"Stuff" Ultrarunners Say

This was shared with me and I wanted to share it with you. Super funny stuff written by fellow ultrarunner Dax Ross.

Also can be viewed on YouTube at: www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=nq8lJEJr3xk

3,658 Running Miles in 2011

When I posted my 2011 mileage last January I started the post with a quote from H.P. Liddon...

"What we do on some great occasion will probably depend on what we already are; and what we are will be the result of previous years of self-discipline"

The hardest part of making something a routine is starting it. The very first step. Whether it be the first step out the door on a freezing cold morning or the first step through the doors at your new job. Starting a new routine is the hardest. When I ran my first marathon in 1997 I never dreamed that I would be consistently averaging over 10K of running miles a day. I have been tracking my daily mileage since the start of 2006 and now have a daily 6 year average of about 8.5 miles/day.

Like many of you, I had goals in 2011 - many of which involved running. And like many of you - I did not achieve all my goals but still I am very proud to say I gave it my best.

Running Highlights:

• 3,658.43 total miles run in the year (10.02 miles/day avg; 70.35 miles/week avg; 304.87 miles/month avg) - my best ever.
• Defended the title at the McNaughton 200 Mile Trail Run and took over 10 hours off my 2010 winning time.
• Paced a marathon for the first time (actually 2 in 2011). The first was the Madison Marathon (3:20) 24 days after the McNaughton 200 Mile Trail Run. The second was the Haunted Hustle Marathon (3:30).
• Was competitive in a few marathons: Finished 2nd overall at the Trailbreakers Marathon and 4th at the Dells Marathon.
• Ran 3 official marathon races in the month of October.

Here's to the start of a new year. Anything is possible!

Brooks Running Shoes

Let me start off this post by saying that I run exclusively in Brooks shoes and that I have been a member of the Brooks I.D. program for the last few years. Brooks I.D. From Brooks' website:

"Brooks I.D. stands for Inspire Daily. These two simple words guide the principles of the program. Brooks I.D. is made up of over 800 members who are active in their running communities and share a passion for the Brooks brand. They are runners who are winners in their own right: Winning their age divisions, accomplishing their personal goals, pushing their own limits, and, by extension, encouraging others to do the same. Brooks I.D. athletes members use their athletic talent to help carry out the Brooks mission: To inspire people to run and be active. We look for athletes who have a passion for Brooks, race and train in Brooks' shoes and apparel, and enthusiastically evangelize the brand."

I have personally found that Brooks makes a great shoe for my foot. I have worn every version of the Brooks Cascadias and used them during the McNaughton Park 150 mile trail run in Pekin, IL in 2007, 2008, and 2009 and again during the 200 mile trail run in Pittsfield, VT in 2010 and 2011. I have worn the Brooks ST Racers in dozens of marathons and ultra-track runs. Sometimes the shoes work well and hold up beyond 600 miles of use and sometimes they don't. But overall I am extremely happy with the quality of workmanship Brooks puts into their designs and products. The following photo is from the Badgerland 24 Hour Run Labor Day weekend 2011:

I am wearing Brooks ST Racers and am about to retire that same pair of shoes after running in them during that race, 3 marathons in October, and training in them over the last 3 months. Well over 700 miles.

It was with great excitement that I received my pair of Brooks new lightweight PureConnect Shoe. This is one of four different types of shoes in the Pure line:

http://www.brooksrunning.com/Brooks-PureProject/pureproject,default,pg.html

I wore these shoes on two runs - the second of which was my daily commute home from work (7 miles). My feet hurt so bad with these shoes on that I literally decided I would be better off removing the shoes and running the remaining 3+ miles home barefoot. Now, in speaking with Brooks, my feet are probably better suited for their other 3 Pure shoes (i.e., Pure Cadence and Pure Grit).

But this experience made me realize how much I absolutely love many of Brooks current line of shoes:

Cascadias

ST Racers

Launch

Green Silence

Your feet shouldn't hurt if you have the proper shoes - you shouldn't even notice them.

Motivating Signs

Saw a sign right before the start of the Lakefront Marathon in Milwaukee yesterday that a woman was holding that read something along these lines: "A day will come when you can no longer do this. Today is not that day!".

That saying really motivated me and is something I will containue to try and remember. Don't wait on something. There may be no tomorrow.

God Bless.

Strong Enough?

I know that I alone am not strong enough to run 145+ miles in a 24 hour period this weekend. I also know that I alone am not strong enough to do and deal with a lot of what happens to me each and every day. But it is so uplifting to know that I don't need to be.

There is a song by Matthew West that is currently on my playlist (because my loving wife Christina found it) called Strong Enough. The song has a great bible verse in it that I often use a mantra during my long runs: "I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me" (Philippians 4:13)

I will set a new record at this weekend's race but not because I am an amazing athlete or because I am any different from anyone else. It will be because of God's grace and hopefully it will stand as an example that anything is possible.

Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26)

The following are other prayers/verses that I have often though about before, during, and after I have placed a huge challenge or goal in front of me:

DEAR JESUS, help me to spread Thy fragrance everywhere I go. Flood my soul with Thy spirit and love. Penetrate and possess my whole being so utterly that all my life may only be a radiance of Thine. Shine through me and be so in me that every soul I come in contact with may feel Thy presence in my soul. Let them look up and see no longer me but only Jesus. Stay with me and then I shall begin to shine as you shine, so to shine as to be a light to others. (Mother Teresa)

But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind & straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. (Philp.3:13b-14)

Let us run w/ PERSEVERANCE the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus…so that you WILL NOT GROW WEARY & lose heart. (Heb.12:1b)

Be strong & courageous & do the work. Do not be afraid or DISCOURAGED, for the LORD God, my God, IS WITH YOU. HE WILL NOT FAIL YOU or forsake you, until all the work for the service of the temple of the LORD is finished. (1Ch.20)

Have I not commanded you? Be STRONG AND COURAGEOUS. Do not be terrified or DISCOURAGED, for the LORD your God WILL BE W/ YOU WHEREVER YOU GO! (John 1:9)

Twitter Link for 24 Hour Race Labor Day Weekend

The following link will take you to the twitter feed that we will be updating from 8 AM Central Saturday, September 3 until 8 AM Central Sunday, September 4 as I attempt to run over 145 miles in 24 hours:

http://twitter.com/dexterpunisher

Again, I will not be attempting this race alone and have a great crew coming to support me each and every 400 meter lap around a high school track in Germantown, Wisconsin (outside of Milwaukee).

The image below was taken at the end of the 24 hour race last year. You can see a lot of my crew in the background - it was a long day for all of us. We will be attempting to run 20 more miles this year in the same amount of time. Please pray for us and send us tweets during the event. My crew leader Demah will pass each and everyone on to me. I will greatly appreciate the extra motivation - especially during the night Saturday.

What's Next Run Wise

I wanted to send a quick update on my next running race.

My next goal is to try and get on the 2012 US National 24 hour Ultrarunning team. The qualifying standard is 135 miles. I am going to attempt this at the Badgerland 24 hour race in Milwaukee, WI September 3rd (Labor Day weekend). I was only able to run 125 miles there last year – but I think 145 miles is doable and that will be the goal to try and secure a spot on the team (there are only 6 spots). I currently have the 12 hour record at this race as well (78.78 miles from back in 2006).

www.badgerlandstriders.org/home/Races/Badgerland24126HourRun.htm

We will again be updating via Twitter during the race.