIbzhH3wqil7b_JLrWxvVAMnmK2ST_Jb9J8sfwstKXzIpyjPH0C4oSbACDBRKwKZnKPO0OK2M_Ywt6ji2vUEzko0Kk1OxYoeMCe40Ccb_xSgbn47owjfpJ3tR-BKmHtAWZhcgcSGGme639RwEphQGJtHiW2jben3s33Jvryd7310JrIXXC8XbXcyLZPwq/s320/image0%20(10).jpeg" width="241" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Deer Camp Ride <a href="https://www.strava.com/activities/10251199984" target="_blank">Strava Link</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I had hopes of running a few races this year, but unfortunately it simply wasn't in the cards. I would string together a week or two of decent training, then some sort of injury would pop-up every 4-6 weeks -- like clockwork it seemed. With that said, I feel lucky to have gotten in the 1,300+ miles that I did. I have come to grips with the reality over the last couple of months that I will need a paradigm shift to my training approach if I want to find myself running more ultras. And I certainly do! I am approaching the new year with about six weeks of strength training and dietary tweaks and I'm already feeling stronger than I have in years. Perpetual positive forward motion . . .</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The numbers:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: inherit;"><u><b><span><span style="color: #222222;">Lifetime Running Mileage:<br /></span></span></b></u></span><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: inherit;"><span><span style="color: #222222;">2002: 651<br /></span></span></span><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: inherit;"><span><span style="color: #222222;">2003: 2,213<br /></span></span></span><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: inherit;"><span><span style="color: #222222;">2004: 2,506<br /></span></span></span><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: inherit;"><span><span style="color: #222222;">2005: 2,667<br /></span></span></span><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: inherit;"><span><span style="color: #222222;">2006: 3,124<br /></span></span></span><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: inherit;"><span><span style="color: #222222;">2007: 2,759<br /></span></span></span><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: inherit;"><span><span style="color: #222222;">2008: 2,812<br /></span></span></span><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: inherit;"><span><span style="color: #222222;">2009: 3,353<br /></span></span></span><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: inherit;"><span><span style="color: #222222;">2010: 3,056<br /></span></span></span><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: inherit;"><span><span style="color: #222222;">2011: 4,523<br /></span></span></span><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: inherit;"><span><span style="color: #222222;">2012: 2,718<br /></span></span></span><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: inherit;"><span><span style="color: #222222;">2013: 2,180<br /></span></span></span><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: inherit;"><span><span style="color: #222222;">2014: 2,375<br /></span></span></span><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: inherit;"><span><span style="color: #222222;">2015: 2,205<br /></span></span></span><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: inherit;"><span><span style="color: #222222;">2016: 2,101<br /></span></span></span><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: inherit;"><span><span style="color: #222222;">2017: 2,507<br /></span></span></span><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: inherit;"><span><span style="color: #222222;">2018: 2,436</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">2019: 2,210</span></div><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: inherit;"><span><span style="color: #222222;">2020: 1,394<br /></span></span></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: inherit;"><span><span style="color: #222222;">2021: 1,412</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">2022: 1,378</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="background-color: #d9ead3; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">2023: 1,366</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="background-color: #d9ead3; color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Total: 51,946</b></div><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: medium;"><span><b style="background-color: #d9ead3;">2023 Cycling Miles: 1,263</b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">So here's to a new year full of more abundant healthy adventures in exploration of endurance. I intend to dive head first with a heart full of strength, courage, grit and resilience!</span></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; color: #222222;">Happy New Year!</span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"></p></div>Cassedayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06903493546022429763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3681117549787428514.post-49894269066341601002022-12-31T14:23:00.000-05:002022-12-31T14:23:11.430-05:002022 Wrap Up: Hitting 50,000<p><span style="background-color: white;"><u style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><b></b></u></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><u style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlDQtPqr8pUjFx0yLCkvGqR5z7fJms0gud4EZZ4QYsTSYv4f7JZPpy8yvKEoKYQadzTjfJsOGRXhdMLwqeVOkoE0fvBCfaqHkhW45tTH8x-sBFStyO3Ov6-LACZXg6xVMe95fYpuW4tITgfaRyvX0atg0oKwFmpUdbQ6Q_P4sVyx5QDo9JOT4ppRDJpQ/s640/image0%20(7).jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlDQtPqr8pUjFx0yLCkvGqR5z7fJms0gud4EZZ4QYsTSYv4f7JZPpy8yvKEoKYQadzTjfJsOGRXhdMLwqeVOkoE0fvBCfaqHkhW45tTH8x-sBFStyO3Ov6-LACZXg6xVMe95fYpuW4tITgfaRyvX0atg0oKwFmpUdbQ6Q_P4sVyx5QDo9JOT4ppRDJpQ/w300-h400/image0%20(7).jpeg" width="300" /></a></b></u></div><u style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><b><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Lifetime totals:</span></span></b></u><p></p><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; color: #222222; font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">2002: 651<br />2003: 2,213<br />2004: 2,506<br />2005: 2,667<br />2006: 3,124<br />2007: 2,759<br />2008: 2,812<br />2009: 3,353<br />2010: 3,056<br />2011: 4,523<br />2012: 2,718<br />2013: 2,180<br />2014: 2,375<br />2015: 2,205<br />2016: 2,101<br />2017: 2,507<br />2018: 2,436<br />2019: 2,210</span></span><div style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">2020: 1,394</span></span></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">2021: 1,412</span></span></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>2022: 1,378</b><br /></span></span><div><b><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></b></div><div><b><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Total: 50,580 Miles</span></span></b></div><div style="font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 13.2px;">Another lackluster year of training and no racing, but surpassed the milestone of 50,000 lifetime miles. Can I make it to 100,000? I sure hope so!</div><div style="font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></div></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; text-align: left;">I just bought myself a gravel bike. A Trek Checkpoint SL -- far nicer than I deserve -- but I am excited to explore a new sport. Might just sign up for the </span><a href="https://www.mountainrides.net/" style="text-align: left;" target="_blank">GRUSK 100</a><span style="color: #222222; text-align: left;"> tonight at 12:01 am to start 2023 out with a goal that will require some serious new focus.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN2QyoKjS62ZUdaSjmJVK6VcRImTVh4Z6DwpAfqUjwbjDFnOGKdOYYk5AqYTiDjlEF7WAuHER2WtW9KuqnfUIQEJ7ZEtgCySldrnCD2mNqVbfSMTYx8mJ8dV-WEukL9Z53L1szSMlhOT2cMwMuqknOLR5_ZdGqk5Nxq_GVkhbxp3nerpLwRDv9PYExTA/s640/image1%20(2).jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="288" data-original-width="640" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN2QyoKjS62ZUdaSjmJVK6VcRImTVh4Z6DwpAfqUjwbjDFnOGKdOYYk5AqYTiDjlEF7WAuHER2WtW9KuqnfUIQEJ7ZEtgCySldrnCD2mNqVbfSMTYx8mJ8dV-WEukL9Z53L1szSMlhOT2cMwMuqknOLR5_ZdGqk5Nxq_GVkhbxp3nerpLwRDv9PYExTA/w400-h180/image1%20(2).jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #222222; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div></div>Cassedayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06903493546022429763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3681117549787428514.post-63003224694819445462021-12-31T19:26:00.000-05:002021-12-31T19:26:53.797-05:002021 Wrap Up<p><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: times;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center; text-decoration-line: underline;"><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: times;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhmX1WfMBgB4P7dLCe7D0fKYC9GYmM42beVFwfwJ0XgvH-U6BcJVX_voQ8Ws5tu5mBXWCVWF3VMWtfJI837RaAv6LJTIXtiTdObBCGJzgEg9FOA0aSKTsb-TqxaA0SnaWv6rzR25b-EYJjwSRlYksI1vIL7mHcpheUkVpVqNJYN7R2kBaWNOgA6aLyLSA=s4000" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2248" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhmX1WfMBgB4P7dLCe7D0fKYC9GYmM42beVFwfwJ0XgvH-U6BcJVX_voQ8Ws5tu5mBXWCVWF3VMWtfJI837RaAv6LJTIXtiTdObBCGJzgEg9FOA0aSKTsb-TqxaA0SnaWv6rzR25b-EYJjwSRlYksI1vIL7mHcpheUkVpVqNJYN7R2kBaWNOgA6aLyLSA=s320" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: times;">Not much of substance to report for 2021, other than consistently getting out the door an average of four days per week for an hour or so. Total mileage was 1,412 with 23,901 feet of elevation gain. Not stats to brag about, but I think I am intrinsically satisfied. No races run this year due to the continued COVID-19 pandemic and no ultra distances covered (no excuses to report there). I simply haven't had the extra mental energies to commit to such endeavors.</span><p></p><p><u><b><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></u></p><p><u><b><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: times;">Lifetime totals:</span></b></u></p><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: times;">2002: 651<br />2003: 2,213<br />2004: 2,506<br />2005: 2,667<br />2006: 3,124<br />2007: 2,759<br />2008: 2,812<br />2009: 3,353<br />2010: 3,056<br />2011: 4,523<br />2012: 2,718<br />2013: 2,180<br />2014: 2,375<br />2015: 2,205<br />2016: 2,101<br />2017: 2,507<br />2018: 2,436<br />2019: 2,210</span><div><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: times;">2020: 1,394</span></div><div><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: times;">2021: 1,412<br /></span><div><b><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: times;">Total: 49,202 Miles</span></b></div></div><div><b><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></div><div><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: times;">Am I falling out of love with running and races? I think it is not so. A recent<a href="https://www.irunfar.com/the-order-of-loves" target="_blank"> IRunFar article</a> by Sabrina Little hit home:</span></div><div><em style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #313640;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></em></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; box-sizing: border-box;"><b>"</b></span><span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #313640;">Ordo amoris</em><span style="color: #313640;"> </span><span style="color: #313640;">is order of loves. This is a concept introduced by Augustine. The idea is that there is a priority proper to the things we love. For Augustine, a good life consists of loving what we ought, to the extent that we ought, in the ways that we ought.</span></span></span></div><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #313640; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><span style="font-family: times;">He describes how we should not “have a greater love for what should be loved less, or an equal love for things that should be loved less or more, or a lesser or greater love for things that should be loved equally.”</span></span></p><div><span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="color: #313640;">Augustine also states that to get the priority of our loves correct is nothing short of “a brief and true definition of virtue.” Good actions follow from well-ordered loves.</span><span style="color: #313640;"><b>"</b></span></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><span style="color: #313640;"><span style="font-family: times;"><b><br /></b></span></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><span style="color: #313640;"><span style="font-family: times;">My priorities are simply different from what they once were. My "order of loves" has changes. Ten years ago, running occupied my thoughts daily and I ruminated over what races to run, details of preparation, and training minutiae. These days I find myself focused more on being a good husband, father, son, and also focusing on my career -- all the while trying to squeeze in the much needed running and soul balancing that it provides me.</span></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><span style="color: #313640;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><span style="color: #313640;"><span style="font-family: times;">Life moves in circles. It won't be like this forever. Or maybe it will? Change is the only constant. Nonetheless, I will keep putting one foot in front of the other, striving for the next mile, the next sunrise, the next sunset, the next joyful expression that only running can deliver -- in the appropriate order of loves. </span></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><span style="color: #313640;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><span style="color: #313640;"><span style="font-family: times;">I will end this annual blog entry with a quote from one of my favorites books and authors, Norman Maclean in A River Runs Through It:</span></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><span style="color: #313640;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><span style="color: #313640;"><span style="font-family: times;">"Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it. The river was cut by the world's great flood and runs over rocks from the basement of time. On some of the rocks are timeless raindrops. Under the rocks are the words, and some of the words are theirs. </span></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; color: #313640;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; color: #313640;"><span style="font-family: times;">I am haunted by waters."</span></span></div>Cassedayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06903493546022429763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3681117549787428514.post-14679798415559122852020-12-31T16:32:00.005-05:002021-01-03T10:55:53.922-05:002020 Wrap-Up<p><span style="font-family: times;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtTRU2OaqAkH9Hnk8g9U0VP0VkpZE-ZmAw4Vw8_hdWUXsJs1ounqcx44YSdVoBoG8tPGS9mrEcKYLwtZ6XPXyKgnz5sRDjz9yr3In_VMo-ErVK5BOViyHD7v-LOzpjSA-24Dyrw_rHgZRB/s1024/DSC07258.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtTRU2OaqAkH9Hnk8g9U0VP0VkpZE-ZmAw4Vw8_hdWUXsJs1ounqcx44YSdVoBoG8tPGS9mrEcKYLwtZ6XPXyKgnz5sRDjz9yr3In_VMo-ErVK5BOViyHD7v-LOzpjSA-24Dyrw_rHgZRB/s320/DSC07258.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kissing 2020 Goodbye!</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">My goals for 2020 were not very concrete. I hoped to be more kind to myself and others, to strive for better balance as a son, husband, father, race director, optometrist, and citizen in my community. I have definitely served the community from a work capacity, but there was no balance in 2020 thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic. When the pandemic hit in March, I basically stopped running for > 2-mths due to the stress and long hours as Medical Director. Running seems trivial when the fabric of the world seemed to be unraveling.</span></span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: times;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: times;">1,394 was the total mileage, but that doesn't tell the entire story.</span></p><p><u><b><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: times;">Lifetime totals:</span></b></u></p><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: times;">2002: 651<br />2003: 2,213<br />2004: 2,506<br />2005: 2,667<br />2006: 3,124<br />2007: 2,759<br />2008: 2,812<br />2009: 3,353<br />2010: 3,056<br />2011: 4,523<br />2012: 2,718<br />2013: 2,180<br />2014: 2,375<br />2015: 2,205<br />2016: 2,101<br />2017: 2,507<br />2018: 2,436<br />2019: 2,210</span><div><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: times;">2020: 1,394<br /></span><div><b><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: times;">Total: 47,790 Miles</span></b></div></div><div><b><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlYzfWZf7zvQU4mSuFaNa4Rb5tIdtK-nfDTM5CmPrM9OIchY-Khyphenhypheni7gnba7FwFBYJYeslC0uYi4dTq5XjViPjVDi6EyifSyCpeNBY7tp-8kqLxhrBRU2Oq7NMhcwFABGxZCxBYV8gkjmwE/s960/Highlands2020-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlYzfWZf7zvQU4mSuFaNa4Rb5tIdtK-nfDTM5CmPrM9OIchY-Khyphenhypheni7gnba7FwFBYJYeslC0uYi4dTq5XjViPjVDi6EyifSyCpeNBY7tp-8kqLxhrBRU2Oq7NMhcwFABGxZCxBYV8gkjmwE/s320/Highlands2020-1.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDBFlnCFkb3Z5_5EOTGtVExrWI6XZPhv5M-ESPHR6see26N13G66bsRiuKw_2nxxAeQ1jZLcSCSJO5FY1y1c5S4H1hY48s7tuNcRLRJ6qizYp6SyCw7UZIuHtit_6lwddufacyTWYheCfX/s960/Highlands2020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDBFlnCFkb3Z5_5EOTGtVExrWI6XZPhv5M-ESPHR6see26N13G66bsRiuKw_2nxxAeQ1jZLcSCSJO5FY1y1c5S4H1hY48s7tuNcRLRJ6qizYp6SyCw7UZIuHtit_6lwddufacyTWYheCfX/s320/Highlands2020.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The highlight of the year: Turning 40 and celebrating with a solo Highlands Sky 40M</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></div><div><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: times;">Nearly all my mileage in 2020 was alone and shorter runs -- virtually all on trail and with at least a 1,000' of vertical. It's notable that I ran 700 miles less than 2019, yet 13K more elevation gain in 2020. I learned that I need races to be motivated to train with higher mileage, but that I need running to balance out life and the stresses involved. It is disappointing to have broken the streak of 2,000 mileage years, but such is life. All streaks come to and end. I am emerging from 2020 with a healthier relationship with running, family, work, etc. I have limited goals for the new year, but I am full of hope, resilience, confidence, and resolve. Onward to 2021! One foot in front of the other . . . Only 2,210 miles to 50,000.</span></div>Cassedayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06903493546022429763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3681117549787428514.post-74297494047274541242019-12-31T15:39:00.001-05:002020-01-01T11:05:26.570-05:002019 Wrap-Up<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzjh2aoL3lt3ihyphenhypheneYHInwythCiRfQU7blwah-bPRnjcaAAcSoyKlSTmnwI7CAL9EQH71V11-csMs3jP_tV9jBDbsdIxtwlzw2A-PIzHqyBHLivHSP-b9SY4l26Xr8WwpOqy0y920QIMITf/s1600/WS+Finish+Line.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzjh2aoL3lt3ihyphenhypheneYHInwythCiRfQU7blwah-bPRnjcaAAcSoyKlSTmnwI7CAL9EQH71V11-csMs3jP_tV9jBDbsdIxtwlzw2A-PIzHqyBHLivHSP-b9SY4l26Xr8WwpOqy0y920QIMITf/s320/WS+Finish+Line.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
2019 was highlighted by finally getting my chance to run the <a href="http://wvultrarunner.blogspot.com/2019/07/western-states.html" target="_blank">Western States 100</a>. My training was solid leading up to the race, then dramatically decreased. The decrease was both physical and mental. I was plagued by a few small injuries after Western States, but mostly I suffered from an extreme lack of motivation. I should have been prepared for this. After striving and focusing on Western States for so many years, I should have expected some severe post-race blues. I did expect somewhat of a let-down, but I could not have predicted the severity.<br />
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Regardless, I have come through the experience with a sense of gratitude and satisfaction. Running Western States was a dream come true. I have learned though, after these "mountain top" experiences there is only one way to go: down. Much like other aspects of life though, you have to be ready to ride the sinusoidal wave.<br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u><b>Lifetime totals:</b></u></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2002: 651</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2003: 2,213</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2004: 2,506</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2005: 2,667</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2006: 3,124</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2007: 2,759</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2008: 2,812</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2009: 3,353</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2010: 3,056</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2011: 4,523</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2012: 2,718</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2013: 2,180</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2014: 2,375</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2015: 2,205</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2016: 2,101</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2017: 2,507</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2018: 2,436</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2019: 2,210</span><br />
<b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Total: 46,396 Miles</b><br />
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Many goals and aspirations can feel empty once accomplished. It certainly does not mean that dreams are not worth pursuit. They most certainly are. What I have found is that we must keep our hearts fixed upon the pursuit of adventure and keep our eyes focused upon the people and things of real, lasting importance. I am thankful for my health and ability to still be doing what I love after all of these years. I am thankful for my friends, family, faith, career, and for the dreams and goals for the future that spur me forward.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkG0Rv1bdTAXeM3LfsSnXaTzdyQ8XVIZPuhYlvrIbo8aJtX0NbRSV9Sy9bX9EfQ8Ia6jDBqr8uS-Pza8eol0Vkx2Komstu4LJxKgY6uJ1mp6gdW1x-4MrMzQ-Huq7pQU73IbvjJgGn8oZ_/s1600/bickles.winter_136.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="640" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkG0Rv1bdTAXeM3LfsSnXaTzdyQ8XVIZPuhYlvrIbo8aJtX0NbRSV9Sy9bX9EfQ8Ia6jDBqr8uS-Pza8eol0Vkx2Komstu4LJxKgY6uJ1mp6gdW1x-4MrMzQ-Huq7pQU73IbvjJgGn8oZ_/s320/bickles.winter_136.jpg" width="320" /></a>My goals for 2020 are far less rigid and structured than most years. Yes I hope to run some races (I'm not sure what; no 100-mile distance this year and no lottery races) and I hope that I still have the capacity for some good results. I may and I may not. I am ok either way. In 2020, I hope to be more kind to myself and others. I hope to strive for better balance as a son, husband, father, race director, optometrist, and citizen in my community.<br />
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Happy New Year and here's to a great 2020!Cassedayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06903493546022429763noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3681117549787428514.post-50703785343560274752019-07-10T22:30:00.001-04:002019-07-10T23:06:14.817-04:00Western States<div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW60194633" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;">
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<u><span class="TextRun Underlined SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri light" , "calibri light_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 28.0583px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Running from Demons and Chasing a Dream</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":2,"335551620":2,"335559738":240,"335559739":0,"335559740":259}" style="font-family: "calibri light" , "calibri light_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 28.0583px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></u></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5XiUjnnYFZ1xSm5lcE4yRn0HaUgl1O4fdJ8VAvw0YjMicxlQef0eF1cQM1_g3XMwLtKf3Tcer5sNHIC71wnl-6-uTEILMFK64pjdnAsv88tl3zsW3fUv8owocOF7vhg2Mgu4eFdltDhlu/s1600/Pre-race+Photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="654" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5XiUjnnYFZ1xSm5lcE4yRn0HaUgl1O4fdJ8VAvw0YjMicxlQef0eF1cQM1_g3XMwLtKf3Tcer5sNHIC71wnl-6-uTEILMFK64pjdnAsv88tl3zsW3fUv8owocOF7vhg2Mgu4eFdltDhlu/s320/Pre-race+Photo.jpg" width="218" /></a></div>
<span class="TextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Finally getting my chance to run the <a href="https://www.wser.org/" target="_blank">Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run</a> was a dream come </span><span class="TextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">true.</span><span class="TextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> After patiently acquiring race qualifiers and painfully enduring the lottery seven straight years, finally I was to get my chance in 2019. I have watched the live Facebook feed of the lottery every year and I will admit that it has been a painful exercise given my level of commitment to the race. Finally, on December 1, 2018 </span><span class="TextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Kynan</span><span class="TextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> Matz pulled out my name from the hat. I was ecstatic!</span><span class="EOP SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><br />
<span class="TextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><br /></span>
<span class="TextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Around the end of December, I kicked off my training cycle for Western States. Six plus months is a long time to train for one race, but I was supe</span><span class="TextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">r excited and focused. I didn’t do – or plan to do – a tremendous amount of volume (I can’t handle what I once did), but my focus for the training block was consistency</span><span class="TextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> and elevation gain/loss</span><span class="TextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">. I can honestly say that this is the most fun and enjoyment that I have ever had training for a race. Most weekends I was able to get together with a combo of friends: Lucas Warner, Tom Wood, and Joel Wolpert. This was a nice change from my normal solo status. From December 29 until June 11, I simply made sure I got in a long run of 20-30 miles and focused my other runs on getting in as much vertical as possible. In the end, I got in around 1,500 miles of quality miles. No speed, but no junk. I wanted to specifically make it to the starting line in Squaw Valley healthy and not over-trained. June 29, mission accomplished!</span><span class="EOP SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<span class="TextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Kadra</span><span class="TextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> and I flew in to San Francisco on the Wednesday before the race. My friend </span><span class="TextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Stacin</span><span class="TextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> Martin met us there and was to be with us the race duration. </span><span class="TextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Stacin</span><span class="TextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> was to pace/crew me along with my friend Bradley Mongold</span><span class="TextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> and his wife Jill</span><span class="TextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">. We headed to Squaw Valley in our styling BMW X3, sun roof open across the Golden Gate Bridge taking in the splendor of California. After some grocery shopping in Sacramento, we finally arrived in Squaw later that evening. I</span><span class="TextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> was tired from the long day of travel, but I</span><span class="TextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> was blown away by the beauty of the valley. I knew I was in for something special immediately.</span><span class="EOP SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<div class="Paragraph SCXW60194633 BCX0" paraeid="{14e619df-4877-4451-916a-b8fbc797401b}{190}" paraid="155863493" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><br /></span>
<span class="TextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">We took in as much of the pre-race festivities as possible (and there are a lot). Western States hype is like no other race I have experienced. I was already nervous and anxious, but the race was taking all that to another level. The dry air, nosebleeds, and mild altitude headache were not helping either. I felt extreme internal pressure surrounding the race. I knew logically that it was not real, but I couldn’t shake the mental demons that kept remind</span><span class="TextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">ing</span><span class="TextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> me how long I had waited for this, how hard I had trained, how much time away from my family I had committed, and how much my friends and family had committed to this moment. I have been dealing with bouts of anxiety my entire life, but particularly, things have been much worse over the past six months. This was the last thing I needed </span><span class="TextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">now </span><span class="TextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">. . .</span><span class="EOP SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgoKOaZ5obVGYgxBMJKFCZbL8LeZV_-G22SVVnV_379MLPrhgk_XVNp0ErnHhz30WtQs1ev0QLBS9Ndnhn_BrWAlJfKPQJQ5ZUnKnuYi0khn-817IhlaHQgRlRRTF6yklvsig_fBEN5Ck1/s1600/Pre-Race+photo+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgoKOaZ5obVGYgxBMJKFCZbL8LeZV_-G22SVVnV_379MLPrhgk_XVNp0ErnHhz30WtQs1ev0QLBS9Ndnhn_BrWAlJfKPQJQ5ZUnKnuYi0khn-817IhlaHQgRlRRTF6yklvsig_fBEN5Ck1/s320/Pre-Race+photo+2.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The "Classic" WS Shot</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgohLJrR40aVXc1qo5DjwHtFW98YSjoxRRtJ2LSv6tfRM1qm0s6Nu4CuqymMPEUEqppFehOehi0QLKCwrournn3xzJD9w_tn3BqwXpf9gg1q2_2wox3-x6BGqsa70qAqA7KToO7IBIJeOdS/s1600/Gordy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="539" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgohLJrR40aVXc1qo5DjwHtFW98YSjoxRRtJ2LSv6tfRM1qm0s6Nu4CuqymMPEUEqppFehOehi0QLKCwrournn3xzJD9w_tn3BqwXpf9gg1q2_2wox3-x6BGqsa70qAqA7KToO7IBIJeOdS/s320/Gordy.jpg" width="179" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.wser.org/how-it-all-began/" target="_blank">Gordy Ainsleigh</a>, the "Pioneer"</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTECZJmBnWOpG-ZzTmA6tvhBz6zHlkwU_HtCXDFWNsMm4Shye6UoQHUIvlhZd3fvFWha9-R73Ql8eAo9qMJoWfTA3RazVa5tYr8hQZ8Iu9qKdz-n8UkSbj3uLwUYX6dP1W6eEmd7PYka1-/s1600/WS+Starting+Line.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTECZJmBnWOpG-ZzTmA6tvhBz6zHlkwU_HtCXDFWNsMm4Shye6UoQHUIvlhZd3fvFWha9-R73Ql8eAo9qMJoWfTA3RazVa5tYr8hQZ8Iu9qKdz-n8UkSbj3uLwUYX6dP1W6eEmd7PYka1-/s320/WS+Starting+Line.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">13:25 Before the Start</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCUQNB_hN3sUCNgHeQW5FiMnkUY0i-Dr1oDhHwqI7WK4cb2DDpFIhVQ5cfJ6sRq8fDHdlMMvtIOnLqX782PJgHtGyKxKNFK5Jh3mBargK8l60M27Rsmi8RNDyxeMtgdqtP9CtoAEQ2VzuR/s1600/WS+signing+in.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCUQNB_hN3sUCNgHeQW5FiMnkUY0i-Dr1oDhHwqI7WK4cb2DDpFIhVQ5cfJ6sRq8fDHdlMMvtIOnLqX782PJgHtGyKxKNFK5Jh3mBargK8l60M27Rsmi8RNDyxeMtgdqtP9CtoAEQ2VzuR/s320/WS+signing+in.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW4vx9AcieCtoc82e-SR6d6MiTUce4GduHu7ElFSOG5SnEHChl9kX_QNAK7CrWYxNjduIlrvYnT1COFjOXFIOhfgYe6CCtGXSYkhlPF3tPV92F32HoUr6YR_Cn-1BUFN5OlCdF_bXaU0sE/s1600/IMG9560381.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="540" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW4vx9AcieCtoc82e-SR6d6MiTUce4GduHu7ElFSOG5SnEHChl9kX_QNAK7CrWYxNjduIlrvYnT1COFjOXFIOhfgYe6CCtGXSYkhlPF3tPV92F32HoUr6YR_Cn-1BUFN5OlCdF_bXaU0sE/s320/IMG9560381.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Pre-Race Briefing<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv4t8oOFy49gDIQcTo1Pr3_6X3781VAmj_7C9y8OpZ6DrPLXGyS0kt3K_08nDx9JfKW4-DtbxyUqA0VoVdbS7EV7_mcuxx78VBvqEamRMDx9m1cTTZ-tGxXIImO31UgE_uxJPqwsyEcNam/s1600/IMG_0390.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv4t8oOFy49gDIQcTo1Pr3_6X3781VAmj_7C9y8OpZ6DrPLXGyS0kt3K_08nDx9JfKW4-DtbxyUqA0VoVdbS7EV7_mcuxx78VBvqEamRMDx9m1cTTZ-tGxXIImO31UgE_uxJPqwsyEcNam/s320/IMG_0390.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
My Crew</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzfhq7xMjkfnsKDf3KByPTtbekpeQCvjxqxIJLQo7v4CiMEYDE-x-7Ra_EM9FpDdl98VQbrRKaAdxNtlL6N7ZZw_-Kz8mRvHh8sfYvxqAHC6ypEasy4REMK2JfetiXnA3EVVraBLt81j9D/s1600/IMG9560431.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="540" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzfhq7xMjkfnsKDf3KByPTtbekpeQCvjxqxIJLQo7v4CiMEYDE-x-7Ra_EM9FpDdl98VQbrRKaAdxNtlL6N7ZZw_-Kz8mRvHh8sfYvxqAHC6ypEasy4REMK2JfetiXnA3EVVraBLt81j9D/s320/IMG9560431.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Starting Line</td></tr>
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<span class="TextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Finally race day rolled around and when my alarm went off at 3:15 am, I felt like I never slept. I immediately had the sick feeling in my stomach of pre-race nerves. </span><span class="TextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">I felt like someone was squeezing my guts from the inside. </span><span class="TextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Stacin</span><span class="TextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> and I walked to the starting line to get my race bib (our room was only about 200 yards from the start)</span><span class="TextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> as they were opening a few minutes before 4:00.</span><span class="TextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> W</span><span class="TextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">hen we</span><span class="TextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> got back to the room</span><span class="TextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">,</span><span class="TextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> I was so worked up that I dry heaved. </span><span class="TextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">I had never felt like this before a race. </span><span class="TextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">I knew I was in big trouble if I couldn’t get this under control, but I just focused on simply making it to the start. One thing at a time. I was able to calm myself enough to eat half a piece of toast and a few sips of water before walking to the start</span><span class="TextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> around 4:45</span><span class="TextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">. I was shivering immediately from the nervousness and temps in the lower 30’s. I was excited and honored to be there, but I unfortunately was not in the mental state to soak it all in. With less than 5-minutes to go, I ambled outside and waited on the outskirts of the masses. Finally, the countdown began and before I knew it, we were off</span><span class="TextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> and running at 5:00</span><span class="TextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">. This is really happening. I am running Western States!</span><span class="EOP SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<span class="TextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"></span><br />
<span class="TextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"></span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW60194633 BCX0" paraeid="{14e619df-4877-4451-916a-b8fbc797401b}{198}" paraid="1445624355" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Running up the Escarpment, I focused on having a heart of gratitude. I simply took my time, started drinking, </span><span class="TextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">ate a few potatoes to get</span><span class="TextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> some calories in </span><span class="TextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">me, and</span><span class="TextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> worked on positively changing my heart and mind. Thankfully, that was not difficult to do. I had to wipe the tears from my eyes several times as I swiveled around to peer down on the valley and Lake Tahoe in the distance. I felt so blessed and humbled to be there.</span><span class="EOP SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtTe2R7oAN92k-yhkwlezRXHwAwMYPk5m3D9Eu6x_hAdCCExsAHiUJNY6XtwlQvwiKKyqStK8j6KVxnqetK6SkvUWU4FWuu0NnxAYeOm7Uqdm9OjsYw13lVdBIcpt5hiSmzrpIlN37_RNp/s1600/ws100trail_course_elevation_profile_source_wser.orgcoursemaps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="610" data-original-width="1500" height="162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtTe2R7oAN92k-yhkwlezRXHwAwMYPk5m3D9Eu6x_hAdCCExsAHiUJNY6XtwlQvwiKKyqStK8j6KVxnqetK6SkvUWU4FWuu0NnxAYeOm7Uqdm9OjsYw13lVdBIcpt5hiSmzrpIlN37_RNp/s400/ws100trail_course_elevation_profile_source_wser.orgcoursemaps.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span class="TextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><br /></span>
<span class="TextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><br /></span>
<span class="TextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Mental aspect changed, I quickly had to mind the physical. The climb over the three miles was kicking my butt! I knew it was one of the tougher parts of the course, but I was a little surprised at just how hard it was for me. The combination of the altitude – which I have never done well with – and the </span><span class="TextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">footing in the </span><span class="TextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">snow were really getting to me. Finally</span><span class="TextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">,</span><span class="TextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> I pushed myself over the crest and was boosted by the raucous cheers of the hearty souls atop the mountain. It’s time to start running!</span><span class="EOP SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<span class="TextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW60194633 BCX0" paraeid="{14e619df-4877-4451-916a-b8fbc797401b}{210}" paraid="223238105" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">My legs were a little slow to accept the immediate descent from Watson’s Monument. My plan was to make sure I took it easy in the high country, but I felt like an old man shuffling through the snow and breathing heavily from the altitude. More demons were creeping in by the first aid-station at mile 10, Lyon Ridge. I was really moving far worse than I could have ever imagined, but I had looked these demons in the eye in other 100’s that I’d done – granted, usually much later in the race – and I knew I would prevail</span><span class="TextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> in the end</span><span class="TextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">. After this aid-station, I fell in with the great Scotty Mills for a while. He was going for his 20</span><span class="TextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-fontsize="11" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: super;">th</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> Western States finish and was a joy and share some time with.</span><span class="EOP SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvbzId0aJjzo_mjAi1m_mrhnEHvxcw3_ir0DEmOG7WyzbjcbtTGwlxVUwkViqOF9wAuWeJc4zcd5mkp8VGhwPu3_eYVmLFinRqAFa5ch3C5QDcZtspIuFPiA_1UllMwugCnb4i9WFkWyNV/s1600/IMG_0276.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvbzId0aJjzo_mjAi1m_mrhnEHvxcw3_ir0DEmOG7WyzbjcbtTGwlxVUwkViqOF9wAuWeJc4zcd5mkp8VGhwPu3_eYVmLFinRqAFa5ch3C5QDcZtspIuFPiA_1UllMwugCnb4i9WFkWyNV/s320/IMG_0276.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not feeling so hot at Robinson Flat</td></tr>
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<span class="TextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Scotty and I bounced back and forth over the next 15-20 miles and I dealt with a dull altitude headache that was leaving me nauseous. I knew I simply needed to get lower and that wouldn’t happen until after Robinson Flat at mile 30. Scotty lead the way up the big climb to </span><span class="TextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Robinson</span><span class="TextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> and quickly pulled away from me.</span><span class="TextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> Before he hammered on up the trail, Scotty shared his motto for the day with me. “Slow is smooth, and smooth is fast.” I liked it and felt like it fit the cards I was dealt for the day.</span><span class="TextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> I finally rolled in to Robinson </span><span class="TextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Flat </span><span class="TextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">feeling rough but tried my best to put on a good face for my crew</span><span class="TextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> (and I did a poor job at that)</span><span class="TextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">. I changed shoes and socks (the only planned change and ultimately the last time I would sit in the race), got new bottles, and slowly walked out of the station with a killer headache</span><span class="TextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> -- way worse than earlier</span><span class="TextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">. The section leaving the aid-station, after the initial climb, is a gravel road and as runnable as it gets. I simply couldn’t will myself to run. I just walked and focused on getting fluids down (the last time I urinated it was looking dark orange, so I knew I needed to hydrate much more) and to lower elevation.</span><span class="EOP SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1JIEfBnSSMPB7JldFe8-KP0OhO0MEzac-9nCz4fjJ97Xkx_D8TIiR4N7R5-3T2wvjGruhwPeH50EuFnFktoBqLbsV096RVFPrt-0lNlIMKNr_fwTakKk9kWp9Qr5GJMiP5WH2MjMtkNcr/s1600/Dusty+Corners.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="540" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1JIEfBnSSMPB7JldFe8-KP0OhO0MEzac-9nCz4fjJ97Xkx_D8TIiR4N7R5-3T2wvjGruhwPeH50EuFnFktoBqLbsV096RVFPrt-0lNlIMKNr_fwTakKk9kWp9Qr5GJMiP5WH2MjMtkNcr/s320/Dusty+Corners.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dusty Corners: Photo Iain Jones</td></tr>
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<span class="TextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Finally, a few miles before Dusty Corners (mile 38) I was </span><span class="TextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">beginning</span><span class="TextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> to feel better and was starting to find a groove.</span><span class="TextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> “Slow is smooth, and smooth is fast.” I was about to tackle the infamous canyon sections. I focused on fueling and keeping everything in check. “Just make it through this section and to my crew at Michigan Bluff (mile 55)”, was what I told myself. The next 17-miles were tough, but </span><span class="TextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="AdvancedProofingIssue SCXW60194633 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; background-image: url("data:image/gif; background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">fairly uneventful</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> for me as I carefully descended into the canyons so as not to blow my quads and power-hiked out. Arriving to Michigan Bluff, I was super happy to see </span><span class="TextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Kadra</span><span class="TextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">, </span><span class="TextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Stacin</span><span class="TextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">, Bradley and Jill. I was in good spirits and simply ready for some company. I got new bottles, ate some turkey, and </span><span class="TextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">hustled</span><span class="TextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> down the trail racing darkness without a headlamp.</span><span class="EOP SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> I was slow, but "slow is smooth, and smooth is fast."</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcqA8L9jyXb0yrxV4GlSsbAEqRGCTOw0CUbWRpZXxLvWKLKVQwmIg3gz3FHmVqyMjKSORsm6cjYd4DXqB_PNw9vhI1V9PP_TZuX9hOJd3IUTE56YUUdSJxghbOOCQhZZNH3rm78brhrvv2/s1600/IMG_0299.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcqA8L9jyXb0yrxV4GlSsbAEqRGCTOw0CUbWRpZXxLvWKLKVQwmIg3gz3FHmVqyMjKSORsm6cjYd4DXqB_PNw9vhI1V9PP_TZuX9hOJd3IUTE56YUUdSJxghbOOCQhZZNH3rm78brhrvv2/s320/IMG_0299.JPG" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rounding the Corner at Michigan Bluff</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiDhu_qnQzaFSuqc8FB57GLjJ_f_mZEvbHbjrUu9Yj9PGeau2rLpWFb7s8yxry1iqxHHT5aJ1Nb3hhnl-84M_wLShJDXoU54maee6nHLhvuz-SqsadqjSqCgKaMHrBGvURBa20zmYCRqa6/s1600/IMG_0304.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiDhu_qnQzaFSuqc8FB57GLjJ_f_mZEvbHbjrUu9Yj9PGeau2rLpWFb7s8yxry1iqxHHT5aJ1Nb3hhnl-84M_wLShJDXoU54maee6nHLhvuz-SqsadqjSqCgKaMHrBGvURBa20zmYCRqa6/s320/IMG_0304.JPG" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy to see my crew at Michigan Bluff</td></tr>
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<span class="TextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">The section before Foresthill was much harder than I expected. I was really starting to feel it and had to fight back some of the mental demons reminding me that there were many miles to go. Finally, I popped out on to Bath Rd and </span><span class="TextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Stacin</span><span class="TextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> was waiting there for me. I have seen so many videos of runners running in to Foresthill that it was cool to experience it firsthand. It is easily the craziest aid station I have ever run through. I was a little shocked that it took me 15:43 to get there. </span><span class="TextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Stacin</span><span class="TextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> and I met-up with our crew, donned out headlamps, and headed for Cal Street. It was great having </span><span class="TextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Stacin’s</span><span class="TextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> company (he’s one of the finest people I know) and we fell in to a solid rhythm as the sun went down. I was finally moving well enough that I was passing people. </span><span class="TextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Stacin</span><span class="TextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> and I cruised along over the next 16-miles moving steady and thankfully no sustained low points. I was glad to be able to “perform” for </span><span class="TextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Stacin</span><span class="TextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> and at least be running decently.</span><span class="EOP SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<div class="Paragraph SCXW60194633 BCX0" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{e01ab164-3b35-444c-a9c4-1864281aebf5}{198}" paraid="11458913" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US">
<span class="TextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"></span><br />
<span class="TextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"></span>
<span class="TextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">At the Rucky Chucky river crossing, Bradley was scheduled to take over pacing duties. It was 12:45 am, but I was feeling strong and happy. I knew that I just had to make it to the sunrise for a renewed vigor. Thankfully, the power of the Western States course kept me alert the whole night. Bradley and I enjoyed running together and simply had a great time joking and talking through the night. I knew that there was no way I was going to break 24-hours, but I ran consistently and was slowly moving up in the field. I was having fun being on the Western States trail with one of my best friends in the world! The hours went by quickly, and I was enjoying deliberate stops at the aid-stations for some solid food and quick refills. The bacon and quesadillas were getting the job done. Somewhere around Auburn Lakes Trails, I came up behind Scotty Mills and his pacer. I simply said, “slow is smooth, and smooth is fast” as I slipped in behind and we shared a good laugh and embraced with congratulations. Twenty Western States finishes is simply unreal to me; he is a true legend of the sport. At the Quarry Rd. Station (mile 90), I had another brush with greatness in having the pleasure of past champion Hal Koerner filling my bottles.</span><span class="EOP SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIdeEDIU4BHitHnrOYc2e0VKBLDar1abeNCbcRX52-QPK6HLgVmttRcxXDRoZWHcdL_uid9hrJTH3hr3D9WWVzxGcICQzJ1R8Je_BUx1TPJpvBqHVtVPAHeZbjbyV_3xBRu0lvTn3mTa6i/s1600/Robie+Point.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="528" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIdeEDIU4BHitHnrOYc2e0VKBLDar1abeNCbcRX52-QPK6HLgVmttRcxXDRoZWHcdL_uid9hrJTH3hr3D9WWVzxGcICQzJ1R8Je_BUx1TPJpvBqHVtVPAHeZbjbyV_3xBRu0lvTn3mTa6i/s320/Robie+Point.jpg" width="176" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Robie Point: Photo Jill Cantafio</td></tr>
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<span class="TextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">As the sun came, we neared the classic view from above of No Hands Bridge aid-station. The emotions and magnitude of the day started to hit me. I was truly thankful for the experience of Western States and the presence of my wife and friends. I took a few deep breaths and consciously tried to breath it all in. As I climbed up to Robie Point, with about a mile to go, I was met by </span><span class="TextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Kadra</span><span class="TextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">, Jill, and my friend Jamie Fields that lives nearby in Reno. It was a blast running through the streets of Auburn in the cool morning air, then finally, the entrance to the track came in to view. I had dreamed of this moment for many years and it was surreal to finally experience it. </span><span class="TextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Kadra</span><span class="TextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> handed me the WV flag and I heard the familiar voice of my friend Andy Jones-Wilkins on the microphone announcing my entrance to the hallowed track. Tears filled my eyes as I soaked in the moment.</span><span class="EOP SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heading for the Track</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvAvCNRG4ECK91iuPV4UzhsE46Wg4TC2ONywLQQwfQnOLIGmg5mTrkzjPQ40h3mDoD-q13w1iSyCaHYqORlxgAnx9Nk12rzufOnuFYyasNyAruXOcr-8dKMKmVtR2xIfXkdZsjGMEOcv7o/s1600/IMG9560521.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="540" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvAvCNRG4ECK91iuPV4UzhsE46Wg4TC2ONywLQQwfQnOLIGmg5mTrkzjPQ40h3mDoD-q13w1iSyCaHYqORlxgAnx9Nk12rzufOnuFYyasNyAruXOcr-8dKMKmVtR2xIfXkdZsjGMEOcv7o/s320/IMG9560521.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo: Stacin Martin</td></tr>
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<div class="Paragraph SCXW60194633 BCX0" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{e3fc807a-034a-44c6-8195-5ec1c7c5e489}{9}" paraid="1910078705" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US">
<span class="TextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">After 25 hours and 23 minutes I passed under the finish arch. Western States was worth the wait and I enjoyed the event immensely. The history, the hype, the amazing course; all combined to a crescendo of satisfaction and </span><span class="TextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">achievement</span><span class="TextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">.</span><span class="EOP SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><br />
<span class="EOP SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br /></span>
<span class="EOP SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">This is the first 100-mile race that I have finished in over 24-hours. I have a little disappointment that I broke my streak and didn't have the day I thought I deserved at Western States. In the end, I thoroughly enjoyed every minute I spent running Western States. The more time, the more memories. I left the track filled up.</span><br />
<span class="TextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="TextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span class="TextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">I appreciate the support of my wife </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Kadra</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">, my family, and my friends (especially </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Stacin</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW60194633 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">, Bradley, and Jill for making the trip) over all the years it took to finally toe-the-line in Squaw and to run to Auburn. We might need to do it again some time. I think I might need a silver buckle . . .</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIggdoaNU7Vw5pV0UtPN-yV8cc7NQkqKh6z2spKkf_KGbxxcLc-lO4AwpbOMFohFl7N3kYSDL8TsGMDKs76Jdr8uT7GfKvmehoVIBbhYieShwuzCIS2B_h-oyTKNjUss8Lo01hd887iWIL/s1600/IMG_0387.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIggdoaNU7Vw5pV0UtPN-yV8cc7NQkqKh6z2spKkf_KGbxxcLc-lO4AwpbOMFohFl7N3kYSDL8TsGMDKs76Jdr8uT7GfKvmehoVIBbhYieShwuzCIS2B_h-oyTKNjUss8Lo01hd887iWIL/s320/IMG_0387.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span class="EOP SCXW60194633 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://www.ultralive.net/ws100#tracking/runner/120" target="_blank">Race Splits</a></span><br />
<a href="http://videos.wser.org/videos/2019/120.html?fbclid=IwAR1Z-P9iYMkywIFZMFE3q977GdPHz7G3X2I4ZygAGbeBfSDbJptH9E0XPNo" target="_blank">Finish Line Video</a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5kX6zqN7rHgIgWNYcyR2wLdHkNXbwzhkAdu21uOxIYaDfXPIqrGG65y-l9ebO3209EuB4h7TVT6do8I6jkRRagSADGy3FZElSna5pZjPfeRC58KH17Z3mm9YqOnZ0LIxTiNn-5qbDDvqI/s1600/WS+Finish+Line.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5kX6zqN7rHgIgWNYcyR2wLdHkNXbwzhkAdu21uOxIYaDfXPIqrGG65y-l9ebO3209EuB4h7TVT6do8I6jkRRagSADGy3FZElSna5pZjPfeRC58KH17Z3mm9YqOnZ0LIxTiNn-5qbDDvqI/s400/WS+Finish+Line.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Crew</td></tr>
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Cassedayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06903493546022429763noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3681117549787428514.post-21567113159530476972018-12-31T18:11:00.001-05:002018-12-31T18:11:31.687-05:002018 Recap<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG5dDbFu4_UwnAooxRLPansDQxKpQB3PfHujsVlDFBEAALukZLoxH9P-NIj_DiEGM6XAZSM5YBLs2kLtaKEraGvhXKAgViIqh1fmoglD1yF1yYH2Uja1dfaZNhnRvLxT9CVXeeZddBZ0uN/s1600/0414-WSER-Round-Logo-brown-180.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="160" data-original-width="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG5dDbFu4_UwnAooxRLPansDQxKpQB3PfHujsVlDFBEAALukZLoxH9P-NIj_DiEGM6XAZSM5YBLs2kLtaKEraGvhXKAgViIqh1fmoglD1yF1yYH2Uja1dfaZNhnRvLxT9CVXeeZddBZ0uN/s1600/0414-WSER-Round-Logo-brown-180.png" /></a>Who cares about 2018, I'm RUNNING <a href="https://www.wser.org/" target="_blank">WESTERN STATES</a> IN 2019!!!!!!!!!<br />
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Finally I will be lucky enough to get my chance at the race that has been my goal for so long. I've wanted to run it since 2004 when I first watched the movie <i>Running Madness</i>. To say that I am excited would be an understatement.<br />
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2018 turned out to be a great year of running. No great performances, but all-in-all a wonderful, joyful year of doing what I love.<br />
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I ran the Terrapin 50K in March (training run effort), Miwok 100K in May (as my Western States qualifier and a key race for the spring), Iron Mtn 30-mile in September (training effort), and the JFK 50M in November (key race for fall). <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRh3Mg3t6MoA1SmxUolCfH76pAvTNgay1grDytTM2DeuAGAIs01k1GTT0BTGLUV6DwPqOOK248or31d6PlZzo6rH91tafTuhpWA5wVihaVe517K_tkBrNgwfZTKrVSLSKgHkVTEwz-H8zr/s1600/31961604_10212140636166243_4077694546991906816_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRh3Mg3t6MoA1SmxUolCfH76pAvTNgay1grDytTM2DeuAGAIs01k1GTT0BTGLUV6DwPqOOK248or31d6PlZzo6rH91tafTuhpWA5wVihaVe517K_tkBrNgwfZTKrVSLSKgHkVTEwz-H8zr/s400/31961604_10212140636166243_4077694546991906816_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo: Glenn Tachiyama (Miwok finish)</td></tr>
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Miwok was the focal point of the year and while I'm not disappointed in my result -- or the main goal in getting a WS qualifier -- I lacked the desire to dig deep and actually "pour myself out" and race. I had a really good time doing the race and experiencing CA and the Marin Headlands. Maybe it was because I knew I was on vacation? Regardless, Kadra and I had a great time celebrating our 10th wedding anniversary exploring northern California. Great trip and great race!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja80GaCj0oB50wFbX8V_2o0sy5Ixsm_y7yh40XtScBluzbsweK5PY1b9Y-k6lOp9de4hc_yb4svul0PCb2EWWi9zx13_0Ib5P1ISJULKTdgVyqlpmc5hek2A1xobLrUdpkW5QmOIK6b512/s1600/40563200_10156748869328140_8116808961836974080_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja80GaCj0oB50wFbX8V_2o0sy5Ixsm_y7yh40XtScBluzbsweK5PY1b9Y-k6lOp9de4hc_yb4svul0PCb2EWWi9zx13_0Ib5P1ISJULKTdgVyqlpmc5hek2A1xobLrUdpkW5QmOIK6b512/s320/40563200_10156748869328140_8116808961836974080_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Enjoying running with Stacin at Iron Mtn</td></tr>
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I gave it one more shot at a hard effort at JFK, but frankly that was a disaster from the beginning. The snow on the AT section had my hips screaming and the tow path was a nightmare for me. It was fun to experience the nation's oldest ultra, but the event and course were not my cup of tea. The good thing about JFK was that it kept me focused on some solid training throughout the fall.<br />
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The year wrapped-up at a respectable mileage of 2,436. I was consistent with no injuries or significant down-time -- just a few weeks here and there for mild illnesses and recovery/down-time post the two bigger race efforts.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u><b>Lifetime totals:</b></u></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2002: 651</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2003: 2,213</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2004: 2,506</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2005: 2,667</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2006: 3,124</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2007: 2,759</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2008: 2,812</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2009: 3,353</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2010: 3,056</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2011: 4,523</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2012: 2,718</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2013: 2,180</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2014: 2,375</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2015: 2,205</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2016: 2,101</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2017: 2,507</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2018: 2,436</span><br />
<b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Total: 44,186 Miles</b><br />
<b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></b>
The focal point of 2019 rests squarely on the shoulders of Western States. I'm not thinking of anything else for the next 6+ months. Miles, gain/loss, strength and heat training will some of the key building blocks.<br />
<br />
My goals are modest and realistic for the race. Obviously finishing is goal #1, followed finishing sub-24 being goal #2. So far, all seven 100-milers that I've finished are sub-24 and I would like to keep the streak going. I think I am capable of much faster though if everything goes well. I want to take in the entire Western States experience and relish every moment. This is most likely my one shot; I want to make sure that it counts.<br />
<br />
Happy New Year!Cassedayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06903493546022429763noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3681117549787428514.post-10784145403560433402018-01-01T09:53:00.003-05:002018-01-01T09:56:19.743-05:002017 Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY44rssKpUBQwccIBP5M1e-GyDtUA-doH6f-pzdrN8L72gFfF-pbBD-w2ZMod2SCMwcZqYd_J_zJAFrL9TndjIt3px2gyrcxrX3nxsivMJsftyjCOGDiPoWZIPsqTGhMw3ablrp06SStDR/s1600/100_1660.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY44rssKpUBQwccIBP5M1e-GyDtUA-doH6f-pzdrN8L72gFfF-pbBD-w2ZMod2SCMwcZqYd_J_zJAFrL9TndjIt3px2gyrcxrX3nxsivMJsftyjCOGDiPoWZIPsqTGhMw3ablrp06SStDR/s400/100_1660.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2017 was a year of <a href="http://wvultrarunner.blogspot.com/2017/05/coming-to-grips.html" target="_blank">disappointment</a> and consistency. Disappointment from goals not achieved (MMT PR goal ending in DNF); consistency in mileage and achieving a Western States <a href="http://wvultrarunner.blogspot.com/2017/09/hallucination-100-taking-care-of.html" target="_blank">qualifier</a>. Consistency also was also achieved in yet again not getting in to Western States -- six time loser now.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I was happy to reach my mileage goal of 2,500 for the year . . . by the skin of my teeth though.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2y2IDavy8hhmEdz1rNOjYjculSvJ_d4RaoFdaW5MTbW14i9IVpPUcJCQr-DB8tDDP0GM8tDnvs-vq4MBcV5zX35Vx56WT8W0aoMxHz1TIt0GmSf8qs0pMhc5OrEifogH_jdyZLA3RaiB3/s1600/100_1655.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2y2IDavy8hhmEdz1rNOjYjculSvJ_d4RaoFdaW5MTbW14i9IVpPUcJCQr-DB8tDDP0GM8tDnvs-vq4MBcV5zX35Vx56WT8W0aoMxHz1TIt0GmSf8qs0pMhc5OrEifogH_jdyZLA3RaiB3/s320/100_1655.JPG" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />2002: 651<br />2003: 2,213<br />2004: 2,506<br />2005: 2,667<br />2006: 3,124<br />2007: 2,759<br />2008: 2,812<br />2009: 3,353<br />2010: 3,056<br />2011: 4,523<br />2012: 2,718<br />2013: 2,180<br />2014: 2,375<br />2015: 2,205<br />2016: 2,101<br />2017: 2,507<br /><b>Total: 41,750 Miles</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Plans for 2018: I plan to do two new races in the spring. 1) Terrapin 50K 2) Miwok 100K. Miwok is the focus for the year. It will be my Western States qualifier for 2019 and my first trip to California. I'm looking forward to it as it will coincide with our 10-year anniversary and will be a fun trip.<br /><br />I'm planning on doing another fast-pack adventure in July. This year will probably be on the Allegheny Trail from Thomas to Marlinton. The fall I'm leaving open, but have some thoughts. I will run something at Iron Mountain -- hopefully the 50M and then maybe a return to Masochist. That's one of my favorite events and I've been away too long.<br /><br />Happy New Year! Here's to a great <span style="color: #222222;">year ahead of us in 2018!</span></span>Cassedayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06903493546022429763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3681117549787428514.post-88227695723992085692017-09-20T16:57:00.001-04:002017-09-20T16:57:11.757-04:00Blast From the Past<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/cd0DvPWvxf0/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cd0DvPWvxf0?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
Found this from my friend Jeremy Ramsey on YouTube. Somehow I missed this one back in 2011. Good memories from a great adventure.Cassedayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06903493546022429763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3681117549787428514.post-13495230437996005032017-09-18T12:20:00.001-04:002017-09-20T15:35:16.004-04:00Hallucination 100: Taking Care of Business<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTUedwtw76qp54SWfcrTGfaNEbTd5ahJhZgZ4AfyjycVBGQaOezm0reJrNxcRxRO2YhHgtm2UgwD19nJx8Sm0qh_dilNHiR3y05nW19PVjg4SKSaFqnba8K7reBCmh1cq9vaiB1Ragu0sM/s1600/woodstock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="465" data-original-width="828" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTUedwtw76qp54SWfcrTGfaNEbTd5ahJhZgZ4AfyjycVBGQaOezm0reJrNxcRxRO2YhHgtm2UgwD19nJx8Sm0qh_dilNHiR3y05nW19PVjg4SKSaFqnba8K7reBCmh1cq9vaiB1Ragu0sM/s320/woodstock.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
After my DNF at <a href="http://wvultrarunner.blogspot.com/2017/05/coming-to-grips.html" target="_blank">Massanutten</a>, I vowed that I was taking a break from 100's and giving up the dream, goal, and accumulated tickets for Western States. After some soul searching over the past few months, I came to the realization that I would really regret not at least giving it another go. On September 8, I toed the line at the Hallucination 100 in Pinckney, MI part of the <a href="http://runwoodstock.com/" target="_blank">Run Woodstock</a> events.<br />
<br />
The goal of the race was not to race at all. It was all about taking care of business. This was the race of firsts: the first race that I had ever traveled to alone, the first 100 without crew, and the first 100 with no pacer. I was undertrained, but over prepared and mentally ready to cover the distance. The course was 6-loops of 16.67 miles and I had a drop bag at the start/finish. I was prepared for whatever might happen (I even had a sleeping bag in my sack of tricks) and was going do whatever it took to finish; even if that meant using every second of the 30-hour limit.<br />
<br />
There is certainly nothing exciting about my race execution. I simply got it done. Six loops is a mental test, but aside from some sleepiness from the 4:00 p.m. start, the loops passed uneventfully. I enjoyed the cool, clear, Michigan night cruising along to some good tunes and the beam of my headlamp. It was a long night, but I enjoyed countless cups of coffee, handfuls of potatoes, gels, and even some pancakes in the pre-dawn light. Amazingly enough, my watch lasted the entire race and can be viewed <a href="https://www.strava.com/activities/1178283137" target="_blank">here</a> on Strava. 22:19 was the finishing time; no worse for the wear. Happy to have finished my 7th 100-mile race. All seven under 24-hours.<br />
<br />
So now I have 6-tickets for Western States. Fingers crossed yet again in December!Cassedayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06903493546022429763noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3681117549787428514.post-84134107119673190382017-05-16T16:17:00.003-04:002017-05-16T16:17:55.545-04:00Coming to Grips<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX6I8_lG_d9DYRcoTjvFScP_aJIobJxgSY5IExIC0GhE67-zF5J89QlfIu9LWyuBYDu5OlpP2Bk8yM82EhTCi4A7oTPOWBmwlGRolEGVAnzfddvv7kFY6DDZrvDHoKudivUsUIHXh2XpEp/s1600/MMT3.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="56" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX6I8_lG_d9DYRcoTjvFScP_aJIobJxgSY5IExIC0GhE67-zF5J89QlfIu9LWyuBYDu5OlpP2Bk8yM82EhTCi4A7oTPOWBmwlGRolEGVAnzfddvv7kFY6DDZrvDHoKudivUsUIHXh2XpEp/s320/MMT3.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">In the early morning hours of May 5, I was running in
familiar territory – the Massanutten Mountains of Virginia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My
training had been very focused upon this one day for the past five months.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was poised and hoping for a good day; a PR
on a course I know well. 21:37 was the mark I was aiming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Failure was nearly inconceivable.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">From the gun, there was something missing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The gentle climb up to Moreland Gap felt more
labored than it should.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“When the sun
comes up, I will feel better”, I thought to myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I came in to Edinburg Gap a full ten minutes
slower than my time from two years prior.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Hang in there, things will turn around”, I calmly told myself and
plodded on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By mile-20 at Woodstock
Tower, I was continuing to really struggle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>My body felt like I had already run 50-miles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Slow, sluggish, and as if I had a “restrictor
plate” on my engine I proceeded.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My
central governor felt broken.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My stomach
and legs were fine, but I simply could not will myself to propel forward the
way I normally run.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I discussed dropping at Elizabeth Furnace (mile 33) with my
crew made up of my good friends Pete and Jim.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They urged me to go on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I yearned
only to make to simply to Camp Roosevelt (mile 64) where I would have pacers to
the end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“One aid-station to the next”,
my positive self-talk went. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I felt
terrible for having them out there with me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I slogged on in deep contemplation and assessment of my
mind, body, and soul.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the end, it
just wasn’t my day and I put myself out of misery at Habron Gap (mile 54) after
13-hours on the course.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I thought about
all this failure meant:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nullification of
my sacrifice of training time away from my family and the loss of 5-years
accumulated tickets for Western States. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the end, I could do no more; or I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">would not</i> do any more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whichever it was, it mattered not.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I have had plenty of time to dwell upon my failure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My conclusion is that I simply have too many
life stresses to focus on training and running 100-miles for the next few
years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe I was over-trained.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On paper I believe my training was spot on –
running slightly over 1,000 miles since January with a high level of quality
and specification for MMT.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What I did
not account for was the accumulation of stress from work and home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have two young children at home and that’s
comes with its own myriad of stresses – good and bad – but my job has become
increasingly demanding and stressful over the past few years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unfortunately, I can do nothing about either
currently. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Guilt constantly riddles and
haunts me – my life it not my own.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">In conclusion, I still love to run and I still love to race
ultras.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love my wife and two sons
even more though and I value my career and the difference I am making in my community.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sacrifices must be made and some dreams must
be put on hold.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s simply a season of
life to take care of first things first.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So 100-milers . . . until we meet again old friend!</span></div>
Cassedayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06903493546022429763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3681117549787428514.post-80598546521872781882017-04-13T16:25:00.001-04:002017-05-16T15:37:47.391-04:00Appalachian Trail Video<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.redbull.tv/video/AP-1QJ5RKYGN1W11/made-to-be-broken?playlist=AP-1QJ5RKYGN1W11" target="_blank"><img alt="https://www.redbull.tv/video/AP-1QJ5RKYGN1W11/made-to-be-broken?playlist=AP-1QJ5RKYGN1W11" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO9W2BFuV5ZUFKQzq9FlnPStn-VV3NG4czCbyZRId3axwEzdKVnqjdjm2F7a8DasxD91Scsk8na-AzaNHlhFEdNxQFex1gluCwcoURqnSLPGRvSRMH9vqcuNwMaYQRzwU1mGUTajIL3Eks/s320/Meltzer.JPG" width="208" /></a></div>
Great vantage point of Karl Meltzer's record setting AT run.Cassedayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06903493546022429763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3681117549787428514.post-44037807548878092292016-12-31T15:23:00.000-05:002016-12-31T15:58:30.831-05:002016 Review<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdw49kHVIWJXJgHtxMjkZ0Qd7Gte3E_MTOhSzuiKtGnN0VWizHtheBpru9uwkFSB9SCPzXkSmA6j1YIjzUxS5VSk3sLAJCjkP8ZcaMCin0p4IdLL-tpNCKdZWKKJ2D52TRhxbqlAAkYdK6/s1600/Trilogy+2016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdw49kHVIWJXJgHtxMjkZ0Qd7Gte3E_MTOhSzuiKtGnN0VWizHtheBpru9uwkFSB9SCPzXkSmA6j1YIjzUxS5VSk3sLAJCjkP8ZcaMCin0p4IdLL-tpNCKdZWKKJ2D52TRhxbqlAAkYdK6/s320/Trilogy+2016.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2016 WV Trilogy finishers</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
As 2016 comes to a close, I am again filled with gratitude. I am grateful for every step of the year. The balance between life and running continues to be hard to maintain -- actually it's getting significantly harder. With the addition of our second son in September, life has seemed to speed up that much more.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
I only ran one ultra in 2016, the <a href="http://wvultrarunner.blogspot.com/2016/08/vermont-100.html" target="_blank">Vermont 100</a>. I ran a couple of shorter races -- the Forest Festival 10K, Helvetia 10K, and the Canary in the Cave 25K++ -- but all-in-all it was a pretty low key year. Maintaining my co-directing responsibilities at Highlands Sky and the WV Trilogy are valuable commitments that deserve mention. I really enjoy race directing and all the relationships and pleasure it provides. I hope I am always able to do this.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC8zVLRByIgYwIf4Ce3kj3quih7qUh87Ps4dcnJFBB5ErVOqRm9ASziALc6dzgaVeJ81dHoSUne1nvnfwK7iXukPPWKiaCLlVSF8YOaC9Mtqj46IezvmYASHG3jBNdrYWLvwUX9TodyKkU/s1600/Canary+in+the+Cave+2016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC8zVLRByIgYwIf4Ce3kj3quih7qUh87Ps4dcnJFBB5ErVOqRm9ASziALc6dzgaVeJ81dHoSUne1nvnfwK7iXukPPWKiaCLlVSF8YOaC9Mtqj46IezvmYASHG3jBNdrYWLvwUX9TodyKkU/s320/Canary+in+the+Cave+2016.jpg" width="306" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finishing the Canary in the Cave 25K++ with Michael Bee</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
2016 mileage total was 2,101. Even though it's yet again one of my lower years, I am still quite happy to have even gotten in that amount. I hope it can be a springboard me toward more mileage in 2017. I would like to get around 2,500 if possible. It's neat to think about hitting 40K miles this year and in a few years 50,000. Can I make it to 100,000? That is an ultimate long-term goal for sure.<br />
<br />
2002: 651<br />
2003: 2,213<br />
2004: 2,506<br />
2005: 2,667<br />
2006: 3,124<br />
2007: 2,759<br />
2008: 2,812<br />
2009: 3,353<br />
2010: 3,056<br />
2011: 4,523<br />
2012: 2,718<br />
2013: 2,180<br />
2014: 2,375<br />
2015: 2,205<br />
2016: 2,101<br />
<strong><u>Total</u>:</strong> <strong>39,243 Miles</strong><br />
<strong></strong><br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<u>Racing Plans for 2017</u>: Again, the goal and dream of running Western States must wait another year. No luck in the lottery for the fifth time in a row -- and two other times prior to 2011. I know it is not the be-all and end-all of races, but it has been a dream every since I watched the film <a href="https://youtu.be/0uG4h8_IclI" target="_blank">Running Madness</a> back in '02/'03.</div>
<br />
I still find great satisfaction and motivation in training and running 100-mile events. Oddly enough it's the overall training process that I really love. I really enjoy the focus and dedication that these events demand.<br />
<br />
I am planning on focusing on running Massanutten again in 2017. I feel like I still have some unfinished business on that course. It was my first 100-miler in 2008 and continues to be my overall 100-mile PR of 21:37. I am going to focus on surpassing that mark 9-years later. I have no idea if it's even possible, but I'm sure going to give it my best. In preparation for Massanutten, I hope to do the Catawba Run Around route, Haulin' in the Holler 50K, and a double North Fork Mtn Trail. After MMT, maybe a fast-pack in July and the Iron Mtn 50 in September to round out the year (?).<br />
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Happy New Year everyone . . . here's to a healthy, happy, 2017 that is full of adventure!Cassedayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06903493546022429763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3681117549787428514.post-61052430140364653822016-08-01T16:30:00.001-04:002016-08-01T23:23:40.412-04:00Vermont 100<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<u>A"bridged" version</u>: <br />
Ha! Get it?<br />
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I blew out my quads by mile 20. ??!!??? Suffered through 80 more miles. Finished in 22:42. Well off of my goal of 17-hours. Proud to have gutted it out and found the finish line.<br />
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You can quit reading now if you would like. If you're in to minutia, please feel free to continue on.<br />
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<u>Unabridged version</u>:<br />
I had not raced an ultra since last May at Massanutten. This occurred for a variety of reasons, but the major limiting factors were family responsibilities, lack of desire to race, race directing responsibilities, work responsibilities, and lingering injures. Lots of responsibilities in there and other excuses, but you get the drift. Running just hasn't been on the front burner in the last year. Don't get me wrong, I've still been running. There's just a big difference between "running" and "training". Regardless, I was excited to head to VT to finally run what I intended to by my first 100 in 2007, but was side-railed with a jolly case of mononucleosis. With five other 100's under my belt, I was excited about what I could do at a "faster" 100. I was excited about <em>certainly</em> getting a new PR since my PR is 21:37 from MMT in '08.<br />
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My lack of racing in the last year would lead the casual observer to two possible conclusions: 1) I would be well rested and ready to run well. 2) I would not be sharp and probably not race well. I believed I was ready for option one, but option two was certainly the reality to come. Cue the excuses: I had dealt with some lingering left achilles bursitis since the winter, but felt like I had it mostly under control in March, but was unfortunately sidelined most of the month that I planned on building VT base by the flu and resulting pneumonia. Frankly, by April I was a little doubtful that I was going to do the race considering the fact that I had not run over 20-miles for a single run since October. Since this was my only race planned for the year, I decided to let it all hang out and I dove head first into the training. <br />
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April 16 was my first serious long run and I put in the work the best I could from there: <a href="https://www.strava.com/athletes/7305211/training/log">https://www.strava.com/athletes/7305211/training/log</a> Seeing it all in black and white makes all the issues I ultimately endured painfully clear. I was undertrained, but I had worked really hard for about 11-weeks prior to the race and I had sincere belief that my 12+ years of running ultras would prevail and that I was capable of running VT around 17-hours. That seemed reasonable to me -- and still does -- but that simply was not to be.<br />
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Now for the blow-by-blow: <br />
I traveled up to VT on Thursday with my friends Dan Lehmann, Pete Daly, and Jim Stemple. We got a hotel room in Rutland and attempted to get a little rest before the pre-race hustle ensued. Sleep did not go well for me . . . Made it to the race headquarters on Friday and set up our tents. The pre-race was very nice and I really enjoyed the camping, horses, race history, and simply the whole feel of the race. Vermont is cool and this race had the same aura.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Lt2CN8fALJW1oYPpXxPr-Fxq52snOTXItjyRi71lSIFe-fI4hqkPNh2dIwwWEoK5zX5zGU4tJQaZ2Sf_jp12Q9nMSo6W_ER2Cn9NUGZDE0j-h21224eaFhWP0hGLVGoyBencb08gxZvT/s1600/VT+Road+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Lt2CN8fALJW1oYPpXxPr-Fxq52snOTXItjyRi71lSIFe-fI4hqkPNh2dIwwWEoK5zX5zGU4tJQaZ2Sf_jp12Q9nMSo6W_ER2Cn9NUGZDE0j-h21224eaFhWP0hGLVGoyBencb08gxZvT/s320/VT+Road+1.JPG" width="213" /></a>The 4:00 a.m. start was nice and cool and I felt ready for the task at hand. I slept horribly again, but that really is irrelevant; and expected. I felt like I was going out very easy -- almost too easy. I was going to run my own race until around mile-70, then let it all hang out -- a strategy that has always served me well. The sun came up faster than I thought it would and I was happy to kill the headlamp. I was looking forward to dropping it at the first crew-able aid-station, Pretty House, at mile 21. Unfortunately my crew had some navigational issues and missed me at Pretty House. I glanced at my watch, I was about 20-minutes faster than what I had projected for a 17-hr. finishing time, but felt like I was running super controlled. Missing my crew didn't bother me. I quickly grabbed a few things from the aid-station and let missing them evaporate from my mind.<br />
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Somewhere in the next 5-10 miles I realized I was in a little trouble. My quads felt way worse than I've ever experienced at this point in a 100. They started feeling like what they inevitably feel like in the last 50K of 100. They felt trashed. I focused on slowing down a bit and really started pushing the S-Caps, fluids, and calories. It was really starting to get warm now too -- adding insult to my injury.<br />
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I finally got to my crew at the Stage Road aid-station at mile 30. I told them that the wheels were starting to come off a bit and that I was going to slow down and take care of myself. By the time I saw them next at Camp 10 Bear at mile 47, I knew I was in big trouble. I was starting really have a hard time running -- especially any downhills. I just had no quads left. From Camp 10 Bear to the Margaritaville aid station (mile 58), things really came undone. I simply could not run anymore around mile 50. The pain in my quads was too unbearable. I never cramped, my muscles just felt busted apart. I took the two Tylenol I had with me (that I was hoping to only need after mile 80) and hoped that it would give me some relief. It didn't even touch the pain. I would have gladly quit at Pinky's (mile 50.8), but I had to go all the way to Margaritaville to pull the plug. The demoralization of watching runner after runner glide past me was almost more than I could bear. I simply walked it in to Margaritaville, convinced that I was done.<br />
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In every 100, there's always some time of introspection. Some races it's shorter than others, but it's always there. It was in these miles that I was looking internally and coming to grips with this failure. I was a little sad, but I was mostly angry. I was angry to have come all the way up here to VT -- used my valuable vacation time, time away from my family, wasted all those Saturdays training away from my son, burned family finances, and wasted my friends' time in helping. Plus I was thinking, "There goes Western States." All this was in my head and I felt like there was absolutely nothing that I could do about it. I refused to hike the last 40-miles. I would like to say that I somehow dug deep and decided I was going to find a way to get to the finish, but I simply was convinced that my quads were absolutely cooked and that I was well on my way to inducing <a href="https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000473.htm" target="_blank">rhabdo</a> since I hadn't urinated in several hours and when I did it looked like Coca-Cola. (Even in hindsight, I was probably correct and in very dangerous territory.) Fried quads, hot weather, and 100-miles is a good way to get there and that's somewhere I did not want to go.<br />
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When I got to Margaritaville -- way after my crew expected me, and probably 40+ positions behind -- they knew I was in dire straits. They sat me down, massaged my quads, fed me, got me cold drinks and tried to help me triage the problems. My head was perfectly square, as was my stomach. I just could not run. Game over I thought and told them . . . I offered them to call it quits, they could go for a run on the AT then we'd go out for a nice dinner on me. They quickly declined and convinced me to go on to the next aid-station before quitting. They weren't pushy at all, but assured me that they were here to help me finish and that's what they wanted to do. I asked, "How far is it to the next?" Dan said, "About three miles." "OK", I said. "But we can't crew you there", Dan said in a few moments. "We can't see you again until Camp 10 Bear in about 11-miles", he said. <br />
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I felt like I owed my crew an opportunity to rally. I simply didn't know how I was going to make it 11-miles with how my legs felt. I knew this would be terrible. I popped a few more Tylenol and slowly started down the road. Minutes later, I returned to the parking lot where they were getting ready to leave. I told them that I really thought I was done and tried to enumerate the reasons. After another spell of sitting, somehow either they cajoled me back out on the course or I just figured "what the heck." Regardless, I found myself back out there wondering what in the world I was doing and wondering how I got here.<br />
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This is where I found some mental magic. Somewhere in those slow 11-miles I decided that:1) I didn't come nearly 70-miles to just hang it up. I would cover the 30-miles. 2) I couldn't stomach telling my son that I quit a race. In reality, my 3 y.o. son could care less whether I finished or not, but out there in the backwoods of VT, I was convinced that it would be the hardest conversation of my life. I got teary-eyed just thinking about it. Game on . . . it's going to be slow, but I was going to give it all I had.<br />
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I stumbled in to Camp 10 Bear with a renewed mental vigor. I needed new quads, but I knew I was going to get this done with the help of my friends and pacers. Pete jumped in with me and we intentionally didn't take headlamps to make darn sure we made it to the Spirit of '76 station (mile 76) before dark. Kind of dumb, but it made sense to me. I think we had two hours, but in my state, that was risky. The miles went by quickly with Pete even though I was in a really low spot the entire time. I was feeling really sleepy and groggy. We made it to the aid-station right at dusk. Dan took over at Spirit of '76 and would be my tour-guide until the end. We donned our headlamps and moved on toward the night.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuVqs8d9L8tYVkkjWx8Uj8YxSPQmGh4rrvE2vMRWsVXK_iTE-L0i3sAeOdv4iy9Y060xmfMp_TccgNZsIURLn2DFWAqP6rfP9IrepmSNDKcD_8yx3Vh5QVbR6VzYc42WmbXKucteHoLpvO/s1600/VT+SOM1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuVqs8d9L8tYVkkjWx8Uj8YxSPQmGh4rrvE2vMRWsVXK_iTE-L0i3sAeOdv4iy9Y060xmfMp_TccgNZsIURLn2DFWAqP6rfP9IrepmSNDKcD_8yx3Vh5QVbR6VzYc42WmbXKucteHoLpvO/s320/VT+SOM1.JPG" width="215" /></a>Really everything gets rather hazy from here on out. The groggy, tired feeling progressed. So much so that I remember holding on to Dan's shoulder a time or two to steady myself. I was falling asleep on my feet. I will give Dan credit for intelligently handling the situation. When we got to Cow Shed (mile 83), he knew I was in bad shape and graciously offered me a 10-minute nap by the fire. I pulled up a log and rested my head on it and was out immediately on the ground. The world was spinning and I had vivid dreams of a woman with weird teeth eating strange noodles. Go figure? After what felt like thirty seconds, Dan woke me up saying we needed to get on the road. Surprisingly, I felt like a million bucks. I was back to joking and really felt ready to suffer through to the end. <br />
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The climb up to Bill's aid-station (mile 88) was really cool. You could see the aid station from a long distance up on the hill all lit up by the lightning from the approaching storm. We grabbed some food and I grabbed my jacket and we got out. Soon after leaving Bill's, the heavens opened up with a good one. I was cold even with my Houdini jacket, but Dan didn't have a jacket and was really getting cold and had to keep running as much as possible. This really pulled me into gear. I had to start really running for him. I didn't want him to suffer any more on my behalf, so I tried my absolute best to motor up anything he was running.<br />
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The rains continued on and off, but they had washed away my pains. I was hurting, but I started moving better and better and was so happy to be where I was and with who I was with. Sometimes I feel lucky to have the power of hindsight in the present -- it's never often enough, but I'm grateful for the times I can. This was one of those instances. I knew I was making some great memories and really enjoyed the rain, the mud, the discomfort, the sights, sounds, and the company. Those last 10-miles were better than any physical award I could have received for finishing. This was some gold for the memory bank.<br />
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The finish line came in after 22 hours and 42 minutes of running. The four of us hung out in the big tent for an hour or so; eating, laughing, and mostly waiting out the rain. By around 4 a.m. we meandered through the camping area in the rain and pulled off the wet and sweaty clothes for a few hours of rest on the hard ground of our tents before starting an ultramarathon trip home.<br />
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Running 100-miles always finds a way to scratch the outer covering of my soul. There is always so much to learn about myself and others, in what feels like a week, but in reality is only a day. This race did not go according to my expectations of time, but it exceeded my expectations in experience. I got to foster some grit that I will use in my next race and all my life. I am thankful to be able to run these events and so thankful for the support of my family and friends. I am a truly blessed.<br />
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<br />Cassedayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06903493546022429763noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3681117549787428514.post-60792233959879534812015-12-31T08:13:00.000-05:002015-12-31T08:13:09.961-05:002015 Wrap-Up<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglE-XWdIzXiuwG2hkQQeT7HOV1CRwQmezXk07wCViv6Qytef86RTBIg0XQ2hRmUGEgP4IZihALBC5fTKHa5kWpcEHwqeQIjTfJME-byZt8qzcPOXcTFmvHJ7WF9rdjfTSMbScdt2zEF6gn/s1600/1526703_721823399837_7864470629174630236_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglE-XWdIzXiuwG2hkQQeT7HOV1CRwQmezXk07wCViv6Qytef86RTBIg0XQ2hRmUGEgP4IZihALBC5fTKHa5kWpcEHwqeQIjTfJME-byZt8qzcPOXcTFmvHJ7WF9rdjfTSMbScdt2zEF6gn/s320/1526703_721823399837_7864470629174630236_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">MMT aid station</td></tr>
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As I reflect on the past twelve months of running, I can't help but be filled with gratitude. No, the year was not perfect and I did not get to compete in all the races in which I <a href="http://www.wvultrarunner.blogspot.com/2014/12/2015-racing-plans.html" target="_blank">intended</a>. Ultimately it went the way I expected though; maybe even the way I hoped. This was my twelfth season as an ultra runner and I have certainly learned to expect the unexpected. Injuries and life can alter the running equilibrium. Balance in life and running is a hard thing to maintain.<br />
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Running the Massanutten 100 well was my number one focus for the year. After tune-up races at the <a href="http://www.wvultrarunner.blogspot.com/2015/01/frozen-sasquatch-50k-2015.html" target="_blank">Frozen Sasquatch 50K</a>, <a href="http://www.wvultrarunner.blogspot.com/2015/04/thomas-jefferson-100k.html" target="_blank">Thomas Jefferson 100K</a>, and Promise Land 50K I was poised and primed for a good race. Luckily, the plan worked and I had a very good run -- good enough for 4th place in <a href="http://www.vhtrc.org/mmt/2015/" target="_blank">22:57</a>. This was my third MMT finish (21:37 '08, 22:39 '09) and I am proud to keep the sub-24 streak alive.<br />
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After MMT and the necessary rest and recovery, I set my sights on adding more speed training and quality workouts into my training. My focus in training was the goal of running sub-7:30 at Mountain Masochist (which would take some serious training considering that my PR there is 7:53). Unfortunately I ended up getting injured. First a nasty pulled hamstring, then a terrible case of plantar fasciitis -- which I am still nursing to a small degree. Too much speed too quickly is a rookie mistake, but I certainly fell prey. Regardless, in spite of many missed days of training, I still enjoyed some great running in the fall and even managed to race/run two sub-ultra distances for a change, the Iron Mountain 16-Miles and the Canary in the Cave 25K++. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtBF2i8KV91Zc2psYaGc51yGkS2C5qOeHzzpdBGHATXHQTdEx64K2l6g18yTFGIlzBHdhrmioZIhMS9Tic9fXMGmIy2TJXLd4We6AT6NCjA_HrDsIwCSnKUPRg15RQ1Xr347_g1NvUoh3b/s1600/905978_10205439176952657_3564747776834656952_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtBF2i8KV91Zc2psYaGc51yGkS2C5qOeHzzpdBGHATXHQTdEx64K2l6g18yTFGIlzBHdhrmioZIhMS9Tic9fXMGmIy2TJXLd4We6AT6NCjA_HrDsIwCSnKUPRg15RQ1Xr347_g1NvUoh3b/s320/905978_10205439176952657_3564747776834656952_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">with Dan at the Promise Land start</td></tr>
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Mileage wise, 2015 was one of my lower years; 2,205. Even when I am healthy and training well, I simply struggle to find the time to train at the level I once did. Once again, the balance between life and running is hard to maintain; it seems to get only more difficult with the inevitable increase of responsibilities. I started keeping a running log in 2002 and I decided to add them up today. It's pretty neat to see that I have run over 37K miles in my lifetime. I am glad that I have taken the time to document all my training over the years. I know that I won't be able to do this forever, but someday I will derive great enjoyment from reading these log books -- actually, I already have.<br />
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2002: 651<br />
2003: 2,213<br />
2004: 2,506<br />
2005: 2,667<br />
2006: 3,124<br />
2007: 2,759<br />
2008: 2,812<br />
2009: 3,353<br />
2010: 3,056<br />
2011: 4,523<br />
2012: 2,718<br />
2013: 2,180<br />
2014: 2,375<br />
2015: 2,205<br />
<strong><u>Total</u>:</strong> <strong>37,142 Miles</strong><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">MMT finish with Clay</td></tr>
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<u>Racing Plans for 2016</u>: (Very tentative.) The only definite is that I want to focus on the Vermont 100 in July. After getting denied by the Western States lottery now four years in a row (and two other times prior to 2011), I have two choices: 1) give up on the race 2) keep trying. Might as well keep trying; eventually my name will get pulled . . .<br />
I will likely run a few 50K's this spring in my build-up to VT, but I don't really have any plans for the fall. ?? Sometimes simply running as much as possible is enough of a plan for me. The simple joy of the daily run is my favorite aspect of running/training and I hope I have many in 2016.<br />
<br />
No matter what the new year has in store, I am thankful for my health, family, friends, and God's mercy and grace in my life. Here's to a Happy New Year -- bring on 2016!Cassedayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06903493546022429763noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3681117549787428514.post-49477713043770231902015-04-16T10:45:00.001-04:002015-04-16T11:31:24.631-04:00Thomas Jefferson 100K<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEityK7PCIFztr-RvD834kxFPjw9KPvuDuneEyURA1MZVUG6Y3baH_l43hnz07HOVfnNR-CR-6FhbB7NFsw4g7l0XgUBB3xtjpzyMYho2MMs5HyAU7ClVVmGaRi-7vx6coJLGKp8yIbQlC4B/s1600/TJ100k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEityK7PCIFztr-RvD834kxFPjw9KPvuDuneEyURA1MZVUG6Y3baH_l43hnz07HOVfnNR-CR-6FhbB7NFsw4g7l0XgUBB3xtjpzyMYho2MMs5HyAU7ClVVmGaRi-7vx6coJLGKp8yIbQlC4B/s1600/TJ100k.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finish line photo with RD: Andy Jones-Wilkins</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The 100k race distance is a cruel monster. It's not far enough to
demand the reverence that which a 100-mile race demands, yet it's certainly far
enough to expose any runner not wise enough to take it seriously. There
is no faking it and nowhere to hide from her pain. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
Straight up, running in the winter is not my thing. I do it because
I'm a runner and that's what I do. Frankly strapping on a headlamp in the
pre-dawn hours to the howl of a single digit wind, blowing snow, and
treacherous footing are not my cup of tea. I would far rather enjoy the
beauty of winter gliding over the trails on cross country skis instead of
post-holing with my trail shoes. I slogged my fair share of miles
though this winter in West Virginia – ushered out the door by the fear of
an early season tune-up in the hills to my east called the <a href="http://tj100k.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Thomas Jefferson 100K</span></a> on
March 14.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
My goals for this race were simple: 1) Cover the distance. 2)
Keep the effort controlled. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>3) Don't get
hurt – the Massanutten 100 is the focal point for the spring and I need to be
able to jump right back into my training after a couple days of rest/recovery.
4) Enjoy it!<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
The race takes pace in Walnut Creek Park – just a few miles outside
Charlottesville, VA – and consists of seven 9-mile loops. Walnut
Creek is an ideal location for a running event. There is ample
parking, a central pavilion, beautiful woods, and some buttery single
track. The race started at 5:00 am with a steady cold rain ushering us
into the dark woods. Even with my conservative plan, I somehow found
myself leading the pack from the start. I was going slowly, but no one
seemed to mind. Eventually I stopped to let out some coffee and the
peloton went around. Queue the day of running alone . . .<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
Running loop courses is something new to me. It was an
interesting day of mental tricks to fool myself into finding something novel
and inspiring about each loop. Loop 1 and 2 – no problem, just a
warm up; get to drop off the headlamp. Loop 3, take off heavier
gloves. Loop 4, change out jackets. Loop 5, just suck it up
and do the loop. Loop 6 was the carrot on the stick; time for some tunes –
a rarity for me. At the end of loop six, I met up with Greg Loomis and
shared some miles with him. Finally having some company was great
and eventually we met up with John Baldwin as well at the start/finish
area. I got to start out loop 7 with them (they were on loop 6) and really
enjoyed just cruising along on some tired legs looking for the finish
line. The buttery single track was now really "buttery" –
the muddy trails really had my hip flexors wrecked. John and I covered
the remainder of the loop together after Greg slowed a bit and I was happy to
finish in 11:43, good enough for 3rd place. Full results <a href="http://www.ultralive.net/tj100k/webcast.php" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">HERE</span></a>.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
So my impression: All of the above goals were met and
the race really exceeded my expectations. This is a top notch
event. The pre and post-race meals were amazing, super nice
swag, and the volunteers treated all of the runners like kings and queens
all day long. Be sure to check out this race in 2016 and I look
forward to making seven loops around the park yet again!Cassedayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06903493546022429763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3681117549787428514.post-67098327789385688042015-03-17T21:53:00.002-04:002015-03-17T21:53:36.769-04:00Blue Ridge Outdoor Athlete Team<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOk0Dtny2RcD1PufB9w2TJZuvfJRBvSTheIyHEVlI74ezs5aXG7Zhwu6Dv_oQoDvyECoYzmhd3FkR8xs0u38P7lVQ4dE9PHkBLrsyt2LAXDhvWQ7q78FmS5MI_OnSvEKDO7xHSzTzqWMkg/s1600/NF+landscape.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOk0Dtny2RcD1PufB9w2TJZuvfJRBvSTheIyHEVlI74ezs5aXG7Zhwu6Dv_oQoDvyECoYzmhd3FkR8xs0u38P7lVQ4dE9PHkBLrsyt2LAXDhvWQ7q78FmS5MI_OnSvEKDO7xHSzTzqWMkg/s1600/NF+landscape.jpg" height="128" width="320" /></a>I am honored to be included in the <a href="http://www.blueridgeoutdoors.com/athlete-team/" target="_blank">2015 B.R.O. Athlete Team</a>.<br />
<br />
"These 40 elite athletes compete and participate in nine different sport disciplines: trail running, mountain biking, road cycling, whitewater paddling, climbing, road running, fly fishing, long-distance hiking, and triathlon. Our team includes teenagers and masters athletes at the top of their game. They hail from eight different states across the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic, and they will compete in over 120 events this year. Look for the BRO Athlete Team at events near you and follow their adventures here. Each of these BRO athletes will be posting in-depth, behind-the-scenes personal stories about their adventures all year long."<br />
<br />
It will be fun competing and sharing some stories -- here and online at <a href="http://www.blueridgeoutdoors.com/">http://www.blueridgeoutdoors.com/</a>.<span id="goog_776957961"></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/"></a><span id="goog_776957962"></span>Cassedayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06903493546022429763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3681117549787428514.post-1367902584648925032015-01-28T18:09:00.001-05:002015-01-28T18:09:04.576-05:00Dirty (Trail Running) Secrets I am honored to be profiled in a Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine article by Adam Hill:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.blueridgeoutdoors.com/running/trail-running-secrets/" target="_blank"><img alt="http://www.blueridgeoutdoors.com/running/trail-running-secrets/" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5awXKsYQQXFjGDlWLc5wHirWD0VJhbSlut9cd7m4RnpLNWwII490MDKNUE4Y95Bdjy6TAJ4gWDGHskuF3RDEQJZTKueTuUA9oa-TLTYTfFc7-CIt75QlqBKcPyePi4Rn5hOTy0cWyNtGa/s1600/NewIssue_PrintDig_BRO_0215.png" height="177" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.blueridgeoutdoors.com/running/trail-running-secrets/">http://www.blueridgeoutdoors.com/running/trail-running-secrets/</a>Cassedayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06903493546022429763noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3681117549787428514.post-55935182209664309222015-01-26T14:37:00.000-05:002015-01-26T14:38:12.649-05:00Virtues of Treadmill Training<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMXEUkNEXRvJ2CAhYvwuj7-LLIWw7t1PqRYEzr9l84f-q73rkTE2OWkkcTscS8dyKFP8wIVMMxvDfMf6S6YxwBTawxtP_5DSGhSf5z9UPxR0rnvfnTXDeTgcCtwYC0mBBtoA1WbyZ9M0tj/s1600/Treadmill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMXEUkNEXRvJ2CAhYvwuj7-LLIWw7t1PqRYEzr9l84f-q73rkTE2OWkkcTscS8dyKFP8wIVMMxvDfMf6S6YxwBTawxtP_5DSGhSf5z9UPxR0rnvfnTXDeTgcCtwYC0mBBtoA1WbyZ9M0tj/s1600/Treadmill.jpg" /></a></div>
Over the last four years, I have learned the virtues of treadmill running. <a href="http://wvultrarunner.blogspot.com/2010/02/treadmill-or-dreadmill.html" target="_blank">Prior to obtaining a treadmill</a> (so graciously gifted to me by my friend John) I could never have imagined how a treadmill could actually become a useful, let alone enjoyable, as a training tool. Obviously winter time reveals the treadmill's utility more readily, but I have found it to be a viable training tool year round.<br />
<br />
<u>Reasons to use the 'mill:</u><br />
<ol>
<li>Avoidance of the cold, dark, morning runs.</li>
<li>Avoiding dangerous ice and all the perils that entails. </li>
<li>Steady state tempo runs: The treadmill won't slow down, so you can't either!</li>
<li>Recovery runs: Decreased pounding/impact.</li>
<li>Injury Rehab: You can stop at the first hint of pain/discomfort . . . instead of limping miles home.</li>
<li>Time Crunched: You can sneak in a training run any time.</li>
<li>Hill Training: All the benefits of the uphill, but no injury-risking down.</li>
<li>Catching up on TV or movies.</li>
</ol>
<u>My Favorite Treadmill Training Runs:</u><br />
<ol>
<li>Commercial Intervals: Pick-up the pace for the duration of a TV commercial.</li>
<li>Steady-State Tempo</li>
<li>Long Runs: Ok . . . so not my favorite, but I have a streak of four years running a<a href="http://wvultrarunner.blogspot.com/2011/01/sadism.html" target="_blank"> marathon</a> on the treadmill. Usually on a nasty Saturday in February where running 20+ miles outside is equally detestable. </li>
<li>Hill/Tempo Combo: 2M Warm-up, then for each 0.25-mile I increase the pace by 0.1 mph and every 1-mile I do a quarter at 6% grade (btw: I always keep the grade at least 2.5% to take it easier on the motor).</li>
</ol>
Anyone else have any love for the treadmill and/or favorite workouts?<br />
<ol>
</ol>
Cassedayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06903493546022429763noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3681117549787428514.post-35666248605405275322015-01-05T20:03:00.001-05:002015-01-10T21:18:00.665-05:00Frozen Sasquatch 50K 2015<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiumbscQXigwIwezZ6Nh27Iv2XbncCFuPYX3zyPHZVOBZvXd0O-8SRW3dDpEQlEpmypcPBO5C6GjEp2veiwn2RTD18Q_f1sB5cZzP4aHSSG-uAchyo1CXywsM97J_CaltutuN9-gD3b4yl-/s1600/FS+Logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiumbscQXigwIwezZ6Nh27Iv2XbncCFuPYX3zyPHZVOBZvXd0O-8SRW3dDpEQlEpmypcPBO5C6GjEp2veiwn2RTD18Q_f1sB5cZzP4aHSSG-uAchyo1CXywsM97J_CaltutuN9-gD3b4yl-/s1600/FS+Logo.jpg" height="310" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I had the pleasure of running my fourth Frozen Sasquatch 50K this past Saturday in Charleston, WV. After my broken rib/s hiatus from racing during the fall of '14, I was more than happy to hit the buttery single track -- actually, extremely muddy this year -- at Kanawha State Forest.<br />
<br />
My training has been leisure over the past couple of months, but I have been running a decent amount of mileage -- just no real quality or specificity since early October. I was excited to test my base fitness a bit and to measure the amount of work needed to be done before my stout spring racing schedule.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijQ3CYgrfK8kCieUqHi_sC8Y57xSVVpYKQC6daCB1k4hx5VcfT5zv1uINq81ogRT-9sT3mZBUtwus7b_aOtyK9IvtyrU5RQcgyt5xAlJY7h2vagfW2Vp5Fx5Ou_1h8Y6ZkfzKmZBf_LfE3/s1600/FS+Map.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijQ3CYgrfK8kCieUqHi_sC8Y57xSVVpYKQC6daCB1k4hx5VcfT5zv1uINq81ogRT-9sT3mZBUtwus7b_aOtyK9IvtyrU5RQcgyt5xAlJY7h2vagfW2Vp5Fx5Ou_1h8Y6ZkfzKmZBf_LfE3/s1600/FS+Map.jpg" height="260" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Courtesy of <a href="http://rtrsbm.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Nick Billock</a> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Being a 2-loop 50K, the race lends itself to a solid assessment of pacing. I came through the first lap in 2:17 -- feeling fine, but as if I was running a little too "fast" for it to be sustainable. The little slips of the extremely muddy course were starting to take their toll on my hip flexors. I believe I came through lap one around 2:14 in the two years that I ran<a href="http://www.wvultrarunner.blogspot.com/2010/01/frozen-sasquatch-50k.html" target="_blank"> 4:34</a> and <a href="http://www.wvultrarunner.blogspot.com/2012/01/frozen-sasquatch-50k.html" target="_blank">4:35</a> -- so considering my fitness . . . not too bad at all. I knew I would inevitably slow, but at least I had two runners in front to cajole me along.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz8MRgIrBp6IUvBpgknK1dnnq811tFcWj916QW_KuN9lY5bzPO1hBjFpsTSbiQodx9k37tlknQrEzZ1s_aXJ0s8U8-tU6e57ptrCO7AtLyBuVRSaf0uKyE9JMNvEGxqo9tGLpPueSPw7vo/s1600/FS+Start.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz8MRgIrBp6IUvBpgknK1dnnq811tFcWj916QW_KuN9lY5bzPO1hBjFpsTSbiQodx9k37tlknQrEzZ1s_aXJ0s8U8-tU6e57ptrCO7AtLyBuVRSaf0uKyE9JMNvEGxqo9tGLpPueSPw7vo/s1600/FS+Start.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a>After AS 1 on loop #2, I simply wanted to cruise the last 10+ miles and be done. I was feeling a little apathetic and tired; sometimes it's just a whole heck of a lot more fun running with someone! After the Johnson Hollow AS (#2), I luckily found my second wind and really picked up the pace. It wasn't intentional; I just felt really good and felt like running hard. Eventually I saw Brian Talon up ahead. We had chatted a few moments as he passed me on the first loop and learned that he was from CT. He seemed like a great fellow from our brief exchange and I could tell he was a talented runner. I was hoping for a sneak attack since Brian was still running well, but alas he looked back and saw me while I was still a good 200-meters behind. Brian picked up the pace and I knew that he was going to be a great competitor and make me work for it. The race was on! This was the most fun I had the whole race. Brian took off and I slowly reeled him in over the next mile. Nothing like some good clean competition to get the motor running! Man I love that . . . <br />
<br />
Regardless, I ended up finishing strong in 4:49 -- good enough for second place overall. Not my slowest time, but not my best -- given the days conditions, I am well pleased.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJwDYfVTFJFLVxiw6Ul8xqOEKlhOjvZXR9Opkgglwg4o3rSayYO-ZFTwOSsnqCD3Pgymcs_DeEbIJ7WkT4P45Pc5dnP6OH7leX6yzRGmOP9TV7GLctXGUSg9ZcTpRgNwz1fI0lgWEStCTW/s1600/Frozen+Sasquatch+2015.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJwDYfVTFJFLVxiw6Ul8xqOEKlhOjvZXR9Opkgglwg4o3rSayYO-ZFTwOSsnqCD3Pgymcs_DeEbIJ7WkT4P45Pc5dnP6OH7leX6yzRGmOP9TV7GLctXGUSg9ZcTpRgNwz1fI0lgWEStCTW/s1600/Frozen+Sasquatch+2015.PNG" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo: Dan Todd</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Congrats to young gun Andrew Rhodes who stoically ran out front all day and performed well to win in 4:35. I believe this is Andrew's second ultra win in the last 12-mths, but I expect many more out of him. <br />
<br />
Many thanks to Mike Dolin and the rest of the wonderful volunteers at the Frozen Sasquatch. Such a great grass-roots event and a wonderful way to start the New Year! Full results <a href="http://www.wvmtr.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/FroSas50K_Results_20152.pdf" target="_blank">HERE</a>.<br />
<br />
<br />
And I nearly forgot . . . How many races do you get the opportunity to moon a sasquatch?<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeM6Avqr2NihclJD2z_qjXyEXF9HKNcCfSX_Xfy-AMg4unO81VyrsEiUK9BDpydONNGmUF1KdRao0QeEYt19Jm87-0SKzCP84BuniuOUoPNe49cstgF7tPeINXhYSIVnmVTl50mLWdijTc/s1600/Mooning+Sasquatch.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeM6Avqr2NihclJD2z_qjXyEXF9HKNcCfSX_Xfy-AMg4unO81VyrsEiUK9BDpydONNGmUF1KdRao0QeEYt19Jm87-0SKzCP84BuniuOUoPNe49cstgF7tPeINXhYSIVnmVTl50mLWdijTc/s1600/Mooning+Sasquatch.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The aforementioned post-mooning chuckle</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Cassedayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06903493546022429763noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3681117549787428514.post-7999419203974353602014-12-07T09:04:00.000-05:002015-01-17T07:11:19.945-05:002015 Racing Plans<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8eATqhJrO4xiiQ6sXfchBzC7wyfUYkDhUp9aLKHo2SkYcjryEYT1gZtDDoxXCYB7A8ShMSzvMsggLAWD0XMy4EpddTVsPaFgh14-DZnf_teg-B0uqBqYoKWuhlsYlZewXdM9zWWxclBi6/s1600/HSstart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8eATqhJrO4xiiQ6sXfchBzC7wyfUYkDhUp9aLKHo2SkYcjryEYT1gZtDDoxXCYB7A8ShMSzvMsggLAWD0XMy4EpddTVsPaFgh14-DZnf_teg-B0uqBqYoKWuhlsYlZewXdM9zWWxclBi6/s1600/HSstart.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: black;">"Life is what happens while you are busy making other plans." - <em>John Lennon</em></span> <br />
<br />
. . . and there is a serious chance of a whole lot of "life" getting in the way of these plans, but this is my tentative schedule for 2015.<br />
<br />
January: <a href="http://www.wvmtr.org/events/frozen-sasquatch-trail-50k25k/" target="_blank">Frozen Sasquatch 50K</a><br />
<br />
March: <a href="http://tj100k.com/" target="_blank">Thomas Jefferson 100K</a><br />
<br />
April: <a href="http://www.extremeultrarunning.com/" target="_blank">Promise Land 50K</a><br />
<br />
May: <a href="http://www.vhtrc.org/mmt/" target="_blank">Massanutten 100-Mile</a><br />
<br />
July: Multi-day fastpack trip (Where:? TBD)<br />
<br />
September: <a href="https://sites.google.com/site/ironmountaintrailrun/" target="_blank">Iron Mountain 50-Mile</a><br />
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November: <a href="http://www.pinhotitrailseries.com/pinhoti-100.html" target="_blank">Pinhoti 100-Mile</a>Cassedayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06903493546022429763noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3681117549787428514.post-74417723541345609032014-12-02T20:55:00.000-05:002014-12-02T20:55:29.751-05:00Western States Lottery<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg68ebEmCsRNa9535QEGaUUh3WowKqodneU9_3_qj_-r-16ow4BXLH7LWh3YIWP3gdl0imp-GH9qrflnimk8LYGp0eVcGl0wol1V-eCBOVe-lvLY8pksZVbrYaNpfGS_Gxak4F8zaOrEf-J/s1600/DND.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg68ebEmCsRNa9535QEGaUUh3WowKqodneU9_3_qj_-r-16ow4BXLH7LWh3YIWP3gdl0imp-GH9qrflnimk8LYGp0eVcGl0wol1V-eCBOVe-lvLY8pksZVbrYaNpfGS_Gxak4F8zaOrEf-J/s1600/DND.jpg" /></a></div>
I will have my fingers crossed for the 5th time -- third in a row -- for the 2015 Western States 100 lottery on 12/6. <br />
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Here's to a 17.6% chance!<br />
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<a href="http://www.wser.org/2014/11/22/2015-lottery-statistics/">http://www.wser.org/2014/11/22/2015-lottery-statistics/</a><br />
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Good luck to everyone on Saturday.Cassedayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06903493546022429763noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3681117549787428514.post-21752183626251849642014-11-12T17:52:00.001-05:002014-11-12T17:52:01.376-05:00Bitten Twice by a Rattlesnake<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PcAXVlr_m64" width="480"></iframe><br /><br />
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Jenn Thompson's incredible story! Cassedayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06903493546022429763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3681117549787428514.post-19734962503993290112014-11-12T17:25:00.001-05:002014-11-12T17:25:28.530-05:00Vernon's First Race<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/H4besekXmo4" width="459"></iframe><br />Cassedayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06903493546022429763noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3681117549787428514.post-64478523614503717932014-11-12T17:14:00.004-05:002014-11-12T17:26:58.096-05:00Ten Years and Counting<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNJbqm21jZONS75wGGq_3y0MBP9_OXSI-YDOpJdHrQRNXh1wG1X75DNAcSg4YXnPPOdWLjuKB9PFU5l6Tto1De_ge0SP4ido6jgcZyxOA_k1F_13L2Jb9OMZQ4C07PxpLRx75HBfXuzxYd/s1600/OC+Beach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNJbqm21jZONS75wGGq_3y0MBP9_OXSI-YDOpJdHrQRNXh1wG1X75DNAcSg4YXnPPOdWLjuKB9PFU5l6Tto1De_ge0SP4ido6jgcZyxOA_k1F_13L2Jb9OMZQ4C07PxpLRx75HBfXuzxYd/s320/OC+Beach.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What I've been up to</td></tr>
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It has been over a year and a half since I posted to this blog. Honestly, I nearly forgot it existed. For posterity sake and for the rare occasion of having anything remotely profound to formally convey . . . I believe I shall keep this thing going!<br />
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2014 marked ten years of ultrarunning. The 2014 Capon Valley 50K was my first foray in to the sport that I have grown to love. As an "anniversary" of sorts, I returned 10-years later. Over the past year I also ran Catawba Run Around, Haulin' in the Holler 50K, and the Iron Mountain 50M. One of the most satisfying adventures was a three-day self-supported fastpack with my friend Dan Lehmann. <br />
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None of the runs/races were huge "A" efforts and my fitness level was never where I have been in the past. I had fun, but finding the time to train 80+ miles/week has been too difficult to balance with work and family life.<br />
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The goal race for fall was the Pinhoti 100 in Alabama and I stealthily got my self in very fine shape -- the best I've been in about 3-years. After a really solid 12-weeks of training, I was ready to roll and start tapering about 3-weeks out. While returning from the Trilogy on Sunday night I unfortunately decided to sneak in a run at dusk. While descending the Spring Ridge Trail, I bit the dust harder than I ever have and ended up breaking a couple of ribs. I was lucky to escape with only that. End of season. Bummer.<br />
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Six weeks later, I still have lingering pain in my ribs but they are nearly 90% healed. My eyes are firmly fixed on adventures ahead. I am once again in the Western States lottery and have a solid supply of tantalizing races in the likelihood of not getting my name drawn.<br />
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Blogger . . . I'm back.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYvfVUJ_HnuSVWSfI07wO5r1BSS3OpjzJxAvQuVgIAH-qZFXHvrvIFNNyh1tfHuQmqc_vbhDNQCM8lqKe2cPId2RDKzMzVryCqGoanwtHjgV4h8sF-qu_Dgepp25LxipZMNNx3G9tJ2GTb/s1600/HITH+'14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYvfVUJ_HnuSVWSfI07wO5r1BSS3OpjzJxAvQuVgIAH-qZFXHvrvIFNNyh1tfHuQmqc_vbhDNQCM8lqKe2cPId2RDKzMzVryCqGoanwtHjgV4h8sF-qu_Dgepp25LxipZMNNx3G9tJ2GTb/s320/HITH+'14.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">HITH 50K</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMMD5wP-I6mAYcNY6dnOZJv4izgU0zgJ4D-SqdZ1ejvfL3XBP7QSLBNFdQHUuoCEvmoOGuarytEvjmM7Zw1YrTrOYCj-5olDFSKNBRTsgcEWvQj8iYH83aJN8NG91xRC809qLaxUr84w8N/s1600/Iron+Mtn+'14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMMD5wP-I6mAYcNY6dnOZJv4izgU0zgJ4D-SqdZ1ejvfL3XBP7QSLBNFdQHUuoCEvmoOGuarytEvjmM7Zw1YrTrOYCj-5olDFSKNBRTsgcEWvQj8iYH83aJN8NG91xRC809qLaxUr84w8N/s320/Iron+Mtn+'14.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Iron Mountain</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQCo0XPhyphenhyphenP4uP3zyR4yW_DXXD7GXgfIPlX8Kk0XdGAXYc57GB7LhzAzfZiXIbl6VpA-BbqXNaqzuaABB_fgqprzML-kGqfuCAlhTXUL99TFjkUoyUNd9Y1FWxgd7dyK0lMBpu7IRY5XiTV/s1600/Fastpack+'14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQCo0XPhyphenhyphenP4uP3zyR4yW_DXXD7GXgfIPlX8Kk0XdGAXYc57GB7LhzAzfZiXIbl6VpA-BbqXNaqzuaABB_fgqprzML-kGqfuCAlhTXUL99TFjkUoyUNd9Y1FWxgd7dyK0lMBpu7IRY5XiTV/s320/Fastpack+'14.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fastpack (Otter Creek Wilderness to Spruce Knob)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLOw6xQO7kZHNAdO1DeolSj1GUVtFNmnZ3plqlppV7QEXdyBPda5p6uIOCVyvPz2xu3MvA7pwVVlV58Mcy-lcrpr9T4pDuuIIA_GkB9r6J9xeaf8nDKiC_qELZW8Q9o7tJ9FnDBM6zoRwj/s1600/Hellgate+'13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLOw6xQO7kZHNAdO1DeolSj1GUVtFNmnZ3plqlppV7QEXdyBPda5p6uIOCVyvPz2xu3MvA7pwVVlV58Mcy-lcrpr9T4pDuuIIA_GkB9r6J9xeaf8nDKiC_qELZW8Q9o7tJ9FnDBM6zoRwj/s320/Hellgate+'13.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hellgate '13</td></tr>
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Cassedayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06903493546022429763noreply@blogger.com2