Rosswog Running Blog

That dang push up challenge. I hate it!!! But you are doing great!!!

I missed your Deseret News race somehow (I think I was too busy feeling sorry for myself). BUT I see your time over there and HOLY COW!!!!!! NICE JOB! Now I am going to go watch your YouTube video from Wasatch Back.

Have a good day!

Kelli, you are back! I just checked out your blog and what a tough speed workout on the track. I really hope you get over your PF soon; that is, it sounds painful and just plain annoying. Luckily, I have never had PF (at least yet). Have you thought about going with less shoe support? I know this sounds completely crazy, but the author of Born to Run (i.e., the book I recommend to Jun a few weeks ago) recommends it to prevent PF. The author (who has bent against running shoes) recommends running in those Vibram Five Fingers. In short, the author use to suffer from PF and all the other common running injuries before he studied the Tarahumaras who wear thin rubber sandals to run ultra-marathon distances over trails. The author's conclusion is that these Tarahumaras never get PF, shin splints, IT band strains, and all the other common running injuries; therefore, they must be on to something. He pretty much says we get too comfortable in and our stride relies too much on our high-tech running shoes that we get injured (there is even a part where he tells why shoes with arch support are bad). I have a pair of Five Fingers (just following Sasha's example) and Nike Frees that have both worked well for me. However, I'm just a neophyte at all this running theory, so it's pretty much trial and error with me. Consequently, this author could be completely wrong or maybe he's luckily enough to have great form so having no support works well for him. Just an interesting theory.

Also, thanks in regards to the Deseret News Marathon (i.e., it was an enjoyable race). With that said, I cannot believe I missed your write up on the Speedy Spaniard 10k. A belated great job of placing first in your age division!!! This sounds like a fun 10k and I know one of my work and Wasatch Back colleagues was at the finish line cheering on the runners (i.e., he could not compete this year due to a calf injury--running injuries suck). Lastly, I hope you enjoyed our Wasatch Back video. As you know, that was one heck of a race and experience!

You know what? I have been given that advice by a few people. Cave men never had PF!!! I am going to go with that theory and see what happens actually. I will not be running barefoot or in 5 fingers any time soon, but I just returned from the running store and bought some new shoes with much less support. We will see what happens!

I am glad you can say that Deseret News was FUN, cause MAN it was hot that day!!! I really wished I had not signed up for a race, I wanted to come and watch the marathon. But my sister in law, who was in town visiting for a few weeks, begged me to do a race with her. The Speedy Spaniard was harder than I anticipated, I thought it would be FLAT! It was not my best day, but was a PR over the only other 10k I have ever run. I think it is never a good sign when your average pace for a 19k is the same as for a half marathon. I am not good at short races at all!

Your video was great! It looks like you guys had a good time. Now, were you the tall guy in the yellow shirt??? If so, we ran the same leg I believe.

Oh, and when is the Philadelphia marathon and why are you running it???

I'm the tall guy in yellow; that is, I figured that if Lance Armstrong climbs the Alps in yellow, I would ascend the Ragnar in yellow. I was absolutely not looking forward to the Ragnar when the wind started to gust and the rain began to pour; that is, viewing the entire interview that I gave at Exchange #30 in the hammock, I was absolutely not my optimistic self. However, running through the mud puddles was kind of fun which helped me in keeping my mind off of the negative thoughts. From looking at your great Ragnar photos, it looks like your team was just too fast (if there is such a thing) and missed the sloppy conditions. Anyways, that was one heck of a leg!

Also, there is nothing like The City of Brotherly Love in late November (i.e., the race is on the 22nd)! I actually have never been to Philly and I’m expecting cold weather. My sister lives in Baltimore; therefore, for the last three years I have run the Under Armor Baltimore Marathon in October (by the way, the best race t-shirt); however, this year I’m switching it up and will be able to mix in Thanksgiving with my big sister in B-More.

Lastly, I’m absolutely thinking about trying Yoga (i.e., you have convinced me and I think it will really pay dividends with my running).

YEAH FOR YOGA!!! It has helped me immensely!

So, what time were you running Ragnar? It started to drizzle on me right before I started, and about 2 miles in the wind kicked in and it was pouring. You can not really tell in my picture unless you zoom in, but it was raining. By mile 3 I was freezing. When I got to the top, everyone was in garbage bags and it was pouring. It rained super hard during the next leg for Walter as well. I hated that dang hill and failed miserably at it, so, of course, now I have to do it again!

Sounds like a fun marathon---it is all about the shirt sometimes And an Under Armor one at that!! Hopefully this new race you have chosen over the good shirt race will have some perks!

Sounds like we had a similar experience with our good friend Ragnar (i.e., my van was covering this leg between 3:52-4:30), that is, there was steady rain for those first two miles and those last two it was windy and the rain really started to pour. Those volunteers at the top of Ragnar should really get an award for having to work in those weather conditions! Thinking back, the rain was kind of on and off throughout that afternoon. For example, for our leg #35, unlike what Walter experienced, there was hardly any rain (just a little fog). Then for our final leg the wind and the rain were incredible. I’m really surprised our runner made it to the finish because we had such a difficult time just driving there (i.e., we could not even see the Recreation Center from the road). In fact our anchor runner was getting pelted with so much rain, that half way through his leg he turned this shirt around to try to get some relief. As a result, in the video, you might have noticed that he does a spin move before the finish line in order to show the announcer and clock keeper our bib number. I think we are all absolutely proud of our teams for just finishing this race!!! Also, you did extremely well on leg #34; that is, our friend Ragnar is not always the easiest to work with. Plus, I love your attitude about wanting take on Ragnar again. Even though the conditions were less than ideal, for some reason we all are all looking forward to doing it again in 2010!

Actually, I would prefer to run that leg in the rain over sweltering heat and dust. I was thankful for the rain, although it started to sting a little at the end. I NEED to do it again to show myself I CAN. I do not know if you read my blog for that leg, but some guy and I kind of latched onto each other about a mile into it and helped each other out. He crashed and burned and I could not bring myself to leave him. The second half of that leg is much easier, but I ended up walking a lot of it with this guy just trying to help him finish. Anyway, I want to prove to myself that I can run up a mountain more than walk it (although maybe I can't???)

I think we finished the whole race around 2 in the afternoon, I had no idea it rained up there for so long! When you finished, I think I was home already sleeping in my bed (not really, more like cleaning my house and feeding my kids!)

Have you done any other Ragnar Relays?? We are running the Vegas one (we actually have 3 wives on our team that really wanted to participate with their hubbies, so they are walking it) and we did Del Sol (which I LOVED). We are going to Del Sol again next year as an ultra team.

Now I remember reading your blog; you helped out a fellow runner that was struggling (we have all been there) which is always a good thing! Plus, I’m not worried about you and the Ragnar next year--you will rock it and preparing for it is great motivation.

No, I have not run any other any other Ragnar Relays (at least yet). However, I also remember reading both your blog and Walter’s write-up about the Del Sol race (i.e., I even told some of my teammates/colleagues at work about your team running the Del Sol in an effort to get them motivated to train for the Wasatch Back). Running the ultra for the Del Sol is going to be one heck of a challenge (i.e., three legs with each runner averaging a total 33 miles--tougher than any race that I have ever done). Plus, Vegas should be exciting and I cannot wait to see the infamous Saints-to-Sinners medal. It better not be just another bottle-opener medal with a Saints-to-Sinners inscription on it (no, they made it sound like it would be a specially designed medal). Finally, I can understand having the same finisher medals for all of the Ragnar races in a particular year (the bottle-opener design is pretty creative), but I agree with your write up in that they should mix up the t-shirt design (i.e., at least have different colors) especially when they are encouraging everyone to run their other races. Have a great day!

I want a Saints and Sinners shirt!