Heat Training

Heat training takes a lot of care, commitment and mindfulness. It shouldn't be approached lightly. The past week or two the temperatures have reached the upper 90's to 100 degrees everyday. It's hard to run fast in this heat and on long runs a mistake can be severe. I have been training once to twice a day to acclimate to the heat for Catoctin 50k held at the end of this month. They'll be no escaping the heat there and it will be a very long day. So the more I run in the heat the better - the smarter I run in the heat is even better. Unfortunately I am somewhat notorious for under nourishing and hydrating and I'm seeking to change that this year. Hydration is first  - not only can poor hydration (and electrolyte consumption) cost a race - it can cost a life. And on the flip side excess water consumption can create an electrolyte imbalance and be just as deadly as dehydration. It's a fine line to run. So electrolyte tablets (S -caps)are a most along with the frequent water breaks.Most importantly is the mindfulness of what my body is doing in a given moment and monitoring my performance. Poor performance for a well trained athlete spells trouble - it's a sign something is off and to fix it sooner rather then later. Again mindfulness. Electrolyte repleacment drinks work fine as well with my favorit being my Vega - but in a pinch even Gatorade will do. I avoid most of these products in general but in heat it is better to take no chances - if that's all they have - drink it.
So that's the plan for now. Stay tuned for more hydration and fueling issues to be addressed!

Thans for reading,
Eric

Hope, Glen Campbell and My Mother

Glen Campbell is suffering from Alzheimer's disease. He is aware of this and has decided to end his career on his own terms - with dignity and grace. Here is a track from his last studio album - a beautiful song by Guided By Voices. The song is Hold On Hope and it has been a personal favorite since I first heard it on the television show Scrubs several years ago. I like songs about hope. I like anything that has to do with hope. Here's Glen - 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvZGU-5W2zs&feature=related
Beautiful. And very poignant. My mother suffered from Alzheimer's and I was witness to her daily struggle to hold on to dignity. She never failed. Through the most trying and difficult times she never failed. It was amazing and heartbreaking to see. And I saw it daily. And it was also a gift. I now knew what courage is. I know what grace is and I know what true dignity is. And I hold on hope.

Peace,
Eric

Race Review - Arbutus Firecracker 10k 2012

The Arbutus Firecracker 10k is a smalltown race with a big time crowd, attitude and enthusiasm. It really has the feel of a small town gathering, a time when locals would gather to test themselves in a friendly competition and neighbors would cheer on and aid the athletes. This race really seemed to bring out the best in people and it very well may have been my favorite race of the year. But not my fastest - at least not by about six seconds. This is a tough hilly course - technically there's really only three hills I guess but they seemed quite draining and along with the heat made for a tough run. In that respect I'm fairly happy with my run, especially coming to it with tired legs from Catoctin (50k) training.
The hills didn't seem to affect everyone as there were some very fast runners out there. Again this may feel like a small town race but the quality of runners was on an entierly different levels.Great to be part of a crowd like this. And the crowd included some grat freinds as well which only added to the fun - and competiton (unfortunetly I have fast friends!)
This was the 30th year the race has been held and with the crowds, racers, volunteers and neighbors all participating and enjoying themselves I can see it going on for another 30+ years. And I hope to be there - maybe I'll have caught up to my fast friends by then!

Peace,
Eric

Flirting

There are days when I feel uninspired, I don't feel like writing or leaving a blog post - after all it's just words on paper right? Right. It is just words on paper and for the most part the words are fairly meaningless. Yet there is something deeper here, deeper than the words and their meaning and deeper for sure than just a blog post. What's happening is Intention - tapping into a greater source that carriers us towards inspiration. Sometimes a poem or post will make it all the way - most often not. But if we don't tap into this source, if we don't court the muse - we'll never make it there at all. So for today - I'm just flirting with the muse and marking my place within the power of Intent. The effort will be recorded, and remembered. And maybe next time - I'll make it all the way.

Peace,
Eric

Success in Life and Racing

Tomorrow is the Arbutus Firecracker 10k - a local race that's been held every 4th of July since 1982. It's nice to be part of something like that. Since I'm training for a 50k at the end of the month I decided not to taper for this race but to run it hard in the condition I find myself in on race day - it maybe fast or it maybe slow - very slow. Yet the biggest part of racing and life is showing up. From there it's all about relaxing, letting go of expectations and having fun. Do those things and success in racing and in life are sure to follow.

Peace,
Eric

100 Mile Seed

Since I began ultra running 3 years ago the 100 mile seed was planted, nutured and now may be coming to fruit. I'm looking at a race in early November in Florida. Swamps, deserts and mountains have always appealed to me - extremes. And my first 100 in a swamp, with abundant wildlife and a flat course sounds ideal. Training is my strength but logistics is my weakness and that can make or break a runner in any race but especially in an ultra where so much can go wrong. That's the reason why I haven't tried a 100 yet - 50 miles and 50ks are just so much easier to plan. I always tell myself it's just a long day in the woods. I used to work retail and double shifts where all too common and nothing is worth then 12+ hours on linolium floors and flouresent lights. So 10+ hours in the woods is a piece of cake. Not so for 24-32. So I can make this happen. I can train for it and more importantly I can plan for this. Stay tuned.

Eric

Running - In Its Best and Purest Moment

In its best moment, its purest essence - running offers itself as a prayer. Yet there is no far off enitity to which the moment supplicates to - for in prayerful awareness there is only God and the moment is full of holy meaning. From the first brush of wind against the flesh to the heart falling into the natural rhythm of the world - there is only the message of motion - our breath matched in union with the breath of life itself. It's one moment stretched to infinity - the flow of motion played across a subtle stillness that hums holy both day and night. In our best moment, in our purest essence - we don't run, we are not runners - we move in sync with the will of God.

Peace,
Eric