Keep those Legs Turning

I can’t stand to hear my own voice on an answering machine and I generally hate reading things that I wrote but since my running blog is all about my trials and tribulations, I thought it would be go back and read about my serious tribulations at the Malibu Creek 22k race. After reading my post Malibu Creek race blogs, I get that this race has not been to kind to me but I returned today to blog about my race performance at the race this past Saturday on a positive note for a change. Since 2011, it has been no secret that this race has just kicked my ass. There really are no positives at all but this year, I had to stop and think of what was wrong with my running and where was I struggling and I realized that in 2010 and 2011, I was averaging about 14 running events per year. I was in such a great groove, running probably at least a race each month and sometimes two weekends in a row but that production fell in 2012 and 2013 and my overall -running fitness fell and my running times suffered tremendously. I was second guessing myself in every race and lacked the confidence I once had. It is no secret that running is about volume and my volume shrank. I was running maybe 1 day a week and occasionally on the weekends and trust me that just does not work. So this year, I went back the drawing board and challenged myself to get back to running a high volume of races and doing more training days and this past Saturday, I was able to finally finish the Malibu Creek 22k with a smile on my face but it still remains my ultimate challenge so far.

In the last month, I have run about four 5k’s. 3 5k’s in consecutive weekends. People will say 5k is nothing and they are right but in order to excel at higher distances, you need to do speed work and hill work. It is a fact. This is what allowed me to have a lot of success in 2010 and 2011 and I went away from that. It certainly was not easy just jumping back into running 5k’s for time. You just don’t show up and start running a 7 minute mile and in fact I realized I could barely run a 8 minute mile for 3 miles but with work, it was slowly coming back. In a 5k, you have to learn to pace yourself and keep it together for a sustained period of time. Go out too fast in the race and you could be sucking wind for 2 miles but the goal is to know when and where to push it. These things all transfer to running the higher distances. I was not sure how well prepared I would be for Malibu because even though I was building back my speed and endurance, I just had not spent enough time on the trails so what I was banking on was that I had been running a high volume. I had a lot of nerves about the race because 14 miles on a trail no matter where you are is no small feat and at Malibu once you are up at a certain point, you are simply at the mercy of no man’s land.

When the race started, I just stuck with my own pace and three quarters of a mile the first hill arrives and the sun was blasting already and I could tell what type race it would be but I stuck to my plan and took that first hill at a conservative pace and kept it pretty casual. When we hit mile 3, I was feeling a little sluggish but that is all due to not sleeping well the entire week due to heat and mile 3 to 4 starts the Bulldog part of the trail that can send people home in a body bag. The crowd of runners were starting to slow considerably and people who looked like they would be ripping it up were reduced to slow turtle like walkers. I was dripping sweat and felt hot as hell but continued to drink my fluids and pressed and pressed and once we got to the top of Bulldog, I had memories of last year when I started cramping and thinking how am I going to go 8 more miles like this but not this year. I took the downhill to mile 7 feeling calm and relaxed. When we went back up, I was expecting to feel tired but I was feeling inspired and strong and when I hit mile 8 and realized that I was still strong and passing runners left and right, I knew this was a different year.

I embraced trail, I enjoyed the scenery and I allowed myself to enjoy the moment. At mile 10 when the race goes downhill for about 2 miles, I took off like a rocket passing another 15 runners. At one point, I was running with no one in sight and when I took that exit out of the park where you run part of the road with oncoming cars, I felt like this is the race I had hoped for but I knew the uphill at mile 13 was coming. It was here that I was just spent but still in a good place mentally and I gave it what I had and when I crossed that finish line, I thought shit, I didn’t cramp or anything. I had a goal of running 2:30 or 2:40 but finished 2:57 but it really wasn’t about the time. This race was about re-establishing that feeling of knowing that I can power through anything and more importantly I had fun. As I sit here today, a little bruised and tired, I feel like I am about to go on a running tear and I am so energized to get back to doing what I love and that is competing and enjoying life to the fullest!!

Only way to conquer a mountain is to go over the top of it!!

Eleven is 11 in My Book

As I sit here today moving at the pace of a turtle, I get a chance to reflect on the yesterday’s LA Marathon. It easy for me to talk about disappointment and discontent for my finishing time but yesterday morning about an hour about a half from the race start yesterday, I was sitting in the halls of dodger stadium just resting and trying to calm my mind and my nerves and not wanting to be bothered when an older guy sat down next to me with a cup of coffee and a donut. I thought maybe he was there to cheer someone on. He had on the basic of all running shorts, regular t shirt and a hat but I noticed his bib said Legacy Runner. He was one of the 100 or so men and women who have completed all 29 marathons since its inception which a feat that I have been marveled with since learning this group existed.

The legacy runner asked me how many races I had done and when I told him this would be 11th in a row, he remarked how cool it was. As I worried about finish time and running a certain pace, I realize how much this race was about something entirely different. The legacy runner was telling me that a few weeks back he’d fallen and hurt his knee and that he really had not recovered so he was a bit worried about the race but that he would crawl to the finish line if he had to. His goal, was to just finish in a predicted 8 hours because he would be forced to walk at this stage of his life but it was the dedication and the resolve that he represents that reminded me why I am out there and what matters most and that is to enjoy each mile like it is your last because in some senses, you never know what tomorrow brings.

Yesterday’s race was amazing in the first half. We had low temperatures and some cloud cover. Things were turning out better than I’d imagined but I was starting to feel a little fatigued already at mile 9 which let me know this would be a dogfight but I was prepared. When we got to mile 12, it seemed like the earth turned and the sun then blasted through and blast it did. I felt like I was running on the sun and my pace slowed minute by minute. By mile 17, I was spent and I began to walk a bit here and there and when we hit mile 18, I knew the finish was near but still far from it. At that point, I just enjoyed in the fact that I had the opportunity to finish another marathon and how blessed I am to be in this position. The clock reads out what time you finish but none of that matters. What matters most of knowing you left it all out there and you did not give up. I hope and wish the legacy runner I met finished well and I hope one day I will be able to attach the word legacy to my name in some capacity.


Learn to crawl first before you run!!

The Curse of Malibu Creek

My last post was about my addiction to all things running and how I pushed myself to the brink at the Malibu Creek 22k. Well, it seems like Malibu Creek is dominating my life or better yet, it is the race that has cursed me. Why? Well for one, I am back here writing about the same trail again. Tomorrow there will be hundreds lining up to run the Bulldog 50k and 25k at Malibu Creek and instead of being amongst the hundred struggling up the mean climb known as Bulldog, I will be sitting here mad that I can run because of a damn cold that I haven’t been able to shake for a week and most likely due to pushing myself way too hard in order to do well at tomorrow’s race. Guess my plan backfired or maybe the Malibu Creek curse has emerged. I have yet to run a great race at this park and I figured this would be the weekend that it would happen. Only just a few hours ago did I really decide I am backing out of the race even though most of the week I have been completely and utterly kicked in the ass with a fever, stuffed of head, and a chest that feels like a smoke factory. Last night I began to prepare all my gear and then I laid a plan to run the race in stages where I could rest and hike the 15 miles that has normally broke my back but when I got up today and I my calve felt like it cramped up for no reason, I knew it was time to waive the white flag. I thought about what my Grandmother would say if she were alive and it would be “you need to rest” and she would then make me promise her I would and there was nobody I respected more than my Grandmother. So tomorrow I rest but me and Malibu have some unfinished business.

I Need Help for My Addiction

I sit two days removed from the Malibu Creek 22K and I am little worse for wear. My feet are swollen, my calves hurt so bad that I can barely walk without limping. I reflect a bit and realize just how hard I pushed myself at the race. I realize just how lucky I am because in all seriousness I could have had a heat stroke possibly kidney failure from pushing as hard as I did. My hands were swollen after the race and when I got home, I weighed myself and realized I lost 6 pounds. These are all signs of pushing way too hard and now my body is pushing back. Is there ever a time when you have to say enough during a race? There is but I always believed that when I reach that point, I would say F%#* you and just keep on going but on Saturday there were moments in that race that I felt something else and it was a bit of doubt and fear that I may have pushed too much but I still pushed on? That is what separates some of us who are determined to do whatever it takes to run a race and get to the finish line where most don’t see the point and I wouldn’t expect them to from their living room sofa. Running is an addiction like any other addiction. Think about it.

Runner’s run in the rain, 90-100 degree weather, they run in the snow, they run inside on treadmills, they run outside on hills. Runner’s run when they are sick, runner’s run when they are hungover. Runner’s run to run and runner’s run for fun. The worst thing for a runner is to have an injury because they will try to run through it only to make things worse. Why, why, why? Because it is an addiction like those who need that last cigarette, or that last sip of whiskey. You need to have it, you need to do it, no matter the condition, the consequence and when you can’t, you are miserable and unhappy. I have come to grips with the fact that my addiction will someday kill me but at least I will die doing something I love doing and that is competing and enjoying my life.

Running is free but the pain could last a lifetime!

You think you know what hills feel like?

In 2005, I ran my first trail race which was the Malibu Creek 6k. Very few people ran trails back then and my only experience on the trails was a little bit of hiking that felt like a monumental task. When I did the 6k, it seemed like I had just accomplished a something great but about 20 minutes after, the fast runners who had run the 22k race started to cross the finish line. When I saw a guy cross the finish line with only one arm, I realized though the 6k was a tough race, I had done nothing and felt pretty small at that moment yet I still had no real desire to run the 22k. People always say things like “you’ve run a marathon so you should be fine” which shows just how little people know about trails and the extreme difficulty of the race. I decided in 2011 that I could longer just run the 6k at Malibu and that it was time to try the 22k. I guess it was the fear of the unknown that kept from running it but I figured how hard could it really be? I mean after all, I could run 26 miles and 14 miles seems like nothing but I found out in 2011 that this race, this trail, and all its challenges were more than I could have imagined in terms of difficulty and yesterday I lined up again to run this race that had just about took everything I had to just make it 6 miles.

What is the big deal about the Malibu race? One word; Bulldog! Bulldog is the climb at mile 3 of the race that seems like you are running with a piano strapped to your back that is if you can run it. If you manage to make it to the top around mile 5.6 or so then you get some downhill relief to mile 7 until you have to run back up for another mile. This up and down sequence continues until mile 9 where you feel like you can run up no more and thank God because you start an insane downhill run until hitting mile 12 where you exit out of Malibu Creek State park to run along the highway for a minute then enter back into the park. You would think, “cool, if I can just hang on, I will be at the finish in no time”. Sorry, because mile 13 is back up and nasty incline where you need every ounce of strength and energy to just move your legs and feet. When you reach the top, you go back down a series of switchbacks until you reach the roach where you have a nice 4 minute run to the finish.

2011, I sucked, 2012 I was no better, and yesterday may have been my worst performance at the race. I think I was toast about 10 minutes into the climb up Bulldog. You things are bad when you can’t pass people twice your age or better yet, they are passing you. I chatted with this guy Spencer who said it was his first time running the race but he had hike Kilamanjaro but none of that matter yesterday because he was crawling his way up bulldog like everyone else. If the incline wasn’t enough, the sun came out and it felt like it was a 102 degrees. I knew I was in trouble because I was drenched. I lost way too many fluids and I had another two miles until the top. I felt my spirit say this is it. I am not going to make it up this trail today. My legs ached, my back ached, and I just wanted to stop. I kept pushing and pushing and when we hit the top and I began to run downhill, I felt my calve twinge and if you have ever felt that twinge in your muscles then you know that it is only a matter of time before the real cramps start. From mile 6 until the finish line, I cramped up but I just tried to run through it. When we started the crazy run downhill from mile 9 I thought I would be able to make up ground but the cramps kept coming. I ignored them and ran hard but when it was time to run back up before exiting the park, my legs locked and I looked like Frankenstein running from a mob. When I eventually crossed the finish line, I could care less about time, medals, or anything. I just wanted a beer and off to the beer garden I went where there were an assortment of runners chilling and relaxing and equally sharing their war stories from the race.

I left this race once again just humbled and understanding that I have a ton of work to do. I came to the race hoping to knock off 30 minutes form my previous time but I ended up adding to my time. Trails are work and to be successful on the trails you have to put in the time and you have to want to run the hills. It is the only way to get better. I have a long way to go but I am up to the challenge.

Back to the drawing board.

10 Times LA Equals a Decade of Running

It is all over. I completed my tenth consecutive LA Marathon and I think I am ready to run number 11. I knew I was ill prepared for this marathon because I had only trained for it from the beginning of February to just three weeks ago. That is barely enough time to train for a half marathon but there was no reason to panic. I have run the race 9 times so why did I seem so nervous and apprehensive the week leading up to the race? It may have been because I spent more time trying to figure out what costume or disguise to run the race in, when I should have been focusing on a running strategy. I also made one of the biggest mistakes before the race in going up to Mt. Wilson just three weeks beforehand and I ran as hard as hard as I could downhill killing my quads to a point where they hurt worse than when I have completed a marathon. I did my best to combat the pain but my legs remained sore for days. I had no options except to rest and ice and hope for the best on the day of the race and that is what I did.
The day of the Marathon I felt like it was just another day. I got up, headed to Santa Monica to board the shuttle to Dodger Stadium and just sat back for the ride. When we got to Dodger Stadium, I found a spot at the opposite entrance so I could just sit and relax and not be bothered. There are several types of people who run this race. There are those who are out there for the social aspect whereas I like to just zone out to myself. This is the first time the time just seem to speed on by and before I knew it, the race was starting. I was experiencing a stomach pain like no other and I couldn’t tell if it was nerves or consuming way too many fluids but one thing I knew was that it wasn’t going away. I took my time and got ready because I knew I had time with that many runners and we had timing chips so it really didn’t matter when I got to the start line. I think I was also trying to keep my running outfit a secret all the way up to the start and that is a good thing because as soon as I took off the jacket, a photographer came up to me asking me to pose for a photo. I learned a lesson and that is Superman is more popular than Batman, at least on that day. I have never garnished so much fan support from the start of the race until the finish.
Something was different about this race. I have run this course at least 4 times and for some reason it just seemed like I couldn’t remember anything about the course. I was just out there. I was running in my own world and at my own pace but my stomach continued to plague me. I felt sick to my stomach and really could not drink enough fluids so I knew that could come back to bite me but I just pushed on. I normally just take off and start running at a faster pace so I could make up time but on this day, I just figured I would enjoy myself and soak up the atmosphere. This was number 10! A decade of running and I wanted to enjoy every minute of it. The highlight of the day was seeing my friend Caryn out on the course cheering me on as she said she would. I ran as hard as I could to honor her and her battle with cancer and the struggles that comes along with it. Her drive and will kept me driving my legs all the way to finish in superman fashion.
I sit 5 days removed from the race and I cannot believe how good I feel. I have never felt this good physically and mentally and I feel like I could lace up the shoes and go out for a run right now but for once I am going to take it easy and enjoy in the accomplishment of completing a decade of running and continuing my marathon streak to 10 in a row!!!
LA IS BEST EVEN WITH THE STRESS

Mt. Ouch!

Being behind on training sucks and I only have less than 14 days left before the marathon and I really have not had a chance to do some long and gritty training. With less than two weeks left, I knew this weekend would be my one chance to do a long run but I figured I needed to do more than just do a long run. I needed to do something that would test me physically and mentally and there is only one place to do that and that is up on the trails and there is no test better than Mt. Wilson. I have blogged before about Mt. Wilson and I will keep blogging about it until I stop blogging. It is like my white whale. The one thing I cannot conquer but I keep on trying anyway. I have been to Mt. Wilson a total of 5 times over the last 4 years and I have only made it to the top once and that was my first time there. By the top, I mean a grueling hike literally up for 7 miles. The only downhill comes in the early miles but it is then followed by steeper and nastier incline to which your back throbs, your calves ache and you just feel like nature is playing a cruel joke on you.

I knew that if I really wanted to see where I was physically then it was time to hit the trail. I started off today with problem after problem. I spilled most of my Gatorade and luckily I had two bottles of water I stuffed in my hydration pack but I had no nutrition to help fuel me on the trail and that would be a key today. Ten minutes in my back started aching. I just tried to keep my momentum going passing up people along the way. Funny thing about Mt. Wilson is you’ll notice everyone walking like zombie turtles. They are hunched over, slowly moving, and gasping for air so there is no surprise when you start doing the same. I pushed, and pushed, and the sweat just began to pour down my face so I took my hat off to get some air and since the sun was still hiding, I was ok. I started running at one point, hoping to get some energy and I wanted to try and pick up my pace. Once I came to the tiny water creek, I knew it was time to climb again and climb I did. At times I found myself stopping and questioning whether I should turn back. I started to regret not bringing any snacks. I could feel my stomach growl and all I had was Gatorade that I needed to conserve and two bottles of water that I sipped slowly but regardless, I pushed on. My legs felt good at one point but then the trail would turn and go up and up. This is the kind of incline that makes you feel like you are on a treadmill because you’re literally going nowhere. My goal was to make it to the 5.2 mile mark no matter what and after 2 hours, I finally did with really nothing in the tank. I said hello to a few people sitting there and back down I went.

Downhill is my thing but a 5 mile climb up steep trails means you are running downhill for 5 miles at a blazing fast pace where you are trying not to break your neck. Most of the time, you are killing your quads to a point where you wish you were running uphill and that is saying a lot. My quads were beyond on fire but I finally made it back. It took me a total of 3 hours and 18 minutes and that is for 10.4 miles. 3 hours and 18 minutes in a marathon would be at least 18 miles but this is why I believe Mt. Wilson is every bit as difficult and more challenging than running the marathon. Once I reached a certain ridge at Mt. Wilson, it is supposed to be 1.9 miles to the 5.2 mile point. It took me over and hour and a half to go 1.9 miles. That is just absurd. You talk about mental challenge. There is just you and the trail. No water stations, no first aid, and no cheering section. I love the marathon because when you are just flat out tired, you can walk. At Mt. Wilson, you are walking when you are tired but you are walking up 2500 feet of elevation gain. There is just no relief from that but there is no other place I would rather be. The trail allows you to find your mental toughness. You have to dig deep, and you have to want to keep going similar to the late miles of the marathon. I could have done a long run but I doubt I would have had the type of test I did today that lets me know that I am ready to run 26.2 in two weeks.

My quads are a little angry..