Previous | Next | 2001 Index | Newsletter Index
Sent: Tuesday, May 08, 2001 9:26 PM
Subject: Incline Club TH #6 LR #25
OK, nothing but good wholesome (or is that whole milk) fun in this week’s newsletter. See you Thursday!
####
Thursday, May 10, 5:30 p.m. meet at Soda Springs Park.
Warm-up to the Hwy 24 bypass. 10 repeats or 40 minutes whichever comes
first. 4 X 100 yard skips and kneelifts in the grass. Cool-down back to
park.
Sunday, May 13, 8 a.m. meet at Soda Springs Park.
Run up the Barr Trail and turn left at the 1/2 mile to Barr Camp sign and
head 1.25 miles over to Mountain View by the COG. Return but at .8 miles
from Mountain View turn left and up to get to Barr Camp. Run down the Barr
Trail, left on Bob’s Road, left on LRR to “J” pipe, right to top of Incline
and down Barr Trail to finish the run. 2.5-3.5 hours. If it would take
longer skip Mountain View and head to Barr Camp only.
####
Teresa T writes:
Sorry this is late, I seem to miss the earlier deadline!
Thanks to all who took part in the Vanfeed! Neal & I really enjoy putting
it on. Jeanne M and I are both happiest with a skillet in our hand and
someone eating what we cook for them! You all did a great job putting it
away! Thanks to all who brought goodies. It was nice to just sit around
and visit with everyone. A special thanks to those who did stupid human
tricks — sorry I missed the tricks this last Sunday. (Hanging around the
park afterwards was a bit smelly...sour milk -ick!)
Looking forward to the 4th Annual Van feed in ‘02!
####
Connilee W writes:
Thanks Yvonne for playing ‘tour guide’ and taking me through the Williams
Canyon/Waldo Loop. It sure is an ankle-twister (literally) but it was
refreshing to do a new loop. (I am disappointed I only got a rating of 8
out of 10 possible points from Yvonne for my plunge into a muddy, snowy and
wet creek bank. I thought I would get extra credit for artfully avoiding
the truly muddy spots, but she actually took points away for not getting
dirty enough!!). Even the ‘lollipop’ part of Waldo seemed completely
different since we ran it counter-clockwise instead of the usual clockwise
direction.
Oh and an even BIGGER THANKS to all you ICers who have made that trail more runable. I am sure I would have REALLY taken some spills if y’all had not cleared rocks and trees! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!
(Matt C adds: Larry M and I will be heading out tomorrow (Wednesday) to take out the last 3 fallen trees. I put in another 6 hour trail work day on Monday and cleared the yuccas off the top of the trail that connects into Waldo and took out a bunch more rocks to help cut down on the ankle twisters. While there I saw even more bear prints than we saw during the run on Sunday! I think the bear must like the trail.)
####
Fred C writes:
What a run yesterday! (2:25) The Rampart Loop was very challenging
especially the return through the canyon trail! I am gradually improving and
I am recovering faster! I just might make it! Thanks, I am really enjoying
it!
####
Gary H writes:
I spent last weekend in Bozeman, Montana. I wrote the following article
for the IC while I was there:
I’m spending a long weekend here in my old college town of Bozeman, Montana. In my years here as a student, I put in a lot of miles, not only on the trails, but on unpaved roads (which comprised the majority of roads outside the city limits where I trained individually and with the cross-country team). It’s hard to come back and NOT get out for some trail running, or at least a little hiking.
I was just getting over a bad cold when I flew up on Friday. While visiting a mountaineering store Friday evening, I noticed a flyer for the Baldy Blitz, an uphill race sponsored by the Montana State University Climbing Club. I knew I hadn’t recovered enough yet to race, but decided to go out Saturday morning just to spectate.
Mount Baldy is at the southern end of the Bridger range, and is the first peak that juts up above timberline; on its flank is the school’s signature “M” that is visible throughout the valley. Below this is a picnic area where the trails begin. I arrived here just in time to catch the start of the race. About 35 entrants, mostly college-age men and women, were listening to the final race instructions. The trail to the top of Baldy climbs about 3700 feet in 4 miles — roughly the same elevation gain as from the Barr Trailhead to Barr Camp, but in about two-thirds of the distance.
I left to do other tasks for a while, including pitching my tent in a canyon on the other side of town, but found myself back at the M picnic ground that afternoon. I decided to take at least hike up to the M. There’s been some work done on these trails since I was last here — the old “direct” trail to the M (often used as a testbed by kamikaze bikers for a descent route — even before mountain bikes were invented!) has been replaced by a slightly less direct route, and the “easy” trail has been extended significantly to lessen the grade and reduce erosion. These two trails are labeled “Easier route” and “Most punishing route” — any doubt which an IC’er would take? The latter climbs 850 feet to the M in half a mile; the view across the Gallatin Valley stretches for over a hundred miles. I’d only intended to go this far, but had never been above this point before (the old trail to Baldy used to be not much more than a game trail), so decided to check out the new trail extension above. Along the side of the trail, I noticed recent bear diggings. I continued on until I started hitting deep snow after about 3 miles and 3000 feet of climbing. Running down was quite difficult, as the trail is steep enough in parts that it’s hard to keep your footing. I took the easier trail down from the M; this trail’s grade is similar to that of the Waldo Canyon Trail.
Sunday, after waking up to a couple inches of fresh snow on my tent, I took my ritual drive down to Yellowstone Park. On the way home, I stopped at a pulloff for a small trailhead that I’d never seen before. I have a passion for exploring new trails, even ones that don’t look particularly interesting, so I decided to go for a little run on this trail. I expected this trail just to climb above the road for a short distance, then contour along the valley wall parallel to the road. After several long switchbacks and over 700 feet of climbing, I figured I was wrong! After 14 switchbacks and probably 2200+ feet of climbing, I turned around at the first flat spot on the trail, where it crossed a small ridgeline and dropped over into the next drainage. My short little jaunt had turned into a mountain run not unlike the Incline Club workout I was missing in Colorado Springs this morning!
On the way back to Bozeman, I stopped for a swim and soak at Chico Hot Springs. This side trip took me into the REAL Montana — I had to stop and wait for several minutes while a couple of cowboys drove a herd of cattle across the highway, and I noticed the big runway numbers painted on the last section of road leading into the resort; in places where there’s not that much level ground, sometimes roads double as landing strips!
Monday, I hung out in the Student Union Building on campus most of the day reading and working on the computer (including writing this article). My quads still felt the impact of the previous days’ climbs, despite the hot springs therapy, so I picked a flat section of the valley for the day’s run. Several new trails have sprung up, and even though subdivisions are gradually taking the place of much of the agricultural space near town, the developers are usually careful to add in a lot of open space and trails as they build. I found a couple of new paths to take me out south of town a little ways, then I found an old favorite, the Sourdough Trail, which follows Sourdough Creek back to the edge of town. It wasn’t a long run, but then, I don’t think my legs could have taken much more! And I know that when I get back to the Springs, I probably won’t be able to get out to run three days in a row (as it turned out, I only got in a short 3-miler the rest of the week :().
####
And now, Incline Club boys and girls and every thing, it is once again time
for “Ask Doctor Rocket,” where each week we feature perplexing running
related questions that require rocket science to answer. Ask Doctor Rocket
(he’s got a PhD... in Rocket Science).
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
This week, Valerie P and Anita B have an extremely urgent message for Dr. Rocket, (if it hasn’t already been asked in previous letters).
The question is:
Is there a “secret technique” for effective and successful spitting while running? It seems that no matter how hard we try to do it in the “spitting image” of all the “elite,” who seemingly do it so effortlessly, all attempts seem to backfire on us, so to speak. Please help us “spit-challenged” people.
Dear Valerie and Anita,
You seem fairly expectant of Dr Rocket’s expectorational knowledge. Though fluid dynamics and projectile trajectories have been covered in various ways previously, they have not been addressed together in quite this context. You have come to the right rocket scientist however, as Dr. Rocket holds the dubious distinction of being the milk spitting champion of his rocket graduate school.
It is fairly common, and natural, that certain personal fluids should build up in the throat. As the throat eventually requires clearing, the question thus arises of what to do with “it.” To swallow, or not to swallow, that is the question? In certain settings, etiquette might dictate a specific protocol: in the dining room for example, depositing the “wad” into your napkin discretely, or into the plate of steamed oysters if no one is looking, is most appropriate. But everyone knows that most runners have no etiquette when it comes to bodily functions, thus, it is not unusual to see a fairly normal, clean, decent, dry, well educated endomorphic looking runner, abruptly emit a loogy the size of a photon torpedo, and with enough precision targeting to hit Mars (OK, it’s not that easy). Really talented runners can do it through their noses.
The issue is really phlegmatic in nature. There is really no secret
technique. Unless you can find a real pro to swap spit with, the key to
successful secretion with a purpose can be described in one word: practice,
practice, practice. Start with something solid, such as watermelon seeds,
gum, PowerBar chunks, whatever is handy (you might not want to practice in
public). You might stay cleaner if you begin practicing while stationary.
Once you have the basic mechanics down, work on accuracy (in a safe, open
place, such as Kansas), as it is not good form to spit on your running
partner(s), unless you have their prior approval. Then move on to the real
fling. Here, the key element can be described in one other word:
consistency, consistency, consistency. The thicker, the better. The idea
is to coalesce the intermasticular material, a process not unlike the
process hypothesized in to formation of the planets of our solar system.
Drinking a little milk will help to get it the right consistency (WARNING:
The Sturgeon General has determined that excessive quantities of milk can be
harmful to your health, not to mention your running shoes if you happen to
ralph all over them).
I have great expectations that, with a little practice, practice, practice and consistency, consistency, consistency, you will be spitting like a couple of Llama Mama’s in no time.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Dear Dr. Rocket,
I run with a small fanny pack. As I run, it tends to rotate around my waist in a clockwise direction. If I don’t continuously push it back, it will do a complete rotation in 2.17 minutes. Is there something wrong with me?
Thanks,
Nicole R
Dear Nicole,
It would not surprise me if half of the 3.14 IC members who actually have the time to read this stuff are, at this very moment, guessing that Dr. Rocket will hypothesize that the clockwise rotation of your fanny pack is due to the coriolis force (the other half are probably hoping for another “remedy contest” to cash in on an easy 6-pack of Red Rocket Pale Ale). However, as any rocket scientist worth his rocket salt knows, the coriolis force is strongly correlated to the speed, direction, latitude and hemisphere of motion. And, since the rotation period is EXACTLY 2.17 minutes, independent of your speed, direction, latitude and hemisphere of motion, and since Dr. Rocket would never, ever use the same humorous literary device more than 10 or 15 times, I don’t think we can attribute your fanny problem with fictitious forces. A factitious force is more likely the cause.
For example, a dynamic asymmetry in your running mechanics could be responsible for the pirouetting pack. Were you the type to hula-hoop it up when you were a child? You might be, unconsciously of course, wiggling in a subconscious effort to keep the fanny pack from dropping helplessly to your feet while all of your smirking friends are using CamelBacks. Another possibility might be that the fanny pack itself is inertially asymmetric (those cross-products of inertia will get you every time), and without dynamic compensation, after some rather vigorous nutation you could ultimately find yourself rotating about your primary axis of inertia, assuming momentum is conserved. You might consider having your fanny pack spin balanced at your closest Greasy Monkey Lube garage. If the pack turns out to be OK, then try having yourself spin balanced, and maybe your shoes rotated while you’re at it.
A near term solution to the rotating fanny pack: try duct taping it to your shirt or shorts. Of course, this could cause your shorts to rotate which could potentially be a more embarrassing problem than a simple nuisance. If this doesn’t help, then maybe it is the coriolis effect after all.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Dear Dr. Rocket,
How can I improve my milk drinking speed and capacity? I seem to be limited in how much of the stuff I can drink, and how fast. Specifically, I would like to know what types of exercises I can do to be able to drink 1 Imperial gallon of vitamin D fortified whole milk in less than 30 minutes? And, more importantly, howaa.....aaarrrrrraaaaalph (splash). As I started to say (cough), and how can I keep it down (spit) the following 30 minutes. A lot is at stake, my image, Dairy Queen endorsements, 4H competitions (elite division). Please help (burp).
Sincerely,
Milk Challenged
Dear MC,
No one likes to be thought of as a milk toast. Real men drink milk! Gallons of it! However, some of us were simply born with certain volumetric, and biochemical limitations. You can’t squeeze a gallon of milk into a half-pint stomach. It has to go somewhere, and one way or another, that somewhere is OUT. If we were talking rocket propulsion, then we might have some rocket theories to work with. But we’re talkin milk expulsion here. This is Dairy Science, man!
There are, however, ways one can improve their milk drinking conditioning. Dr Rocket used to be a milk dud himself until he discovered that he’s lactose intolerant. Now he’s a beer dud. Anyway, I advise that you get on a rigorous program designed to raise your lactose threshold. The foundation of this is LSD: Long Slow Drinking. The concept is to drink a gallon of “something” (it is not necessarily have to be milk, though beer is NOT recommended) over a longer period of time to get your system used to the quantity. The next component is the interval burpout which is designed to improve speed. You down smaller quantities in rapid succession just to the point where you feel like you are going to barf, then back off and belch for recovery. And finally, there is barflek training. Here, you intersperse slower milk consumption with faster drinking, mixing it up. So MC, get mooooooooooooooving, and pretty soon you will be the Dairy King/Queen/Thing.
Cheers,
Dr. Rocket
Go out hard, when it hurts hurl up.
(Matt C adds: Here is the spit question as sent in by Valerie P. This half of the spit question got in too late for the Rockster but I thought you might enjoy reading even more on the subject:
----
Should you think this too vile for the club, then please do omit,
but Anita and I were enjoying the woes of spitting on the way
down.
Valerie P
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Dr. Rocket:
Valerie P and Anita B, want to know:
What is the proper technique to “spit” effectively?
After choking on flem for several miles (a training practice I’ve become accustomed to) I decided to give “spitting” a try. I stopped running, bent over, and gave it a manly go. The result: a mass of bodily fluids hanging from my lower lip that was not willing to let go of it’s host. After much persuasion, I got the “stuff” to let go, but only after using my finger for assistance. I ran on, only to find that the entire exercise was for not. There was still much coughing and choking going on, but my mouth was a wee bit dryer. Undaunted, I tried again. This time, a gust of wind kicked up and swung the dangling fluid onto my cheek. Completely disgusted with the whole experience and myself, I asked Anita B for advice. She confessed that she too had similar difficulties and suggested that we seek the advice of a professional.
Please Dr. Rocket, can you help us?
####
Race reports (non R — instate Saturday, may change this for next year)
Jamie M reports:
This isn’t an attempt to get a star “*” — I simply want to share my
experience in a race that is billed as “Colorado’s toughest 10K Road Race” - The Black Canyon Ascent 10K held this last Saturday. (Incidentally, the
race begins 6 miles east of Montrose, Colorado).
First, the course. It’s pavement. It’s uphill. It starts at about 7,000 feet and ends at about 9,000 feet. And, it’s only 6 miles, not an official 10K.
On Saturday, the race started in steady rain which evolved to snow as the elevation increased. Snow plows spewing slush were a hazard that you had to watch out for. (Ironically, the crappy conditions created a real convivial atmosphere among the (slower) participants. Our camaraderie was challenged, however, when the bus that was supposed to drive us back down to our cars didn’t show up until the endomorphic high and general sense of well being was replaced with a sense of the here and now (as in here I am in shorts, in the snow, it’s cold, it’s snowing and I don’t have anything else to put on my body, and now, in the sense of why am I doing this thing 250 miles away from the comfort of my own home.))
Next, the people. I had read in your weekly incline email that Dan Vega was going to run this race, so, while not in Dan’s league running wise, I wanted to at least say hello and wish him good luck. The fact of the matter is that I saw Dan heading for the portapotty just before the race began, and I never saw him again, not at the start line, not during the race, and definitely not at the finish line. According the race director, Lyle Clugg, Dan won the race, (44 minutes), was awarded his trophy, and was quickly driven back down the mountain to spare him any ignominy associated with a long bus wait.
Personally, while it’s true that I finished a chasm-like 24 minutes behind Dan, I felt good throughout the run, didn’t have to walk at any point, I kept a steady pace (my 3 mile time was exactly 1/2 of my finish time), and, to top it off, I still feel good as I write this review some 9 hours later. (It’s either the dozen steamers that I had last night at the magnificent Glen Eyrie restaurant in Montrose, or the many weeks of Incline Club training that I’ve logged in the last 4 months :-))
Most of the other runners were members of the San Juan Runners club — a hardy, fun-loving group for sure. And, the race director was particularly gracious, (he incredibly maintained his poise while the finishing pool of runners started to ice over at the finish line), and competent guy named Lyle Clugg — the father of the Austin, Texas marathon who only two years ago retired to live and direct races in Montrose. Lyle was at both water stations urging me on, and I’m sure he was responsible for the “last hill” signs that were strategically placed at the steepest parts of the course, which, invariably caused a groan and a smile. He’s running his first Pike’s Peak Ascent this year, incidentally. Age 60. I like that.
In summary, as far as comparisons with what we do every week, there is no comparison. Running/walking up to Barr Camp is much more difficult, not only because of the differences in altitude and elevation gain, but because when you run where the footing is something you can take for granted, it’s easier to keep a pace by getting in a zone and blocking thoughts of rocks and roots. However, having said that, I liked this experience and I think others new to Colorado will too. The country is beautiful in a different way, and the people are extremely friendly, and when one leaves home, one gains perspective — I did.
Jamie (raced and written 5/5/2001)
----
Kyle P reports:
Collegiate Peaks 25 & 50 miler, May 5, 2001
Well as we headed out in the falling snow we wondered what we would find in
Buena Vista (BV) — IF we would find Buena Vista. We already knew that the
course had been changed as the huge amount of snow had made the original
course completely impossible. There was over four feet of snow on the ground
at the high points of the course and there was no way they were letting us
go up there.
I had signed up for the 50 miler, my first ultra. I was feeling pretty ready for it but my hopes and motivation faded with each snowflake. Geez, last year it was gorgeous for this race. We spoke to one guy who had done the race the last three years — all three years it was a different course due to the weather. But this is springtime in the Rockies, eh?
We got to BV and headed into registration. There we were greeted by warm, friendly people and got to see a map of the “new” course. There was no longer a 25 mile nor a 50 option. It had been reduced to a 20 miler of a 40 miler. The “course” if that’s what you could call it, headed north on the old railroad bed, which was now a dirt road, for ten miles and then you just turned around and ran back. The ladies at registration assured as that the road was “sandy, well crowned and drained very well. It could dry by tomorrow.” We decided to have a look-see for ourselves and drove out on the course a little ways. It was slicker than dog-snot and was a total mess. It was a snowy, muddy, sloppy mess. We all groaned our dismay and wondered what we wanted to do.
We met up with some other nut cases we knew and went to have some chow. After chow we headed back to the Super 8 Motel and commenced the standard pre race ritual of mixing water bottles, packing Camelbaks and trying to figure out what to wear. It sounded like a get together before a Junior High School dance, with all the “What are you going to wear? No, what are YOU going to wear?” going on. We managed to finish our duties and bed down for the night. There were four of us in the room, two on beds, two on the floor. I managed to sleep pretty well.
When the alarm went off at 4:30 we looked out the window to see another 14” of snow had fallen over night! It was amazing AND it was still snowing. I wanted to just get back in my sleeping back and wait at the motel for the guys to finish their run. After all there WAS a hot tub. Outside just looked awful. Buuuut, we had come all this way and I wanted to be able to honorably wear the sweatshirt that came with the entry, so I donned my chosen outfit and set out to do SOMETHING.
We got to the Community Center where the race started about 20 minutes before the “gun.” We milled around and tried to keep warm and somewhat dry. The snow that was falling was so wet that is was nearly rain. It melted the moment it hit you. The roads getting there were fairly clear as all the snow on them had been reduced to water, lots of slush and mud — oh the mud. When race time arrived we sort of gathered on one side of the building. The start was announced to me simply by the fact that the mass of people began moving. I didn’t hear a gun, the word “go,” or anything. No matter, I wasn’t in this to race.
For the first mile we all tried to hop over puddles and make our way around muddy holes — but after 10 minutes it just stopped mattering. There was no way in hell I was going to keep ANYTHING dry or clean so I just began to plod my path. I was amazed at the number of people who were willing to endure the conditions. But then again, ultra-runners are a different breed. Once I stopped caring about the mud, it got a little easier. My feet were wet and cold for a while but the pounding warmed them up and the wet socks sorted faded into the background. The mud oozed into my shoes and became a part of me.
The first aid station didn’t come until 6.7 miles. However it was manned by a bunch of great folks and a few cowboys in their rain slicker duster coats and cowboy hats. Heck, at least I was moving to keep warm. They just had to stand and get wet, waiting for us runners to holler “Gatorade.” I took some water, as I was pretty well self-contained in the energy drink department. I was running pretty slowly simply because I hadn’t yet decided if I was running the 20 or the 40. We were going to be allowed to make that decision whenever it came to us. By the time I hit the 10-mile turn around I knew it was 20 miles for me. My body felt fine — what I couldn’t or wouldn’t override was my head. This was a boring 10-mile stretch of mud, no views, no terrain change and so much mud and muck. It just wasn’t fun. The first twenty was very doable — in fact it was easy — but when I thought of turning around and doing it over again, my stomach churned. Call me a weenie but I just didn’t want to plod through all that crud AGAIN. I picked up my pace on the way back and started “picking off ponytails.” I figured I might as well finish as well as I can. Again, I felt fine and had no problem holding a good pace. Nothing was dry OR clean so there was no need to try to avoid more of the same. My two compadres, Todd Murray and Kevin Andrews were in for the long haul I knew. With Kevin training for Leadville, I knew he felt like he had to go the distance and Todd — well Todd is just wired differently than the rest of us. He can make ANYTHING sound fun.
I felt a little let down when I finished in the 20-miler chute. It was certainly not what I had hoped it would be. But that was no one’s fault — it simply WAS. I stood around for a few minutes until the chill hit me and I scampered for dry clothes and every jacket I brought. Kevin and Todd were going to be out on the course for another two and a half to three hours and the idea of freezing until then was not appealing. I just couldn’t get warm. So, I asked another friend, Phil Fielder, who had finished the 20-miler just ahead of me if I could grab a ride back to Woodland Park with him. I left my “boys” a note on a cocktail napkin, telling them that they did indeed “Rock” and that I had headed home to regain my stasis body temperature.
The drive home was uneventful but we were continually amazed at the snow levels along the way. This was more snow than we had received the whole year — combined! The news that night reported 48” in the Buena Vista/ Salida area during the course of the last 48 hours. This may not have been the experience I had hoped for — but it was memorable. Now I am looking for another Ultra to do in the next two months. If you know of a good dirt run let me know!
----
Keith G reports:
The Incline Club was well represented this past Saturday at “Collegiate
Peaks 25/50 Miler” in Buena Vista, CO. At least 7 of us stayed at the Alpine
Lodge in Johnson Village just 2 miles outside of Buena Vista. Five of us,
Rick H, Brett P, Jennie P, Jonathan C and myself arrived late Friday
afternoon. We headed into town to the race headquarters to eat and find out
any news concerning the race. It had snowed quite abit the previous few days
in Buena Vista and rumors had it, the trail was knee-deep to waist deep.
Rick, Jonathan, and myself ate the pre-race meal which included mostly
pasta ( I’ve had much better), salad (just lettuce), and some chocolate
cake ( it was OK). Brett and Jennie showed up later and opted to eat
elsewhere, which probably was a good decision. The meal was OK, but not
worth the cost ($8 early signup, $11 that day). The course had been changed
from a 25 mile rolling hill loop to a 20 mile FLAT out and back. So, after
the meal, Rick, Jonathan and myself drove out and followed the first 5 or so
miles of the course. Part was on paved road, this road then became dirt.
When we drove it, it was so muddy and slick, we were sliding all over. We
were all thinking it was bad enough it was flat, but to top it off, it was
covered with sloppy mud. Around 7:30PM we all met back at our room to relax
before trying to get to bed early. Rick and I were sharing a room, while
Jonathan was sharing a room with Brett and Jennie...** Go ahead, insert your
sick snide comments here...** The 5 of us relaxed in our room, watching TV
and debating on how crappy the run was going to be. Brett told crude jokes
and Jonathan must have had some intestinal problems, because he use the
bathroom at least 3 times and proceeded to stink up our room before leaving.
THANKS Jonathan.....
Eventually Jonathan, Brett and Jennie wore out their welcome and were asked to leave after stinking up the place and grossing us out. They went back to their room were the 3 of them did things that may have involved farm animals and midgets. Rick and I then settled into our beds (separate). I chose the bed next to the wall, and that is where I kept my back the entire night. It was around 10:30pm when we turned off the TV and tried to get some rest. Unfortunately, we had a room where every 30 minutes there would be a loud noise in the wall of running and dripping water. This noise went on ALL NIGHT... Every hour I would tell Rick, maybe we can get 5 solid hours of sleep, then it was 4, then 3. I am not sure what I had eaten earlier that day, but it did not agree with me and Rick had to suffer not only the wall noise, but the pungent odor I would unleash and then waft into the air every hour or so. I think I heard him choking at one point as he muttered out “I think I am in HELL.”
Around 5:00am, we got up and started to get dressed for the race. Our vehicles now had about 6” of fresh snow on them. We talked to Brett and Jennie, then said Jonathan snored all night and made unusual noises all night long. So, all in all, we had a typical rest before a race night.
Well, that is about it....oh yeah, we all ran in the race and did OK. Brett disgraced the club when the first woman passed him with only a few miles to go. The rest is all boring race details.....
----
Connilee W reports:
Garden of the Gods 5k / 5 miler
The weather was...well...dreary on Saturday May 5. The mixed rain and snow
subsided somewhat in time for the race making for almost perfect running
temperatures (high of 42). I anticipated that the first mile would be a
tough one as the race started at the main entrance (Gateway Road) to Garden
of the Gods right at the base of the small hill on the entry roadway and
then turning right (or North) up another long hill. At 1.2 miles the crowds
thinned out as those running the 5k split off to the left and 5 milers
continued south and then southwest towards Balanced Rock. The course turned
around before Balanced Rock, northish to Juniper Way, south for 75 yards or
so on Ridge Road, turn around and head back down to Gateway Road and the
finish line. There were two water stations along the course that were
hardly used (due to the brevity of the race and the coolness of the day).
I have started set more than one goal for each race. My first goal was to beat 35 minutes (7 minute miles) on this course. My second goal was to better my prior 5 mile time (In March, I had run a 5 miler down in Pueblo in 35:24. This was at lower elevation and a flatter course. This was also before I ran a marathon in April.) Knowing that the marathon was only 3 weeks past, that the Garden is a hilly course and higher elevation I was not certain I would make either goal. The first mile was, of course, uphill. I ran it in a slow 7:41. Thanks to two fast miles (mile 2 was a 6:23 on the downhill side of Gateway Rocks, and mile 5 was a 6:38 coming down Ridge Road to Gateway Road) and holding steady between 7:00 and 7:15ish on mile 3 and 4, my time was 35:07, just a few seconds shy of making my number one goal and easily eclipsing my second goal.
Advice I took: I had planned to do the full Incline Club Thursday workout, 2 days before the race, thinking ‘it’s only a 5-miler, I don’t need to taper’, but as per Matt’s advice (just before we were starting), I cut back on the Thursday workout. I believe this helped me feel strong the day of the race.
Advice to give/could have done better: Generally I purposely hold back a little in the first mile or two. In this case, I think I was TOO conservative and a little too intimidated by the first hilly mile. Next time I would take the first mile up a notch in effort.
----
“M” Milk report:
Matt C reports:
The rumors are true! For some time now I have been contemplating the “milk
challenge.” This warped concept came about from a school teacher no less —
perhaps someone who teaches your kids for crying out loud! The teacher, who
for the sake of anonymity shall not be identified by his club name of first
name last initial but instead will be referred to only as “Brett Pierce.” Now Brett Pierce has his student’s parents sign a liability waiver before
embarking on the challenge which goes like this: drink 1 gallon of milk
(that’s whole milk not that wimpy watered down stuff) in 1/2 hour and keep
it down for another 1/2 hour. If in fact you read the above you may have
gathered that much already — if so sorry for the duplication. The challenge
almost came to pass as part of the stupid people tricks segment of the
Vanfeed two Sundays ago but I had already put down a nice plate of food
before the matter “came up” (sorry again) so it had to wait one week. For
training I did a gallon of water after an interval workout with no problem
coming up with the following protocol: Start with a 1/4 gallon and then do
1/8 gallon every 5 minutes. This was not even hard so I felt pretty
confident going into the challenge. For Sunday several had gotten together
and raised the stakes to $90 which is not a bad hourly rate I dare say. For
my part if I lost I would have to buy the milk. Great odds in my book so
here we go...
The first 1/2 gallon of milk (the 1/4 gallon to start and then 1/8 at 5 mins and another 1/8 at 10 mins) was no problem and I was actually still feeling pretty good after 3/4 gallon (another 1/8 at 15 mins and yet another 1/8 at 20 mins) but somewhere around there (no it was not the banana pudding cakes Brett Pierce was sticking in my face nor was it Tom K making perfectly timed “moooooo” sounds) I started to get cold! Real Cold! Should have know better — it was cold milk!!! Even after putting on a jacket I was shaking and from there things went quickly south and after my next 1/8 gallon (at 25 mins) it was a short trip to “the rock.” Now I shall try to avoid the really fun details like how I was laughing and puking at the same time so milk was coming out of my nose. However I do want to share the warmth and compassion of my fellow ICers. Unfortunately there wasn’t any so back to the gory details. Did you know milk looks oddly white when it is rejected from your stomach onto a dark brown dirt surface? Of course I guess the odd white could just be the color of milk after it has been mixed with various stomach juices. Again if you are that type (and judging by the jokes I get sent every week by ICers that are not suitable for this newsletter I would say a good deal of you are) look for the photo link in the www post below. At any rate, while I was “doing the deed” it was sort of surreal... Picture about 15 people laughing their guts out while you are heaving yours out! Mix in the sound of the actual “deed” and you get something not unlike, well I can’t think of anything to compare it to but some aspects of Keith G’s fart report above come to mind.
Now right then in there I had to come up with a way to save some face because it was now obvious I had become nothing more than free entertainment so that is when I started to think about going back to “finish” my gallon. The matter was settled (so to speak) after a 4th trip to “the rock” had me felling pretty darn good I am happy to say. So back for the final 1/8th gallon I went. As soon as it was obvious what I was up to Brett Pierce said he would waive the “you lose, you pay for the milk” portion of the bet if I could do it. That, as they say, was that! I was partially satisfied to see that some of those who were once laughing were now downright disgusted:-) Not nearly as disgusted as they would be when sitting at breakfast (yes, I ate a whole serving of pancakes) and someone asked “what is that smell” to which I had to reply, “I got milk on my shoes.”
Today (I am NOT making this up) the Safeway sent me a coupon for free milk so I am once again in training... Got Milk?
####
www posts:
5/6/2001 49 made the Sunday long run. Various loops and out/backs were done
off of Rampart Range Road with many taking the new Williams Canyon Trail
back to the park. Others used the trail to connect into Waldo. After the run
Brett P and others bet Matt C $90 he could not drink a gallon of milk in a
half hour and keep it down for another half hour. Suffice it to say that
after 7/8 of a gallon a huge white spot
(www.skyrunner.com/img/p_gotmilk.jpg) was made next to a rock. However,
proving that he was out but not down Matt C finished the final 1/8 gallon of
milk and went and ate breakfast with the gang.
5/3/2001 A cold, rainy day combined with a bunch of people doing races this weekend gave the club it’s fist run of the year with less than 40 runners. 37 of us lined up on Hydro Street with most of us doing a 30 minute tempo run up the Barr Trail. About 10 people ran easy as they were tapering for a race but still wanted to get the Thursday “*” on the workout board. Near the top of the W’s the wet trail turned into a slush trail and finally a snow trail. Winter is back:-(
####
Go out hard, when it hurts speed up...
Matt Carpenter
www.skyrunner.com
Barr Trail Mountain Race
www.runpikespeak.com
Top | Previous | Next | 2001 Index | Newsletter Index