Hell Week

Through hell fire and brimstone.. that's how it feels. It's hell week for my Vermont 100 training. Training that I began way back in the middle of October. This is the week, where I throw everything I've got, into the bucket, and hope to come out on the other side feeling good and like I could run more. But it's not an easy task. Sunday through Wednesday, the first 4 days of this week featured four runs totaling 39.5 miles. Today (Thursday) was the rest day, to be followed by the real work of the week. Hell Weekend. Three Days, 70 Miles. 20 Friday, 30 saturday, 20 Sunday. The goal this weekend is really time on my feet and simulating running on very tired legs.

So far this week I have run through a massive heat wave. 100 degree temps that have sparked major wild fires here in Colorado. Which means from time to time the air fills with smoke. Ever run through the smoke generated by a campfire.. for miles? I have this week. It's bee trying. I've managed to finally shake my sinus infection and I'm recovered from the Grand Canyon. Now is the week I build my final confidence for the Vermont 100, and start to truly convince myself of what is possible in the Green Mountains next months. 40 Miles into this week, 102 miles into the month.. and I feel awesome.

May Recap

April Re-Cap:
Miles Run: 205.86 Miles (+43.56)
# of Runs: 18 (+2)
Avg Miles: 11.44 (+1.30)
2013 Total Miles: 998.59 (+390.45 from 2012)

Month Starting Weight: 159.0 lbs.
Month Ending Weight: 153.8 (as of 5/29 PM)
Weight Change: (-5.2)
Total Weight Loss: 21.2 lbs. (From 175)
Pounds To Goal: 0

Race/Run Results:
Grand Canyon R2R2R JR 14:12

Race Preview: Golden Gate Dirty 30

This coming weekend is the 5th Annual Golden Gate Dirty 30. The race takes place in Colorado's Golden Gate Canyon State Park where elevations range from 7500 to 9500 feet. The 50K course consists of 90% single track trail and a brutal elevation gain of 8000'. This is another new race for me and sits inside my local haunts in Jefferson County. I made it up there about a month ago to check out course conditions, where I was greeted with knee to waist deep snows on the northern flank of the course. Given the way May has gone, I'm expecting the course to be a bit muddy and surely loaded with running water.

June is Hell Month for my Vermont 100 Training. The final month of training on the road to the 25th Annual Vermont 100 Mile Endurance Run. June is book ended by 50Ks.. This race.. and later the North Fork 50K in Pine, CO. In the middle of the month, hell weekend, which will feature 70 miles in 3 days split up amongst 3 runs. My training continues to go well, though I'll admit that the Grand Canyon once again took a lot out of me. I also rolled my ankle, severely, in the canyon and worried I may have sprained it or broken something. After some good active resting, ice, compression.. we're good to go but still tender in spots.

Video: 2013 Grand Canyon R2R2R

"Finally took a moment to sit back in the chair and reflect on another weekend at The Grand Canyon. Something about that place is sheer voodoo.. and in a good way. It's magic is unmatched, it pulls you in. When you leave the ditch, some how your soul stays behind for awhile.. freakin... un... real."

I had another amazing adventure in The Grand Canyon. This years run took me from The North Rim to the South Rim via Bright Angel Trail and back. The adventure measured 52 miles with a side trip to Ribbon Falls on the way back to cool down. It took me 14 hours and 12 minutes to complete this years run (R2R2R Time) and 14:27 with the run to and from camp. 3 hours shorter than last years adventure. A more detailed report is coming soon, but for now.. please enjoy this years 7 minute video of the fun we all had. Huge thanks to my friends from the Front Range who joined me.

Run Preview: Grand Canyon R2R2R

Last year I made the long journey to the Grand Canyon with my good running friends Jeremy Ebel and AJ Wellman. Words cannot adequately describe what one experiences on the day long journey from Rim to Rim to Rim. I have struggled to find them over the last year, and nothing even comes close. An entire day living inside of a post card, cruising across one of the worlds most magnificent wonders. I knew that I had to share this experience with others. So this year... I'll do just that.

When I lived back in New England, I dreamed about one day doing the Rim to Rim to Rim. A run that has become almost a rite of passage for ultra-runners. It's not something you do alone. I'll never forget that empty feeling I had when two of my old running buddies snuck off into the American Desert without me. It didn't take much convincing to get AJ and Ebel along last year. It didn't take much for me to find 12 new souls to join me for this years adventure. This year, it marks the end of my annual winter Fat Ass Series. I invited any and all Front Range runners who wanted to join in. I reserved two campsites and another runner reserved a 3rd. I've purchased food for a pasta dinner the night before, and warm chili for their weary bodies at the end. I'm playing host to 14 of us this weekend on the North Rim and I can't be more excited to share this adventure with such a great group of folks.

Review: Trail Box

Last week I received an e-mail from a reader by the name of Stuart Fingerhut. Stuart is a long time reader of this blog, and he's started a new concept that he wanted me to check out and write about. First, a little background. Over the last few months, BirchBox.com has picked up steam as a reputable way for consumers to test products. BirchBox caters to Men and Women by offering a small monthly sampling of Grooming & Beaty Brand Products. Consumers can join online by paying a $20 monthly fee, in return they receive a monthly "Birch Box" in the mail with trial sized grooming and lifestyle product samples.

Trail-Box.com works the same way. It is designed specifically for the new, or experienced, trail and ultra runner. The monthly fee is $10 a month, though for a short time the first month is only $1 and the 2nd the mere $10. Once you sign up, you'll receive a small package in the mail that is rather professionally wrapped.

Thinking of You...

Last Wednesday, I decided to take my son outside to get the mail. We opened the front door, and a white envelope fell to the ground. I picked it up and realized that someone had stuffed a card in the space between the storm door and the main door to the house. There was obviously a card inside, and it was beefy. Carter and I walked to the kitchen where I sat him down and opened the envelope. Inside was a card, on the outside it read "Thinking of you."

Upon opening the envelope, it didn't hit me at first by what was stuffed inside. I read the inside which simply said "naked." .... "Thinking of you.. naked?" I thought.. but then I turned to the pile of 20s. I fanned the money out and was shocked to see that it was all twenties. Four-hundred dollars worth.