Motivated to Succeed

9:00 AM - Woke up a little tired/sore from yesterday's 15 mile jaunt. It is a really good sore, however. One of my favorite feelings of running long, besides the elusive runner's high, is that feeling you get when you wake up, struggle with the sheets to place sore feet on the cold wooden floor and struggle to stand. It's a battle wound, a red badge of courage, and a coveted feeling for any ultra runner. I hopped on the treadmill this morning after pulling a pretty amazing April Fool's Joke, which Emm did not take to be so funny on FB. Ran 3.2 in 30:00 and then hiked/jogged Monument with Emmy in the afternoon for a time of 49:49, one of the faster traverses of the mountain where I proposed to her in 2008. I love hiking this mountain because it is close, has special meaning for us, a gorgeous view, and because whenever I go I always get to follow this one curly-haired hottie! Total mileage for the day was 6.5 miles.

Micah True - "Caballo Blanco" - 1954 - 2012 

8:00 PM - The news of Caballo Blanco's death has been hard to understand, and harder to accept. When I first heard that Caballo went missing, I immediately had thoughts to the numerous times I've read Chris McDougall's Born to Run in which the elusive White Horse makes appearances, only to vanish into the woods and deserts and fog. When I heard that Micah went missing, just weeks after his signature Copper Canyon Ultra Marahon (CCUM), I assumed one of two possibilities - that he was taking time to pursue a personal quest through the woods and trails or that he had once again felt the pressures of corporate sponsorships, media coverage, and personal emails and letters and sought to fade into the limelight. Never once in my mind did I suspect that the indefatigable, the indomitable, the infallible Caballo would possibly be hurt or worse.

Growing up in a home with two parents (both marathoners), running became a passion of mine. From a young age, I sought to challenge myself, to push my limits and then extend them. Until just five years ago, I thought 26.22 miles was my limit. I had done two marathons and did not feel that I possessed the skills or strength to break past the arbitrary marathon distance. I have read countless books, novels, and how-to guides, as well as almost every issue of both Running Times and Runner's World since 2003. And yet, there was something tantalizing about the character portrayed by Christopher McDougall in his bestselling book. There is something elusive and inspiring about a man who sees the sport of ultra running for what it is - a personal quest to push one's limits, to transcend the monotony of daily life and treadmill runs, track workouts, and dime a dozen 5k and 10k races.

Perhaps the thing I admired about Micah's portrayal by McDougall was his tenacity and unbreakable spirit. Rather than conform to expectations, he defined his own life, his own path, and his own goals. What more can one ask for than to live the life you wish? I feel that with the death of Micah True, the ultra running community has lost something special. He brought the spotlight away from corporate greed and back to the simple joys of running for the sake of running. As he helped cover the lives of the legendary Tarahumara in Copper Canyon, he not only brought people's attention back to the basics, but he helped elevate the sport of ultra running to something more than simple competition. His ideals were pure, original, and tangible. He sought out ways to capitalize on the skills and knowledge he had acquired from the Tarahumara and to give back to the tribe that had embraced him when everyone else seemed to push him away.

So what does Caballo's death mean for the sport of ultra running? It seems that with anyone who passes away with some reasonable level of fame, that there is a mad dash to try to "get to know" and understand the individual. Working in the bookstore when Michael Jackson died, I can tell you first hand, people crave revisiting and giving a great deal of attention and care to them despite the fact that he/she has already passed on. What I fear is that the death of Caballo will have the following repercussions:

1) A run on McDougall's Born to Run in hopes of learning Micah's "secrets"

2) The loss of purity behind Caballo's Copper Canyon UltraMarathon - As much as I would love to see another dedicated runner step up to the plate and become an advocate for what the race stands for, I see corporate sponsorship eroding the real reason he developed the race.

3) A souring of relations with the Tarahumara. As people try to seek out the Holy Grail of trails and training grounds that Micah trained and raced on, I foresee people in seek of personal gain and enlightenment at the expense of the natives who live there. I fear that the Tarahumara will recede away from the spotlight and seek to be even more secretive and elusive and untrusting.

4) A new "craze" and increase in barefoot/minimalist running as previously mentioned readers in #1 seek to find personal transcendence.

So what does the death of Micah True - the fearless White Horse/Caballo Blanco really mean for the sport? It temporarily is shedding light onto our introverted love affair with running. One could hope it will effect it positively, but I fear that there will be an increase in people seeking to capitalize on his death. Time will tell. One thing is for certain, however. Micah's impact on the ultra running community is great, meaningful, and most assuredly long-lasting.

Here's to you, Caballo. May you forever be able to run the great trails in the sky with great food, greater friends, and even greater stories to share with one and all.

5 miles for Caballo tonight on the treadmill. 48:30 total, good for  9:42/ mile

8:00 PM - I had a long day at work, compounded by some outside stressors. Some great things however came about today. One of my coworkers informed me of the first ultra-marathon being held in Berkshire County later this year. The best part about it is that the Start/Finish line is only 1.5 miles from our house! It is starting and ending at Hancock Shaker Village. Chris said that I was the only one "crazy enough" he knew to even attempt it. I talked to the race director and it seems like it'd be a great fit for me, as much of the course winds through the woods and up and over the mountains that I run in Pittsfield State Forest so often. My one concern is that it is scheduled for September 22nd, and while it would be great to be able to sleep until 530, get up and make it to the starting line well before the 6am start, I have reservations as I am tentatively signing up for a 24 hour race held in Ottawa in September. I need to really think about the 24 hour race I guess. I might set my sights on the 50 miler instead and save the 24 hour attempt for Across the Years down in Phoenix, if I can swing the money/registration fees/airline accommodations, etc. 

Emma worked until 7 tonight, so I waited until she got home and saw her for a few minutes before I hopped on the treadmill. Did 2 miles easy and read more of Geoff Williams's book through page 180 or so. About .5 miles into my run, the lamp fell off the dresser and the new lightbulb shattered so I had to clean that up first. Kind of funny when I saw it falling. It seemed to defy gravity for a few seconds. Then eased into a workout. Did 4 x 400m at 6:00 pace with 45 second recovery, followed by 1 x 800m at 6:00 pace with 1:30 recovery, followed by 2 x 400m at 6:00 pace again. Legs were pleasantly tired after my short workout.

Total Time: 32:30 Total Distance: 4 miles Average Pace:  8:07/ mile

6:00 PM - Emm had to work the long shift tonight, 11am to 8pm. I got home, and after stopping via New Lebanon in New York for some ice cream to surprise her with, I hopped onto the treadmill for a nice run. Goal was to see how my legs felt and to push it a bit. I wanted to see how fatigued my legs were and how I could make them hurt a bit. I queued up Netflix and was surprised to find a really neat documentary that came out four or five years ago after the unveiling of the seemingly defunct Segway. Aptly titled "10 mph", it follows the traversing of the United States (some 4,000+ miles) of an individual on a segway machine from the west coast to the east coast. I watched the majority of it as I ran. Still trying to figure out how to regulate sweating while indoors. I might set up the box fan to circulate air across my chest and legs. I think just having some sense of wind (more than the ceiling fan) will help to keep me cool without saturating my shirt within the first fifteen minutes of exercise. Felt really good and ran at about an 8:35 pace for the first six miles without any breaks. I made sure not to eat any dairy after breakfast. This helped reduce the likelihood of needing a mid-run pit stop. As such I would call this run a fantastic one! Getting excited about the likelihood of the first ultra marathon in Berkshire County in September that starts and ends at Hancock Shaker Village. I am going to send in my registration today to secure a spot - not that it will sell out ; there are currently only 2 folks that have registered, a woman about my ability from western MA, and an elite from Colorado who can sport times of 7-7.5 hours for the 50 mile distance. I finished the last mile running between 8 and 8:05 pace, with the last lap run at 6:00 pace for good measure. Felt great!

Total Time: 1:00:00 Total Distance: 7.05 miles Average Pace:  8:31/ mile

Got up early to go to the Bonnell's in Harvard. Brought running stuff in case we could sneak away for a run. Ate too much before I went running with Emm in Harvard, MA at her Aunt's house. Went running on the roads around the house in search of an elusive cow. Did not find the cow, but we found two goats and a volleyball court! Miles were: 9:42, 9:38, 8:53, 8:40. Got it done! Emm did not like that I kicked it in at the end :(.

Total Time:  38:31 Total Distance: 4.25 miles Average Pace: 9:04

Did not get home until late. Drove straight home from Harvard, MA early a.m. Got home around lunch time. Then left to go pick up Lizzard from my parents' house, only to get a flat tire in New Lebanon. Somehow limped back home to Pittsfield (10 miles), then took Emma's car. Got back in at about 5:30 or 6 and it was all I could do to get 3 miles in before bed.

Total Time: 25:30 Total Distance: 3 miles Average Pace: 8:30 

Went to bed at 9:30 last night. Around midnight, Emm woke up with stomach pains again. I tossed and turned until about 2:30 when I decided I was up for the day and couldn't just lay there any more with my mind buzzing. I got up, worked until about 4am, then went to the treadmill and did an easy 5 miler. Did 25 minute warm up, 1 x mile in 6:49, then cooled down until the end. Decided to get changed and go in to work early as there was little else I could do. Hoping to be exhausted by tonight so that I just pass out. Saw Lindsay last night. Her face is still messed up! Send a little love towards LBC - she has multiple facial fractures from a tree falling on her face in Harvard when she was helping her uncle before dinner.

Total Time:  43:10 Total Distance: 5 miles Average Pace: 8:38

9:00 AM - It has been increasingly difficult to balance work/home life and get in the runs I need to. It makes me feel better when I get a run in, but I can't enjoy my runs unless they are at night when it is my time. When I typically try to run in the morning, I have a million things running through my head about school. Hopped on the treadmill for an easy one hour run on Satan's highway. Read another 40 pages of Geoff Williams's book. Going to finish tonight and then either another biography of Lincoln or perhaps Champlain. Hoping to get in a nice long run tomorrow while Emm is at work. Only 20 more pounds to lose until I will feel confident enough to run outside!

Total Time: 1 hour   Total Distance: 6.5 miles Average Pace:  9:14

10:00 AM - Projected high of 86 in Pittsfield today (same as Boston). I am happy that I had an air conditioner put in last week! I dropped Emmy off at 930 for work and then rushed home to change and hop on the treadmill. I found that even though I wasn't outside, running today was just as difficult. I instead focused on maintaining a Mind the Ducks like pace with a little jogging for 20-25 mins, followed by a half mile or mile of walking. Felt pretty good by the end of it. Was nice to see the Kenyans sweep 1-2-3 and Hartmann sneak up for fourth. What a day full of comebacks all around! Most of my friends that ran the marathon ended up running 30 minutes slower than they intended. I am dedicated to qualifying for Boston in two years. I need to get the weight and diet under control, and get back to running 40 mpw before I start a program.  One day I shall run Boston!

Total Time: 2 hours Total Distance: 11.1 miles Average Pace:  10:49

9:00 PM - After dinner and errands Emm and I wanted an exercise date. I popped on an episode of "Border Wars" as she had mentioned she had wanted to see it. I took my glasses off and just focused on form. First mile was 9:57, second was 8:44, and final was 7:39. Really banged out the last one.

Total Time: 26:20 Total Distance: 3 miles Average Pace:  8:47

10AM - Morning Run today - Dropped Emma off at work and came home and changed. Did the first 2 miles in 17:13, and then eased into 3 x hill repeats (each about .25-.3 in length). Cooled on home. Felt pretty darn good. More exercise and some pushups and sit-ups to come later tonight. It's commitment time!

Total Time: 37:13 Total Distance: 4.26 miles Average Pace:  8:44/ mile

1:30 PM - Dropped Emmy at work and went grocery shopping. Going to make grilled squash and zucchini on the grill and some portabellas. Wanted to go for a run and was feeling okay. Did a 55 minute Power 90 Kempo X workout this morning around 9am with Emm. My legs were a bit sore after that though. Hopped on and tried to go about 15 seconds faster per mile.  Ended up going a solid hour and did 6.77 miles. Felt great!

Total Time: 1:00:01 Total Distance: 6.77 miles Average Pace:  8:52/ mile

9:50 AM - Decided to get some speed and do a tempo run. Tempo Run - did 15 minute warm up, 5 mins at 8:35 pace, 5 mins at 8:00 pace, 5 mins at 7:38 pace, and then 6 minutes at 7:00 pace. Did a 10 minute cool down afterwards. Felt really great. BPAC 6 Hour race one week from Sunday! Felt really great overall and I feel pleasant and refreshed. I think that they key for me will be consistency. It is hard to get runs in during the work week. I am thankful it is break this week!

 Total Time: 45:00 Total Distance: 5.26 miles Average Pace:  8:33

11:00 AM - Emm did not have to go into work until 2:45 this afternoon. I offered to go hiking with her. We went to Olivia's Lookout - one of the toughest trails but one of my favorites. They've done a lot of work since I was last here last summer; lots of trail maintenance, new signs; I am always wary of trail maintenance. While it generally improves the trail, it also makes it more inviting. I know that two years ago I did a 3.5 hour long run in the woods here and didn't see a soul. Today we saw 4 different people :-\. Power hiking I think hurts more than running! Splits were: 17:08 (uphill); 15:24 (half uphill), 17:14 (half uphill). Max was 7:43/ mile on a brief 20 second downhill run as it was impossible to walk.

Total Time: 52:00 Total Distance: 3.5 miles Average Pace:  14:51/ mile

4:30 PM - After going to the library and returning a book I read this morning cover to cover about a Dutch explorer in Mohawk territory (1634-35), I went for a run. My right calf was a little sore from the tempo run the other day, but other than that I felt really great. Hoping that I can continue consistent training as we go back to school. Have to make an effort to make it so. Really putting in the miles this week. This will be my best week since 2007!

Total Time: 60:00 Total Distance: 6.61 miles Average Pace:  9:05/ mile

Today was pretty much a perfect day. I woke up, celebrated Lizzy's 1st birthday with Emmy; it is amazing how difficult it is to snap a picture of her! After breakfast with my girls, I helped Emmy clean and did dishes and cleaned the kennel. Then we went for an hour hike at Olivia's Lookout. Before we left, while Emm was getting ready, I read a book, cover to cover (see the George O'Connor book on the left). One hour hike and then came back and had lunch with Emmy - grilled cheese. Brought her to work, returned the library book, and then ran for an hour (6.61 miles). Now doing 3 loads of laundry and watching "Braveheart" until I go to pick up Emmy from work. Maybe starting another book tonight. Quite possibly one of the best days ever. 

12:00 PM - Woke up this morning and did a load of dishes, swept the floor, then did 2 loads of my laundry, and helped Emm start hers.  Emm decided to take a bath so I went jogging. It's overcast and in the high 50s or 60s out. Nice weather. Looking like weather for next Sunday in Buffalo is an overnight low of 42, and a high of 58. I won't need spandex this year! Going to be a really nice race, I can feel it already. Today's run puts me at 53 miles of running for the week - haven't done this in training since 2007! If only it were spring break every week. I am going to redouble my efforts going into the last few months of school though to make training a priority. School can wait. Work can wait. Running can't. Did the first 4 miles at about 9:15 pace, and then did the last two miles in 7:56 and 7:58.

Total Time: 52:03 Total Distance: 6 miles Average Pace: 8:41/ mile

12:30 PM - 3 Hours at work, and then came home. What a great relaxing break it's been this week. Trying to think about how to continue this motivation I have for running. I ran 53 miles last week. I was upset though when I got on the scale last night to find I hadn't even lost one pound. I have cut out a lot of sweets and haven't done dessert. I don't know what I'm doing wrong. I have 30 pounds I want to lose! I want to be under 200 again! Started reading a really interesting book called "The Hanging of Ephraim Wheeler". It is set locally in Berkshire County in 1806 and based on the trial transcript of an illiterate farmer who married into an interracial family and existed on the fringe of society before being accused of raping his daughter and was subsequently hung. Only read one chapter so far but anticipating a good read!

A week from today is BPAC 6 Hour in Buffalo. Looking forward to seeing what I can do. I am heavier than last year and running in Vibrams (which I suspect might equate to a sub par performance). Last year I ran 27.492 miles [prorated] in 6:00. I'd like to push it a little farther. I have not done as many long runs this year as last year however. I will take it easy and see where it goes.

Had a Gandhi quote running through my head as I ran today. I'll share it. I think it's something we can all take to heart today on Earth Day:

"Your beliefs become your thoughts, Your thoughts become your words,  Your words become your actions, Your actions become your habits, Your habits become your values, Your values become your destiny."

Total Time: 1:03:35 Total Distance: 7.00 miles Average Pace: 9:05 

3:00 PM - Decided to do my evening run early. Emm was busy cleaning and listening to an audio book so I figured I would rather do it now then later when we might actually get to spend time together. Pushed the pace the last 2 miles. I can't believe how much I can sweat. You'd swear I was a sprinkler!

Total Time: 23:40 Total Distance: 3 miles Average Pace:  7:53

5:00 PM - Did Power90X Kenpo workout with Emm. Did not hurt as much as the first time, but I was still sweating.  I am finally getting a hang of some of the punches! Total workout time - 1:00:00. 

8:00 PM - Back to the grind again. Today was alright. Got to listen to CarTalk at work. Still sharing the car so Emma had to wake up extra early to drive me to work at 6am. She didn't have to be to work until 930 thankfully otherwise it wouldn't have worked. Day 2 on lose it.com. Going strong. I ate healthfully all day long! Feeling good. Just wish the scale would hurry up and get there with me. Maybe I am not running fast enough? Will have to try to ramp up miles after my birthday marathon. (Net calories after running consumed today: 1216)

Total Time: 45:30 Total Distance: 5 miles Average Pace: 9:05/ mile 

5 amazing miles before Emm got home from work. I have the most amazing wife! Gearing up for BPAC. Will run 5 tomorrow, and then 3 on Friday, followed by a couple striders to loosen legs on Saturday at the hotel. Ghosts in the parking lot say what?!

Total Time: 43:00 Total Distance: 5 miles Average Pace: 8:40/ mile 

5:00 PM - Sore. Pinched nerve possible in back from lifting something the wrong way. Last long run before BPAC on Sunday. Felt pretty good though. Standing, walking/running don't hurt. Only sitting. Relaxed and watched some The Biggest Loser.

Total Time: 1:26:00 Total Distance: 10 miles Average Pace: 8:35/ mile 

4:30 PM - BPAC course looks great. Can't wait for tomorrow. Most grass sections will be runnable. Some sections I will have to stick to the hard stuff. Looking forward to it tomorrow!

Total Time: 32:00 Total Distance: 3.25 miles Average Pace: 9:50/ mile 

Really strong performance at this. Longer race report to come when I get the chance to type it this afternoon. Cliff Notes: Gorgeous weather (started 30 degrees, warmed to 55 and sunny), with minimal wind until last 2 hours. Ran faster than last year. Finished same distance, but 52 MINUTES FASTER. Did first 4 hours running with no walking breaks, then took the last two laps easy. Last long run before Mind the Ducks 12 Hour on May 12th. Mile splits were:

•  Mile 1: 10:48
• Mile 2: 10:19
• Mile 3: 10:08
• Mile 4: 10:27
• Mile 5: 10:02
• Mile 6: 10:10
• Mile 7: 10:41
• Mile 8: 10:21
• Mile 9: 10:06
• Mile 10: 10:01
• Mile 11: 9:50
• Mile 12: 9:51
• Mile 13: 9:46
• Mile 14: 10:33
• Mile 15: 9:43
• Mile 16: 9:53
• Mile 17: 10:26
• Mile 18: 9:59
• Mile 19: 10:16
• Mile 20: 12:41
• Mile 21: 13:24
• Mile 22: 11:38
• Mile 23: 15:12 (bathroom break)
• Mile 24: 13:59
• Mile 25: 13:31
• Mile 26: 12:28
• Mile 27: 14:19
• Mile 28: 12:58
• Mile 29: 11:45