Lottery Madness

The past 2 weeks have been a roller coaster of emotions, a myriad of highs and lows.  Nothing earth shattering or life threatening has happened, but my 2013 race schedule has started to take shape after learning the results of several lotteries.  A common question many people ask me is, “are there other people who run these crazy races you do?”  I chuckle and try to explain that many races make you qualify just to get into a lottery, in which you often have a minute chance of getting into the race.  Yes, our sport is growing, and lots of people run these crazy races I like.  Over the past 10+ days, the results of the lotteries were announced for Western States, Hardrock, Miwok, and Massanutten.  I entered all 4, and my name was drawn in 2 of them.  Not bad, I suppose, but one of the races I didn’t get selected for is the one race I would give almost anything to do, the Hardrock 100.  This marks the 4th straight year I have failed to get into Hardrock.  I wasn’t selected for Western States either, but I was actually relieved about this.  I was lucky enough to see my name on the starting list for the Miwok 100K outside San Francisco and the Massanutten 100 in northern Virginia.  Both of these races appear to be spectacular in both their beauty and difficulty.  As if each isn’t daunting by itself, they are separated by only 2 weeks, meaning that if I run both, I will have to run 100 miles on rocky mountain terrain after completing a hilly 100K not too long before.  I have friends doing both races, and both have been on my radar for a few years.  With the way these races are growing in popularity, it’s no given that I will be selected again in the near future, so I might as well run them when I can.  In May of this coming year I will travel to both coasts and run 162 miles of mountainous joy.  Hey, you only live once!

            

(View from Miwok course)

(Elevation profile for Massanutten 100)

(One day I will get to kiss the rock) 

 (Island Lake from Grant-Swamp Pass on the Hardrock course)

Wasatch In Pictures (And a few words)

I never really got around to writing a proper Wasatch race report.  It seems that life (and laziness) just got in the way.  The short version goes a little something like this.  Summer training was great, but things got crazy once school started, so training took a backseat.  A week before the race I got sick, culminating with my waking up on race morning with a fever and feeling lousy.  This feeling never really got better, and I was fully prepared to drop at mile 35.  Luckily for me, this aid station was on top of a mountain ridge, meaning I’d have to hike another 5 miles down the mountain before I could drop.  With the help of my crew and pacers (without whom I would not have finished), I somehow stumbled my way to an agonizing 35+ hour finish.  Here are a few pictures.

(Hiking towards Chinscraper in the early morning dawn)

(Chinscraper)

(Feeling lousy - again - on highest point on course) 

(Pretty much how I felt all race) 

(My second pacer, Rachael from Idaho) 

(Taking a break on the trail) 

(I look forward to Ant Knoll AS at mile 80 every year)

(Rachael plunging down The Dive)

Scott Jurek and Spaghetti Squash

 (Scott Jurek answering questions at Luke's Locker in Austin)

This past Sunday my traveling buddy (Lester) and I headed up to Austin to meet Scott Jurek, who was in town for an event.  In addition to getting him to sign my copy of his book, I wanted to ask him a few questions about a new line of hydration packs Ultimate Direction has come out with.  I had met Scott a couple times before, and the one thing that strikes me about him is how unbelievably friendly and down to earth he is.  For a guy who won 7 straight Western States titles, he is very humble and eager to share his knowledge with runners of all abilities.  After answering general questions, he signed books and took pictures.  Lester and I ran a few errands while we were in Austin and ended up bumping into Scott at Whole Foods.  Again, super nice guy.

While at Whole Foods I picked up a spaghetti squash, something I had read about lately but never experienced myself.  I finally got around to cooking it last night, and all I can say is “Why the heck have I not tried one until now???”  These things are amazingly easy to cook, and the taste is great.  They make a great substitute for pasta (more on my nutritional overhaul in an upcoming post) and pack a ton of nutrients.  Cooking these gems will definitely become part of my weekly routine. 

 

(Lester enjoying the breeze)

While at Whole Foods I picked up a spaghetti squash, something I had read about lately but never experienced myself.  I finally got around to cooking it last night, and all I can say is “Why the heck have I not tried one until now???”  These things are amazingly easy to cook, and the taste is great.  They make a great substitute for pasta (more on my nutritional overhaul in an upcoming post) and pack a ton of nutrients.  Cooking these gems will definitely become part of my weekly routine. 

 

(My new treat)