Getting Ready For Another 150 Mile Race

It now feels like winter here in Verona, WI. It is getting harder to walk out that door in the mornings for my run to work. It is the thought of the McNaughton Park 150 mile race that keeps me motivated. At the start of December, I have covered 2830 miles by foot in 2008. I am targeting 3100 miles for the year (basically the distance from LA to NY). Mentally, I am ready for the challenge that the race will provide in April 2009. The first goal is to win the race. The second goal and for whatever reason seems more important to me - is to finish in under 30 hours. One would think that if the race in run in under 30 hours one would win. But you never know. I know that for me 30 hours would represent a perfect race. And that is really all I can concentrate on - my perfect race.

My Wife is a 3-Time Ironman Finisher!

Gotta brag a little: Christina did it again Sunday night finishing her third IM at Ironman Wisconsin in Madison with a personal best time of 12:58:17. Finishing 34 out of 134 in her division, my wife was 1104 overall, with a 59:01:00 swim (that's her in the pink swim cap), a 6:44:43 bike and a 4:58:41 run.

Friends are God's Way of Taking Care of Us

My Mom sent this to me and I thought it was really awesome. The following was written by a Metro Denver Hospice Physician:

I was driving home from a meeting this evening about 5, stuck in traffic on Colorado Blvd., and the car started to choke and splutter and die - I barely managed to coast, cursing, into a gas station, glad only that I would not be blocking traffic and would have a somewhat warm spot to wait for the tow truck. It wouldn't even turn over. Before I could make the call, I saw a woman walking out of the 'quickie mart building', and it looked like she slipped on some ice and fell into a Gas pump, so I got out to see if she was okay.

When I got there, it looked more like she had been overcome by sobs than that she had fallen; she was a young woman who looked really haggard with dark circles under her eyes. She dropped something as I helped her up, and I picked it up to give it to her. It was a nickel.

At that moment, everything came into focus for me: the crying woman, the ancient Suburban crammed full of stuff with 3 kids in the back (1 in a car seat), and the gas pump readin g $4.95.

I asked her if she was okay and if she needed help, and she just kept saying 'I don't want my kids to see me crying,' so we stood on the other side of the pump from her car. She said she was driving to California and that things were very hard for her right now. So I asked, 'And you were praying?' That made her back away from me a little, but I assured her I was not a crazy person and said, 'He heard you, and He sent me. '

I took out my card and swiped it through the card reader on the pump so she could fill up her car completely, and while it was fueling, walked to the next door McDonald's and bought 2 big bags of food, some gift certificates for more, and a big cup of coffee. She gave the food to the kids in the Car, who atta cked it like wolves, and we stood by the pump eating fries and talking a little.

She told me her name, and that she lived in Kansas City Her boyfriend left 2 months ago and she had not been able to make ends meet. She knew she wouldn't have money to pay rent Jan 1, and finally in desperation had finally called her parents, with whom she had not spoken in about 5 years. They lived in California and said she could come live with them and try to get on her feet there.

So she packed up everything she owned in the car. She told the kids they were going to California for Christmas, but not that they were going to live there.

I gave her my gloves, a little hug and said a quick prayer with her for safety on the road. As I was walking over to my car, she said, 'So, are you like an angel or something?'

This definitely made me cry. I said, 'Sweetie, at this time of year angels are really busy, so sometimes God uses regular people.'

It was so incredible to be a part of someone else's miracle. And of course, you guessed it, when I got in my car it started right away and got me home with no problem. I'll put it in the shop tomorrow to check, but I suspect the mechanic won't find anything wrong.

Sometimes the angels fly close enough to you that you can hear the flutter of their wings.

Maine to Florida Run for Ronald McDonald House

It was brought to my attention that tomorrow (August 27, 2008), a runner from Virginia Beach will be starting his run from Bangor, ME to Miami, FL. He is doing this in support of Ronald McDonald House (RMH). Below is a clip from his website that pretty much explains Tommy's passion for this and the RMH. It is very personally emotional for him.

http://runnerssociety.com/4millionsteps.html

Below from Tommy's website.

In The Beginning

Around about 2004 I got an idea about running from Maine to Florida and visiting as many Ronald McDonald Houses as I could along the way. The hope is to not only raise some much needed funds for such an outstanding cause, but to raise the awareness as well. See, I know just what a place like this means . . . unfortunately.

Back in 1998, my youngest daughter, Randi, was diagnosed with brain cancer a few weeks before she was to turn two. Randi's battle lasted 6 1/2 months before it over took her life. In that time my family was able to stay at the Ronald McDonald House in NYC.

Life spins seemingly out of control in these times and when things like having your family together, instead of being split apart, are times when you can breath and feel relaxed. With my wife staying with Randi in the hospital during the week and I staying with her on the weekend, things got stressful. However, when we learned that we could be together by staying at the Ronald McDonald House, believe it or not, there were moments where we had great memories.

You see, the doctors, nurses and the medications were there to treat Randi, the Ronald McDonald House was there to treat the whole family. That in the end is what motivates me to run 30 miles a day for weeks on end down the east coast.

There is an Chinese Proverb that goes:
If you want happiness for an hour, take a nap.
If you want happiness for a day, go fishing.
If you want happiness for a year, inherit a fortune.
If you want happiness for a lifetime, help somebody.

What are you doing for happiness? Me, I'm going for a run.

Art Monk Hall of Fame Induction Speech

If you didn't catch this a few weeks ago - take the time to view this. Probably one of the best acceptance speeches I have ever heard and an awesome use of "the world's stage" to speak the truth. I never knew much about Art Monk before his National Football League Hall of Fame induction but now I am a fan.

www.truveo.com/Art-Monk-HOF-speech/id/3630945818

A Teenager's View of Heaven

Although this is not running related, I wanted to add this to the blog as it is truly awesome. My Mom sent me this story via e-mail a few weeks ago. This is really worth the read when you have the time.

17-year-old Brian Moore had only a short time to write something for a class. The subject was what Heaven was like. 'I wowed 'em, ' he later told his father, Bruce. 'It's a killer. It's the bomb. It's the best thing I ever wrote..' It also was the last.

Brian Moore died May 27, 1997, the day after Memorial Day. He was driving home from a friend's house when his car went off Bulen-Pierce Road in Pickaway County and struck a utility pole.. He emerged from the wreck unharmed but stepped on a downed power line and was electrocuted

The Moores framed a copy of Brian's essay and hung it among the family portraits in the living room. 'I think God used him to make a point. I think we were meant to find it and make something out of it,' Mrs. Moore said of the essay. She and her husband want to share their son's vision of life after death. 'I'm happy for Brian. I know he's in heaven. I know I'll see him.'

Brian's Essay: The Room...

In that place between wakefulness and dreams, I found myself in the room. There were no distinguishing features except for the one wall covered with small index card files. They were like the ones in libraries that list titles by author or subject in alphabetical order.. But these files, which stretched from floor to ceiling and seemingly endless in either direction, had very different headings. As I drew near the wall of files, the first to catch my attention was one that read 'Girls I have liked.' I opened it and began flipping through the cards. I quickly shut it, shocked to realize that I recognized the names written on each one.. And then without being told, I knew exactly where I was.

This lifeless room with its small files was a crude catalog system for my life. Here were written the actions of my every moment, big and small, in a detail my memory couldn't match. A sense of wonder and curiosity, coupled with horror, stirred within me as I began randomly opening files and exploring their content. Some brought joy and sweet memories; others a sense of shame and regret so intense that I would look over my shoulder to see if anyone was watching.

A file named 'Friends' was next to one marked 'Friends I have betrayed.' The titles ranged from the mundane to the outright weird 'Books I Have Read,' 'Lies I Have Told,' 'Comfort I have Given,' 'Jokes I Have Laughed at .' Some were almost hilarious in their exactness: 'Things I've yelled at my brothers.' Others I couldn't laugh at: 'Things I Have Done in My Anger', 'Things I Have Muttered Under My Breath at My Parents.' I never ceased to be surprised by the contents.

Often there were many more cards than I expected Sometimes fewer than I hoped. I was overwhelmed by the sheer volume of the life I had lived. Could it be possible that I had the time in my years to fill each of these thousands or even millions of cards? But each card confirmed this truth. Each was written in my own handwriting. Each signed with my signature.

When I pulled out the file marked 'TV Shows I have watched', I realized the files grew to contain their contents. The cards were packed tightly, and yet after two or three yards, I hadn't found the end of the file I shut it, shamed, not so much by the quality of shows but more by the vast time I knew that file represented.

When I came to a file marked 'Lustful Thoughts,' I felt a chill run through my body. I pulled the file out only an inch, not willing to test its size and drew out a card. I shuddered at its detailed content..

I felt sick to think that such a moment had been recorded. An almost animal rage broke on me. One thought dominated my mind: No one must ever see these cards! No one must ever see this room! I have to destroy them!' In insane frenzy I yanked the file out. Its size didn't matter now. I had to empty it and burn the cards. But as I took it at one end and began pounding it on the floor, I could not dislodge a single card. I became desperate and pulled out a card, only to find it as strong as steel when I tried to tear it.

Defeated and utterly helpless, I returned the file to its slot. Leaning my forehead against the wall, I let out a long, self-pitying sigh.

And then I saw it.. The title bore 'People I Have Shared the Gospel With.' The handle was brighter than those around it, newer, almost unused. I pulled on its handle and a small box not more than three inches long fell into my hands. I could count the cards it contained on one hand.

And then the tears came. I began to weep. Sobs so deep that they hurt. They started in my stomach and shook through me. I fell on my knees and cried. I cried out of shame, from the overwhelming shame of it all. The rows of file shelves swirled in my tear-filled eyes No one must ever, ever know of this room. I must lock it up and hide the key. But then as I pushed away the tears, I saw Him.

No, please not Him. Not here.. Oh, anyone but Jesus. I watched helplessly as He began to open the files and read the cards. I couldn't bear to watch His response. And in the moments I could bring myself to look at His face, I saw a sorrow deeper than my own.

He seemed to intuitively go to the worst boxes Why did He have to read every one? Finally He turned and looked at me from across the room. He looked at me with pity in His eyes. But this was a pity that didn't anger me. I dropped my head, covered my face with my hands and began to cry again. He walked over and put His arm around me. He could have said so many things. But He didn't say a word. He just cried with me.

Then He got up and walked back to the wall of files. Starting at one end of the room, He took out a file and, one by one, began to sign His name over mine on each card. 'No!' I shouted rushing to Him. All I could find to say was 'No, no,' as I pulled the card from Him. His name shouldn't be on these cards. But there it was, written in red so rich, so dark, so alive. The name of Jesus covered mine. It was written with His blood. He gently took the card back. He smiled a sad smile and began to sign the cards. I don't think I'll ever understand how He did it so quickly, but the next instant it seemed I heard Him close the last file and walk back to my side.

He placed His hand on my shoulder and said, 'It is finished.' I stood up, and He led me out of the room. There was no lock on its door. There were still cards to be written.

Badwater 2008

I went out to Death Valley last month to help my friend David Goggins race at the Badwater Ultramarathon. This race starts at the lowest point in the western hemisphere (Badwater Basin in Death Valley, CA) and runs to the highest point in the western hemisphere (Mt. Whitney).

David finished this race the last two years (3rd place in 2007 and 5th place in 2006). There is a really cool video of his 2007 race at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbwyEVb3hSo

Anyways - things don't always work out the way one wants. There is always a lesson to learn at any race - at any distance. Just like every day we live...there is always something to learn.

All the Best -

Ryan

McNaughton Park 150 Miler - April 10, 2009

I'm going back for a third time to finish the 150 mile course at McNaughton next year. My intentions are clear - I'm going back to win. After next year's race, we will have covered 600 miles during races on that course. I say "we" because I never go out there alone. I have a great crew and it looks like I will have most of them back in 2009 as well.

My friend David Goggins said that if I go back he will have to go back. I am glad to hear that and encourage anyone and everyone to sign up to run 15 ten mile loops on that course. I wouldn't do it if it wasn't fun.

McNaughton Park 150 Miler - April 2008

Written, Thursday April 17

Runners -

Having completed the 150 mile race in 2007. I really felt nothing more to prove. But McNaughton has a way of calling me back. McNaughton has a way of bringing me and my friends together - giving us a common goal. Just as in life, we are not alone. Last year I could say that we covered 150 miles. This year I can say that we ran it. Having never run that distance before in 2007, everything was new. There was a small fear of the unknown. I knew we were going to finish the race this year - there was no fear of the distance. But there is no denying the distance is long and the course is hard. Information on the race course can be found at: http://www.mcnaughtonparktrailruns.com/

My friend David Goggins and I have been talking strategy for a while. There is strength in numbers and we were planning on maintaining a 2:00 hour pace (10 miles) the entire time. If we could rip the 100 mile mark in 20 hours and keep going we could finish in 30 hours and be done before nightfall and get some dinner and only lose one night's sleep. Every mile I have done since last year's race has been in preparation for this race. The only way to truly prepare for the 150 mile distance is to run a lot of miles. I think it takes years of cumulative miles to be prepared to run this race. This is not something you can train for in a few months. This is also not something that I could do on my own. My crew was first class - they deserved this victory more than I. I am amazed with their sacrifice. Although I still needed to cover the distance, this would have been impossible without all of you. The race started at 12 noon central time on Friday, April 11. The following are what I remember:

Lap 1 (Miles 0-10): 1:45:30 (10:33 min/mile): David and I ran together but right from the start it felt like he had just a little bit extra - almost like an extra gear than I had that day. We remained together until Mile 30. Our hope was to run in the back and maybe be around 10th place after the first lap. 10th place I believe would have been around a 2:01:00 lap - so we were a little fast out the gate. I very much enjoy spending time with David and wished that we lived closer to hang out more. Last night we talked and he asked me to help crew/pace him at Badwater this summer.

Lap 2 (Miles 11-20): 1:46:53 (10:41 min/mile): Still feeling good - felt like we were holding back and taking it easy - which is extremely important in such a race. We were building a little cushion for the 30 hour goal. The course was surprisingly in great shape - very runnable. But, that would change.

Lap 3 (Miles 21-30): 1:48:38 (10:52 min/mile): Another well paced lap. At this point, I think David and I were running 3rd and 4th in the race. Actually, one of the 50 mile runners Brian Gaines was at the start/finish area and captured the 30 mile mark with his video camera: www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDb7CAtC3XM&eurl=http://briangaines.blogspot.com/2008/04/mcnaughton-park-trail-50-mile-race.html As you can see in the video, my friend Demah met me and told me to walk with him. He was telling me to let David go and for me to run my race. That was the last David and I saw each other until very much later. But his wife Aleeza kept me informed.

Lap 4 (Miles 31-40): 2:11:15 (13:08 min/mile): This is the only lap I ran alone and was probably the only point in the race that I had a mental breakdown of sorts. I realized that my game plan was not going to workout and for a short while I worried about that. David gained about 25 minutes on me with this lap. During this lap I asked myself OK Ryan 2:00 per lap is just not in the cards today as the course was beginning to get a little sloppy. What pace do you think you can maintain for the long haul. This had yet to be decided.

Lap 5 (Miles 41-50): 2:33:41 (15:22 min/mile): My friend Steve Cabler had driven up from St. Louis and picked up my friend John Gruber up at the airport. John flew down from Detroit for the weekend to run a couple laps with me a hang out. It was great to see some new faces in addition to my crew that drove down from the Madison area with me - CJ Werley, Demah Nuertey, and Mike Younglove. Steve and John joined me on this lap and although it was my slowest lap - it didn't feel slow. My pace was starting to slow down - although we were still a little under 10 hours for the first 50 miles. Steve and John told me I was 1/3rd the way done. I liked the sound of that.

Lap 6 (Miles 51-60): 2:36:40 (15:40 min/mile): This was now around 10 PM of the first night. I usually go to bed around 9, so my body is tired. CJ joined me on this lap and kept me motivated and going strong. We didn't slow up too much - but I didn't like how long the laps were taking. This was a turning point in the race. We needed to stop slowing down and pick up the pace.

Lap 7 (Miles 61-70): 2:35:54 (15:35 min/mile): Now around 12:30 AM Saturday morning, Mike joined me for a lap. He kept me going great. My whole crew was awesome - keeping me going - keeping our eyes on the prize. I knew that once the sun came up and the other runners started the 100/50 mile races at 6 AM I would get another kick of energy. We actually ran this lap faster than the one before. We were moving in the right direction.

Lap 8 (Miles 71-80): 2:25:11 (14:31 min/mile): Demah took over at this lap with the intention of running the next 3 (yes 30 miles) with me and getting me into a rhythm and start chopping down the lead that David and Paul Stofko had on me. As you can see from the pace, we were speeding up. Demah stayed with me from around 3 AM until 10:30 AM Saturday morning. We decided that 2:20 - 2:30 would be the new goal to maintain. And maintaining that to perfection is just what my crew and I did. www.printroom.com/ViewGalleryPhoto.asp?userid=bpadilla&gallery_id=1032871&image_id=11: This is a race photo of Demah and I running probably at the end of this lap.

Lap 9 (Miles 81-90): 2:22:49 (14:17 min/mile): Faster, Faster, Faster. Stay in the zone. I was hurting but we worked through the pain. This was a breakthrough performance for me in that I learned that I could still run even though my muscles ached. We ran this lap 7 minutes faster than David. I knew were weren't going to catch him but thought maybe Paul could be caught. Aleeza had told us that he was slowing down a bit. We passed though the start/finish area a little before the other races started at 6 AM.

Lap 10 (Miles 91-100): 2:28:32 (14:51 min/mile): Demah brought me through the night and we finished the first 100 miles around 22 1/2 hours. www.printroom.com/ViewGalleryPhoto.asp?userid=bpadilla&gallery_id=1032871&image_id=5: This is a race photo of me running through the start/finish area at night probably at the end of this lap. As you an see, I had a lot of clothes on pretty much throughout the race. My crew kept me dry constantly changing me into dry clothes. I think I had at least 3 upper layers on at all times throughout the race.

Lap 11 (Miles 101-110): 2:25:59 (14:36 min/mile): It was around 10:30 Saturday morning at the start of this lap. There were a lot of runners out on the course and it was very slippery. Mike and another friend Stacy Langenecker ran with me this lap. We ran it a little faster and realizing that we were more than 2/3rd the way done was pretty awesome. This was only the second time I had been beyond 100 miles. www.printroom.com/ViewGalleryPhoto.asp?userid=bpadilla&gallery_id=1032871&image_id=324: A race photo from around this time.

Lap 12 (Miles 111-120): 2:24:38 (14:28 min/mile): CJ joined me around 1:00 PM for the start of the lap. We were always really quick in the transition areas- not trying to waste any unnecessary time. In a race of this distance minutes add up quick. I calculated that I spent about 20 second each and every time I urinated- which occurred about 3 times a lap. This equated to more than 15 minutes of 'extra' time on the bottom line. David and many other ultrarunners have learned to pee on the run. A skill that I have yet to master but think I might begin to practice in the future. At the end of 120 miles we had put together an impressive string of ten mile laps with not much slow down.

Lap 13 (Miles 121-130): 2:31:41 (15:10 min/mile): John and Steve joined me again around 3:30 PM Saturday afternoon. Also, my friend Jay Edgar drove down from Madison and ran with me. He does an awesome job describing the lap on his blog: http://blog.jayedgar.com/2008/04/mcnaughton-10.html I quote from some of his entry: '...We were all falling down. Steve fell right on his rear end at one point; luckily he didn't hurt himself. Ryan fell down eight times in my time with him. At about mile 8 he fell on a grassy, muddy hill and just lay there for a moment. Finally he said quite simply, and perhaps a bit weakly, 'That hurt.'...' It was great running with these guys. We ended up catching Paul at the end of this lap. I stopped and shook his hand and kept running. The photo at the top was taken by someone who had just finished the 50 mile race. You can see Paul in yellow in the background. We were now in 2nd place.

Lap 14 (Miles 131-140): 2:54:42 (17:28 min/mile): My friend Randy Steiner had driven down from Madison Saturday morning and had been out there all day cheering me on and helping me. I was really looking forward to running with him. He even gave me the shirt off his back when the one I was wearing began to chaff my nipples. The course was very slopping and it would be getting dark on this lap. We passed Sherpa John on this lap and he was with Tracy Thomas. It was great seeing both of them.

Lap 15 (Miles 141-150): 3:41:14 (22:07 min/mile): We started this lap around 9 PM and finished around 12:30 AM Sunday morning. There was no longer any urgency. I knew Paul wasn't going to catch us and David was just about finished. Who cares if we finished in 35 or 36 hours? My body was shutting down and this was now survival. It is funny how things can change so quickly when you let your mind get the best of you. Mike, CJ, and Demah helped bring me home in 36 hours 33 minutes and 17 seconds. Which was an over 4 hour better performance from last year's finish. Final results are available at: www.timetorun.net/Results/McNaughton%20Park/MPTR2008.HTM

My quads began feeling normal again probably on Tuesday. Yesterday was the first day that I could see the veins and bones in my feet as the swelling is now down. I ran for the first time this afternoon since the race and it felt good to get back out there. I love to run and I love the fact that it can bring so many of us closer together. Since returning home from Madison, Jay Edgar has signed up to run the Madison 1/2 Marathon in May. I have spoken to my friend Jerry Davison who was there cheering us on all day about the possibility of running the 50 miler at McNaughton next year. The bottom line is - there are no limits.

Thanks to my lovely wife Christina, my Mother and many distance friends who kept me in their constant prayers during the race. You in addition to my amazing crew gave me the strength to carry on. I look forward to telling my sons Chase, Cruz, and Dash about this adventure in more detail when they are older. Maybe someday the Dexter boys will come back to McNaughton and capture the top four spots :-). Thanks to Andy Weinberg for always running a great race. Congratulations to my friends Darren Fortney and Julie Berg for winning the 100 mile race. Also to Jessi for finishing her first ultra. Well done. It was great seeing you both out there. It was comforting to me to know that by the time you started at 6 AM Saturday you had more miles to run than me. To all the runners that toed the starting line, you are winners. That course is tough. To the warriors that finished - enjoy the accomplishment.

In Christ,
Ryan Dexter
Verona, WI