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Sent: Wednesday, June 04, 2003 10:37 PM
Subject: Incline Club V7 TH #9 LR #29
Hi there ICers,
The Incline Club shirt order form is up!!! We are going back to the BOA shirts from two years ago. While BOA costs a little more quite a few feel it is a better shirt. Fortunately, Colorado Running Company has offered us another great deal which will save us some money on some of the more expensive shirts! New for this year is a long sleeve shirt with a 1/2 zipper. There is also a “supply your own jog bra and baby/kid clothing” option. Finally, most of the shirts are available in royal blue with white print. Place your order at http://www.inclineclub.com/shirt/
After you place your order (or before) be sure and check out the Blizzard R Reports from Mt Evans — AMAZING!!! Also Neal Taylor starts the newsletter section off with a pretty funny streaker story:-)
Don’t forget to also register for the Barr Trail Mountain Race: http://www.runpikespeak.com
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NEXT RUNs:
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Thursday, June 5, 5:45pm — Hydro Street
Meet and warm up from Memorial Park to Hydro Street. Leave the park at a time that gets you to Hydro Street on time. Do 1 minute hard, 1 minute easy up the Barr Trail for 30 minutes or to No Name Creek, whichever comes first. Easy run back down the Barr Trail and do 10 Hydro Street hill repeats. Cool down back to the park.
Sunday, June 8, 8:00am — Memorial Park
Run to the Bottomless Pit sign or even the A-frame and back via the Barr Trail. Several are now making summit runs:-) See the snow report in the www posts section at the end of this newsletter.
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ICers WRITE:
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Neal Taylor writes:
Part one — the setup
I was running down through the W’s and came upon a group of 20-somethings looking for their dog. I asked what kind of dog and I will keep on the lookout. They said it was a pit-bull. Since this group was cutting switchbacks and acting like non-trail hikers, I was figuring that this dog is about as well trained as they were. So, I never saw the dog.
Part two — the rest of the story
I got down to the water gate where no vehicles can go further, up high on Ruxton. There was a County Sheriff there just getting out of his car. As soon as I saw him I thought about the lost pit-bull and the possibility that it tore up someone. Well this cop says “Have you seen anyone running around naked up there?” I busted up laughing (all the while trying to run). I always seem to respond incorrectly to the police, and judging by the seriousness in which he was looking at me, I knew I had done it again! He looked a little pis#* off! I then composed myself and told him I had not, and we parted company just as quick as I could make that happen!
Epilogue
This may be the funniest question I have ever been asked while running. “Have you seen anyone running around naked up there?” By a cop no less. I don’t know if that strikes you as funny, but I like it!!! Then I got to thinking… “Who was running around naked up there?” an ICer? I kind of hope so, if anyone would admit to it I would like to pat them on the back. And who called the police? I hope that wasn’t an ICer… I have peed in front of a lot of ICer’s and I wouldn’t want them to call the police on me!
Go out naked, when it hurts get out of the briars…
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Mike Kolesnick writes (about the story on the Incline):
I agree with David L. Walden’s view. If people want to run on it make ‘em pay for it! Set it up so that users maintain, but don’t own the incline, just like most trail systems. As far as parking is concerned that one is simple: make everybody pay and validate the parking for cog train users. It seems like the altitude has diminished some of the cog people’s logic processes:))
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Joe Mitchell writes:
Yesterday, 6/1/03 I ran to the summit, hung out with the COG tourists until I warmed up and ran back down. I was passed by several Incline Club members between Barr camp and the A frame. That was my introduction to your club.
I looked for a souvenir t-shirt on top and at Barr camp. There were no shirts cooler than the ones being worn by your club.
Since I am a virtual member, I would like to order a shirt. I checked the last few newsletters and did not say any info. One of the runners told me the club may be taking orders now. If so, how do I get place my order?
Next time I am in Colorado, I will hook up at the start and run with the rest of the club.
(Matt C adds: Yes, our shirts are cool:-)
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R REPORTS:
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Derek Griffiths reports:
Race = Casper Marathon
Location = Casper, WY
Date = 6/1/2003
Distance = Marathon
Goal = Get the State
Results = 1st overall in 2:54:07
Website = http://www.runwyoming.com
General = Went to Casper, WY to get the state in. Really well put on race for the first year. Beautiful Course, great weather. Would Highly recommend this marathon if you like small races (200 marathoners)
Right = Went out slow and ran even (87:00, 87:07).
Wrong = Maybe ran too fast overall, but will have to wait a couple of days to see.
Other Stuff =
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Harry Harcrow reports:
Race = Steamboat Marathon
Location = Steamboat Springs, CO
Date = 06/01/2003
Distance = Marathon ( 26.2 miles )
Goal = 3:15:00
Results = 3:17:07
Website = http://steamboatmarathon.com
General = The marathon started at 7:30 and was cold and raining for the first hour and a half. It starts at about 8200 ft and goes down a paved road past many farms and ranches and ends at about 6700 ft at the court house in downtown Steamboat.
Right = I felt I was prepared since I ran a previous marathon 3 weeks prior. I was mentally prepared and once the race started the rain didn’t bother me at all. I felt that I had plenty of energy for the entire race.
Wrong = I probably started out too fast and at times wasn’t sure if I was under hydrated or over hydrated. I struggled the last 1/2 of the race. I completely underestimated the toughness of this course.
Other Stuff = The first half of the course has some steep downhills and a few uphills thrown in. The last half is very rolling and does not drop nearly as much in elevation as the first half. I was surprised how hard the course was.
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Jason Jungbauer reports:
Race = Steamboat Marathon
Location = Steamboat Springs CO
Date = 06/01/2003
Distance = 26.2
Goal = 3hr 30min
Results = 4hr 28min
General = This was my first attempt at Steamboat. Started out great-woke up before my alarm went off, ate a good breakfast, caught the first bus to the start, all while thinking what a beautiful sunny day it was. Half way to the start on the bus as the torrential downpour started and lighting was striking outside the bus I was wondering why I did not bring more to wear than a t-shirt and shorts. As we started the race and ran the first 11 miles in rain I felt great, my time by mile 13 was 1 hr 47 min- just 2 minutes over where I wanted to be. About 1/2 mile later I felt sick as a dog. My stomach churned with every step and my head felt like it had a nail in it. Stopped about mile 17 to throw up- after that I could not eat or drink any more until after the race. Nice course, great volunteers to be out there in the rain.
Right = Trained with the IC all winter- first I definitely felt stronger than in any of my other races. But more importantly while so many people were whining about the weather (I even saw a few riding the buses back down rather than run in the rain) it did not phase me starting out in 40 degree weather with a solid rain, because it did not compare to the Waldo/LRR loop in February with a freezing head wind, snow and sliding backward every step you took up the last hill on LRR as you break through the snow onto ice, with no feeling left in your toes. That was the definition of misery. Everything on the first half of the race was good- ate enough early enough, did not go out too hard at the start.
Wrong = Got sick. Did not get enough sleep the week before.
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Pete Tonsits reports:
Race = 2003 Mt. Evans Ascent
Location = Mt. Evans, just outside of Idaho Springs, CO
Date = Sunday, June 1, 2003
Distance = 14.5 Miles
Goal = Beat Last year’s time of 3:05
Results = 3:16
General = I have newfound respect for high altitude running! As I optimistically put on sun block before the race, my friend Scott asked me if I was going to take a jacket. No, was my answer and oh what a mistake that was! By the time we hit mile 11 or so we were in a big time snowstorm, by mile 12 it was a full-on blizzard with white-out conditions and a wind chill factor that I don’t even want to think about. These conditions were the worst I have encountered in 27 years of running! My attire was a paltry pair of running shorts, my trusty Incline Club shirt (short-sleeve), a thin pair of gloves, a Boston Marathon cap and sunglasses, oh and that much needed sun block. If Race Director Danelle Ballengee had not driven by me and offered me a jacket, I would have been in serious trouble. As it was, I have to admit I went through moments of really fearing for my safety. Fellow ICers Elisabeth and Valerie were within my sight most of the way, probably a 1/4 mile to 1/2 mile ahead. Once we hit the white-out c onditions I lost sight of them, however I figured they were in somewhat better position as they had both packed jackets.
Early Miles: My legs didn’t feel like they had much life in the early miles, so I resorted to running for 10 minute stretches and then walking for 1 minute. This seemed to help my legs kind of acclimate.
Middle Miles: Felt really, really good. My legs felt rejuvenated and I was able to abandon the 10 minute / 1 minute strategy, and maintain a consistent running tempo.
Late Miles: Didn’t care about pace or time anymore. Literally became a question of survival. My main goal was to keep moving as quickly as I could as the alternative was to freeze to death.
Right = Keeping a positive attitude. I knew how I was pacing based on past years so I was able to accurately figure out when I would reach the finish line, and a ride back down the mountain. I remember at the 2:30:00 mark, thinking that I was about 45 minutes out from the finish. While getting pelted by stinging sleet, I evaluated whether I could endure the conditions for that amount of time. I felt that I could and the addition of the jacket from Danelle shortly after that really buoyed my spirits.
Wrong = During the race, I remember thinking well the “Things Done Wrong” will be easy to fill out on my race report. I simply was ill-prepared for the possible weather conditions. Just the addition of a light weight jacket tied around my waist would have made a huge difference. I think the thing we all need to remember is that no matter how good the weather looks at the start of a mountain race, when you’re going to be running for an extended period of time, it’s each of our responsibilities to be prepared for whatever comes our way, especially in the mountains where the weather can turn on a dime.
Other Stuff = Happy to be home, in dry clothes!
As my friend Scott has said on many occasions, “we cheated death and lived to tell about it.” Today that was just a little too close to the truth!
Congratulations Elisabeth and Valerie!
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Valerie Prothe reports:
Race = Mt Evans Ascent
Location = Mt. Evans, CO
Date = Sunday, June 1, 2003
Distance: 14.5 miles
Goal: 3:15 or better
Results: DNF at ~14.1 mi
General = For the first 12 miles, the race was awesome. Felt great, beautiful views, and I was on course to do a 3:06 or better (which was a PR for me). It started snowing at mile 8 or 9 and was windy, but it wasn’t bad and I chided the weather as it didn’t seem to hinder my mile splits. Then the nonsplit-hindering snow and wind picked up (perhaps in response to my glib attitude) and quickly turned into blizzard conditions. Snow and ice were caked on my legs, feet were wet, and I could not look up to see where I was going because it hurt to have the snow hitting my face (I just prayed the cars could see ME). I passed on offers to partake in a warm toasty car ride, until finally I gave in. Legs weren’t functioning well, was having difficulty walking, and my PR was turning into a PW. Looking back, I don’t understand my mental state that I didn’t just suck it up and finish or at a minimum spend a few min and warm up in a car then finish, but I didn’t.... Elisabeth however, armed wit h even less gear than I, did finish! Congratulations to her! FYI: The runners at the front of the pack missed all the weather and had a great race! I guess I just need to get faster! :)
Right = Went to the summit of Pikes Peak the Monday before and ran around the parking lot a bit (i.e. the altitude wasn’t bothering me at all). Was well hydrated, drank Powerade at each aid station. Had 2 gels. Kept a consistent easy pace with good cadence.
Wrong = Didn’t take wind pants and warmer gloves (or rather would have had someone drive a car along the road with these items).
Other Stuff = Not sure if I can have an ‘R’ (or maybe a ‘r’) since I didn’t finish....
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Elisabeth Kaegi reports
Race = Mt. Evans Ascent
Location = Mt. Evans
Date = June 1st
Distance = 14.5 miles
Goal = to have fun doing a new adventure
Results = ???? too much of an adventure
General = I am still recovering from an ankle surgery and have not run longer than up to Barr all year. So, my goal was to run, not race up Mt. Evans. I told my family that rather than racing, I wanted to have a little adventure. An adventure it was...a little more of one than I had expected. The weather started off being nice. But as I got towards the top, it changed. First a little chill. So on went my jacket, over my tank top. I felt good for while. Then it started snowing and getting a little colder. Then the wind started. I had no more clothes to put on. My hands swelled up and I got “twinges” of pain shooting up my arm. My hands went numb. The wind blew so hard, I had to run backwards at times. Running backwards up a mountain with my hands up and under my jacket so that I could get some warmth from my stomach. What a way to run--But hey, to the ICer who told me I pump my arms to much when I run, I wasn’t doing it on this run;-) At first the snow and ice melted off my legs. But then it sta rted to accumulate on my legs. It started getting so nasty, that my focus was no longer on the run, but on my health. I was getting more and more worried about my hands. I saw a car parked on the side of the road. I went up to it and asked the driver if I could sit in it for a while. And that is what I did. The driver told me that the finish line was just a couple of switchbacks up the road. I thought I had better get going. So, I opened the door and ran as fast as I could to the finish line. There I was helped into a car. It took a while for me to even start to shiver again. My hands slowly returned to normal. Fellow ICer, Valerie, who was also in the car, was so nice to share some warm clothes with me--thank you Valerie, because I know that you could have used them also! Since by the end my sole motivation was to get off of the mountain, I don’t have a clue what my finishing time was. But it really doesn’t matter.
Right = ?
Wrong = didn’t bring enough warm clothes!!!!!!!
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Sue Lloyd reports:
Race = Apple Duathlon
Location = Sartell, Minnesota
Date = 5/31/03
Distance = 10k run, 42k bike, 5k run
Goal = top 3 in my age group to qualify for worlds, win age group on bike portion
Results = 4th in age group, won age group on bike
Website = http://appleduathlon.com
General = Beautiful, clear day in central Minnesota. There was a slight wind, but nothing like the gale that blew the day before the race. The run is a 5k loop with one hill (the Minnesotans think it’s a big hill...we would call it a bump in the road). The bike is on a rolling course with smooth pavement and a good shoulder. Part of the course parallels the Mississippi river...very scenic. This race is one of the best organized I’ve ever done. I highly recommend it!
Right = Ate well the day before, didn’t go out too fast on the 10k, had really fast transitions, ate and drank well during the race.
Wrong = Nothing! Though I didn’t finish in the top three, I was very pleased with my performance. My age group is one of the most competitive and I held my own.
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NON R REPORTS: (not a race)
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Anita Bower reports:
Race = Badwater Heat Training Clinic
Location = Death Valley CA
Date = May 24 & 25, 2003
Distance = Badwater to Furnace Creek, then to Stove Pipe Wells, (42 miles)
Goal = 42 miles
Results = 42 miles
Website = http://www.badwaterultracom
General = The heat training clinics are designed to help prepare the runners for the extreme conditions of the desert, since everybody’s body reacts differently to the heat. The distances you could run were up to you, the most important thing was showing up and acclimatizing to the heat. It got up to 117 degrees.
Right = I went at a slower pace than usual, (yes, that IS possible for me). It has been an extremely cool spring out here, and a lot of people weren’t as ready for the heat as last year. I kept in around 40-50 ounces of fluid, in the form of pedialyte and G-Push, with a touch of salt, and took in mostly liquid forms of food. So everything stayed in, down, whatever. I did not take in over 280 calories an hour, which was a good idea.(too much stomach distress) I used this new calorie sustained energy stuff made by Hammer Nutrition called Perpetuem, and it really worked, and tastes good, although it didn’t look very good.
Wrong = Didn’t have my stuff organized well prior to the start, and was there for 30 minutes after everyone else started getting my act together and getting ate alive by bugs, which really made for a cranky runner.
Other Stuff = Maybe those Oreo’s are really a good thing to avoid. Not only do you look gross if you smile right after eating one, but at mile 13 one of the entrants had a heart attack. It turned out one of his arteries was 95% blocked. This is a man who hiked the Grand Canyon rim tro rim just a week or so before. I have never seen a person look so white and live to tell about it. He had to be choppered out of DV, and is in intensive care right now.
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WWW POSTS:
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6/1/03 The first day of June brought out 68 ICers for a run on Pikes Peak. The weather turned ugly forcing some who had planned on going higher around. The snow report goes like this: NO snow until 1/4 mile before the 2 mile to the summit sign. This one is well traveled and no problem. A 1 on a 5 scale. The are a few patches soon after the 2 mile sign for about 1/4 mile. One of these is a 3 on the scale. There is no snow of significance from 1.75 until .75 to go. The big traverse to the right under the 16 golden stairs is a mess with several trails to choose from. For those not used to this type of thing I would give it a 5 on the fear factor scale and if you fall you will slide for a while — into the rocks! A few more patches under the 16 Golden Stairs sign which are 2s. The approach to the 16 Golden Stars has a couple of ugly ones that could be called 4s. No Snow in the 16 Golden Stairs. The flat traverse to the Fred Barr sign is also a mess with the main route missing 3 of the trail’s switch-back
s. The quicker we use the correct route the quicker the snow will be gone! Snow is not an issue from the Fed Barr Sign up. This is because ICer Craig Burbank has SHOVELED a path that in one spot is 4 feet deep! All and all for those that don’t mind going across the occasional traverse there is no reason whatsoever not to head up. For the more timid I would say 1-2 more weeks and you will be fine. For the really squeamish give it 2-3 weeks and it won’t be an issue — Craig and his shovel are working their way down the trail and Mr. Sun is kicking butt too:-) John Mills files this snow report for the Elk Park trail: Snow report is there isn’t any. Perhaps two steps were in snow. It has all melted. The trail is in great shape save one tree down across the trail about midway.
5/29/03 60, the largest Thursday group of the year, came out today. The protocol was a 30 minute tempo run up the Barr Trail. It was rather hot but those who ran smart were rewarded by getting farther up the trail. Hydro Street was busy with all of us doing our 8 hill repeats. Next month it will be 10 repeats. Jackie Burhans was today’s T-shirt winner.
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Go out hard, when it hurts speed up...
Matt Carpenter
http://www.skyrunner.com
Incline Club
http://www.inclinclub.com
Barr Trail Mountain Race
http://www.runpikespeak.com
presented by Pikes Peak National Bank
Friends of the Peak
http://www.fotp.com
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