This is Ella's favorite song, every time it is on her face lights up and she loves to sing along. It makes me smile every time I hear it now.

A lot of trail nerds were off running in races this weekend. Bad Ben was doing Olga's PCT 50/50 and Gary and Greg were up in Minnesota for the Voyager 50 mile. Everyone finished their respective races and I am looking forward to reading some race reports.

There were some new records set at Badwater this year. Personally I am most impressed my David Goggins, that dude can run for someone that is built like a tank. It is good to see a bigger runner doing well. He placed 3rd overall, mighty impressive.

Everything kicks into high gear this week. Fall baseball and both Pop Warner teams start practice, so betweeen the 2 boys we have 7 football practices and 2 baseball practices this week.

Corbin's Bday is Sunday, he is turing six. He got his first loose tooth a few days ago and was really excited about that. He finally gave in and let me cut his hair this weekend, now I have to work on his long haired brother.

I got in another 105 mile week this week, pretty uneventful really. Tiff and I went to Smithville on the trails Saturday, she is probably going to do the Psycho night 10k next week. Sunday Rick and I went to Wyco for the group run. We did a 5 mile hill out and back before the group run. Kevin Guest is the only other one to show up for the group run though, luckily there were hundreds of horseflies out on the trail to keep us company. I am just concentrating on building miles right now, I have about 6 weeks of good running before cutting back before Arkansas Traveller. I still have not decided on whether to taper for the North Face 50 mile or the Tulsa 50k at all. I will just see how it goes, they are really just long training runs for Traveller after all.

Roll With IT

Sometimes you just gotta roll with it. I had every intention of cutting the mileage back a bit this week but it just didn't happen.

Monday 12

Tuesday 11

Wednesday 11 , 4 intervals at lunch

Thursday 13

Friday 10, 5 tempo Lunch

Saturday 22 trail

Sunday 17 trail

Total for the week was 105 which is a new high for me, other than the weeks of a 100 mile race. Considering it followed the toughest 50k I have done, it went very well. We got a nice stretch of cool mornings over the weekend and it was really enjoyable out on the trails. Tiff and the neighbor went out to Smithville on the trails Sunday and really enjoyed it out there. I don't recall too many people that don't like the trails once they have tried them.

The boys have football camp this week every night at the High School so I will be watching that all week long. The real practices start next week, so basically there isn't going to be any free time until football and Fall Baseball are over the end of October.

Throw in a few 50k's a 50 miler and a 100 and it makes for a very busy next 3 months, Oh well, it is better than sitting at home being bored.

Badwater is this week, I wish I had the opportunity and finances to go crew for someone. Running on the sun is my favorite documentary on running. The heat training and extremes that you must put yourself through to complete that race are amazing. Everything about it is extreme and the amount of mental strength and determination required to complete it is pretty much inconceivable to most people. I find myself thinking about that race whenever I am struggling in the heat. There is something about it that is very, very intriguing to me. I better just leave it at that for now.

Have a good one and enjoy it!!!

Salt is my Friend

The past week was a pretty good one. I was able to get in 82 miles of which 31 was during the Psycho Psummer Race at Wyco. Wednesday night we took the boys for football registration and equipment pickup. I hope they enjot it and stick with it,,,,$600.00 for them to play football plus fundraising!!! After we got home an ate they strapped on the pads and beat the crap out of each other until dark in the front yard. It is pretty funny watching an 8 and 5 year old in full pads taking turns knocking each other down for a few hours.

I had taken off Friday and we went out to the course to finish up marking the last few miles. Unfortunately we got the section which was still full of mudholes and my kids stepped in about every one while helping mark the course. After we finished up there we headed out to T-Rex and had lunch and then watched Transformers. The movie was great,,,,I am not sure who liked it more, me, Rick, John or the boys. We hung out at home that evening and ordered pizza.

Saturday morning Rick, John and I got to the race about 7:15. As soon as we parked Carey Smith pulled up next to us in the parking lot, he and his fellow slug Stephen made the trip from St. Louis for our little race. Once we got everyhting taken care of it was about time to start. I had 2 handhelds which I planned on draining before every aid station. My main goal for this race was to keep the system in balance to avoid cramping and stomach issues and to keep running as much as possible. I had a bandana to refill with ice at every aid station, I knew it would take time to refill constantly but I also know how important it is to keep from overheating.

Once Ben gave the instructions we were off. The pace seemed really quick the first mile. I knew everyone would slow quickly so I just hung back and waited for the 3 hills to move by some overzealous starters. By the third down hill I completely let it go. It is the first time I have ever lost control running down hill. I passed about 5 or six people here but I really couldn't see what was in front of me. Every step was jarring and I was just trying to feel the ground to stay on my feet. Luckily the people in front of me cleared the way or there could have been a pile up. After that I got in a decent groove and ran the entire 2nd loop with Carey. We talked most of the time which really made the first loop go by quickly. Dan Volk was also near us and joined in the conversation. We finished the first loop around 2:45 and got started on the 2nd. I knew the heat was going to start taking a toll and it soon followed. I slowed down a bit around mile 18, Carey and Dan started to pull away and I just decided to hang back and get through the down spot. So far everything was going well and I was steadily popping S caps and refilling with Succeed and Ice at every aid station.

By the time I got to the next water station I was pretty much all alone with no one in site. I was still feeling good and now taking 2 S-caps every 30 minutes. I was starting to get in a pretty good groove while goin down the single track along the ridge section until something caught my foot. I tried to catch myself but the momentum plus going downhill was too strong to overcome. I crashed on my shoulder and my waterbottles went rolling down the hill. I looked down at my knee and it was bleeding pretty good, along with my shoulder which was pretty scraped up. It took a few minutes to gather myself and find my waterbottles. I used one of the bottles to wash the cuts out and the other I saved for drinking. I was pretty shaken up but once I got moving the pain started to let up.

The last 7 miles I ran at a slow, steady pace and actually felt really good. I passed a few people the last 5 miles and crossed the line at 5:55. Overall the race went well, I ran with a good mindset and was able to stay cramp free. I ended up taking 24 S-caps over 31 miles and put down about 5 gallons of fluids. The temperature was 92 when I crossed the line. I really enjoyed myself at this race, Rick and I had a good time hanging out and talking to people for a few hours afterwards.

Congrats to Wynn Davis for tearing up the course....you rock. Thanks to all of the volunteers who were out in the nasty heat all day just to make sure we got home safe and sound. Carey, it was nice to spend some time chatting with you out on the trails. To all the nerds who busted your butts out there Saturday thanks for just being nerds.

Sunday I took the kids out for a 5 mile run about 10:30. I pushed Ella and the boys were on their bikes. They were complaining about their legs hurting the last few miles. I told them this is where you make yourself stronger. When it hurts its working your muscles and making them better. Once they realized what I was saying they thought it was pretty cool and kept pulling away from me.

I got in 12 miles this morning on pretty sore legs. I had every intention of sleeping in but Ella woke me up coughing so......I know what some will say, but when else do you have the chance to feel that pain similar to late in a 100 miler? I think it helps to get used to running with sore trashed legs. I guess only time will tell. Lunch was good too, got an hour of crosstraining at the gym.

Have a great day,,,,remember, you may not have the same opportunity tomorrow, do it TODAY.

Enjoy it!!

Do you know where your child is??

This morning I slept in a bit since I had to go into work at midnight for a few hours. I made it out for about 5 miles then got in 7 at lunchtime. It was really humid which could explain why it is storming now. I finally got to do some trail work Sunday at Wyco after our run. It seems like every time there was a workday I had something going on so I was really glad to finally get a chance to help out. I ended up with 85 miles last week, which has been the average for the past few weeks. There are still some shoe sucking muddy spots on the trail. I had to stop twice and go back to pull my shoe out of the mud holes.

I am going to go out to Wyco on Friday and help mark the course for the race on Saturday. I may take the kids with me depending on the weather. I think they would enjoy helping out on the trails too. They are wanting to see Transformers so maybe we can fit that in after the trail marking is finished.

After this weekend I need to get back to longer runs on the weekend. I have gotten in a few 20+ runs since Kettle but nothing up into the 30's. I would like to get in a few before the North Face race Labor Day weekend.

Voyager 50 is out of the plans for July. I just don't have the desire to go do it so I am not going to waste my time. We are going to go camping or maybe head to Bennet Springs to do some trout fishing instead.

I am kind of in one of those mental funks right now. There aren't any big races coming up soon to really focus and set my mind to so I am just kind of wandering aimlessly. I hope as Traveller 100 approaches that will change. So, for now I am just running to run. Not to finish with a certain time or beat a certain person or prove something, just to run because I can. For me, winning is not a thought, it just won't ever be within my reach, which may be a good thing. I can just run and try to do the best I can . I don't have to worry about how the others are training, what their strategy is or their finish time. I owe a lot to running, it has forever changed my life and allowed me to be a better person in many ways, and make many friends which I otherwise would have never met. That doesn't mean I am not competitive and that I don't care how I finish or what I placed. I want to catch the person in front of me in 15 th place just as much as the guy in 2nd wants to catch the 1st place runner. But really, we are just running through the woods...that's it. Enjoy it!!!

Happy 4th of July

I hope everyone has a safe and happy 4th of July. We don't have much planned, Tiff has to work so I will be solo with the kids for the day. Ella had a blast at her birthday party. She really enjoyed opening her presents and showing off her new stuff. She has been playing with her new Dream Kitchen non stop since Sunday.

I ended up with 81 miles last week. Had a few good runs during the week and got out to Wyco Sunday. We did 4 miles of trail on the hills section then 10 on the roads around the lake then back to the trails for seven more after that. The trails were insanely muddy. There were not many places that had good footing. I imagine they are still going to be muddy for the race next weekend too. It was an awesome leg workout and actually pretty fun too.

I was able to get in 10 miles at lunch Tuesday at the Downtown Fitness Works, which I just joined yesterday. This way I can get in some more weights and cardio durign the day. It is in the Commerce Tower where I work and has really nice locker rooms to get cleaned up afterwards, also outdoor basketball and tennis courts. I have been feelin tired for a few weeks but trying to fight through it without cutting back much. The left foot has been flaring up with Plantar Fasciatis and my right achilles is sore, especially in the mornings. If it keeps up I will start sleeping in my boot again which has really helped in the past.

Rick, John and I got in about 21 this morning, we did a hilly out and back from Kearney to Liberty. It was hot and the air was stagnent. Luckily TIff dropped off a couple jugs of water for us at the turnaround this morning on her way to work. We kept a good pace the whole time.

Have a Happy 4th!!!