From my family to yours - wishing you a Super Christmas.
In Christ -
Ryan, Christina, Chase, Cruz, & Dash Dexter
My Family
My Lovely Wife Christina & Sons: Chase, Cruz, & Dash Dexter
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Thursday, November 5, 2009
McNaughton Park 100 Miler 2005 Race Report
In going through my old e-mails, I came across my race recap from the 2005 McNaughton Park 100 Miler. This was my second 100 mile race and the first time I went sub-24 hours.
__________________________________________________
Many of you know about my 100-miler last year in CA. Although I finished the distance in the cut-off time of 30 hours, I was still a little disappointed with myself- I believed that I could/should run it in 24 hours. With the blessing of my wife- I set my sight on 24 hours with the McNaughton Park 100 in Pekin, IL. A friend from Madison (Kathy) was also going down attempting her first 100 so I caught a ride down with her and her brother Paul.
The McNaughton Park 100 is a ten-mile loop of rugged trails and open fields. Each loop contains about 1600 ft. elevation change- so over the 100 miles that's over 15,000 ft. elevation change. When I went down there last year and competed in the 50-mile race option I was shocked that there were hills like that in IL. But in Pekin there are. With my cell phone in my drop bag, I called Christina after every loop. I had predicted times for each loop to reach 24 hours. The first two loops needed to be done in 2 hours with about 5 minutes added to each consecutive loop and leaving 3 hours for each of the last 3 loops which would be done in the dark. I ran the first 10 miles in 1:40 and did not slow down until the 4th loop. By mile 40, I had a 1 hour cushion for my 24 hour goal. Miles 40-50 were tough (that was the only time I thought about stopping). It was a hot day around 80 and that was around 1 - 2 PM Saturday afternoon. I hit the 50 mile mark still an hour over schedule at a time of 9 hours 40 minutes (5 minutes faster than my 50-miler last year on the same course). I wanted very badly to lay down a take a 30 minute nap at 50. I thought, let me rest and then I will still have a 30-minute lead over my goal time. I did not- just keep moving- slow and steady like a machine.
Things began to get better and I continued covering the miles. I kept maintaining and reached my goal of 70 miles by 9 PM at 8:15 PM (still 45 minutes ahead of my aggressive game plan). Besides miles 40-50 there was never a doubt that I was going to finish, but still the question was can I run 100 in a day? By working hard all day Saturday, I now had 9 hours and 45 minutes to cover 30 miles during the night. Perfect- that is a steady walk. But running alone at night is still tough- but God works in awesome ways. Miles 3-5 of the 10 mile lap are extremely rugged with steep inclines and declines. I had just come out of that section on my 7th lap- so it was about mile 75 and 10 PM at night. I was walking up this hill into an open field-it is completely dark. Then I hear this voice, "RYAN DEXTER". It was my friend Terry Alberti whom I know from racquetball and church. We usually see he and his wife Donna and their sons at Panera after church on Sundays, he knew about the race and I had sent him the website information. I thought if they were going to come down it would have been during the day (which was when my mother-in-law Judy came to see me - thank you so much for your support). Terry had driven all the way down from Madison to see me. He had gotten to the race start/finish and Andy (the greatest race director in the world!!!!) told him where he might find me along the course. Terry had parked his car and walked up about 1/4 mile to the field and waited for a headlamp in the darkness. We walked to the aid station about 1/4 mile down the field together and talked. It was AWESOME and carried me the rest of the night. Terry you are an angel and I was not ready or expecting that! Basically, Terry drove 8 hours just to spend 5 minutes with me. Can you believe that? He ran his own ultra.
My brother-in-law Brad came down from Madison also and he and Paul ran the last 10 mile loop with me. We ran that last loop in about 2:45- my legs were still fresh and runnable. I sprinted across the line in 22 hours 51 minutes and some seconds. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I could run a 100 that fast. I trained hard for this race having logged over 300 miles in March training. And mentally I was ready- I knew I could cover the distance- I was not afraid.
The following photo is Kathy and I before the 6 AM start Saturday morning. Kathy covered 60 miles in the race and then decided to rest. I am very proud of you Kathy- 60 miles is nothing to laugh at- JOB WELL DONE.
The second photo is me at mile 60 right after leaving the start/finish area.
__________________________________________________
Many of you know about my 100-miler last year in CA. Although I finished the distance in the cut-off time of 30 hours, I was still a little disappointed with myself- I believed that I could/should run it in 24 hours. With the blessing of my wife- I set my sight on 24 hours with the McNaughton Park 100 in Pekin, IL. A friend from Madison (Kathy) was also going down attempting her first 100 so I caught a ride down with her and her brother Paul.
The McNaughton Park 100 is a ten-mile loop of rugged trails and open fields. Each loop contains about 1600 ft. elevation change- so over the 100 miles that's over 15,000 ft. elevation change. When I went down there last year and competed in the 50-mile race option I was shocked that there were hills like that in IL. But in Pekin there are. With my cell phone in my drop bag, I called Christina after every loop. I had predicted times for each loop to reach 24 hours. The first two loops needed to be done in 2 hours with about 5 minutes added to each consecutive loop and leaving 3 hours for each of the last 3 loops which would be done in the dark. I ran the first 10 miles in 1:40 and did not slow down until the 4th loop. By mile 40, I had a 1 hour cushion for my 24 hour goal. Miles 40-50 were tough (that was the only time I thought about stopping). It was a hot day around 80 and that was around 1 - 2 PM Saturday afternoon. I hit the 50 mile mark still an hour over schedule at a time of 9 hours 40 minutes (5 minutes faster than my 50-miler last year on the same course). I wanted very badly to lay down a take a 30 minute nap at 50. I thought, let me rest and then I will still have a 30-minute lead over my goal time. I did not- just keep moving- slow and steady like a machine.
Things began to get better and I continued covering the miles. I kept maintaining and reached my goal of 70 miles by 9 PM at 8:15 PM (still 45 minutes ahead of my aggressive game plan). Besides miles 40-50 there was never a doubt that I was going to finish, but still the question was can I run 100 in a day? By working hard all day Saturday, I now had 9 hours and 45 minutes to cover 30 miles during the night. Perfect- that is a steady walk. But running alone at night is still tough- but God works in awesome ways. Miles 3-5 of the 10 mile lap are extremely rugged with steep inclines and declines. I had just come out of that section on my 7th lap- so it was about mile 75 and 10 PM at night. I was walking up this hill into an open field-it is completely dark. Then I hear this voice, "RYAN DEXTER". It was my friend Terry Alberti whom I know from racquetball and church. We usually see he and his wife Donna and their sons at Panera after church on Sundays, he knew about the race and I had sent him the website information. I thought if they were going to come down it would have been during the day (which was when my mother-in-law Judy came to see me - thank you so much for your support). Terry had driven all the way down from Madison to see me. He had gotten to the race start/finish and Andy (the greatest race director in the world!!!!) told him where he might find me along the course. Terry had parked his car and walked up about 1/4 mile to the field and waited for a headlamp in the darkness. We walked to the aid station about 1/4 mile down the field together and talked. It was AWESOME and carried me the rest of the night. Terry you are an angel and I was not ready or expecting that! Basically, Terry drove 8 hours just to spend 5 minutes with me. Can you believe that? He ran his own ultra.
My brother-in-law Brad came down from Madison also and he and Paul ran the last 10 mile loop with me. We ran that last loop in about 2:45- my legs were still fresh and runnable. I sprinted across the line in 22 hours 51 minutes and some seconds. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I could run a 100 that fast. I trained hard for this race having logged over 300 miles in March training. And mentally I was ready- I knew I could cover the distance- I was not afraid.
The following photo is Kathy and I before the 6 AM start Saturday morning. Kathy covered 60 miles in the race and then decided to rest. I am very proud of you Kathy- 60 miles is nothing to laugh at- JOB WELL DONE.
The second photo is me at mile 60 right after leaving the start/finish area.
The last photo is me about a minute after finishing at 4:52 AM Sunday morning (Just add 20 hours to that clock and you got my finish time).
I feel night and day better that after Western States last June. Really the only thing hurting me are the bottoms of my feet and some rather big blisters on my heels. Other than that I am good to go. By following Jesus all things are possible- this was just one small thing that we did together. Without HIS strength and perseverance this goal would never had been obtainable.
Thanks to all of you for your thoughts during the day/night and for those of you that I ran with training for this race- thanks for pushing me to do better.
Ryan
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Tim Twietmeyer - Ironman WI
So I am standing there watching some friends compete Sunday during the marathon portion of the Ironman Wisconsin in Madison. Along comes this tall guy with a North Face t-shirt and a mustache. I thought man that looks like Tim Twietmeyer.
Photo Courtesy of Auburn Endurance Capital Web Site
For those of you who do not know who Tim is - his accomplishments are LEGENDARY: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Twietmeyer
Tim was also voted as one of the Runners World Heroes of Running in 2006.
I started screaming like a teenager at a Jonas Brothers concert! TIM TWEITMEYER! TIM TWEITMEYER! It was so cool and unexpected to see him out there competing in a triathlon. Tim ended up finishing 3rd in his age group in something like 10 hours and 30 minutes.
I heard from Tim Twietmeyer early this week now that he is back in CA and at work. He said that he had to catch 12 people in his age group during the run to qualify for Kona. Tim got enough of them to take third and a Kona slot.
For those of you thinking about a 50 miler this October. Tim said that he may be back in the Madison area in October for The North Face Endurance Challenge.
Photo Courtesy of Auburn Endurance Capital Web SiteFor those of you who do not know who Tim is - his accomplishments are LEGENDARY: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Twietmeyer
Tim was also voted as one of the Runners World Heroes of Running in 2006.
I started screaming like a teenager at a Jonas Brothers concert! TIM TWEITMEYER! TIM TWEITMEYER! It was so cool and unexpected to see him out there competing in a triathlon. Tim ended up finishing 3rd in his age group in something like 10 hours and 30 minutes.
I heard from Tim Twietmeyer early this week now that he is back in CA and at work. He said that he had to catch 12 people in his age group during the run to qualify for Kona. Tim got enough of them to take third and a Kona slot.
For those of you thinking about a 50 miler this October. Tim said that he may be back in the Madison area in October for The North Face Endurance Challenge.
200 Mile Trail Run
For the past three years I have competed at the McNaughton Park 150 mile event in Pekin, IL in April. In the past, every mile I run has been in preparation for that one event. There is now a new event to train for.
Andy Weinberg (the former race director from Pekin's race) has moved to Vermont and is putting on a "McNaughton Park" trail run in May. I have officially signed up for McNaughton Park 200 miler in Vermont which starts at 6 PM, Thursday May 6, 2010. I will be properly trained and have a super crew that is willing to support me. It is not too early to think about your 2010 plans. Please think about competing in this event. You will not be disappointed I am sure. There is also a 100 and 150 mile event. It is a 10-mile looped course with an aide station at mile 5/10. For many of you Pekin, IL veterans - I am told by Andy that there are NO WATER CROSSINGS.
I have also spoken to David Goggins about this - he may be training to compete at this as well.
Registration is available at: www.runrace.net/findarace.php?id=10128VT
Multidays.com lists the race at: http://multidays.com/2009/08/03/mcnaughton-in-vermont-2010/
Once an official race website is available, I will post it.
All the best -
Ryan
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Endurance Planet Audio Interview
If you are interested, Kevin Patrick from Endurance Planet (http://www.enduranceplanet.com/) interviewed me a few weeks ago after the McNaughton Park 150 miler. The podcast was posted today and is titled Ordinary and Extraordinary: http://travisliles.tumblr.com/post/418951753/this-is-an-audio-interview-of-my-friend-ryan
From the Endurance Planet website:
From the Endurance Planet website:
"For the vast majority of the population the thought of running 150 miles is unfathomable. A person who, for example, has a goal of running a 5k may find it difficult to relate to a person who runs an ultramarathon. But, believe it or not, both of those individuals have a lot in common. Listen to the stories of extraordinary endurance athletes and you will find that they're ordinary people. Case in point: 32-year-old Ryan Dexter...the winner of the 150-mile McNaughton Park Races. He is both ordinary yet undeniably extraordinary."
Friday, May 8, 2009
New Self Renewal Center - My Wife is a TV Star
A local television station (Madison's CW) interviewed my wife Christina earlier this week about New Self Renewal Center (http://www.newselfrenewal.com/) in Madison where she is the Fitness Director.
The video can be seen online at: www.madisonscw.com/SubPage.aspx?page=2651
New Self Renewal Center provides a small community that offers both fitness and rest, focusing on health and wellness for the whole person. If you are ever in Madison, WI stop in.
The video can be seen online at: www.madisonscw.com/SubPage.aspx?page=2651
New Self Renewal Center provides a small community that offers both fitness and rest, focusing on health and wellness for the whole person. If you are ever in Madison, WI stop in.
Friday, May 1, 2009
Letter From My Mom
Last Saturday, I received a letter from my Mom (Barbara Dexter) who lives in Pennsylvania regarding the 150 mile race I ran a couple weeks earlier. I was recently interviewed by Kevin Patrick from Endurance Planet (www.enduranceplanet.com) and referenced this letter, so thought I would include the entire note. Although this is written to me, I think it emodies all of us and the unlimited potential we all have.
Dear Ryan:
When I saw the picture of you at Mile 140, I was overcome with emotion. I could see that it was your mind that was in control – no question. You displayed strong-will, determination, focus- great concentration, and I knew nothing could have stopped you then!
When we cheer that spirit of a true athlete, what we are applauding is the demonstration of courage, tenacity, commitment, alignment with principle and purpose, a demonstration of excellence, honor, respect, and humility. You displayed all of that in that single moment captured on film. But, as all good coaches, CEOs, military commanders, and YOU know, it takes a team effort with a great deal of team spirit to determine the difference between victory and defeat. You had a great team with you. I could tell from your blog that they forced you to go beyond the very real human level of SELFISHNESS to SELFLESSNES! You moved from personal pride to an esteem that is an expression of unconditional love – one that also honors one’s opponents for their dedication to the same lofty principles. Top performers like you, are imbued with the belief that your excellence isn’t a personal accomplishment, but a gift from God, belonging to all mankind as a demonstration of man’s potential. That’s why you were strong and remained so through the event. That gift needs to be respected and defended at all costs. I’m very proud of you, Ryan.
Just as you said, athletes do express gratitude, inner awe, and awareness that their performance wasn’t merely the result of an individual effort – that maximum personal effort brought them to the breakthrough point from which they were than transported by a power greater than that of the himself. Always keep that higher motivation toward excellence because it will give you access to the realm of grace and power.
True athletic power is characterized by grace, sensitivity, inner quite, and paradoxically, gentleness in the noncompetitive lives of even fierce competitors. We celebrate the champion because we recognize that he has overcome personal ambition through sacrifice and dedication to higher principles. A great athlete becomes legendary when he teaches by example. Always set that example for others to follow. It isn’t what you have, or what you do, but what you become that inspires all of mankind, and that’s what we honor in you.
An athlete must hold in his mind the honor of his God, his country, or his sport; the dedication of his performance to someone he loves; or even the sheer joy of maximum effort for the sake of excellence; if he is to be powerfully strong and excel. You did this, and did it well.
You, as an athlete of the highest caliber, have a powerful influence on all of mankind, literally the power to lift the world on your shoulders. The nurturing of excellence and recognition of its value is the responsibility of all men, because the quest for excellence in any area of human endeavor inspires us all toward the actualization of every form of man’s yet unrealized greatness!
Thanks for being you!
With love and respect,
Mom
Dear Ryan:
When I saw the picture of you at Mile 140, I was overcome with emotion. I could see that it was your mind that was in control – no question. You displayed strong-will, determination, focus- great concentration, and I knew nothing could have stopped you then!
When we cheer that spirit of a true athlete, what we are applauding is the demonstration of courage, tenacity, commitment, alignment with principle and purpose, a demonstration of excellence, honor, respect, and humility. You displayed all of that in that single moment captured on film. But, as all good coaches, CEOs, military commanders, and YOU know, it takes a team effort with a great deal of team spirit to determine the difference between victory and defeat. You had a great team with you. I could tell from your blog that they forced you to go beyond the very real human level of SELFISHNESS to SELFLESSNES! You moved from personal pride to an esteem that is an expression of unconditional love – one that also honors one’s opponents for their dedication to the same lofty principles. Top performers like you, are imbued with the belief that your excellence isn’t a personal accomplishment, but a gift from God, belonging to all mankind as a demonstration of man’s potential. That’s why you were strong and remained so through the event. That gift needs to be respected and defended at all costs. I’m very proud of you, Ryan.
Just as you said, athletes do express gratitude, inner awe, and awareness that their performance wasn’t merely the result of an individual effort – that maximum personal effort brought them to the breakthrough point from which they were than transported by a power greater than that of the himself. Always keep that higher motivation toward excellence because it will give you access to the realm of grace and power.
True athletic power is characterized by grace, sensitivity, inner quite, and paradoxically, gentleness in the noncompetitive lives of even fierce competitors. We celebrate the champion because we recognize that he has overcome personal ambition through sacrifice and dedication to higher principles. A great athlete becomes legendary when he teaches by example. Always set that example for others to follow. It isn’t what you have, or what you do, but what you become that inspires all of mankind, and that’s what we honor in you.
An athlete must hold in his mind the honor of his God, his country, or his sport; the dedication of his performance to someone he loves; or even the sheer joy of maximum effort for the sake of excellence; if he is to be powerfully strong and excel. You did this, and did it well.
You, as an athlete of the highest caliber, have a powerful influence on all of mankind, literally the power to lift the world on your shoulders. The nurturing of excellence and recognition of its value is the responsibility of all men, because the quest for excellence in any area of human endeavor inspires us all toward the actualization of every form of man’s yet unrealized greatness!
Thanks for being you!
With love and respect,
Mom
Sunday, April 19, 2009
2009 McNaughton Park 150 Mile Race Videos
The above photo is from Mile 140.
This video is from Mile 130 and at the Finish Line 34 hours 42 minutes and 16 seconds after we started. A 13:52.9 min/mile pace.
Click here to see the video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAaEbrhFvAk
Below were the top three times.
1. Ryan Dexter, age 32, 34:42:16.0, 13:52.9 min/mile, Verona, WI
2. Mark Tanaka, age 42, 40:56:43.0, 16:22.7 min/mile, Castro Valley, CA
3. Paul Stofko, age 33, 41:49:27.0, 16:43.8 min/mile, Loveland, CO
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Dexter Wins Ultramarathon - Verona Press Follow-up
http://veronapress.com/main.asp?SectionID=4&SubSectionID=4&ArticleID=1424
Dexter wins ultramarathon
Ryan Dexter, a Verona resident and "ultra-marathoner," last weekend won a 150-mile foot race in Illinois by more than six hours.
Dexter started the McNaughton Park Trail Run at noon Friday and finished 34 hours and 42 minutes later. Rainy conditions early in the race forced him to scale back his original goal - a 30-hour finish - but he still barely missed the course record by an hour or so.
On Monday, the father of three was back at work - swollen feet and all - at Qualtim, Inc. in Madison, where he's a civil engineer."
I am very much fatigued and am hobbling around," he said in an e-mail. "No injuries, just sore."
As we reported last week, Dexter had run the 150-miler in each of the last two years, finishing in 40 hours and 36 hours.
Leading up to this year's competition, he ran up to a marathon a day, including running seven miles to and from work each day.
Dexter lives on Ridgeview Trail with his wife, Christina, and three sons, Chase, 6, Cruz, 4, and Dash, 2.
Dexter wins ultramarathon
Ryan Dexter, a Verona resident and "ultra-marathoner," last weekend won a 150-mile foot race in Illinois by more than six hours.
Dexter started the McNaughton Park Trail Run at noon Friday and finished 34 hours and 42 minutes later. Rainy conditions early in the race forced him to scale back his original goal - a 30-hour finish - but he still barely missed the course record by an hour or so.
On Monday, the father of three was back at work - swollen feet and all - at Qualtim, Inc. in Madison, where he's a civil engineer."
I am very much fatigued and am hobbling around," he said in an e-mail. "No injuries, just sore."
As we reported last week, Dexter had run the 150-miler in each of the last two years, finishing in 40 hours and 36 hours.
Leading up to this year's competition, he ran up to a marathon a day, including running seven miles to and from work each day.
Dexter lives on Ridgeview Trail with his wife, Christina, and three sons, Chase, 6, Cruz, 4, and Dash, 2.
McNaughton Park 150 Mile - Ryan Dexter Race Photos
We just finished Mile 140 in this photo above. You can see my crew member/friend Randy Steiner as well. You can see it in the eyes - only 10 more miles!
Finished! 34 hours 42 minutes and 18 seconds = 150 miles. We won by over 6 hours and would have won the 100 mile race by nearly 2 hours.
This is part of my amazing crew at the finish line. Pictured L to R: Mike Larson, Jay Edgar, Christina Dexter (my wife), Jerry Davison, myself, Demah Nuertey, Greg Almond, Jason Sloat, Mike Younglove, and Randy Steiner. Not pictured: Burt Dehaven, Tom Rodenkirch, Dan Prevenas, and Steve Cabler.
Monday, April 13, 2009
McNaughton Park 150 Mile Victory
Before the race started in the pouring cold rain Good Friday afternoon at noon, my crew and I prayed the following prayer which was taken from a great book that my wife Christina has been reading (The Christian Athlete by Dwayne Smith):
"I am a warrior for Christ. My number one goal is to glorify Him, for He made me and He gave me my talents. So I will work hard, play hard, and fight to be the best. When I am at my best, people will notice, and in me they will notice Christ."
I hope people noticed that I am not that strong. It was the strength of Jesus Christ at work through me.
Final results are available online at: www.timetorun.net/Results/McNaughton%20Park%202009/overall.htm
We won the 150 mile race by over 6 hours and would have won the 100 mile race by nearly 2 hours.
The rest of last week's Verona Press newspaper article with extended Q&A can be viewed online now at: www.veronapress.com/main.asp?SectionID=4&SubSectionID=4&ArticleID=1396
A couple excerpts:
Obvious question - why do this?
I'm not sure. The challenge? It's the challenge... Also, it opens door for talking about my religion and my faith and what gives me strength... I couldn't do it if I didn't know there was a higher power out there.
What have ultramarathons taught you?
Probably the biggest lesson is that if you set a goal and put the time in to make that happen... there might be variables that might change the outcome that you plan, but your overall goal will be achievable... For me right now, that goal is a 150-mile race. That's what gets me out the door. I can't just go out and run. I need a goal... Mentally, I need this.
"I am a warrior for Christ. My number one goal is to glorify Him, for He made me and He gave me my talents. So I will work hard, play hard, and fight to be the best. When I am at my best, people will notice, and in me they will notice Christ."
I hope people noticed that I am not that strong. It was the strength of Jesus Christ at work through me.
Final results are available online at: www.timetorun.net/Results/McNaughton%20Park%202009/overall.htm
We won the 150 mile race by over 6 hours and would have won the 100 mile race by nearly 2 hours.
The rest of last week's Verona Press newspaper article with extended Q&A can be viewed online now at: www.veronapress.com/main.asp?SectionID=4&SubSectionID=4&ArticleID=1396
A couple excerpts:
Obvious question - why do this?
I'm not sure. The challenge? It's the challenge... Also, it opens door for talking about my religion and my faith and what gives me strength... I couldn't do it if I didn't know there was a higher power out there.
What have ultramarathons taught you?
Probably the biggest lesson is that if you set a goal and put the time in to make that happen... there might be variables that might change the outcome that you plan, but your overall goal will be achievable... For me right now, that goal is a 150-mile race. That's what gets me out the door. I can't just go out and run. I need a goal... Mentally, I need this.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Verona Press Article
Many friends have come down to Pekin, IL to help me compete in one particular event every April for the last 2 years. This year’s race starts tomorrow (April 10) at noon central. The local newspaper Verona Press interviewed me a few months back and the story ran in today's weekly paper. If you are interested, the cover page is viewable online: http://veronapress.com/ftp/VPfront.pdf.If you have a second this weekend – send me some positive thoughts. I have a great crew coming down to help bring back the title. This is definitely a team effort. Information regarding the race can be found online at: http://www.mcnaughtonparktrailruns.com/
If you are interested in seeing how things are going during the run, give my crew chief Demah Nuertey a call (608-658-3309)
Click on the image below to enlarge the rest of the article so you can read it.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
150 Miler - 3rd Times A Charm
This is our third time going down to Pekin, Illinois and competing in the McNaughton Park 150 mile foot race. The graph above illustrates the three months preceding the event over the last three years. I approached this year's race a little differently by trying to keep a more gradual increase in week-to-week/ month-to-month increases in mileage. By doing so, my overall mileage is up from previous years and I feel stronger. I have run every day this year and for the first quarter of 2009 have averaged over 11-1/2 miles a day. I truly believe this will payoff at next week's race.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Peak Training Miles For McNaughton Park 150 Miler
Saturday ended my 5-week hard core training mileage for the upcoming 150 mile race. I had the kids to watch all day, so I ended up running 9 different times on Saturday for a total of 31.01 miles (129.3 total for the week). A few of those 9 runs were completed by running up and down my street - others were done in circles around the backyard while the kids played. The rest was done on the treadmill. All of which is good mental training. Mental toughness is what is necessary to complete this race. God willing we have done enough this year to improve our performance to under 30 hours. That is still the goal. In less than 3 weeks we will know if we prepared enough to make it a reality.
Monday, March 2, 2009
The Distance of Truth - Ferg Hawke Movie
These are my two youngest sons (Cruz and Dash) watching The Distance of Truth with me this morning. The movie can be ordered online at: http://www.thedistanceoftruth.com/Let me be honest - this movie is hands down the best running movie I have seen. This movie gets my blood boiling and makes the hairs on my arms stick up. Over the last week, I have watched "The Distance of Truth" three times while training on my treadmill. It is motivational to say the least and made my training miles fly bye.
The movie follows ultrarunner Ferg Hawke during his 2nd run at the Badwater 135-mile foot race from Death Valley to the portal of Mt. Whitney (http://www.badwater.com/). Although this movie covers the 2005 Badwater race, it could have been any foot race and it truly captures the feeling of competing in a race.
I have rewound the movie over and over again starting at the fourth leg of the race (Battle for Darwin - Mile 90). This is the point in the race when Mike Sweeny is in 1st place after running like an absolute rocket for the first 12 hours. Ferg Hawke is in 2nd place and Scott Jurek (arguably the best ultrarunning since Yiannis Kouros) is in 3rd. Ferg's family came and were part of his crew during the race. There is footage of his son Carter running with him right around this time. As a father of three who one day hopes to have his sons be a part of a race together, I was truly moved by the father and son experience.
The narrator of the movie states something like "strange how the smallest bit of hope can linger even while the odds stack up." Scott Jurek went on to set a new course record in around 24.5 hours. Ferg never stopped believing that he could win. This is an awesome movie - one in which we become part of Ferg's crew hoping that he can pull off the impossible.
Leg 6 of the race is from Lone Pine to Mt. Whitney. At this point, the movie cues to an interview with Ferg stating that "no matter how well you train, things at some point are going to fall apart." The scenes after Jurek finishes the race are what really got my heart beating and are now my go to part of the movie when I need inspiration and motivation while running on the treadmill. This is where the director (who does as well of a job as any Hollywood production) cuts to scenes of Ferg Hawke suffering up Mt. Whitney and then fades to his earlier running in the race to show the contrast. This is where you can look into Ferg's eyes and see his true spirit. Long after the body said stop - the spirit said no.
With Ferg fighting up Mt. Whitney, his daughter Connie comes running down from the finish to greet her father. Holding hands Ferg and his children along with his wife and crew cross the line together for a 2nd place finish at the 2005 Badwater Ultramarathon. Simply amazing and there is no limit to the number of times I could watch this finish. Even the music gets me going.
There are a lot of extras in this dvd. I loved the finish line footage of some of the other 80 competitors at the 2005 race. The most memorable to me was the scenes of this french runner with what I assumed to be his wife. He is sitting in the interview chair after finishing just holding his wife's hand and comforting her as she cries. To me it is symbolic of the extreme scarifies of runner's families to make these pursuits possible. Ferg has a wonderfully supportive family and like I said you almost become one of the family as you watch the race unfold in "The Distance of Truth".
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Training Miles - A Thin Line Between Perfect Conditioning & Injury
Friends -
This week marked my first week of serious running mileage in preparation for the McNaughton Park 150 Mile Race April 10. This will be my third time running this race and my goal is to win it. I thought adding some more training miles earlier in the year would help create a more solid base in an effort to keep a decent pace during the race. So, this week starting on Sunday I began a quest to run a total distance of a marathon (26.2 miles) each and every day for 30 days. When I got home from work last night I was at 100.33 miles in 4 days - that meant I needed to cover an additional 4.47 miles after the kids went to bed. My legs were tired and my body ached a little. I thought "what am I trying to prove"?
The truth is by pushing my body beyond "normal", I am getting closer and closer to injury. Running a marathon a day just to say I have run a marathon a day is egotistical. In the big scheme of things, it does not matter. And if I am meant to win this race it won't be because I ran such and such miles, it will be because I prepared well - both mentally and physically - and through the grace of Jesus Christ.
My training this week will still be better than any non race week's mileage total for me (previous best was 129.60 miles - March 16 - 22, 2008). I am going to continue to maintain 100 + mile weeks for the next month but if I don't run 26.2 miles a day I'm not going to loose any sleep over it.
There is going to be a lot of great competition in Pekin, IL for the upcoming 150 mile race. My friend Paul Stofko is coming back for a third time as well. He forwarded me a great article on his attempt to regain the title which he won in 2007.
This week marked my first week of serious running mileage in preparation for the McNaughton Park 150 Mile Race April 10. This will be my third time running this race and my goal is to win it. I thought adding some more training miles earlier in the year would help create a more solid base in an effort to keep a decent pace during the race. So, this week starting on Sunday I began a quest to run a total distance of a marathon (26.2 miles) each and every day for 30 days. When I got home from work last night I was at 100.33 miles in 4 days - that meant I needed to cover an additional 4.47 miles after the kids went to bed. My legs were tired and my body ached a little. I thought "what am I trying to prove"?
The truth is by pushing my body beyond "normal", I am getting closer and closer to injury. Running a marathon a day just to say I have run a marathon a day is egotistical. In the big scheme of things, it does not matter. And if I am meant to win this race it won't be because I ran such and such miles, it will be because I prepared well - both mentally and physically - and through the grace of Jesus Christ.
My training this week will still be better than any non race week's mileage total for me (previous best was 129.60 miles - March 16 - 22, 2008). I am going to continue to maintain 100 + mile weeks for the next month but if I don't run 26.2 miles a day I'm not going to loose any sleep over it.
There is going to be a lot of great competition in Pekin, IL for the upcoming 150 mile race. My friend Paul Stofko is coming back for a third time as well. He forwarded me a great article on his attempt to regain the title which he won in 2007.
Monday, February 2, 2009
McNaughton Park Video (David Goggins)
We are about 2 months from the start of yet another McNaughton Park 150 Mile Race. This will be my third year competing and God-willing after finishing third and second this will be my first win. Some of you have asked about the course. Last year a camera crew from Lexus was out on the course filming my friend David Goggins (who eventually won the race over 2 hours ahead of me). The short film can be viewed online and shows some of the course.
The Long Run: http://lstudio.lexus.com/#vid346
There is also a video out there of the entire course at Peak Races' website: www.peakraces.com/index.php?inc=videos-mcnaughton
The course website is: http://www.mcnaughtonparktrailruns.com/
The Long Run: http://lstudio.lexus.com/#vid346
There is also a video out there of the entire course at Peak Races' website: www.peakraces.com/index.php?inc=videos-mcnaughton
The course website is: http://www.mcnaughtonparktrailruns.com/
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
San Diego Running
I had a business trip out to California this week and was able to run a couple times in San Diego with my friend Keith Kirby. We had a nice 15 mile run near a lagoon Sunday night and then again this morning we ran about 12 miles on some trails . Was able to meet Keith's bride-to-be Jakie at dinner Sunday night.
There is nothing like some nice warm weather running to help break up the long Wisconsin winter training. As January is coming to an end, it looks like 300 miles will be the total running miles for January 2009. A good start and we will continue to rack up the miles for a target peak month of March for April's McNaughton Park 150 mile race.
I was also able to stop in and visit with Injini this morning in San Diego. I am honored to be a sponsored athlete with Injinji socks and it was great to meet everyone there.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
2008 Running Miles
I have been keeping a very detailed daily log to keep track of the miles I have run since the beginning of 2006. With the end of 2008, I decided to graph my monthly averages and see how each of the last three years compare (I guess my engineering side is coming through).
I have been gradually increasing my mileage over the last few years. I do not run everyday. In 2008, I "rested" 83 days. Basically, every time I laced my shoes up for a run I averaged over 10.5 miles but taken over the entire year, my daily average is only 8.2 miles/day. The goal for 2009 is to raise my daily average to over 10 miles/day. It's off to a good start. Looking forward to seeing what all these miles on my legs will equate to at the McNaughton Park 150 Mile race in a few months.
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