My Next Adventure

Thursday, June 30, 2011

Weekly Schedule 6/27/11 - 7/3/11

MONDAY
Swim - 1:00:00/2550m - Variety

TUESDAY
Run - 0:30:00 - Easy Run
Strength - 1:00:00 - General Strength Work

WEDNESDAY
Bike - 1:00:00 - Easy Recovery Effort



THURSDAY
Run - 0:35:00/3.5 miles - Tempo
Swim - 0:45:00/1900m - 100s, 200s, Breathing Drills

FRIDAY

Off Day

SATURDAY

Bike - 1:30:00/25 miles - Moderate Effort

SUNDAY
Swim - 1:00:00/2200m - Short, Fast Pyramid

Run - 0:40:00 - Moderate Effort

TOTAL TIME THIS WEEK
Projected - 8:00:00

PREVIOUS WEEK
Swim (Projected/Actual)
Time - 0:50:00/0:49:03     Distance - 2000/2000
Bike (Projected/Actual)
Time - 1:00:00/1:06:19     Distance - 0/17.77
Run (Projected/Actual)
Time - 4:50:00/5:53:56     Distance - 15/28.84
Strength (Projected/Actual)
Time -0:00:00/0:00:00
TOTAL (Projected/Actual)
Time - 6:40:00/7:48:12

Double Dipsea was a success. Can see where I can pull a lot of time off next year. See race report for the overall on the race. Pleased with the result.

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Race Report - 6/25/11 - The Double Dipsea Trail Race


The infamous "RSC" - I cannot be held responsible for this man.
The Dipsea is the second oldest foot race in the United States behind the Boston Marathon. The Original race that goes from Mill Valley up 671 steps into a trail that is just under a total of 7 miles in length to Stinson Beach and the Pacific Ocean. Everything is either going up or down with slopes getting as steep as 65% and poison oak throughout the course. Further, the race has a couple of different tricks up its sleeve: it is handicapped, with older and younger runners getting a head start (in 2010, an 8 year old won the overall race); the final twist - there is no actual course.

Let me explain that last point. There is a Dipsea trail and it is marked. Most people run that trail during the race and that is the trail that is measured as the "official" race course, but you are allowed (even encouraged?) to deviate from that course at any point and as much as you like to try and win. You make the right move, as the Australians would say, "good on ya, mate!", but you make the wrong move and get lost or extend the course for yourself, too bad. I've never run a race like this before.

...and I probably never will because the original Dipsea is almost impossible to get into unless you live in the area. The only way that they take entries to the race is through the US Postal Service and only after the people who have raced, followed by locals have signed up. The race fills up immediately after it is opened for application. There is a loophole however...

If you are actually stupid enough to say to yourself I am willing to deal with the steps going both up and down and I will run over the two mountains twice, both coming and going, then we have a race for you called the Double Dipsea and you can get in! (There is also a Quad Dipsea, but these people are not human and I will refrain from further comment at this time). Being either fairly stubborn or fairly stupid about my physical capability, combined with my generally naive and hyper-positive attitude about what I am capable of, I signed up. Also, having not a shred of conscience for the well being of my friends, I tried to enlist two of my friends in the race with me.

The first, Thomas Burke, is an ultra runner of some ability. I mean this guy has done the Hard Rock 100! He has got to be good to go...  Initially he said "yes", but obviously terrified by the prospect of dealing with both the course and me, upon further reflection, he went out and fractured his ankle. Seeing that I was unwilling to take such a lame excuse as broken bones from a man of his character, he threw his getting married in Italy the following weekend in my face. Frustrated and trapped by my romantic side, I had no choice but to give him a pass on the trip to the Double Dipsea.

I have to pause here and say a huge congratulations to Thomas and Nicole Burke. You are two phenomenal people and both deserve the very best, which you are getting in each other. A lifetime of happiness for both of you! 

The second friend, Robert Cleveland (aka: RSC for those who read the comments in this blog) ran cross country in high school. Being in our early 40s keeps him just inside the statue of limitations for this to apply when I press him to join me. If he argued against coming, I would counter that this race is a lot cheaper than buying a Porsche to satisfy a mid-life crisis. He would be trapped by my superior line of thought and would have to come. He made it easy by saying yes before checking the race website. Sucker!

As a close friend for 25 years, the best man at my wedding and as I am Godfather to his daughter Katrina, I felt reasonably comfortable that should something happen to me, Rob would come looking for me. Now looking at the thick vegetation on the mountain as it pushed up into the mist and with Rob alternating his gaze between the mountain and me with a raised eyebrow I am not so sure...

Before the start - so naive about the next 3 hours...
The weather is serious fog with a temperature somewhere in the 50s. Good for me. I know from the elevation map that the first 2.5 miles are basically straight up. Cool temperatures for as long as they last will be welcome. Running around in a t-shirt and shorts for me in this weather is wonderful. Between leaving Vegas at 106F and my layer of personal insulation and feel refreshed. My colleague however is somewhat slimmer and is desperate to stay in the car where it is warmer until as close to race start as possible.

I had a feeling that this would be the case the previous evening in the hotel room when we were coming up with a plan as to when to leave the hotel in San Francisco to get here. I seemed to be arguing that we should leave three days prior to the event just in case something should happen along the 75 minute drive to the start at Stinson Beach. After all, you never know and we definitely can't be late for the race. Robert on the other hand seemed to be arguing that we pull in as our handicapped group was leaving the start line. Knowing that I am training for IM Arizona, he probably assumed that this local race would have the car version of bike handlers: we could dive out of the car at the start line and someone would be there to jump into the rolling car and park it in "transition" for us while we took off down the race course. Needless to say, we found a compromise between us and ended up at the race a little before the first group took off from the start. We were giving the 80 year old contestants about 45 minutes as a head start. The scratch runners would be giving us 4 minutes.

After a brief warm up, we slid into the back of the 40-44 men's pack at the start. The starter advised us that the course was marked "reasonably well" with pink ribbons and then we were off.

After a 40 yard warm up, the course starts up the first mountain. Not knowing what to expect from myself or the course, I convinced Rob that we should start in the back of the pack. We cruised along with Rob behind me as the runners pushed up the trail single file. A quarter mile in, people started to walk the hill, we started to work are way through and I stayed with a skinny guy who seemed like he was going all the way.

Expecting switch backs up the hill, we found steps instead. Irregular is size, the steps varied between 1 step and 3 and were hard to keep a rythm on. Pounding up, at some point Rob pulled ahead of me. I stayed with him until near the top of the first mountain, where he was able to slip around a group of power hikers and I got stuck behind. When I got around the hikers, I was on my own.

Having Nuun and gels with me, I was skipping aid stations and just making it happen for myself. The trail was simply amazing, as I worked my way through the John Muir Woods, I started to feel water dripping on my hat and found the ground wet under my feet. I remember Rob telling me before the race that the climate here was borderline rain forest. I pushed up and into the sunlight.

I had stayed with the trail during the first two major detours, but with the third one, I took it and followed a group of runners that I was trailing. I had no idea where I was going or what the right choices would be along the way. My plan: conservative on the way out, aggressive on the way back.

We crest the first mountain and start working through a rolling section of the trail before dropping off the back side. The pace picks up and I stay with the pack. As we hit the first downhill section I realize that conservative is a relative term.

The trail is very technical, if you are not dealing with these asymmetric steps, it is roots and rocks. If you fall here, bad things are going to happen.

It quickly becomes pandemonium with grown men grunting like Maria Sharapova with the effort of pounding down this hill. Everything is a blur of roots, rocks, low hanging tree limbs and human limbs. People grunting "left", "behind" or just "move". Myself included. The trail has now dropped into a tree-lined shoot where the grade is over 50% and I should be terrified, but I am too busy trying not lose my footing. If I fall here, I will have an extended date with a cast at the very least. In the midst of all the chaos, I hear a voice bellowing up the trail, "HEAD'S UP!". The voice is deep and gravelly, "HEAD'S UP! HEAD'S UP! HEAD'S UP!" I'm picturing some 300lb Hell's Angel coming up the trail, instead I see the race leader on the way back.

Probably 80 lbs and 60 years old, Jamie Rivers is bellowing "HEAD'S UP!" at me as she sprints up this 50% slope. I somehow dance right to get out of her way. Unbelievable! What a woman. (She ended up finishing with a net time of 1:37:18.)

I burst into a clearing and over the foot bridge that crosses the creek right before the Fiesta Aid Station. I churn through and up the second hill. As I start working my way up the hill I take a full shoulder shot from second place runner Don Stewart (who would finish third) on a hairpin in the trail. He doesn't apologize and I don't complain. I end up on a road and take advantage of the hard surface to try and build some momentum. Volunteers yell to stay right.

I finally arrive at the infamous stairs, which is actually a series of several sets of stairs that are all different in composition. Concrete, stone, wood; steep, low rise, irregular; it is all here. I pound down looking for hand rails where I can find them. As I work my way down, I see Rob pounding back up. I yell at him not to let me catch him. I have no idea how far behind I am.

I see an old man doubled over and literally pushing down on his legs with his hands to get up the stairs. He seriously looks like he is going to have a heart attack. It's sobering.

I make the turnaround and check my watch, 1:28. Wow! I have a chance to break 3:00. I head back for the stairs.

The stairs have worried me for awhile. I churn my way up with the sweat running off my cap. I think if the steps had been nonstop, it would have been much worse. Because there were a couple of small breaks in the steps, I was able to catch my breath as I ran and it wasn't as bad as I had anticipated. It turned out that the last hill should have been what I worried about.

I push past the stairs and to back to the top, run down suicide (aggression kicks in) and hit the wall on a portion of the trail known as Dynamite. Apparently I am not the only one as I run right into the back of a group of runners reenacting the Bataan Death March. I start to power hike behind them.

As I fight my way up the hill I begin to realize that 3:00 is slipping away. There is just nothing in the tank. The thought of churning past these people on the steep slope is just not happening. I marvel as I recall Jamie Rivers screaming "HEAD'S UP!" as she ran up this shit. Unbelievable.

I struggle with the hill the whole way. I'm done. There is nothing in me beyond a fast walk. Even when the slope lessens, I just can't get there. As I get into the final section of the hill known as Cardiac, I grit my teeth and start to look at jerseys. I shuffle my feet faster. Somewhere on the way up the hill I begin to run again.

I sound like a winded horse as I force myself up the hill to the aid station at the top. As I push through the station, I grab two dixie cups of water and throw them in my face, getting some of it in my mouth as I go. I pound down the hill screaming "ON YOUR LEFT" at a group of hikers (the trail is both popular and open to the public) as I hurtle by. I look at my watch, I can still make my goal of 3:10 if I hustle.

I pull into the back of a group of about six runners and we blast down to the last aid station. Two more cups of water with a little more in my mouth this time. I look forward at the split in the trail here. There is a sign that says "safest" with a arrow pointing to the left. That was the way I came up. I go right with.the group I have been shadowing down the hill.

We shoot down some more trail and end up on a paved road. I am in the back of the group still and cannot overcome the other runners. The first runner suddenly dives into the bushes off the left edge of the road and we all follow. We plow down a trail with bushes that are over six feet high on both sides. I feel like I'm in a car wash and the brushes are scrubbing my doors. After a little bit we burst out onto the road again.

As a car is coming toward us, he suddenly honks his horn and I see him point to out left through the windshield at the forest. The first four runners miss this and the guy in front of me dives left down the hill coming off the road. Is there even a trail there? I mentally shrug and dive in after him, god bless the locals I think...

I yell through the trees at the guy who is in front of me, "do you know where we're going?"

"No."

OK, so no risk no reward. We push through dead fall and plants, but there is a rough trail here and we can run. It feels like we are heading toward the ocean as we push down. At some point we come into some of the irregular steps made from railroad ties and I realize that we are back on the original trail. Thank you friendly motorist!

I blow past several volunteers who are pointing out where to go in the breaks of the trail at this point. I get disoriented a couple of times but hang in there and make it onto the short road to the finish line. I see Rob clapping and start to sprint. Crossing the line I look at my watch and see that I made my goal.

Rob 2:49:05 (2:45:05)
Me 3:08:53 (3:04:53)/13.15 miles (full trail is about 13.7 miles)

Shredded but happy after a wade in the Pacific Ocean to cool the legs.


Thursday, June 23, 2011

Dispatches From The Field - 6/21/11 - Three Square Kitchen

To Athletes, Family, Friends and the Merely Curious,

I have to break from the usual Dispatches From the Field for a special edition.

I am training for what will probably be the most challenging day in my 40+ years of life for many reasons, but one of the most important is the chance to raise awareness for those who are not getting enough to eat. I am focused on my local organization, Three Square, and am looking for your help. You can find a link to their website on the right side of my blog that goes directly to their website where you can either volunteer or make a donation. I do not handle your money in any way. $1 supplies three meals to people in need.
Such an amazing group of people.

Thank you to the amazing staff at RM Seafood for including me in their morning of volunteer work at Three Square.

How much was your Starbucks this morning? Donate 1 Starbucks visit to Three Square for my quest to complete an Ironman this year. I would consider it a personal favor.

My wife Melissa gets staff from RM Seafood Restaurant together to donate a couple hours at the Three Square Facility. She always asks me if I want to join in. Today we all went over for the morning. What did it cost me personally? A couple hours and moving one appointment. I got so much more back in return.

A couple of facts from my community:
1 in 8 households in Nevada struggle with hunger.
50% of the children in our schools are at risk for hunger.

No child should go to bed hungry tonight.


Interested in helping someone in your area? I would appreciate it if you could send me a link to your local organization that is helping to feed the community. I will build a page with those links for others.

God bless you and your family in your life and your personal journey.

Weekly Schedule 6/20/11-6/26/11

MONDAY
Run - 1:00:00 - Stairmaster/Treadmill Combo

TUESDAY
Bike - 1:00:00 - Easy Ride, Zone 2

WEDNESDAY
Run - 0:40:00/4 miles - 4x6/2 min Intervals

THURSDAY
Swim - 0:50:00/2000m - Variety of 250s

FRIDAY

Off Day

SATURDAY

Run - Double Dipsea - Goal 3:10:00

SUNDAY
Off Day


TOTAL TIME THIS WEEK
Projected - 6:40:00

PREVIOUS WEEK
Swim (Projected/Actual)
Time - 1:50:00/1:54:51     Distance - 4600/4600
Bike (Projected/Actual)
Time - 1:45:00/2:06:14     Distance - 12/31.95
Run (Projected/Actual)
Time - 3:50:00/4:25:09     Distance - 13/23.30
Strength (Projected/Actual)
Time -1:00:00/1:00:00
TOTAL (Projected/Actual)
Time - 8:25:00/9:26:13

Taper begins for the Double Dipsea.

Dispatches From The Field - 6/18/11 Chasing Towers

Today was the last run of any real effort that I will make before I take on the Double Dipsea with Rob. I wanted to do something new to finish on a strong note with my prep before the full taper begins.

My usual bike ride from the house for anything ranging from 15-30 miles tends to take me out to St. Rose Parkway. Decisions about which way to go take place at the M Resort and the intersection with Interstate 15. If you look straight up (as I often do) there is a hill directly in front of you with a Microwave Tower at its summit. I have been eyeing this hill for some time, believing that there must be a road running up the spine of the hill to service the Tower. I cannot see the road, regardless of the angle I view the hill from, but it must be there.

Today Coach Cyndee has scheduled me for a hilly trail run and I intend to take the opportunity to find the road to the Microwave Tower. I have been checking this area out for some time from various points through some of the bike rides I have done. On the back side of Southern Highlands, there is a dirt road that leads over a hill past a smaller radio tower; I think this is the access road I am looking for. I park where this dirt road meets the pavement and head out.

Looking up the valley. Not sure how this is going to work out  at this point in the run, but I'm trying to get to the top of the left hill.


The funny part is that I am worried that this run is going to be too short. It's also supposed to be hilly, but after cresting the initial hill I am heading down into a small valley that has some light rollers. This may have not been the best choice for the scheduled workout.

My legs feel tired. That feeling has been going on for the last couple weeks. The troubling part is that I have been taking it relatively easy. Eventually they calm down and I get into a rhythm, but I feel like I am always a half step behind where I should be. As a result, the rollers seem a little bigger than they actually are.

3 miles in, I can see the way to the Microwave Tower.
It's also hot at this point. I can't seem to get my act together regarding getting up before the family, which means that by the time I get my daughter to school and get on the trail, it's over 100 degrees. I'm burning through Nuun and gels, but I can feel my body is behind the hydration curve relatively early in the run. Playing catch-up is never where you want to be.

At 3.5 miles, I get to the base of the hill and start working my way up the grade. Probably somewhere around 5-8% depending on where you are (it gets steepest about 3/4 of the way up), my goal is to get all the way to the tower without walking. This is supposed to be a hilly run dammit, and I'm not going to bail on the only hilly part. I look three feet ahead and churn my way to the top. The view is worth the effort.

At the Summit

This is a shot looking down at the crossroads. St. Rose Pkwy is the  road going to the distance with the M Resort on the right. Left along the Freeway takes you to the Strip. Right takes you out to Sloan and Jean. Left over the Freeway takes you into the Southern Highlands Community.
I take a minute to snap these pictures and then I start back for the car. The obvious goal is to negative split the return leg. There is one more set of towers that I have been eyeing out toward Railroad Pass. Next time...

I don't know where this road is going, but I intend to find out.

Sunday, June 19, 2011

The Scale - 6/18/11

THE NUMBER = 244.2 (-0.2 from last week)


On the bright side, I suppose that it is progress.

Monday, June 13, 2011

Weekly Schedule 6/13/11-6/19/11

MONDAY
Run - 1:00:00 - Stairmaster/Treadmill Combo

TUESDAY
Bike - 0:45:00/12 miles - Quick Ride with Intervals
Strength - 1:00:00 - General Strength Training

WEDNESDAY
Run - 1:00:00/6 miles - Hill Repeats

THURSDAY
Swim - 1:10:00/2900m - 300 Pyramid
Run - 0:30:00 - Easy Run (Zone 2)

FRIDAY

Off Day

SATURDAY

Run - 1:20:00/7 miles - Long Run, Trails & Hills

SUNDAY
Bike - 1:00:00 - Recovery Ride/Spin
Swim - 0:40:00/1700m - Drills, Pull & Kick

TOTAL TIME THIS WEEK
Projected - 8:25:00

PREVIOUS WEEK
Swim (Projected/Actual)
Time - 2:00:00/2:30:26     Distance - 5600/5600
Bike (Projected/Actual)
Time - 3:00:00/3:12:51     Distance - 45/46.92
Run (Projected/Actual)
Time - 5:40:00/6:53:00     Distance - 28.5/33.28
Strength (Projected/Actual)
Time -1:00:00/1:00:00
TOTAL (Projected/Actual)
Time - 11:40:00/13:39:21

Taper begins for the Double Dipsea.

Saturday, June 11, 2011

The Scale - 6/11/11

THE NUMBER = 244.4 (0.0 from last week)

Monday, June 6, 2011

Dispatches From The Field - 6/2/11 - The Southern Cottonwood Valley

Out and back 8 miles today. I have had my eye on Mt. Potosi and I am looking for a trail that I think will both get me to the top and that I can run. I chose the Cottonwood Valley south of 160 today because it would give me a chance to eyeball the east side of the Mountain. The west side is all private property owned by the Boy Scouts and the Methodist Church. Lots of no hunting and no trespassing signs.
East side of Mt. Potosi from the Lower Cottonwood Valley.
The Cottonwood Valley is split by Highway 160, with 3 miles of the valley on the south side of the road. I decided to run through the valley and see what was beyond. This is yet another area that I have had my eye on for some time.
Starting Points. The road off Hwy 160 into the South Cottonwood. The  valley runs out beyond the  hill on the left -center of the picture into the Spring Mountain Range.

To the left of the picture above are the mountains that create the eastern side of the valley. Maps show that there is a water tank (the Wilson Tank) at the top of the valley in these mountains. Word is that the views from the water tank are worth the effort. Maps show the tank is roughly 5-6 miles from Hwy 160. I have run over distance rather severely twice in the last week and as a result, have been put on notice by Coach Cyndee to knock it off. A third infraction in the very next week is sure to land me on double secret probation. I will not be able to get to the Wilson Tank today, but I should be able to get a visual on it for a future effort.


 
Caused by a lightning strike, the Goodsprings fire swept through this area in June of 1985 burning  33,484 acres. While the vegetation has come back, reminders of the fire are scattered through the Cottonwood Valley and the Spring Mountain Range.

The run through the valley is slightly uphill but relatively mild  all the way to the climb up to the Cottonwood Valley Pass. The picture above gives a good idea of the scenery to the east with an occasional cactus thrown in for variety. Mt. Potosi dominates the western side of the valley. The limestone cliffs here set a dramatically different look from the sandstone found everywhere else.

Looking back into the Cottonwood Valley from the pass into the Spring Mountain Range. The toughest part of the trail  is just behind where I am taking the picture from.
Clearing the Cottonwood Pass and moving into the Spring Mountains is the trail running version of Groundhog Day. Where is Sonny Bono when I need him most? I crank out 1 more mile before turning around and heading back the way I came. Once I get back to the pass, everything speeds up to tempo pace for the last three miles.

I never found the Wilson Tank or spotted a trail that would take me to the top of Mt. Potosi. I will be back for round #2 later.

1:37:33/8.07 miles






Weekly Schedule 6/6/11 - 6/12/11

MONDAY
Run - 1:00:00 - Stairmaster/Treadmill Combo

TUESDAY
Swim - 1:00:00/3100m - Some Short/Some Long Pyramid
Strength - 1:00:00 - General Strength Training

WEDNESDAY
Run - 1:00:00/6.5 miles - Run Threshold Effort

THURSDAY
Brick - 2:20:00/23 miles - 15 mile Bike/8 mile Run


FRIDAY

Off Day

SATURDAY

Run - 2:20:00/14 miles - Long Run, Trails & Hills

SUNDAY
Bike - 2:00:00/30 miles - Base Building
Swim - 1:00:00/2500m - Timed 500, Intervals Off 500

TOTAL TIME THIS WEEK
Projected - 11:40:00

PREVIOUS WEEK
Swim (Projected/Actual)
Time - 3:20:00/2:20:19     Distance - 8750/5750
Bike (Projected/Actual)
Time - 5:10:00/5:00:40     Distance - 60/85.36
Run (Projected/Actual)
Time - 4:25:00/6:09:11     Distance - 26/27.53
Strength (Projected/Actual)
Time -1:00:00/1:00:00
TOTAL (Projected/Actual)
Time - 13:55:00/14:30:10

Monthly Totals - May 2011

SWIM
Time - 11:47:51

Meters - 27,500
Avg Pace - 0:01.5 / meter

BIKE
Time - 21:09:28
Miles - 330.79
Avg Pace - 03:50 / mile

RUN
Time - 18:22:02
Miles - 93.84
Avg Pace - 11:44 / mile

STRENGTH
Time - 5:09:28


EVENTS
OC Marathon - 4:49:17/26.2 miles (PR)

Las Vegas Tri Club Sprint - 1:30:05/500m Swim, 12 mile Bike, 3.1 mile Run

REVIEW
Everything was up against April except for run numbers. Run volume higher last month due to prep for the OC marathon. Super happy with performance at the two events I did during May. Body is taking training well and I am seeing improvement in my performance. I feel that I am on track for November. Prep for the Double Dipsea coming up in June. Running is now focused on trails and hills more.


Run and strength volume down, but swim and bike were up against 2010 numbers. Double Dipsea is the second "A" race for me this year. Really want to put out a solid effort. After this race, everything is focused on the Ironman in November.

Quality of overall workouts felt good. Work has been a little hectic and my home life is in chaos, but I feel like I am holding it together reasonably well. Balance between the disciplines was good.

Weekly Schedule 5/30/11 - 6/5/11

MONDAY
Bike - 1:30:00 - 5 and 10 minute Drill Intervals


TUESDAY
Swim - 0:45:00/2200m - 50s and 100s Aerobic
Strength - 1:00:00 - General Strength Training

WEDNESDAY
Run - 0:40:00/4 miles - Moderate Run w/Pickup
Bike - 1:30:00/ - Cadence and Pedal Drills

THURSDAY
Off Day


FRIDAY

Swim - 1:00:00/2450m - Fast Intervals

SATURDAY

Brick - 2:00:00/28 miles - 25 Bike/3 Run (zone 3 & zone 4 efforts for both)

SUNDAY
Run - 0:40:00/5 miles - Tempo Run

TOTAL TIME THIS WEEK
Projected - 9:05:00

PREVIOUS WEEK
Swim (Projected/Actual)
Time - 1:45:00/2:04:15     Distance - 4650/4650
Bike (Projected/Actual)
Time - 4:30:00/4:51:10     Distance - 25/75.70
Run (Projected/Actual)
Time - 1:50:00/4:23:28     Distance - 12/20.32
Strength (Projected/Actual)
Time -1:00:00/1:00:00
TOTAL (Projected/Actual)
Time - 9:05:00/12:22:04

The Scale - 6/4/11

THE NUMBER = 244.4 (+0.8 from last week)

Trying to catch up on posts.

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Dispatches From The Field - 5/29/11 - The River Mountain Trail Linked To The Red & The Black

For me, triathlon has become sanctuary.

Workouts are the one time during the day when my life is truly my own and I have the opportunity to push everything away and just be. The phone calls, no craziness at work, no "honey-do" list, just me and the water, the road or the trail. It's the time when I get a consistently positive result from the effort I put out and lets me chase a physical goal larger than anything I have ever done in my life; becoming an Ironman. It's my joy, my outlet of physical expression and my release valve.

Everyday is an adventure.

A friend and I were discussing Ultrarunner Anton Krupicka and his constant training on the same trails in Boulder, CO (In 2006, he summited Green Mtn. over 260 times). My friend was lamenting on the monotony of that much repetition in running, how could you not mix it up? I lacked the eloquence to give a satisfactory answer, but I think I understand Krupicka's repetition. The same route is never the same. Both road and athlete are constantly evolving and developing into something new. If you look at water dripping onto a rock, you could argue that it looks the same from day to day and that you will only see change over the course of decades or even centuries as the water reworks the rock into a new shape. I would argue that you can see that water and rock as something new each time you look at it: the change in light and how it effects the radiance of the water, the temperature of the air and how that effects the feel of the rock or maybe where you look at the rock from and how that changes your perspective. Just as the water and the rock are in a constant state of motion, the same trail is never the same. It is a metaphor for life.

Still, I think I know what my friend was saying. First times bring a pleasure that are all their own. There is an excitement in traveling an unknown path; not knowing what is up ahead or where that will take you. The joys and the challenges are all completely new to you just that one time and you can never have it back again completely, because once you've done it the first time, you have a knowledge of the journey that guides you. It can be new, but never completely new again.

Today is completely new.

The River Mountain Trail is often confused with the River Mountain Loop Trail, though they are very different. The River Mountain Loop Trail is a 37 mile loop that circles the River Mountains to the Southeast of the Las Vegas Valley. All paved, it is a fantastic trail that deserves its own post at a later time.

The River Mountain Trailhead

The River Mountain Trail is off US 93 on the way down into the Lake Mead Area. I have been looking at this trailhead for a long time now and thinking about the run it would deliver. I just never seemed to find the reason to get over here. Then I remembered: what the hell do I need a reason for?

I drove over in the morning and pulled up next to the one car in the parking lot. Wondered who the early bird was that was catching the worm...I planned to find out. Got out, got my water and got going.

The initial section of the trail moves along between houses and a drainage ditch up to a small flood control basin. From there, the trail works its way up into the fold between the two Mountains before working its way into a series of switchbacks up the side of Red Mountain. This is the section of the trail was built by the Army Corp of Engineers in the 1930s and shows some of their signature stone work during trail building from that time. There is also some mild exposure here, which adds to the enjoyment of the view and the excitement of the run. It's a great section of trail. Looking up, I see a white shirt near the top. My car owner.

Part of the switchbacks
Once to the top of the saddle, the trail splits. To go left is to continue up to the top of Red Mountain and to head right is to pick up the trail to the top of Black. I went right first.

Decisions, decisions...

Chugging my way up Black Mountain, I suddenly hit the end of the trail what appears to be 600 feet from the top. What a jip! I scramble up some rocks looking around. Maybe I have simply lost the trail and just need to pick it up again. This is it though. Shaking my head, I work my way back down and start my push for the top of Red Mountain.

The failed summit of Black Mountain

The winds had been brisk along the side of Black Mountain and begin to pick up as I work my way up Red. The trail is more technical here and things get a little steeper again. As I work my way around to the west side of the peak. the winds become fierce. I put my head down, hold my hat and  and churn my way up to the summit.

When I get to the top, the view is simply amazing! A 360 degree panorama of the entire southern corner of the state. The winds have cleared the air and visibility is amazing. Enjoying the view, I look across to Black and Lake Mead in the distance. My mouth drops open and I just stare. You have got to be kidding me!

Red to Black

Boulder City from Red Mountain. The last mountains are in Arizona.
I can see the trail leading all the way to the summit of Black Mtn. Where the hell was that at when I was running over there?!? I try and trace my path and cannot find the point where I screwed up. It is clear however that the trail moves around from where I was to a second higher area on the mountain that is the actual peak. There is no way I am going back down unless I get to the top. I take off for Black again.

Moving across the saddle to Black, I look down and see white shirt. He has a companion and the two of them are headed back down. Must have been on Red while I was on Black the first time. Be safe compadre.

When I get about 100 yards from where I ran out of real estate the first time, I see it. There is a switchback in the trail that I missed the first time. The trail is more worn going straight ahead to the false top, but once I get to the switchback, it is obvious that I missed the trail. i might have to turn in a couple Boy Scout Merit Badges for this one. What a bone head.

The run up to the top is nice, with the overall run up Black easier than Red. There is also a bench up here and a couple of placards put up by the Forest Service discussing the fault lines and the geology of the area. Red only got a black and white striped pole...

Top of Black looking out at Lake Mead

If you are going to run both peaks, I would finish here. The bench is nice to get the rocks out of your shoes and the views of the lake and Arizona in the distance are amazing. You still get all the views of Southern Nevada as well.

Heading back down I pass a couple runners and a guy with his dog at various places along the trail. People are starting to wake up.

Beautiful run and a lot of fun. The facilities here, but relatively short, even with my first failed ascent of Black. Would run this everyday just for the view. 5 stars.

1:50:12/7.45 miles