2008 Incline Club News V12 TH #19-20 LR #38-39

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Incline Club News V12 TH #19-20 LR #38-39

Sent: Wednesday, August 06, 2008 12:33 PM
Subject: Incline Club News V12 TH#19 and 20 LR#38 and 39

Hi Incline Club,

Last Workouts of the Season!
Pay attention to this email, as it announces the few workouts left this season.

Last Weekly Newsletter
There will *not* be a Wednesday newsletter next week!

End of Season Party
Mark your calendar for Thursday August 21 at Mansions Park for the end of year Incline Club party. We usually bring a few bucks for pizza, a dish or drinks to share, and all your Pikes Peak and Leadville race stories.

Incline Club Member Stars
Please double check all your stars and reply to this email address with any modifications or misses. We want to make sure they’re correct for the awards at the end of season party! (And thanks to all of you who have emailed in already!!)

Your Race!
The season and workouts are winding down, as should you! Except for one final push on the 16th or 17th. Keep the quality, cut the quantity, and keep tapering smart! :)

~Connilee

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NEXT RUN:
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Thursday, August 7, 5:45pm — Hydro Street
Warm up from Memorial Park in time to get to Hydro Street. Do a 20 minute tempo run up the Barr Trail. Run easy back down the Barr Trail do 5 Hydro Street hill repeats.

Sunday, August 10, 7:00am @ PP Toll Booth
Run down to the 1 or 2 mile and back up
and then spend altitude time clearing trail for race.

Thursday, August 14, 5:45pm — PPA/M Start
Ascent runners time check to Ruxton
Marathon runners time check to 1st switch-back

Sat/Sun August 16/17 — RACE!

Thursday, August 21, 5:45pm — Mansions Park
Incline Club Party

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THIS WEEK’S QUOTE:
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“Evaluate, improve, adjust. In these continual actions are the seeds of success.” — Unknown

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ICers WRITE:
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Sky Sox on August 13
Mike Everson writes: I have a skybox at Sky Sox for Wednesday night, August 13th. There are 9 tickets available (I will be there with my brother and nephew). The box includes tickets to game and catered meal that includes snacks, popcorn, peanuts, cookies and soft drinks.(last year I ordered the bow tie pasta and I will do the same this year). If there are any ICers that would like to attend, tell them to contact me through my About Me Page: http://www.inclineclub.com/show.asp?name=Michael%20Everson

Spouses/kids are welcome, and I will give tickets on first contact basis. It’s a great time and will help wind down for race day.

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The Incline in the News
Nancy Hobbs writes: Here is an article about the Incline in the New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/02/sports/olympics/02incline.html?hp

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“R” REPORTS:
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BTMR — Manitou — July 13, 2008

Tracey Anderson reports:
Distance: 12
Goal: run it smart
Results: 2:35
Website: http://www.runpikespeak.com/

General Summary:
I was very thankful it wasn’t too hot!

Things Done Right:
Ran at a consistent effort up to camp.

Things Done Wrong:
Had to make a pit stop on the way down!!
Could have worked a few crowded spots on the way down better.

Any Other Stuff:
The high schoolers at the aid stations are fantastic!

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B T M R — Barr trail — 7/13/2008

Pablo Najera reports:
Distance: 12M
Goal: 2:03
Results: 2:09

General Summary:
Weather was ok not to hot as previous years. Great race

Things Done Right:
Pace

Things Done Wrong:
Not enough rest

***

Barr Trail Mountain Race — The hill — 7/13/2008

Jon Magistro reports:
Distance: 12 ish
Goal: Many
Results: Made most

General Summary:
Great race day!!! I had a lot of goals for a person that was sidelined from running training for 3+ weeks before the race with a serious calf strain, but here they are:
1. Beat last year’s time — check 3:22 faster
2. Break 2 hours to Barr — maybe next year -2:03:10 3. Break 1 hour for the downhill — check 59:31
4. If all else had failed — just get the shirt!! Check and check!

Things Done Right:
Pacing!!! From the start of the gravel I wasn’t passed by a single person — which also means I might’ve started too slow and might’ve cost my Barr camp goal. But what a boost of confidence to not be getting passed but instead be passing people the whole time!!!
Stayed Hydrated and fueled — I drank plenty on the way up and enough on the way down — I followed a strategy I think Matt said (or wrote once) of only taking what you need from each aid station otherwise you become a camel and are just transporting liquids up the hill.
Positive thoughts the whole race. Passing people helped this a lot but even when I was alone (when you’re this slow that is often) thinking good thoughts.

Things Done Wrong:
Calf strain during training. I could’ve done more inclined workouts during the early months of the year so that my calves would’ve been more ready for serious training. Other than that I did great!!

Any Other Stuff:
As always Matt and family have put on a great race! From giving back to the community to the great post race events. It is fun, challenging, and always leaves me ready for next year!!!
Great job Matt and staff!!!!

***
Leadville Silver Rush 50 Mile Trail Run — Leadville, CO — July 20, 2008

Theresa Pitman reports:
Distance: 50 Miles
Goal: 1st-finish my first 50, 2nd-finish in less than 12 hours
Results: Finish happily in 11:02 (3rd in AG)

General Summary:
First year of this run but it is the exact same course as the Silver Rush 50 Mountain Bike Race, which I did 2 years ago. Gorgeous terrain, 16,000 feet of elevation change, all between an altitude of 10,000’ and 12,000-ish’. The race directors, volunteers and racers are all awesome, I have yet to have a bad experience at a Leadville race. Quite the pick for my first big ultra.

Things Done Right:
Started off painfully slow since I had never done this length of a running race before. My goal was to get to the half-way point somewhat fresh and then turn it on in the last 10 miles if I had it in me (unfortunately my right knee had other plans). Hydrated early and often. Ate every 45 min or so. Had my celebratory Red Bull at the halfway mark which made me feel invincible for a good hour afterwards. Stomach felt great the entire race.
Also, had my boyfriend, Roger, there on his bike meeting me everywhere which was a great motivator when your out in the middle of nowhere in the mountains.

Things Done Wrong:
Waited too long to brace my knee. I had not had tendonitis for 4 years but it came back to haunt me about halfway through the race, but I just wrote it off until it was too late. At first the downhills were difficult, if not impossible, for me to run without pain (which is a good portion on the second half and practically the entire last 10 miles of the course) and then everything became difficult due to adjusting my stride to accommodate. I just got frustrated because everything besides my right knee felt fantastic. I also lost one spot in my age group on the last downhill and 2 in the overall. I then decided that my goals for the PP Ascent were more important and walked most of the last 7 miles in.

Any Other Stuff:
If you like climbing and do well at altitude this is the race for you. The people of Leadville are incredible!

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Teva paint mines 6K — Calhan, CO — July 24, 2008

Tracey Anderson reports:
Distance: 6K that became 1.95mi
Goal: run hard
Results: 12:05
Website: http://www.trailrunner.com

General Summary:
A wicked storm blew in just before race time, blew down the registration tent, knocked over equipment, drenched and pelted the people waiting in the shuttle trolley and tested the arm strength of the rest of us trying to hold up the tent. Afterwards, double rainbows came out and the storm went on to terrorize Kansas, but not without leaving a rushing stream bisecting the loop course. It became an out and back, turn at the new creek, hang a left, out and back, turn at the creek, then to the finish.

Things Done Right:
Didn’t get struck by lightning.

Things Done Wrong:
Nothing I can think of.

***
Badwater 135 Ultramarathon — Death Valley, CA — July 14th-15th, 2008

Anita Bower reports:
Distance: 135 miles officially
Goal: break current women's double crossing record of 143 hours
Results: 129 hours, 44 minutes and 5 seconds
Website: http://www.badwater.com

General Summary:
This was my fourth time starting and completing the Badwater 135 Ultramarathon. I went into it with the intention of being the fifth woman to ever do what is known in the Badwater world as a “double crossing,” which includes going on beyond the official finish line that lies at 135 miles at the Mt. Whitney trailhead, to the summit of Mt. Whitney,(14,497 ft.) then back down to Badwater,(-282 ft. below sea level) for a total of 292 miles. My mind is still in a bit of a fog, so I apologize for any misspellings or grammatical errors.

Things Done Right:
Kept my promises. After a miserable failed attempt at a double crossing last year, I went in this year with a promise that I would complete the double this year, no matter what. Last years failure was hard to take. I didn’t unpack anything, and up until last week all my BW supplies were still in the dining room, where they had sat for nearly a year.

However, it seemed that the year long delay worked in my favor. That’s one of the things I love about ultras. If you learn how to make adversity work for you, you can become a better runner. Seems like my tenacity attracted the favor of ultra-guru Theresa Daus Weber, who summited Mt. Whitney successfully every single time she went up, no matter what the weather. She decided to go up her highness Mt. Whitney with my husband and I less than four hours after my BW finish, ( PR’d in 40 hours, 32 minutes). I knew that mountain wasn’t going to give her any crap, and for the most part it didn’t. There were a few times it rained, the thunder rumbled, and some far-off lightening flashed, but this year the clouds cleared enough for us to have a safe and successful summit. I was so glad I went to the LT100 training weekend before running BW. Running at altitude will make you strong, and despite PRing my previous BW time by several hours, and feeling quite trashed at the finish, I was able to get to t he summit with their help, and break the previous women’s world record going from BW to the Mt. Whitney summit (146 miles total, previously held by British woman Eleanor Adams in 52 hours 45 min) in a time of 52 hours and 17 minutes. No doubt those speed workouts with the IC club helped, so thanks Matt and Hydro Street! Had I gone up last year with my 43 hour BW, there would have been no way I would have broken Eleanor’s time. Now at least the record time in back in the hands of an American. And by the looks of the times of this years BW women’s finisher’s, my record will no doubt be smashed next year.

ANYWAY, back to the race report. Mt. Whitney is way harder than Pikes Peak, or any 14er I have done. There are places you can fall, a loooong way, and the terrain is miserable, especially going down. I am not a good downhill runner as it is, and even with trekking poles, it took me 9 1/2 hours to get down, as compared to 7 hours and 17 minutes to go up from the BW finish line. Like I told my crew regarding my downhill running ability,” I suck at going down.” Mt. Whitney was the toughest part of the whole event for me. I remember finally getting to the bottom wondering, how in the world am I going to go another 135 miles?! But like Ken Clouber of the Leadville Trail 100 says, “you are better than you think you are.” I honestly believe that is true for everyone of us. Still, my legs were jelly. Every footstep I took for the last three miles I would lift my leg, watch it wobble and shake uncontrollably, then deliberately plant it on the ground. I did this for three freakin’ miles! And th en my stomach and bowels went. What is really different about Mt. Whitney compared to PP is that you have to get a permit to hike it and pay for it ($15), which I think is BS, and then they give you these portable toilets, which is basically a big plastic bag with a seal. You get to haul off your crap in those bags. With all our backpacks full of storm gear and other stuff, there wasn’t any room for the full bags, so we had to carry them in our big pockets of our hiking pants. It is beyond words what “fun” I had those last three miles, with the relentless mosquitoes and the three of us hiking with bags of poop in our pants. Priceless! But hey! I made a promise to do whatever I had to do to finish the double.

I’d also like to add that my crew for the official 135 miles was absolutely amazing. They took such good care of me, and for the most part, all got along wonderfully. They all knew that I was going to do the double, and made sure I fueled and hydrated for the long haul. It is because of their efforts that they set the foundation for a successful double crossing, and it goes without saying that new friendships have been made for life. Thanks guys!!

After about 7 hours of fitful sleep and eating over half a pizza, and a huge pile of scrambled eggs for breakfast, I returned to the trail head of Mt Whitney, to begin my journey back to BW. It was Thursday now, and I had decided to make Thursday a kind of recovery day, only running about 45 miles, which would take me to Darwin (90 miles on the BW course, which meant only 90 miles to go). I actually stopped and ate more pizza for lunch, had my dear friend and “blister queen” Denise Jones in Lone Pine put some tape on my feet, to prevent blisters. I only got two minor blisters the whole time, and both of them I fixed myself. It amazes me how many runners can’t fix their own feet. The walk/run to Darwin took longer than I thought, because it is this insidious uphill grind. But I did most of it in the cool, sublime, darkness and with the Capricorn full moon, and it was hauntingly beautiful. We drove back to Lone Pine and had a late night ice cream then went to sleep.

Friday we drove back to Darwin, and I started where I finished the night before. It was already heating up, and I can tell you that one of the reasons times were so good at BW this year was because it was so cool. It only got to 108, and the start was barely 100. Flash floods had washed out parts of the race course, and there was even one time during the race as I was going up Townes Pass ( approx. 60 miles in the race)where the RD said the original course was cancelled because the road was washed out, and instead we’d all be going to mile 109 and back to Panamint, for a total of 133 miles. Panic set in, as I knew that would compromise my goal of a double, but within a hour, CALTRANS fixed the roads, and the original course was once more. Ironically, a huge rainbow appeared over Townes Pass to the west, as I got drenched in one of many rainstorms.

Things Done Wrong:
The only major thing that went wrong was that one of my crew members on the return trip got sick. Apparently she didn’t rest when she was supposed to, instead was out taking pictures of “famous runners” and became too exhausted to crew and take care of her runner..ME! It was also apparent she was unprepared for the desert, despite crewing for another runner who did a double the year before. Park Rangers found her a room, and another crew member stayed with her to make sure she was OK, but it left me with just one crew member, my husband Tim. Anyone who has crewed for a spouse knows that it isn’t easy crewing for a spouse. But on less than three hours of sleep and climbing up Mt. Whitney, carrying all his gear and mine, he stayed with me till the end. I think in a way this made me more focused, and eliminated the potential for any drama. And trust me, it is easy to get emotional after running 250 miles. But I didn’t have that luxury. Tim doesn’t handle it when well when I get upse t, so any blisters, emotional discharge, physical pain, etc.. I had to bury, and process myself. Which was probably just as well. The desert hates excess and frivolity of any kind. We took off from Stovepipe Wells at 3:30 am, with that lovely full moon guiding our way. I couldn’t help but notice how at even 3:30 am it was unusually warm........

Any Other Stuff:
As soon as that sun came up, the temperature soared. It became so hot so fast that I had to wrap my legs with medical tape to keep them from feeling as if they were literally burning. I began to chafe from the oppressive heat, and ended up cutting the crotch out of my running shorts. I took a short break near Furnace Creek Resort ( 17 miles from Badwater) when the park ranger who found a motel room for my sick crew member stopped by to see how we were doing.(I didn’t tell him I wasn’t wearing any underwear.) I asked him if she was OK, (she was, and was able to crew the last ten miles with the other crew member) and thanked him, and asked if it put any future races in jeopardy. He said everything was fine, thank God! The rangers at DV apparently see all kinds of nutcases and heat related illnesses, and I thanked them for their efforts to help this crew member. Still, it wasn’t any consolation for me that Tim had been crewing me solo for nearly a day after going up Mt. Whitney with me. I seriousl y considered a grocery cart for the last 65 miles, but then realized that it was probably the heat talking.(still, don’t put it past me) I try and tell myself that when things go bad in races, and in life, that it all happens for a reason, but this wasn’t any comfort to me. I hated to see my husband in such a tired state. But I had to finish, I just had to! And now it was 131 degrees, with a headwind of 20-40 mph, with 17 miles to go. Some thermometers read 140. Fortunately I didn’t run the whole double crossing alone. As it turns out BW finisher Danny Westergaard also decided to do a double, and we “ran” much of it together,(from Father Crowley’s and on) and so at least Tim had Danny’s crew to talk to .It also adds to the validity of my crossing, and the company was most welcome. We even played games to keep our minds occupied. Games like “ NUMBERS THAT COME AFTER 10” ( I lost) and “WORDS THAT START WITH LETTERS OF THE ALPHABET",( appropriate for anything aft er 250 miles) New friendships were formed as well. A few good friends from Bishop CA and Lone Pine came down to take pictures and cheer me on those last 10 miles. It was so good to see “Badwater Ben” and his lovely wife Denise come down, and friends Phil and Kari , to take pictures and authenticate my double crossing. Cheering on another double crossing finisher was wonderful too. I ended up taking off over 14 hours off the previous woman’s double crossing record,( Rhonda Provost, 143 hours 45 minutes) coming in at a time of 129 hours and 44 minutes and 5 seconds, according to Ben’s watch, with my husband by my side. I’ve been out to DV many times, and I can honestly say that the intensity of the heat and the fury by which the wind blew was unlike anything I had ever experienced before. In a way I think it mirrored the passion and intensity it took to finish the double, and I loved every crazy, swirling, scorching minute of it. Death Valley has a power to her, and an alluring beauty, a timelessness, unlike any other place I’ve been to. Doing something like Badwater, or a double, will strip you to your core, leaving you exposed, much like her barren multi-colored mountains and rugged canyon walls. In other worlds, the truth of who you are comes out, in a process that can be both painful and humbling, but empowering.

There are so many other things that I would like to add, so many other things that happened, but due to time and space, that’s all for right now. I am creating a blog, at the request of many of my friends, and so here is the address: www.anitamariefromm.blogspot.com, if you are interested.

It isn’t near completion, but will soon have pictures, more rants,(complete with cuss words!) and other stuff about my double crossing that I forgot to write in this race report.

***
Juneau Marathon (Frank Maier Memorial) — Juneau, Alaska — August 2, 2008

Steve Bremner reports:
Distance: marathon
Goal: finish
Results: 2:57:58
Website: http://www.southeastroadrunners.org/marathon.htm

General Summary:
Rebekka Hannula and I joined former Incline Club runner Jose Aponte and his wife Cynthia for a trip to Juneau and a marathon--my 49th marathon state. Jose also ran the marathon (3:41). Rebekka ran the half (2:06).

The course is a “PR” course with rolling gentle hills that one can work with. I had no clear goals, but since I am running the Leadville 100 in two weeks I really only wanted to finish respectably. Wouldn’t you know it though that was not to be. I started off easy, running my first mile in 6:58 and found myself in 4th place. Soon I had moved into second and was able to keep first in sight. I kept running sub-sevens almost the entire race. I think my slowest mile was 7:15 and that was around 23. About mile 19 the eventual winner bounded by me with way too much energy. An ultrarunner running his first marathon, Geoff Roes had no idea how to pace himself, running the first half in 2:34 and the second in 1:16. I was still running strong when another youngster came out of the blue and passed me. I caught the leader who I had thought was my competition all along about mile 25 and wound up finishing third overall and first masters with my best marathon time in three and a half years: 2:57.

Things Done Right:
Good pacing. Started slowly.

Things Done Wrong:
Just about a perfect race for me.

Any Other Stuff:
The race actually starts across the channel from Juneau in the small town of Douglas. The course is an out and back along the coastal road on Douglas Island. We shared a cab to the race and back. There was no transportation provided by the race.

Here is link to an article on the race in which I am quoted: http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/080308/spo_312982343.shtml

***
Skyline 50k — Oakland, CA — Aug. 3, 2008

Lori Hawkins reports:
Distance: 50k
Goal: Beat my Leadville Marathon time of 7:15 (I think)
Results: 6:43
Website: http://www.skyline50k.us/

General Summary:
A Championship Event in the 2008 PA/USATF Ultra Grand Prix Series, so there were a lot of impressive t-shirts on the start line. With this many experienced runners, it was easy to win the 1st female rookie award with a time like mine! Great trails, great weather, who’d know that over the hill to the east was the Bay Area? Lots of ups and downs to challenge the legs, but the altitude advantage was working, cuz by miles 10 and 13, I was feeling a lot better than I would have here, at home. Mile 23 found me dragging, but somehow I found a 2nd (or 3rd) wind at 25, and ran most of the rest of the way.

Things Done Right:
Trained with IC and at Red Rocks in early mornings. Ran 8 miles in the heat of Sacramento 3 days prior, then rested. Watched my intake over the weekend. Hydrated well, gelled and ate fruit during the race. Didn’t really know what to expect for that distance, but I guess it worked.

Things Done Wrong:
Stayed up late the night before at my 30th high school reunion. But they were each good motivation to train for the other!

Any Other Stuff:
Lots of food at the aid stations and finish, very informative website, including trail description with photos. Course was mostly shade. Will I do another ultra? You bet!

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IC BIRTHDAYS: 8/6/2008 — 8/12/2008
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NEW IC MEMBERS: 7/16/2008 — 8/5/2008
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UPDATED ABOUT ME PAGES: 7/16/2008 — 8/5/2008
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NEWSLETTER SUBMISSIONS:
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Additions to Incline Club News from IC members are welcome and encouraged. Submit a Newsletter Item at:
http://www.inclineclub.com/newsletter.htm

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WEBSITES:
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Training for the Ascent and Marathon on Pikes Peak
http://www.skyrunner.com/guide/

Barr Trail Mountain Race
http://www.runpikespeak.com
presented by Pikes Peak National Bank

Incline Club
http://www.inclineclub.com

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