Run With Promise

It was a beautiful day to run. Cool in the morning with the hint of rain in the air that never delivered. It warmed up nicley and 20 miles on what I was afraid was going to be heavy legs flew by nicely. We never know what the day will bring - running or otherwise. Each day is filled with moments of promise that add up towards a lifetime. Here's a secrect - promises such as these don't need to be kept but only made aware of - from the instant of awareness a promise is met with the choice of which course we may wish to persue. There is only the promise of life and that's eternal.
Run with promise my friends.

Eric

Heavy Price

What a difference a meal makes - all week I have eater fairly close to the 80/10/10 ideal and have felt light, energetic, strong and fast. I had a great meal at Great Sage (vegan resurant) and feel heavy,sluggish, weak and slow. Plant based alone isn't enough, vegan isn't enough - we have to be mindul of what we put in our bodies. Food ladened with oil, soduim and fats still take a heavy toll on the body - even though they're plant derived. Fruit, greens and nuts and seeds (in small quanities)give one an entierely different feeling after a meal and for hours and days afterwards. I know I will pay a price for my meal tonight and it will be with the performance of my run tomorrow. It was worth it for the company - but besides that - I'll stick with my fruit and greens.

Peace,
Eric

Watch for These Moments

It seems that nothing expresses inner freedom so well as running. Inner calm, the true stillness of our being allowed to breathe outward into motion. It is the Ying and Ynag of Taoism expressed in such a beautiful way. It's not often when it all flows together and we have a run like that - but when we do - it's magic.
Watch for these moments.
They happen.

Peace,
Eric

More on Dietary Plan

Right now I feel like I have my diet dialed in (for now) - the bulk of calories coming from fruit, yes breakfast, lunch and dinner, with the dinner portion being followed by a large green salad with mixed grilled vegeatables, hemp seeds (or flax or chia) with a small handful of nuts thrown in. Not 100% raw and I'll allow myself some room for the ocasional cooked grain, legumes or something similair. As mentioned in another post I'll still continue to dine out at on vegan fare - not often, but enough to be sociable. The grilled vegetables and seasoning are mainly filler (nutrional filler) and taste - it makes the salad "meal like". The nuts and hemp provide essential fats, a few more calories and extra protein. I seem to do a bit better strength wise with a little extra fat ad protein but I do want to keep them as close to 10% of my total calorie intake as possible. Remember fruit contains protein and greens have fat so you really can get by on very little overt fat and protein. My goal is to maximize recovery from running and lifting (and frequent racing) maintain strength while gaining speed and endurance and optimize leanness while keeping a fair amount of muscle. No small order.
We'll see how the plan works.

Thanks for reading!

Eric

Shadows and Reality

I have always been intrigued by shadows - to catch a glimpse of passing wings dark against the ground, I know there is flight above. There's magic in the creation that comes from dark and light and yet has no substance to believe in. Plato's allegory of the cave demonstrates this well - not only are we spelled bound by ilussions but imprisoned by the shadows we mistake as the world. Yet to the master of light, one who knows that it is his own inner fire that cast shadows- he playes freely in all worlds and steps between at his own choosing. The shadow exist because of light - yet light...light is who we are. That's reality.

My Diet and a Few Small Changes

I'm making a few (minor) dietary changes (again) - eating out yesterday made me realize that I have allowed a bit more food that doesn't really serve me well into my diet. Don't get me wrong, I don't eat out often I for me it's more social than for the actual food. I'm fortunate that there is a great vegan resturant nearby and I will keep these social events in place. I enjoy them and the company and it is seldom enough that I can justify the splurge (I term I sorta dislike as it implies I'm not enjoying my everyday diet - I do)But I also feel that my diet can use a few modifications, such as - fruit is breakfast and lunch and I intend to make it dinner as well for at least serval days during the week. My daily greens will be larger and the center piece for dinner, with a lots of lightly sauteed (in water or veggie broth of course) vegetables and herbs providing variety. This is a pretty big salad (I eat a big one now but this will be even larger) and I don't expect to be hungry after but if I am I will follow up with a baked (well, micro-baked) sweet potato. Protein and fat needs will be met with a handful of almonds or walnuts (as usual) along with a table sppon or so of hemp seeds, chia seeds or flax seeds. I've been enjoying hemp seeds quite a bit recently and it provides a substanstial amount of protein (11 grams per 3 table spoons) Once or twice a week I will still have some whole grains and legumes of some sort as I feel they do provide a unique role in the health care of the body and, well, I make a pretty good black bean burger. So there you have it (if you were at all interested) so here was my diet today, which up until dinner was pretty standard -
Breakfast - smoothie with 6 bananas, 5 dates and about 100 calories wrth of mangoes. About 1000 calories
Lunch - another smoothie with 8 bananas, , 5 dates, 100 calories with of mangoes. A little over 1200 calories.
Snack - Golden Delicious apple. Maybe 60 calories
Dinner - 10 bananas, large mixed green salad, with (lightly) sauteed green and red peppers, onion, asparagus, a hint of garlic and seasoning (no salt) along with hemp seeds and a small handful of almonds. I followed this with a sweet potato. Maybe 1500 calories there.
I'll burn that off pretty quickly tomorrow so we'll see if that was enough fruit for the day. Remember that todays food is tomorrows fuel. So choose wisely today!

Thanks for reading,
Eric

On Eating Out

For the most part I tend to gravitate towards real food - plants (a few) grains, with very little prcocess vegan fare. Eventually I'll commit a fully raw vegan diet as I feel over all hte best when my diet consist of this. Howver these days I do make the occasional exccpetion with more refined, higher processed vegan food - rarely and usually for special times of celebration (and sometimes just to go out is a celebration). Today was one of thoses days and I went to Great Sage resturant with my wife. Great Sage is totally vegan so you never have to ask about the orgin of any food item on the menue. That's a nice change of pace from years of eating out and having to give people (and recieve it in return) the third degree about how your food is being prepared. Howver just because it's vegan doesn't make it healthy. There are always healthy(er) options on a vegan menue but I think even the best options may not be ideal. Most have more fat then we need, more sodium and less nutrional value. As an athlete I'm at my optimal when I eat "clean" and I can definitely feel the ifference with even a slight variance in my diet.
But still it's nice to have this vegan option and a gathering of people who share your iddeals. So celebrate - but keep it to those special times.

Peace,
Eric

Perfection

The air was heavy with moisture today - humid, mistly and the potential for a steady downpour near constant. Somedays seem more perfect for running than others. Yet everyday is perfection and every run adds its own unique texture to the days fabric. Today was perfect. My run was perfect. And I'm happy to be alive.

Passage Meditation and The Prayer of St. Francis

The principle idea of Passage Meditation as presented by Eknath Easwran is that we become what we repeatedly meditate upon. This is why the passage that Easwaran most often refers to and recommends is the Payer of St. Francis. Spiritual author Wayne Dyer has based his Book - There's a Spiritual Solution to Every Problem on this prayer and has declared it no less than a spiritual formular for iner peace and changing the way we view the world. This prayer is a blue print for making saints. It's the prayer I have returned to repeatedly in my own meditation practice. The key to using passage meditation is to slowly (very slowly) repeat the memorized passage silently to yourself, while seated, eyes closed, and breathing evenly. When the mind goes off topic bring it back to the passage - when it goes seriously awry then it is time to firmly yet gently return it to the beginnig of the passge to begin again. That's the nature of meditation - returning (again and again) to the Source. In time the mind quiet downs and we fall into an act of absorbtion that lies beyond the mere words to the source of their existence - we become one with their Source. We become one with God. We become God. It takes time, practice, kindness to self - all important attributes that we learn to apply not only on ourselves but to others as well. A pretty noble pursuit. Eknath Easwaran's book - Passage Mediation is available at all major book sellers and is an easy, enjoyable read with a lifetime of wisdom to be found within its pages. I highly encourage everyone (yes, everyone) to practice some form of meditation and passage meditation is easily accessable and the life changes are immense and quick to come about.
I hope this post can provide some direction to those who are searching. Good luck to all.

Peace,
Eric

Jump Stretch Band Flexibility Routine

I love the Jump Stretch Bands and use the almost daily as prehab or rehab and to aid recovery - a great stretching routine that takes just minutes to perform. Try it!

Gallaway...Gallawalk?

Today for my longer tempo run I tried a little Galloway experiment. For those who may not know Jeff Galloway is an Olympic medelist (10,000 M)who later went on to become one of America's premier running coaches - perhaps coaching more runners to their first successful completion of a marathon event then any other coach. No small accomplishment. Galloway is not without controversry though - his popular run/walk method leaves some hardcore (or those who think they are) unnerved by the fact that a mere mortal (Oprah) claim that they've RUN a marathon when clearly there was some walking involved. I leave that for the hardcore to judge - I like walk breaks and I like Galloway. The therory of walk breaks is that by taking shceduled, early walk breaks the runner will save his/her legs for the final miles of the race. It's not a way to beat the wall - but maybe circumvent it by a bit. Or maybe still to have fresher legs to kick through it. I ran my second fasted half marathon time with walk breaks (4min run/3 second walk) and my fastest without - I might have run it even faster if I took them, I don't know. I lknow I take them quite frequently on ultras although they're seldom planned, usually I allow the terrain to dictate the breaks. So anyway, today - long tempo run, 8:37 pace for 8.5 miles. Actual running pace was low 8s to high 7s so really only lost about 20 seconds with the walk breaks. And I felt great afterwards - ready for more miles. Usually my tempo runs are without walk breaks - thus the experiemnt. I liked it and think it will be a keeper for the longer tempo runs. An 8:37 pace with a kick left at the end may get me to 3:40 later this year (Baltimore, where I fade at the end - every year)I could be happy with that.

Peace,
Eric

Beliefs

Belief. It's the inner fuel for athletes, mystics and entrepreneurs. Beliefs lay the ground work for faith. We have faith in a postive outcome because our beliefs have been tried and tested and stood fast. And yet beliefs have a built in flexibility that allows us to grow and discard what no longer serves - we are able to expand past old beliefs into something new and grander still. Or we can - if we belive we are capable of such growth. It seems that nothing is set in stone - physisit are even unbending Einsteins cast iron theory of relativity. Some believe there is something faster then the speed of light. Maybe there is - by belief is open on the matter.
Choose your beliefs wisely - have them serve you.
Not the other way around.

Peace,
Eric

Racing With Spirit?

Can racing be spiritual? Can competition in general be spiritual? Of course that's open to opinion - many might say no, even though team prayer is a weekly ritual across the country. My thoughts are that everything can and is spiritual - it's our urge to seperate things that keep the concept of "unspiritual" alive. And on that note - I'm going to seperate something. Running, racing, competing- from a ego perspective is certainly not spiritually based- but only because it's ego that seperates spirit from worldly. From the light of spirit there is no seperation becasue there is only spirit- ego is an illusion and the world that springs from it is illusion as well. We could debate the issue of what's real and what's not - many have and many always will - but from a Vedic, Buddhist, mystic, shamanatic vision the world is neither real nor unreal - or it's both, or it's nothing. Confusing? Yep. So what to believe? For me, I believe that my heart sees spirit and my ego see's a materialistic world. Carlos Castaneda urged his readers to ask - "does this path have heart?" If so - then that's the path to follow.
So back to racing -
Does the path of your race have heart?
You'll know what to do.

Wishes Fulfilled By Wayne Dyer - Book Review

Wayne Dyer's new book - Wishes Fulfilled is (in my opinion) an instant classic. At once familiar, with the classic lines of all spiritual text (along with Dr. Dyer's warm writing style)and cutting edge in it's approach to manifesting change (and miracles) in our lives. This is actually very famiiar ground for Dr. Dyer as he has writting on manifasting in several other books - some in passing (There's a Spiritual Solution to Every Problem. amomng several)and some in detail (Manifest Your Destinty)yet his new book breaks ground in it's marriage of imagination and spiritual ideals. Dr. Dyer gives full credit to those who taught before him and honestly has done more in promoting the works of others (past and present) then any other spiritual author I'm aware of. The premise of this work is that we have within our imagination the power to create positive (and negative) changes in our world. By issueing the release of the command - I Am (That I Am) we release this imaginative power as a creative force to whicj brings these changes about. It's a great reminder to those time when we claim ill heath, disease and poverty (I am sick, I am unwell, I am poor...)
I am a long time fan and student of Wayne Dyer and have had the good forune to meet him at a talk once in New York City. He is very warm and approachable in person and it seems eveident that he has won his wisdom the hard way - life. I hope he tours with this bok and everyone gets the chance to listen, see and meet him. This is also a PBS presentation although I have yet to see it. Look for it!
A wonderful book...and I hope this inspires someone to pick it up - and manifest some wonderful changes in their lives!

Peace,
Eric

In and Out

I often hear non-vegans comment on health issues of vegans, comments such as they're sickly, lack energy, muscle and stamina - every non vegan semems to know such a person. And they're are vegans such as that, unfortunetely, just as there are meat eaters like that as well. A common mustake many vegans make is concentrating on what they don't put into their bodies instead of what the do (or should) consume. With a proper, mindful, approach and a diet costumed towards a particular goal - a vegan diet provides superior nutrition in every way. The reason for this is that not only do we eliminate the negative food and anti-nutrition coming in - we also emphasize the healing, life sustaining, energizing fuel we place in our bodies. Fruits, vegetables (and for some) grains, legumes and other REAL food items are not just the staple but the primary source of nutrients. With the right amound of caloreis from these foods energy and health will sore and athletic pursuits and goals become easier and easier to reach and attain. The good (great) news is that even if a diet is not 100% pure 9or even 80%) and even if one chooses to eat meat - the more quality food we consume - the healthier, happier and athletic we will be.

Try it.

Peace,
Eric

Body Scanning for Runners

Mindful running. In Chi Running it is referred to as a full body scan. In Chi Running and Tai Chiit's believed that pain and fatiuge (other than injury or over stressing our level conditioning)but a blockage of our flow of energy, To release the blockage and return to our flow state we must scan the body for tension and purposly relax in any given area of tension. It works. But it takes practice and more - it takes a commitment to remember the technique, especially during the run when we are used to letting the mind go it's own way, shut down or allow it other focus. A moment is all we need however - a quick scan, relax any tension mindfully and gently and return to the act of running. With practice it becomes a habit during our runs and one that you will look forward to as it helps increase speed and the ease in which we move. An excellent way to practive while at home is a Vipassna meditation method presented by S.N. Goenka of India. I practiced this a few years ago and it produced immediate benifits in all aplications that required mindfullness and a calm mind. There are many interesting articals on the web and author Jon Kabbot - Zinn offeres a CD with a body scan meditation that should prove useful.
Check iit out and happy running!

Eric

Labels

Resist labels. It seems to me that labels, whether self designed, given or inherited serve only to limit our growth spiritually, emotionally and even physically. Conservatives resist many great liberal concepts and liberals are often quick to denounce some sound consersative principals. Be neither conservtive nor liberal - be open. The best of everything will flow to you.

No Turning Back

Even if I wanted to I doubt that I could ever go back to eating meat. Perhaps under the right conditions a small amount of dairy is possible. Still doubtful though - it's a harmful substance to the body. Of cours the right conditions is in knowing that to bring the dairy product to my plate there would have to be a complete lack of suffring on the part of the animal. And that's the major reason I could never go back to animal products - it's all but impossible to know this for certain. I know of (now former) vegans who have added fish back into their diet - but fish are capable of suffering that same as we are - some scientist say perhaps even more as they lack the ability to rationalize the end of suffering - for them the moment of pain is all consuming and all they know. I won't participate in this. Ever again. The botoom line is that there is nothing animal products offer that the body truely needs (wants, maybe yes) I know many will make the argument that this isn't so. But the facts far out weight the arguments for keeping animals products in the diet. Be informed. Make your own choice after the information has been gathered. And if these products are still part of your lifestyle - choose as kindly and wisely as possibe. After you have made this choice - you will have to choose to forget all that has been learned on the cruelty of your diet.
Good luck with that.

Eric

Upcoming Races

Speaking of marathoning (previous post)I am now signed up for the Triple Crown Marathon put on by the infamous Trail Dawgs and the North Face Endurance Challange 50k - the marathon is the end of April and the 50k is in early June. This will be my second running of the Triple Crown and my third of North Face, although the first year was the 50 mile event. Along with this is a 10k (Clydes) and a yet to be determined half marathon (Fredrick or Maple Lawn - same day)I really wouldn't mind an early april end March 50k but one doesn't seem to be on the horizon - at least not too near by. But I'm excited for the upcoming races and all thi will help with my CAT training - this is sub 8 year on this difficult course. That's a promise!

Eric

Chi Marathoning

Danny Dreyer's new book Chi Marathoning is now available and I have it downloaded to my Nook. Even with a quick galance through I can tell that this book is chockfull of information and I'm loking forward to diving in. Dreyer's first book - Chi Running was very influential in helping me develope my running style and particularly his method ofsteep hill running has changed my ultra racing so much more for the (easier) better. I'm not sold 100% on the Chi Running method but the things I haven't come around to are very minor on the whole and perhaps with a recommitment on my part to 100% compliance and I would see things completely his way. I'm running fast(er) and injury free and farther then ever before - much f that is with the help of Chi Running and all of it is due to very similar methods - so I own and offer Mr. Dreyer a big thank you. I'll do a complete review of the book once I'm finished but I definitely recommend picking up a copy. I had the great frtune to talk to Mr. Dreyer n the phone thanks to my wife who was running the Air Force Marathon and he is a gracious and kind man and his enthusiasm for running was felt even on the phone. This man knows his stuff. If you read it drop me a line and let me know what you think - and if there's any Chi Runners out there please provide some feedback as well.

Thanks!

Little More on I AM

More on I AM - these are not magic words, they are words of self identification. They are the words Jesus used to identify himself as they way through which to reach God - and how we could (and should) do the same. Miracles of healing can take place through our commitment to seeing the light of our beig through the lens of I AM, yet the power in the words act a s bridge to unite us with this light. That's the goal and purpose of using the I AM mantra and the more we identify with the Light the more we become (what we truly are) Light.

Peace,
Eric

I AM...

I have written before on the topic of "Mantram runs" - of repeating a holy name as you run and turning motion into an act of prayer and healing. Of course any action done with mindfulness will become a meditation and anything done with an awareness of it's sacred orgin will become a prayer. On my last race I used the affirmation "I AM" as a reminder of my own sacred orgin and that only my body can tire - if indeed I run with spirit then - I AM tireless. The words I AM are a declaration of spirit. They are the words given to Moses from the burning bush - " Ehyeh asher ehyeh - I AM That I AM" one of seven holy names for God. Anything following these words - I AM become a law unto ourselves. To declare I am tired, sick or ill in any form is to declare ourselves seperate from God and alone in this world. Mystics from every tradtion recognize the I AM as the consciousness that procedes thought and manifestation. Run with the thought of I AM spirit, limitless, free of restraints and pur in motion and we have declared our true potential as a child of God. That's running with spirit. So did it work for me? Yes. Did I get tired? Yes. But I was able to remind myself that fatiuge doesn't last and doesn't define me as a runner - only my spirit does.

A Practice

First, very often, with an awakening of spiritual knowledge through medtation, contemplation and reading spiritual text, there comes a denial of the physical - we realize that we are not our bodies. Mystics through the ages have become stuck in this stage - the Buddha himself for quite some time denied the body and lived on a single grain of rice a day until he sat under the bhodi tree and saw the wisdom of the middle way. It was thought that through denial of the body that we could enter a higher state on consciousness and this was so - to a point - but it keeps the seeker stuck in the mode of denial. The body is not our ultimate reality - but it is a reality. Tantra teaches that through the body we can gain excess to our highest states. The body and its desires become a vehical to reach enlightenment and the ecstasy of Divine union. This is true as well but the body is often dismissed as just the vehical. I have always honored the paths of others and have tried to learn and apply as much as I could on my own path. And paths - trails - running - I think this too is a way to God. The Hopi's of the American South West would do spirit runs to the oceans edge, purging themselves of all that was non essential to thier divinity. We can do likewise. Every run can be training of the spirit and every race a celebration and remembrence of the Source in which we came from. The key is to run - and to discard all that is not motion, breath and spirit. It's a practice.Try it.

Peace,
Eric

Our Becoming

According to mystics of all traditions we each contain a spark of the Divine within us. Our only true mission in this life is to fan this tiny spark into a falme and then an all (ego) consuming fire. But first we must find the spark, we need to remember that we are of the same (God) material from which we originated - from God only comes God. That's all it takes - a small step of awareness of our Divine spark. And that is our becoming.

Peace,
Eric

A Useful Tool

One of the major life changes of a long time practice of meditation is the gradual process of becoming a less reactive person and more proactive in regard to how we respond to challenges - major and minor - that life presents to us. It's the slowing of the mind, the ability (through months, years of practice) of watching our thoughts and gaining a certain detachment from them. We become witness to our thoughts a swell as the space that falls between them. As a witness we are no longer personally involved and we can afford a proactive response of being kid rather then a reactive gesture from being caught in any given moment in the crowded cell of thoughts that keep us imprisoned by their hold. Meditation gains us space and with space is room to manuaver, to breathe and to simply allow what is. This is the true magic of meditation - it's a life aide, the most useful tool that spirit offers.
Try it.

Peace,
Eric

Update on Training

This has been a very good week training wise - a week where by all rights I should be pretty sore and recovering from a long stretch of 50ks and instead I got in two speed workouts (short tempo run and a longer mid tempo followed by striders)and hit some numbers in my (kettlebell)snatch I haven't hit in quite some time. I've run everyday since Saturdays Seneca Creek 50k+ mud run as well as lifted and some bodyweight stuff. I feel good. Of course I attribute most of this to my diet - high, raw vegan - and it rally seems the longer one stays on a vegan diet, making adjustments along the way, the greater the benifits and payoff. Could my diet be better? Yes, there's still a trace amount of processed stuff (condiments, ocassional Boca burger, Ezekiel bread...)and I very well may see even more improvement on a completely raw (read - frutarian/greens/nuts and seeds)but I enjoy my one cooked meal a day and for now it will stay. Time will tell though and I'm open for change.
Another big factor I believe is including the yoga form Sun Salutation back into my daily routine. I recovered quicker from the last two back to back races with this inclusion then I did with a two week break the race before. It's a simple thing to add with a lot to show for it. It's a keeper. So there is my training update - no races near until April with a 10, and a trail marathon at the end of the month. Training kicks in for CAT in the next few weeks though - so it will be the return of double runs spread through the week and a bit more serius hill work then I did last year. Thanks for reading!

Eric

Voluntairy Simplicity

Maybe I'm fantasizing or being unrealistic but I've been thinking quite a bit about "getting off the grid". Years ago I read Duane Elgin's book Voluntairy Simplicity and was struck by the idea of simplistic living. I like the thought of taking it a step farther and living as author Suart Wilde called a "fringe dweler". As a fringe dweller one is not necessary a hermit or recluse but has chosen to live lighty off the grid of society. I've always enjoyed the company of others but at the same time have always felt the urge for a life of contemplation - even going so far as consider joining a monestary at one point. I enjoy the thought of being a "monk in the world" and living a life of solitude and quite (and running and kettlbells of course!) Far from retreating from the world the concept is to become truly one with the world through solitairy means - realizing the world within.
That's where my thoughts are now.
Who knows?

Bad Days

Ultra running and other endurance sports (kettlebell sport a definite) are all about managed suffering. At the top level of course genetics, training and other issues come into play to separate first from second - but at the level played out in mid pack and back of the pack it comes to how much suffering are you willing to endure. And it varies. Somedays and some races I can endure far longer then I would have possibly imagined - and somedays, inexplicably, I throw the towel in early. Usually it's mental, sometimes physically, yet the two are so intwined it's all but impossible to say what broke first. Can this be managed? Can we harness will ower to improve our chances of survivial? Yes, but that simply won't change the fact that sometimes we al have a bad day, sometimes we all quit. And here's the real solution - we pick oursel;ves up, dust ourselves off and begin again - maybe right away, maybe tomorrow and maybe another race - it doesn't matter. What matters is the journey that brings to the ultimate end - and that's the self awareness that we continue - always. And in every journey, there's always more htan one beginning.

Peace,
Eric

The Buddha and Seneca Creek 50k

A definite lesson from this last series of races is a deep knowing that we are all capable fo so much then we give ourselves credit for. Fatiuge, pain, fear...these are all things that will be expereinced during a race and a race is nothing more than life compressed into a limited time frame - as we expereince these states (and more) and then even pass through them we learn a lesson taught by the Buddha for 2500 years - all things of fleeting. The Buddha himself used the word "Dukkha" which is Pali and has no real English translation but is commonly thought of as suffering, yet tranitory would perhaps be a better term. The Buddha stated that all life is Dukkha because we cling to the transitory nature of things. I know this well as I'm expereincing a transition that is proving to be quite painful - it's the clinging that brings pain and the release that ends suffering. Thats the nature of a Buddha - as well as a successful ultra runner. When it's accpeted that it's okay to hurt, to be tired, to be thirsty and want to quit, and when you know that each of these states will pass and be repleaced a hundred times in the course of a race (and thousands upon in life) then suffering becomes optional and the race beomes - a long day in the woods, and trails or roads and paths. The Buddha knew endurance.

Peace,
Eric

Race Review - Seneca Creek 50k 2012

This was my second running of the Seneca Creek 50k and although the course is familiar is contiues to bring new surprsies, challanges and stays constant in the beauty of the course. It's no surprise that the race is growing in popularity in the ultra community and many make it their first ultra expereince. If it was anyones first ultra this year almost anything else they do wil seem easy - it was 34+ mile Mud Fest!
Race Director Ed Schultze again did a fine job putting on the event - these things are never easy and the unforseen is bound to happen in any race. This year the chance of a last minute cancelation due to weather hung in the air. With a promise of rain, high winds and thunderstorms the park service held the right to cancel due to safety issues. Forunetely after early morning rain the weather cleared up nicely as the day progressed - even turning warm by mid afternoon. It was actually great weather for a race. All of this must have weighed heavy on Ed's mind as a lot of work and effort goes into making a race successful, yet the strain never showed and the event came off - if not seamlessly- then at least joyfully for all. Thanks Ed! And of course a big thanks must go to all the volunteers who braved the weather and had nothing but enthusiasm and praise for all the runners. It's a tough, cold, wet job for these guys yet their cheer never waivered. Thanks! A special thanks to volunteer and runner extraordinaire Hai Nguyen who promised me a banana and extra cowbell at the last aid station and delivered on both counts - thanks Hai!

That banana really helped with the last 3 miles leading to the finish - which (of course) was all up hill.

The course itself is quite diverse with stream crossings, pine forest, a loop around Clopper lake - all on single track trails. But what really stood out - was the mud. Lots of mud. I'm still finding mud in places I'm positive were scrubbed clean. This made for tough, slow running for me and many others but at the same time it only adds in the glory of the race. Especially over time and continued telling of the great adventure. Yet for now I won't exagerate - there was a butt load of mud.
Each aid station offered a wide variety - even for a picky vegan like me. I have to admit that I almost broke down and eat a pringle after all of the subliminal message (signs) offering testemant to their unnatural goodness. I did manage to hold off but it was close towards the end there.
My original goal was just to survive the race after last weeks Hashawha Hills 50k (mud and hills) and two weeks before that a 5:52 at the Mid MD 50k (even more mud) but I started off fast and felt pretty good and though I could bring it in close to 6:00. By mid point my quads had had enough of the mudd and told me to shoot for 6:30. At the end though I had to settle for 7:10 - tired legs, mud and a long course (34+ miles on my Garmin) and lack of pringles may have done me in. In no way am I upset with the time though - it was a fun day out in the woods with a great crowd of runners and volunteers - who could complain about that. On a more serious note about diet I really don't think I would have recovered nearly so well between races on a standard diet and part of doing this series of races was to see how far I could push myself. So I'm happy I withstood the pringles temptation (for this year)
So once again a big thanks to Ed, the volunteers and all involved for your pateince, commitment, time and effort. I'll see you all next year!

Eric

Mini Grand Slam is Over

The min Grand Slamis complete. Slow and painful (compared to the last two, which were just painful) and it was another mud run. Full review hopefully tomorrow. I'm really happy for the completion of this as I thought of it as a test not just physically but emotionaly and spiritually as well. Not too mention for my diet too. Over all I fell good - sore but the worst by far is my feet which have really taken a beating with all the mud and not a lot of time to recover. I'll be writing more about the series of races and what's coming up in the next few months. It's time to rest now (and eat!)

Peace,
Eric

Thoughts (and how they shape things) on Tomorrow

Tomorrow is race day. The weather service is calling for rain and possible thunderstorms. I don't (overly) mind running in the rain, especially in the woods where I'm somewhat sheilded ad it can be a pleasent distraction - from the sound of drops hitting the leaves to the careful steps navigated through the mud. I don't care for being out in thunderstorms though so I'm directing my thoughts on skipping that. According to Lynn M Taggart author os The Field and other writiers as well - our thoughts indeed can affect the weather and in fact shape the currents of our daily reality as well. So tomorrow is a day without storms. Of course the crucial aspect is to keep the mind on what we want and not allow it to wander into the thoughts of what we don't wish for. Difficult - but not impossible. Wayne Dyer's new book Wishes Fulfilled advices the reader on how wxactly to do so while at the same time aligning with our highest selves. So lets start here - tomorrow - safe conditions for all to run in. Lets see what we can do.

Peace,
Eric

Another Race Day Coming

Saturday is my next race - Seneca Creek 50k(+) I reviewd this race last year and had a great time running it with my wife, who even though was fighting off an injury finished with a PR. I was going to pace her again this year as well as Matt but due to unforseen circumstances each though it may be better to run the marathon instead. The marathon is no joke either as it may actually measure out at close to 30 miles on a tough trail. For myself I'm hoping to bring it in under 7 hours - my legs are still tired from last weeks Hashawha Hills 50k (and its 4000 elevation gain) and the Mid MD 50k two weeks before that. This will be the end of my mini grand slam and then it's back to training for other events this year - namely Catoctin (again!)and a faster marathon time. I'm also hoping for something a bit longer this year than a 50 miler - 100k would be perfect and I would love to do a 12 or 24 hour race. All in time and I'm sure they each will happen. Every race presents its own unique challenge and I don't overlook a single one - so every race is another opportunity to do my best on that given day. So what happens this Saturday will be another perfect day in the woods. I'm looking forward to it.

Peace,
Eric