Run Kurt Run

RATS 2010 Race Report

2010-07-13T08:58:00.001-07:00

Desert R.A.T.S. 2010 Edition.

The t-shirt says, 6 days, 5 stages, 148 miles, one goal: Survive. Pretty simple I guess when it is broken down into basic terms…yep that is it. Run, Eat, Sleep…do it again the next day. How come it is so very hard to explain it to anyone outside of those few who you shared the time, space, and suffering with? I have tried many, many times to explain why I subject myself to the miles, sun, hills and all the beauty and pain the desert can dish out. I get that usual look that I call the RCA look. It is one of the little dog looking at the phonograph with his tilted head not quite understanding the sound that is coming out. It totally cracks me up every time. I have tried to explain the feeling of doing something that is just out of your grasp. I have explained that the pain is a process that once you break through you become stronger. I have tried to explain the joy of coming together with strangers that have endured the same sacrifices’ you have to reach a dream. I tell them the race is only a part of the journey and once you choose that path many wonderful people and events will become additions to the fabric of your life. I scream that through self discovery your life can be lived with focus, purpose and meaning…yet I get the look and I smile. Oh, and the responses are priceless. You must be crazy. I wouldn’t want to drive that far. What the hell is wrong with you? I know a guy who runs 10 miles a day. You will wear your knees out.

After completion of last year’s Desert RATS I had wasn’t sure I would do the race in consecutive years but as I often do during my endurance induced amnesia I forgot how painful the race was and before Shelley and I got home we were in for the 2010 addition. Great, now what were we supposed to do? The plan would be to get Shelley healthy, train more with our packs on, train hills, and train walking, for me to lose 10 pounds and a load of other things. As the year went on Shelley’s injuries were manageable and getting much better. She was closing in on her old form and with a win at the Free State Trail marathon she was ready to go…I was training well, as many of you know I would rather race bikes than eat so this year I said I was going to race crits and hope I didn’t crash. I figured, hey what is the worst that could happen? Well I am not going to say it was the worst that could happen but in many ways it is all the same. On April 20th about 5:45 pm during the Twilight Crit Series here in Tulsa I was second wheel going into a corner hot. My friend Scott Haus in front, he and I stretching the field, he touches a pedal, goes for an asphalt slide and I go over the top of him. I land shoulder first head second…not only could I feel the bone break I could hear it in my head. Then slam, the head hits next. I am lying on the floor and at that very second I resign myself that I am not going to make the starting line at the 2010 Desert RATS. It was a fact and nothing I could do to change it. I was depressed but that is part of the game so I found peace quickly. OH and man was I in pain. That crap hurts.
So, after some quick research on local orthopedic guys here in Tulsa I find Dr. Paul Stafford. He and his staff are awesome and put up with some serious manic behavior from me. I would have let it rest but right before he went all Black and Decker on me he gave me some hope that I might actually get to race. I could not believe it and to make a very long story short, we limped my shoulder, training and recovery through the next 6 weeks and I was able to get to the starting line. Not sure how and I am not sure it was the best way to go about it but there I was once again…On the Line with 12 screws and a plate holding it all together.
Before, I get into the details of my race I have to give credit to the crew at Gemini Adventures. What an amazing group of people dedicated to putting on great events. Their organization and attention to detail left us wanting nothing. Huge thanks to Reid and the gang without you guys none of this would be possible.

Here are the details; I don’t know that they really mean much. As I have said, the race is much more than the miles under our feet. They cannot describe the joys, pain and heartbreak each stage has but for those of you who want to know here you go. If not…skip to the closing.

Stage 1, 20 miles:
In 2009 this stage set the tone for my week. It kicked my ass so bad mentally I struggled the whole week. This year was different. With the modifications I had to make to training after my surgery I spent a lot of time walking up steep inclines either on the treadmill or out in the Osage hills. I knew I could go up hill much better than last year and that confidence pulled me through. I thoroughly enjoyed this stage this time around got to run with my mate from Scotland Joel which was awesome. The scenery is amazing and looking towards the mountains I was at home on the trail and all was right in my world. I cruised in around 50 minutes faster than last year and I was in good shape in my head.

Stage 2, 40 miles:

What a difference a day makes, from the gun I was totally exhausted. I knew in the first few miles that this day was not going to be a good one. I don’t know if it was the heat or what but there was a going to be a lot of suffering. I thought if I could just cruise to the only climb of the day I might get on top of the canyon and feel better…nope…I thought just get to the aid station I would feel better…nope…I thought if I could just die I would feel better…nope no such luck…so I walked and then walked some more. I would run a couple steps then walk a couple steps. My right shoulder was hanging about 6 inches lower than my left. I was worried about making the cutoff and honestly didn’t think I would…Reid was out and he said I was in good shape for the cutoff he stretched it a bit like a good friend would do…but I keep moving…there were times I really thought about calling for a ride but I just could not bring myself to do it for some reason. Instinctively I keep moving…finish in over 11 hours and was blown mentally and physically. I had no intention of continuing the next day. Inga the massage queen did some magic on my legs that night.

Stage 3, 9.5 Miles:
But I did… Still feeling like a tire with no air I decided to roll with on since it was only a short day and I didn’t want to sit around all day watching runners. SO, I started down the road and felt like I could complete the day. No cutoff so I just tried to hydrate and recover and keep moving. Then finish came pretty quick and I was glad to get off my feet. The blisters on my both my heals really started to bother me and some serious blister maintenance was in order. Oh, and Inga hand goddess made life a little less miserable.
Stage 4, 52 Miles, 8800 feet of climbing:
So we get shuttled to the start of the expedition stage my mind was toast. Michael Cowart and I were sharing the same place in hell so we decided to stick together. I have to say that without him I would not have completed the stage. He pulled me through some really shitty spots. We worked our way to the 27 mile aid station…saw a bunch of the walking wounded…Jeff was looking bad but man what a comeback. It was Amazing. I felt awesome leaving 27 but as we started our second big climb my feet were in full ass kick mode. The blisters were brutal, my legs dead, yet forged on…ran some with Joel before he took off. I tried not to look up at all. I knew if I did I would just put myself further into the mental hole. I knew I would scan the ridge lines knowing that I had to go around them even though it looked like a straight shot over the top. Ah the mind games we play. As the sun was setting Susan caught us and we all kind of moved in the same direction to the last Aid. The bad thing was I knew what was coming…6 miles of downhill in the dark on asphalt to our camp ground. My legs and feet were killing me…Michael and I laughed about the midnight cutoff time at Ironman…I didn’t want to tell him if we ran we could beat the midnight bell…we missed it by 3 minutes LOL Screw you Cowart! LOL I was so glad to get off my feet. Today the most important piece of ground was five feet in front of me. I just had to cover that 5 feet.
REST DAY! Spent the day having Inga work on my legs and standing in the Colorado river…awesome
Stage 5, 26.7 miles:
Just a marathon. Reid sounds that god awful horn for the last time and my boy Jason RAILS off the front like a madman. I freaking crack up. Classic move…so 6 miles up to start the day. My left calf is cramping every step from jump. That causes me to put more pressure on my forefoot which causes a huge blister to develop under my foot pad…so I try to limp on my right with starts the blister from the 52 mile day to hurt…all this time I can’t carry my shoulder level…the joys of combined abuse for a 120 miles. I made it to the top somehow and to my surprise I felt awesome. I was running down hill and somehow I didn’t feel bad at all…well for awhile anyway…it started to heat up and my legs started to complain and the big blister that had formed under by left foot was killing me…then at mile 15 it popped on it’s own…causing blister water to run from my shoe. That was pretty cool but the relief was short lived as we headed up Porcupine Rim Trail. I was stoked to see Shelley and she was having a great day…but that trail killed me last year and did again this year. John came out and ran with me a little to the turn around to pick up my numbered rock…some of my smartass friends thought it would be funny to put my number on a huge boulder. It was funny…later J So down the road I went to the finish…I was cooked. I walk ran hobbled down to the finish…there was Ashley and Jeremy who drove over from Carbondale just to make sure I had a cold beer at the finish. Awesome friends even though they were the ones who did the big rock trick.

…and I was done. I had made it. Slower than last year but I finished. I was so happy to do so it had been a rough year. Now the only question was…where is Lisa? It was going to be close and I would have been so heartbroken for her to survive the previous stages to miss the cutoff on the last day. Jason and Marc went to find her. It started to look like she wouldn’t make it…then she came around the corner and with about 4 minutes to spare she crossed the line. Awesome.

So those are the stages. No matter what I write it doesn’t tell the whole story. I truly believe to understand this race you have to do it. No words can describe the whole thing…the crew, your fellow racers, the bond that develops, the pain, the joys, and the beauty, the feeling of accomplishment is something that has to be experienced.

There are many many many details I left out. I think it is on purpose actually as this experience is something that was shared by those of us on the trail that week. Thanks you guys I am richer from the experience.
2011…LOL wonder what if?

Friday...

2010-05-15T05:06:00.000-07:00

So the pitty party last a few hows...I decided it wasn't going to be about what I couldn't do...it had to be about what I could do if I had any thoughts of making it to Desert RATS. It might be a stretch...the doc is nervous...HELL I AM NERVOUS...going forward I am limited on running...so what can I do? I can walk...I can walk uphill on a treadmill...I can ride a stationary bike...so that is what I am going to do...a lot.

Thrusday afternoon...I walked fast for 1 hour and rode a fucking recumbent bike for 30 min...those things are fucking evil.

Friday 45 min on the trainer in the morning...30 on the evil recumbent and 30 on the treadmill...you talk about a HCMF...it is hard mentally but that might be a good thing.

Bummer....

2010-05-13T08:50:00.000-07:00

Yesterday after work I was totally exhausted. Like life had been drained from me. So I went home and got on the couch. No training. I did however ride 45 min that morning....

Today was visit the surgeon day!!!!!! I got up and rode the trainer for an hour...legs were good and I was happy. I had visions of me getting the go ahead to amp up the training and get on with getting back to long running...really I knew it was going to happen. Well fuck me it didn't.

Got xrays...Doc comes in looks at scar so we talk about what I have been doing. He mentions he watched the video from RATS last year and said...wow, that is intense...then we started talking about training...I told him what I had done so far and he "seemed" okay with it then he said the words that might as well been a claymore mine in my head..."I don't want you running 2 hours a day 5 days a week". Boom...I told him that was the reason I have asked him if I could run a dozen times...I need that kind of volume to race RATS...

I have no idea what I am going to do now...walk incline at the gym...ride the trainer...run a little? I dunno...I have to let this thing heal. Have to...but I so want to push.

I am sure I will feel better about it but I am pretty low right now. Depressing.

Back for more...

2010-05-12T06:06:00.000-07:00

April 20th, 2010...Tues Twilight Crit Series...C race at 18:06...training came to a ??? Slamming halt as I hit the ground. Scott Haas and I had the field on the rivet...we hit the right hander before the finish turn...he went surfing...I mouse trapped over the top of him...April 29th Doc Stafford installed 9 screws and a plate to hold things in place...

4 Days later with his okay...I ran 3 miles. Fucking crazy...the next day 5 miles....at that point I had proven to my self that I was okay and I could run...now what take the next 5 days off and heal...Desert RATS is a maybe but only 5 weeks away. Can I? Hell if I know but I am going to give it a try...LOL what is the worst that could happen?

Since the operation each day I have been getting better. Less pain, hell there are times I don't even know that it happened.

So here is the first real week back to training:

Monday:
45 min spin on the trainer...felt good. Holding basically one handed sucks.
After work went to the gym got on the mill of dread for an hour...combo of run/walk at steep incline...no worries on the shoulder.

Tues:
45 min Spin AM...felt pretty good.
1 hour on the pave with LMS 9:45 per mile avg...felt okay...got achy for a few min after the run.

It has been awhile.....

2009-10-13T10:10:00.000-07:00

So...time to start at least putting some notes down...I guess.

Signed up for RATS again..racing cross...Shelley did her first cross race which was awesome and I am soooooo proud of her.

More to come

Some times I wonder

2009-07-16T07:00:00.000-07:00

It has been hot for my last few runs. What I consider stupid fucking hot...100 degrees with high heat indexes...it has been tough. I think it is kind of interesting that some people won't run in it. A few friends are running early mornings to avoid the heat...Shelley always asks are you running tonight? It is hot you know? I don't know if it does and good or harm but yeah I am running in the heat. If we only run/train when the conditions are good how are we going to race when the conditions are bad?

It is a miserable son of a bitch out there when it is hot or cold for that matter...but on race day we only get what is served.

Ponderings and training stuff

2009-07-10T06:02:00.000-07:00

Well this week has been a bit of a downer training week. I am still pretty tired and might have done a little much last week. I will get some good stuff in this weekend because the mind is good but the body wants more sleep. No worries, it is going to be a long year in preparing for Desert RATS 2010...

I was thinking last night about is endurance sport what I do or who I am? I have known many people in the past few years who live and die by the race clock and the time it reflects. I must admit I have been there myself a few times but I think I have turned that corner and although my lifestyle includes endurance sport and by the nature of the events I enjoy I spend a very large part of my spare time doing and training for these events. I do them purely for the enjoyment of the effort. Yes I still like to see times on the clock that I think are "good" I cherish the effort, the people and the places. I have said it before...it is the faces and the places not the finish times of my races.

Have fun.

Keeping on keeping on

2009-07-01T06:14:00.001-07:00

Good spin last night...knee wasn't tracking well. I think it is due to my laying off the bike. Felt okay this morning. I think I will go for a short run tonight to see how things are.

It feels awesome getting back at it.

Moving again....

2009-06-30T07:04:00.000-07:00

Did a nice hour spin last night after going to see Terri (PT) for my shoulder. I have to get my shoulders stronger. I think my lack of swimming the past year has been a factor. No worries, my legs still work...for now anyway.

Weight is back to normal 196.8 so I have 16 lbs to shed in the next year. No problem right...well I have yet to be successful in that endevor...we'll see.

The start of a "new year"

2009-06-29T10:51:00.000-07:00

OK so it is 1 week post Desert RATS...I didn't do jackshit last week. It felt wonderful. I have been thinking way too much about 2010 RATS...I do believe we are in for 2010. I have no idea why but I want to go back...I need to go back. The feelings and thoughts from the race are still fresh and I want/need that feeling again. I dread and welcome the training and race all at the sametime. I think I know what to do and how to prepare for the event the second go round so it begins. I trained alittle over 500 hours for this years race. I want to up that to 600. Hopefully injury for both Shelley and I are in the past so we should be able to ramp it up that much. I hope.

Here is a video of the race shot by a filmmaker who was with us. Allison did a great job capturing the essence of our adventure

http://natgeoadventuretv.com.au/Blog/Post.aspx?PostId=516

So...51 weeks from now I will be back...15 lbs lighter with many more miles on my feet. I will raise to this challenge.

Desert RATS RR

2009-06-24T09:57:00.001-07:00

Desert RATS...2009

I guess to get to the end you have to start at the beginning. The beginning of Desert RATS started long before I even knew of the race. It started the day I looked at endurance sports and started training for my first triathlon some 14 years ago. I didn't know it then but like most things in life you start down one road and it leads to others. I think that is one of the beauties of living out loud and being in tune with the world of living beyond possibilities. The past 10 years Shelley and I have been racing Ironman's and ultra running was something we did in the off season to stay in shape for the up coming tri season. After IMUSA in 2008 I knew it was time for something new. Ironman was fun but it lost its challenge as the fields grew and the hoopla surrounding it seemed to make it less of an endurance challenge and more of big participant party. That is not necessarily a bad thing but it isn't what I am looking for. I want the challenge; I want to be out there where the terrain smacks you in the head and says "this world is much bigger than you". This event did just that.

Desert RATS is a 6 days stage race that runs the length of Kokopelli's trail which is 148 miles in length. Competitors carry their daily needs plus a list of mandatory gear. This is similar to races like Marathon de Sables and the Gobi March but we did not have to carry the full week. Each night camp was set up by the crew of Gemini Adventures and we had dinner cooked for us as well as breakfast supplies. Aid stations varied but were generally 10 to 14 miles apart with water drops in between. The trails are very remote and temps can be extreme. We got lucky and the temps were very mild.

A quick note about the Gemini crew...these folks are professional and the organization is awesome. They really know what they are doing and their love for this race shows in their actions. I can not say enough good things about them and in the end I am so lucky to have shared time with all of them. I will make sure our paths cross many times in the future.

For those of you wanting a short report...This race was the hardest thing I have done to date both physically and mentally. Going to the well to drag my depressed butt out of darkness time and time again was a challenge like I had never experienced...there is no one out there handing you a Dixie up of Gatorade and telling you that you are doing awesome...there is no race expo....there is no jumbo-tron...there is just you and an expanse of land that you are trying to cover. This race is what endurance sport is about...a solo effort against something that is immense. If you have a crack in your confidence it will crush you....but...you can control those emotions and fight to finish what you start. It is all up to you and that is the beauty of it. It is simple...run, rest, run again. A priceless span in time.

Sunday, June 14th Check In:

Sunday was check in at the hotel in Moab. I was so freaking nervous I could hardly stand it. We met Chris and Tom who were doing the race and were seasoned vets of big events including MdS. They were so helpful in putting mine and Shelley's minds at ease. Seeing the race crew and our race group for the first time was nerve wracking. I had no idea what to expect. We went through our mandatory gear and did a bit of paper work. We were no more than a bunch of individuals who signed up for a race at this point but that would change as the days went by. After check in it was time to get to bed. No sleep would come. I was ready to get this thing started.

Monday, June 15th Stage 1:

20 miles: We loaded our gear packs in the trailer and hopped on the shuttle that would drive us from Moab UT to Loma CO. for a 1 pm start time. I was a ball of nervous energy. About ½ ways to Loma I had to call for a pee break much to the delight of the 10 of us stuffed in the van. A bit later we were at the start line. The temp was mild low 80's...we took a few pictures and then Reid (RD) said go...we did, up hill. Looking at the profile I was under the assumption that the stage was flat. Wrong answer...after the first little hill we came out along the trail as it ran along the Colorado river. The trail was amazing as it ran on a rim along huge canyons just so beautiful. I have never been on a trail that was this breath taking. Words can not describe how I was feeling. Lots of single track, lizards and open space. I was feeling small. I also was feeling some gnarly GI issues and had to make a pit stop. At this point the gravity of this race set in and I started to have doubts. We made it to the aid station and worked our way through the day. Thankfully we only missed one turn and realized it before we went too far...only added a mile or so.

Camp was set up and the crew was cooking up some great grub. Got my gear in the tent and ate...my mind was really starting to play tricks...much bad ju ju in my mellon. I was totally convinced that there was no way I was going to make the next days cut off. The internal conversations were intense.

Tuesday, June 16th Stage 2:

40 miles: After horrible nights sleep (4 hours at most) we get the "coffee call" and I waste no time getting my gear sorted out. A good cup of coffee and some oatmeal and we were at the line for the start. I told Shelley to hang with Juliann as I was having serious doubts about making the cut off. I really didn't want her to miss one due to my short comings. The first few miles were really casual and I was making good pace staying with Shelley and Juliann. Then we hit the only big climb of the day...it was short maybe ½ mile but it was really steep and I was laboring. I hit so many low points in the brief period it was so strange...but I made it to the top. Shelley and Juliann separated at this point and I was alone...the rest of the stage was rolling and one we got to the final aid station it was basically down hill but that was killing my feet. I just kept moving forward. I finally came to the camp but it took a long time 10:25? I was spent mentally and physically. I took a dip in the river and Milts stop and eat cooked us up some burgers and bacon...best thing I have ever eaten in my life...

The crew of runners and mountain bikers had started to gel...friendships were forming and the support started to grow...we only had each other...Morgan fixed some blisters on Shelley's feet, Chris help me get some nutrition down. I was so happy to make cutoff. I was at a high point and feeling a bit better...one big hurtle down.

Wednesday, June 17th Stage 3:

I slept a little better knowing that today's stage was only 9 miles. I was sore but my feet were in pretty good shape and I had no issues at this point other than altitude and fitness. We took off back up the hill that was yesterdays finish stretch and headed along the river rim trail. I wish I had words to describe the beauty of it all. I was just amazed to be out there and still in the race. Shelley, Juliann and I ran the stage together getting some pictures and just moving along at a leisurely pace. The finish line came quickly and I was glad to have a few hours of rest...another great meal on the river. We all did some laundry and bathed in the river...the cool water was welcome relief on tired legs. We had covered nearly 70 miles in three days...all day my eyes were wandering up to the La Sal mountains, I was fighting the thoughts in my head that come Thursday we were heading into the mountains. They seemed so far off...52 miles off...and I knew that I was going to have to move my body over that distance to stay in the race.

Thursday/Friday June 18th, 19th Stage 4:

The Expedition Stage: 52 miles...8000 feet of elevation gain. Today was going to be about making the cutoff...I had till 3:30 am on Friday to make it that seemed like a lot of time but I was still nervous as hell. My confidence was low. Tom and I were talking and he made the comment..."you will make it if you want it". That thought stayed with me for the next 16 ½ hours. Do I want it? Do I want it? At that point honestly I didn't know...I was almost to the point of...well, you had a big week that is good enough but I knew that did hold any truth. I did want it and I was going to move forward until I either passed out and was drug off the course or I made the finish line. Go...we were off. I was moving well the first 9 mile loop to Aid one...this section was basically sand and some amazing canyon walls...I was actually hanging with Shelley and Juliann at this point and making good time. We were treated to seeing a Golden Eagle take flight...I thought to myself..."Kurt take flight". I nearly broke down...After Aid 1 we started up hill...for 10 miles we went up...remote canyons, huge drop offs below and huge walls above...I had seen many photos in magazines of people running in remote places and I always wanted to be that guy...and I realized...I was that guy. I finally reached the water drop on top as I sucked that last ounce of water I had...refilled and started the decent to Aid 2.down the Rose Garden...what a trail. I was just trying not to break an ankle going down that rock strewn goat path... back in the valley...only one more climb. Heading to about 9000 ft. I saw the clouds building and wondered how bad the storm was going to be...Aid 3 was about a mile and a half from the peak...as I started up the sun started to go down. I felt okay and was determined. I wanted this with every fiber in my body I WANTED THIS! I knew I was good on the cutoff time if I just keep moving up. I had so many ups and downs through this section I lost track but I kept moving...the sunset was beautiful only because it was lighting up the thunderstorm on top of the mountain...I was climbing directly into it...then it started to rain...I hit aid 3 at dark and just as the lightening started to crack all around me. I sat down and Reid through a tarp over me "HEY I AM NOT DEAD YET" I got my tights on as the temps were getting really cold. I was shivering. I got some coke, potato chips and beef jerky in me and was back on the trail...a little over a mile of climbing left then down hill to camp and a rest day. I trudged on...the rain finally stopped about the time I hit the downhill which was pavement. My legs were toast. I tried to run but my back would lock up and knees felt as if they were going to explode...I kept moving...I wanted this. Sam followed me in the car as it was dark and I was having trouble keeping a straight line...finally the glow of camp came into sight. It was still a bit off but I kept moving...finally I got to the cut off and headed to camp. Everyone was awake and waiting for me....I broke down. That was one of the hardest days that I can remember...I hugged Shelley and just stood there completely and utterly spent. A couple bowls of chili and I crawled into my bag and shook myself to sleep. I had made it. The support of the racers and crew was overwhelming. I could not thank them enough. These people have become family.

Friday, June 19th Rest Day...

After a good nights sleep finally it was rest day...we ate a huge brunch that was awesome and loaded up to spend the day at the sandy beach on the Colorado River...as we were leaving I saw two people on road bikes coming into camp. I said...who the hell is riding a road bike down here and holy shit it was Lauren and Mark from Austin coming to say hello to Shelley and I! I was so stoked to see them it meant the world to me and Shelley! The met us down at the river and after some huge hugs we recounted our adventures of the past few days. It was so awesome to have them there...we spent the afternoon relaxing, eating and telling stories. It was a very special moment for us all. We went from being strangers to family in those days. It was our world and when boats of rafters came to stop on our little corner of earth we looked at them as intruders. It was odd looking at them wondering how we were going to tell others about our adventure in the desert.

Saturday, June 20th...Stage 5 Marathon Stage:

After a good nights rest it was all done but a marathon. LOL We all laughed when it became clear what we were saying...."all we have to do is run a marathon today". It is funny how ones perspective changes with their environment. I was still shaky on the stages cutoff time but knew that I wanted this more than ever and would turn myself inside out to finish this thing. The first six miles of today's stage was all up hill on the road...it was a long steep climb but I knew if I could get to the top I could make the day. I was steady and I was going up...that is what I could control and what I did...once on top it was downhill until the Porcupine Rim trail head...my legs were killing me going down hill has my big toe nail was all but off. I had to put the brakes on to keep from screaming in pain...got to Porcupine and headed back up hill for 2.5 more miles to find a bowl that had a numbered rock in that I had to bring back to show the final aid station that I actually did the out and back...that trail section was diabolical...I struggle up and up...saw Morgan coming down...he was hurting...saw Ashley and she was her upbeat self all smiles, then Kyle, pissed he missed a turn, then Juliann and then Shelley who gave me a big hug and told me not to get frustrated and the rocks were a little further...finally that little red bowl was sitting there...I took out rock #1 which was my race number...tucked it into one of my pockets with a zipper...no way I wanted to lose that little SOB...back to Aid and showed it to John and Sam...after a few words of grief to one another it was back down hill to the finish...I just kept it rolling the best I could. I was so ready to be done...the last 6 miles was the longest 6 miles I have ever run. I got more and more worried I had missed a turn off...finally a mtb guy came by and I asked if I was close to the Slick Rock trail head...he asked what I was doing...I told him I was trying to finish a 148 mile run on Kokopelli's trail...he said "holy shit" that is awesome and yeah the finish is like 200 yards around that rock! I couldn't believe it. I took off and there it was...all my friends and the finish line! I HAD MADE IT! Lots of tears hugs and congratulations! Of course much smack talk as well. We had done it.

If you have made it this far congratulation...this race is still a blur in my mind and I am missing many details I know...I have never had such an overwhelming sense of accomplishment and I am truly proud of myself for getting through this race. I have many people to thank...I know I will miss many but if you are reading this you are to thank as you have listened to me tell tales of running and endurance sport for a long time and are a part of everything I do....thanks to Reid, John, Sam, Josh, Glenn, Karen, Mark, Doc (the crew) also thanks to Chris, Tom, Kyle, Juliann, Ashley, Jeremy, Shaun, Morgan the runners...Heather, Eric, Lasha, Ryan and Matt the mtb gang...

What a week.

Time draw near....

2009-06-08T11:22:00.000-07:00

Okay ya'll, I should have taken the whole week off I am so outta here mentally. We leave Wed around 3 for one of the biggest adventures LMS and I have every embarked on. So much of it is unknown but the feelings are very familiar...The nervous energy is out the roof...The radical mood swings are in full pull...the packing and unpacking of gear is getting out of hand...wondering if I have too much...too little...have I done too much training or not enough. I have hit pucker factor
10+...just where I should be.

I usually post Mr. Presslers "Alice in wonderland" piece this time of year just before racing another Ironman...I was looking for it today and sadly I must have deleted it...no matter as it doesn't really ring true with the race I have spent the last 8 months or so getting prepared for.
I haven't filled my log book pages in for a couple weeks. This happens every year as an event gets near. I just cannot bring myself to look. I do know that last week has put me at 500+ hours of training. This included weeks off for my ankle break and some sick weeks that occurred.
I haven't spent any time to speak of in the pool. Probably account for 2 hours total.

Last count there were less than 20 people toeing the line. There will be no expo...there will be no banquets...there will be very few aid stations at most there is one each stage with one or two water drops...I won't have anyone yelling YOU ARE A DESERT RAT...the start and the finish are no more than a line drawn in the sand by the race directors heal. This alone makes me smile like an idiot.

tick tock...tick tock...it all comes down to this.

Today

2009-06-01T07:43:00.001-07:00

Today is June 1, 2009

I am physically and emotionally drained beyond anything I have done outside the military. The gear is in the spare bedroom starring at me. We still have a couple odds and ends to pick up and still need to figure out exactly what we need to pack in our race bag…I can't even concentrate enough to put a clear thought together long enough to get it done. LMS injury issues are better but not 100% adding to the mounting pile on my shoulders. I am more unsure of my training than ever before. I suppose I have been here before yet this is different in so many ways. This run is looming bigger and bigger each day. Yet I am smiling.

I took Thru and Friday off to try and save what is left of my sanity. Had some friends in town racing Tulsa Tough…3 days of crit racing. I so wanted to be on my bike riding 30+ down main in a pack of 70. Watching the pro's race is something everyone should do. These guys do it so freaking smooth it is sick. Our team had a few scattered out in various cats. Our P/1 girl was 19th on Friday in her first race back in over 5 years and I hope she can continue to be in the saddle despite all that life throws at her young life. She is a good kid and I hope she can keep it together. The crashes were beyond crazy as is the hill off of riverside…some 200 people drinking in various stages of dress throwing money in a hat for "crowd preems". Just a great time…high notes…saw Ms Hatch and got my picture taken with Floyd Landis…he was really cool about and I approached him as he finished his warm up and was going to the call up. He was just so happy to be out there riding his bike. I like him. I hope he continues to ride and has success in whatever he does.

I also got some running in only 8 1/2 hours running this weekend but honestly I don't think I could have done anymore. I just hope it is enough. The hay is in the barn and we will spend the next 13 days doing shorter runs in the heat of the day and hopefully getting enough rest to put our gear in order. Still doesn't seem real. Had a good run yesterday with the crew…the main topic is "what are you running next". My answer is simple…"can't see past June 20th at this point".

So anyway those are my thoughts right now.

long time

2009-04-29T08:26:00.001-07:00

Man things are busy getting ready for rats. Ran a trail marathon in KS last weekend 4:45 and change...muddy as a mother fucker and hilly and rocky and rooty...most fun.

I need to be more diligent with posting...I slack therefore I am

Compassion

2009-04-07T07:08:00.000-07:00

...the world needs more of it.

Another 50k race...

2009-04-06T07:21:00.000-07:00

Makes two in two weeks, I am pretty beat right now and only trained 13 hours last week but the race took a lot out of me. It warmed up to about 85 degrees and we just haven't had that kind of weather yet...

Met up with some friends Friday night in Guthrie OK, ate BBQ of all things and hit the rack fairly early. For some reason I was a little on edge. I think it was because I really wanted to run well and a little smack talk was in my brain...I know better than that...but it did motivate me.

Got to the race course and the wind was blowing like hell. It was a little cold just before that start. Shelley said she was feeling good and wanted to take off. I was totally fucking worried about her...she ran way too fast and smartly withdrew after about 22 miles.

I started on the north loop a bit too fast. My plan was to take it easy on the first north loop then pick it up on south loop...then ease back on the second north loop then empty the tank on the second south loop....

I was a bit ahead of schedule coming off the first loop. I had lost touch with al and malane but wasn't too worried...made a quick ditch of my long sleeve shirt had 1/2 a redbull and was off on the south trail...I felt great and was flying but it was getting hot...I got to the button hook on the south trail and didn't see al or malane...I knew I was within a 1/2 mile since that is about the distance around the button hook...I don't know if this was a good thing or not because it sent me into chase mode...I was coming in to the transition area and as I passed the bathroom Malane was coming out of it...I knew I was really close...

Another 1/2 redbull as I watched Al and Malane head out of the second north loop...I caught them fairly soon and just hung with them for rest of the north loop...I was really starting to feel the heat and it was starting to work on my legs. I was ready to be done...

Coming into to start the second south loop Shelley was there and had withdraw...I felt so bad for her as she was on course record pace by a long shot. She could have walked the finish and still won...I just don't know what she needs to be fixed an back to her normal running self. I just really worry about her...

...I took off on the last loop and was feeling tired, hot and ready to be done but I thought I was in the top 10 so I wanted to stay there. Going out I saw a few dudes that were ahead of my and didn't know how. I was totally confused later I found out they started an hour earlier...Anyway I got to the button hook and started my watch to see if I had put any time on Al and Malane as they left the transision after I did...I got to the trail intersection and there they were so I knew I had about 5 min on them but I was really starting to hurt...I just keep digging and pushing...finally I was within a mile from the finish and I started to relax...dumb move I got passed by the 1st place female with about 200 yds to go...no worries I still finish 8th overall. So a good day on two 50k's in two weeks.

Somedays

2009-03-30T13:46:00.000-07:00

I just sit in my office and think what the fuck is wrong with people. I hear more fucking bitching, complaining, whining that should be allowed by law...

Why am I noticing more and more of the people who just can't find one thing in there day that is good.

Just makes me sad.

Wake up people life is good

Good week

2009-03-30T07:14:00.001-07:00

Week wound up being pretty good...total training time was 14:15...Only about 5 hours running though...Snowed like a bitch on Sat and our sat trail run was more of a hike slog whatever...

Sunday's run was good. We got on the paved trail and go in 11 miles..we were running fairly fast for that distance at least for me...right at 9:30's. Felt pretty good surpisingly...

Going to try and get a solid week this week. It is going to be tough with all the crap going on...running the Lake McMurtry 50k the 4th of April....that will be 4 50k's in 4 months.

Crash week and the 6 hour Snake run...

2009-03-23T12:41:00.000-07:00

I came up a little short on total hours but rocked the fuck out of the run! Feeling awesome...just hope Shelley can pull it together...

Report as follows

Today was the Tulsa Area Trail and Ultra Runners 6 hour snake run...easy peasy run for 6 hours...who ever runs the furthest wins...It is a 4 mile loop no real hills just a couple inclines...there is also a 1/2 mile loop once you get to the point you can't make a full loop or you just want to get in some odd miles...

I have been running a little bit lately and riding as well...here is my training schedule since Sat 3/14

3/14
Bike 1:45
Run 2:00

3/15
Run 2:30
Bike 1:00

3/16
Bike :45
Run 1:15

3/17
Run 2:30 (split run)
Bike 1:30

3/18
Bike 1:45
Run 2:15 (split run)

3/19
Bike 1:30
Run :45

3/20
DOR

today the snake run 6 hours...I was a little worried that my legs were toast...I figured to try and get 24 miles in and call it good...I was running with our normal group and was really feeling fit...we made the first loop pretty slow but not in bad shape...same with the second...we started dropping people...then the third and more were pulling off...then the 4th mile 16 and we were down to a few of us...my bud Glen and I are freaking laughing and cheering everyone we pass...the course loops back on it self so you get to see everyone...5th lap mile 20...and my legs are really feeling good...hmmmm might make 50k at this rate if I don't fall apart. My 50k pr is just over 6 hours...lap 6 and it is Glen and I the rest of our group has dropped off and we have been lapping people. We speculate that we are in the top 10 over all and no one is older than me up the trail....lap 7 and we are feeling as good as the first....we get back to the start finish but decided to run 6 loops of the 1/2 mile trail to get 50k in...this was a little more technical and my legs were really starting to hurt. We got 6 laps in in just under 5:46 a new 50k PR for me by 14 minutes or so. I decided to trot another lap finished with 31.5 mies in under 5:55.

I finished in 5th or 6th place and 1st masters I believe...no results yet as they really only do 1st male and female over all at the awards ceremony...there were just over 155 starters....

This is the first run I didn't suck at.

Nothing but a big grin after this one....man it was good

Crash Week has begun...

2009-03-16T04:30:00.000-07:00

Okay it is spring break here in Okie land...I am going to take Wed thru Fri off from work and put in some long training...My hope is to be north of 20 hours total...with at least 10 of that being running...like a dip shit we signed up for a 6 hour trail race on Sat now I have to save some legs for that...I might take tomorrow as well...

So this morning was a 45 min spin to get the past two days of running out of my legs.

Hey looks like the fucking canadians are going to give us a break this week with their stupid shit cold weather....I love you KonaShelley :) I really do.

Cold again

2009-03-13T12:30:00.000-07:00

fuck you canada seriously fuck you.

Okay last weekend was Salt Creek crit...hilly, fucking wind blowing 40+ had a blast though and rode pretty well for the training. I was off the main group that went to the line but felt good after about the 3rd lap...I should have buried myself to stay on but my legs were having none of it. I flatted with 1 1/2 to go but I was lucky and only 20 meters from the pit...quick change of the tire and I killed to get back to the little group I was with. Wound up 29th out of 54...we had a ton of DNF's it was a tough race...

Good training this week but the fucking cold is bumming me out...next week is spring break and my goal is to run 10+ plus hours...

Spring time already!

2009-03-04T11:39:00.000-08:00

Shit I need some warm...serious warm....like full on sweat your ass off warm. I am sick if tights, I am sick of gloves, I am sick of stocking hats, I am sick of jackets.....

All is well in training land beside really wanting warmth. Good runs this weekend. I took my first run with by race pack and it had 102 oz of water...that shit is heavy.

Looks like I am going to race Salt Creek Circuit race this weekend. I have no stinking fitness so it should be embarrassing as hell.

Another good week

2009-02-23T09:46:00.001-08:00

Despite all that is going on I did manage another good week. Total was 14 hours about even split between bike and run. Legs are feeling good.

Sad note a bud who I race with decided that the world would be a better place without him ended his life this weekend. Fucking stupid and I am bummed for his kids.

Who knows what a person is thinking especially in times like these...I just wish I could have stopped it.

RIP Brett

Damn I am tired...Mom Update

2009-02-19T10:18:00.000-08:00

Well at this time mom is still in ICU. The prognosis is good according to her doc but man I just don't feel it. She won't freakind to ANYTHING to help the situation...it is so fucking frustrating. I just do not understand it. Some very simple things would make the situation so much better...but she won't hear of it. Arghhhhhhhhh

Well training wise I have been doing pretty well just to beat down the frustration that life is dealing me right now. A long run in the woods is an awesome escape.

Sometimes you realize

2009-02-14T06:28:00.000-08:00

...how short life is. Lots of emotions today. Mom has been in and out of ICU with pneumonia this weekend. I think she will be okay but just so many issues surrounding that. I just wish these were happier days for her.

Quick update

2009-02-11T04:40:00.000-08:00

Last week wound up pretty good. 12.5 hours total training with 3.5 running. It was freaking awesome to get back in the woods and run. I can't believe how bad I missed it.

This week is starting pretty good despite some work shit....

On a philosophical note...why do people here insist on being assholes?

Twas a good day

2009-02-04T17:05:00.000-08:00

Good spin this morning for an hour...ez 30 min run after work followed by a 45 min trainer ride...

I'm so hungry I could eat the ass out of a skunk

it is good to be running.

Much much better

2009-02-03T17:03:00.000-08:00

EZ spin this am...

I have had enough...had to get in the mud today. I was giving every fucking rock the stink eye as I was running. I was daring one of them sumbitches to roll my ankle...no worries, I think we have made peace...45 min in the woods YES!

Had to celebrate so I got on the trainer when I got home to spin for 45 more!

Why the fuck am I so tired

2009-02-02T16:14:00.000-08:00

I damn sure hope it was two 30 min runs this weekend...

No running today got a easy 45 min trainer ride...tired tonight so I am going to lay off my evening session. Tomorrow should be good.

Day two in a long journey

2009-02-01T13:17:00.001-08:00

Day 2: Nice ride on the trainer this morning watching the grrrrrls world champs of cyclocross...cool that an american was on the podium...keep my HR nice and high..

Ran 30 min again today and it felt MUCH better than yesterday.

Just a few more runs and I will be ready bwhahahahaha

Going to the pub for a burger in celebration...

Man that hurts

2009-01-31T11:42:00.000-08:00

For some reason I have been locked out of this page at work...I think they are on to me surfing porn...

Any not much to comment on over the past three days...snow, ice and being sick have taken their toll...Feeling better now for the most part..

I did my first real run this morning...30 min HOLY SHIT MY LEGS HURT! about the only thing that didn't hurt was my ankle...my quads felt like they were about to explode...well at least we were moving

Here goes nothing

2009-01-27T05:30:00.000-08:00

OK it has been awhile...6 weeks no running since the ankle went snap. I got the okay from the doc but still took a few more days. Shelley is still dealing with her injuries and finally got the go to walk. Man, what a fucked up way to start this journey. I am afraid she won't be able to get the training in to even start the race....

They say the journey of a 1000 miles starts with one step...I guess the run of 148 miles starts with uncertainty and fear. I did jog a few steps Sunday with some sorness in the ankle.

Man, I just hope we can get there....

Anyway I started this blog to journal this trip so I will be updating often....

Today started with no training. It has been raining ice here for about 24 hours...roads are shit...I have a head cold...

I just hope to look back at this entry in 7 months and think it was funny.

Got that feeling again....

2008-12-29T06:48:00.001-08:00

Back in 1999 I signed up for my first Ironman...I was fucking wigged out about it for a year. The fears that crept into my mind about finishing the damn thing were overwhelming...10 years later I didn't bat an eye signing up for IMUSA 2008...that made me stop and think about ever doing another one...that and a long laundry list of shit...but this weekend we sent in our entry fee to the Desert RATS race...148 mile stage run from Grand Junction Co to Moab UT...and there it was again the feeling of OH SHIT! Man it feels good. I am so looking forward to a little run in the desert.

Seems that gravity is letting me off the hook as the ankle is feeling better. I have yet to run on it but I haven't had any pain in quite awhile so I am going to do a few test miles here pretty quick. I just want to make sure it is 100% before I start the road to RATS

Got that feeling again....

2008-12-29T06:48:00.000-08:00

Injuries and the mind of a posure athlete

2008-12-22T14:11:00.000-08:00

Well it has been like two years since I last ran..okay well maybe just 8 days but it seems like forever...I miss the woods, dirt, rocks, roots.

There is hope, I took the temp cast off on Wed and to my amazement I was able to walk with little to no pain. I was pretty bruised along the foot and ankle but as long as I didn't twist there was no pain...it has been getting better ever since. I "think" I could actually run. I haven't yet just because I just don't want to screw it up. I have been on the trainer a few times and that is going really well. No awareness of injury at all.

We are going away to Ark this weekend so I hope to try a few road miles while we are there.

Kurt 1 Gravity 1

Don't fuck with gravity

2008-12-13T19:30:00.000-08:00

OK well yeah I took a shot at gravity...now I am on crutches and morphine. Fuck me my ankle isn't broke but it is fucked wayyyyy up.

So much for kicking ass.

Fuck

Friday

2008-12-12T07:06:00.000-08:00

It is here, I don't much look towards Fridays during the week. I always wonder about people who wish for Friday on Monday's. I always ask...why wish your life away? There are 4 days to live between now and Friday make the most of those.

I am looking forward to some great training this weekend. Rode the trainer abit this morning and will run or ellipical at lunch...TATUR Christmas party tonight then something long running in the morning...a friends daughter's first track meet that afternoon followed by some bike time.

Sunday will be some more! Thend Circ de Sole is that how you spell it? And a nice dinner with Shelley...big date. woo hoo

Nemesis

2008-12-11T12:00:00.000-08:00

Every good superhero needs a Nemesis, Batman had the joker, superman that one dude, Spiderman had something...you can tell I thought comic books sucked and I am no fucking superhero but I do have a Nemesis...and well it is Sir Isaac Newton well not really him cause that dude is dead but his friend gravity. Yep gravity pulls on my BFA and makes me slow. I have spent the last 13-14 year trying to overcome that shit. It was a friend once upon a time. When I fought gravity was my assistant that enabled me to direct force to peoples head.

Now it just drags me down...

BUT

today, I kicked it's ass! I snuck away from work for a lunch time run. My legs have been feeling pretty damn good considering all the miles I have been putting in but today FUCK YOU GRAVITY I had the best run I have had in a long time. 45 min avg hr 135 or so not sure how far I went but I think it was close to 6 miles and I was in full cruise

Just can't get enough

2008-12-11T08:33:00.001-08:00

The last couple weeks of training have been so fucking good I just had to holla about it. Running is good with some serious hours in, my legs are feeling good on the bike and I actually swam a couple of times. It is good not to "have to" swim.

We just got some Nathan hydration pack and they are awesome. Got some new XT Wings as well and they fucking rock. Best trail shoe I have ever had on my feet.

I ran last night solo and it was really cool. The moon was full and the trails were fresh from the rain. It was stupid fucking cold but after 45 min or so my legs woke up and I was running well despite all the hours I have been putting in.

Thoughts....

2008-12-03T06:53:00.000-08:00

I fucking hate funerals. Seriously fucking hate them. Dr. Steve's service was Monday and I went is support of my friends and teammates. I have been pretty bummed since. I really fear that I am going to run out of time. This is the thing that worries me the most. Not what lies beyond deaths shadow but what I will miss out on here. There are just so many things I want/need to do. Will Shelley know how much I truly love her? Will Kyla understand her dad's true love, will my friends know how much they mean to me? I really want to be a better husband, dad, brother, friend I get so fucking frustrated with not reaching out more. I want to scream when I think about how society misses opportunities daily to better the lives of all mankind.

Fuck man life is too short.

RIP Dr. Steve

2008-11-25T08:44:00.000-08:00

Just found out that one of my teammates Dr. Steve was found dead this morning. Not sure what the cause of death was but man that is fucked up.

Tailwinds mate.

OK State Championsip Cyclocross...Tulsa Oklahoma

2008-11-24T09:23:00.001-08:00

Sunday was OK CX State...while I was in no position to get a jersery I was hoping to be able to at least have ONE, ONE fucking decent CX race this season. Since we didn't run any 50k's this weekend and my training has been good but not stupid long...the possiblilty was there.

Sat I trained way more than I intended...2 hour trail run and an ez 1:45 on the trainer...I was only going to run 1 hour and ride the trainer one hour BUT the trail run was awesome and I was enjoying the beautiful fall day...then on the trainer I put in stage 6 of the 2006 TdF and was grooving with the pelaton...and kind of lost track of time.

No worries, got up Sun morning and spun on the trainer for 30min to wake up...ate a good breakfast and headed over to the race site. The course was a long son of a bitch...hell the 1's were turning 6:30 laps...one huge nasty run up...one long sand pit the rest would be blazing fast...warmed up another 30 minutes on the course and the legs were feeling pretty damn good. I had hope....

We get the call to the line and I am feeling it....we get Riders READY?!!!! Go...I take off with the lead group and we hit the first turn before the first set of baracades and BAM! Fucking rear tire blows. Shit less than 100 meters off the line and my sorry ass is running back to the pit saying fuck a lot. Get the rear changed out with pit wheels and go to the officials tent...no free lap? WTF we always get a free lap...I ask to hop back in where I left off which is what we were told to do but for some reason I get relegated back to after the freaking Jrs. pass...so I am a lap down after one...I get back in and just buried myself for as long as I could. I actually had a decent ride just too bad I was a lap plus down from the start.

Such is cross and the way my season has gone.

JFR and smile while you suffer

Stuff

2008-11-17T11:19:00.000-08:00

It has been 11 daze since my last post and a whole bunch of shit happened....road Cross at the night race in OKC....I was totally fucking blown...my legs were stupid tired...not just tired but that deep down fatigue that just sucks your will to live out. Does that stop me from going out and giving it 100% effort well hell no is the answer you are looking for there spot.

Let's see that was Thur Nov 6th. We were on our way down to the Rockledge Rumble 50k...Running two 50ks in two weeks is kind or stupid but I really was looking forward to it. Coming off the Bass Pro 50k I really thought I would run this thing well despite the cross race from hell on Thursday night. The course looked way easier the bass pro and I figured I was in better shape. I am such a dumb ass...

The race went okay but I was only 5 min faster then the Bass Pro race...Shelley won the woman's even though she had serious stomach issues. She was about 15 min slower but the course was much closer to 32 miles.

Yesterday was OKC cross and a beautiful day...I basically rode temp since I am really really fatigued

Great fun but my results...well they suck but I am having a blast.

CROSS RULZ!

2008-11-06T07:19:00.000-08:00

I fucking suck! Holy Shit last Sunday was my first cross race of the season in OKC. Finally get to race the new cross bike...that I have only been on ONE FUCKING TIME since I got it.

The whole week following the Bass Pro 50k I have been really really tired...by Friday I was thrashed and really just wanted to sleep. So...I bail at lunch and take a long nap. My temp is about 100 and I am feeling like hammered shit.

I planned on running 15 miles at McMurtry on Sat then race cross on Sunday. Sat was awesome and we got to McM in good time. I took off running the first loop before the rest of the crew. I actually stayed away the whole loop even after one piss and a crap stop. Does a bear shit in the woods? Fuck if I know but a Kurt does bwhahahaha. Any way I hammered out the first 7.5 miles feeling pretty good and running well. Got back to the car to wait on Shelley and the rest of the group and I crashed hard...I could barely keep my eyes open. I was spent. I tried to start another loop but decided to save what energy I had left for the cross race on Sunday.

We dicked around Sunday morning way too long I was getting pissed at Shelley since I really wanted to get to the race site early to help with set up and get a long warm up in. Well what do you know Matt fucking changed the start time to noon? What the fuck...so I had like 20 min to warm up. Finally the decision was made to start at 12:30...dipshits.

I warmed up with the PG-13 boys and was feeling so so. We got lined up and I was going to race the masters...problem is it is 35+. I looked around and every peckerhead on the line also races the A race and is or was at least a cat2. Where the fuck were the rest of the old fuckers. Shit...we are off...I am doing all I can on the first paved section to hang on...I am hoping the knives in my thighs would fall out...I was hoping the tunnel vision would soon open up...I believe there was blood dripping from my ears...shit I was hurting bad and we were on the first fucking lap.

I was staying close then on the second lap...bam...piss piss piss...my front tire goes flat. I didn't think we could cut the course to the pit so I road the loop with the front flat. I didn't want to roll the tire so I just plodded along getting lapped fuck I was pissed.

Get to the pit and the team wheels are already gone so I sit down to change the damn thing...I get back in the race after a couple laps down and I still didn't feel great.

Finished...DFL

No worries, racing a practice cross race tonight before heading to Dallas to run another 50k. We'll see how it goes. I feel better but now I am worried about my fitness.

OK a RR for BP ODF 50k

2008-10-29T08:14:00.000-07:00

Okay, since I have a second I better drop a line about the race last weekend before the soreness is gone from my legs.

Shelley and I head to Branson MO. on Friday after work...we stop off at the Bass Pro Shop in Springfield MO. to pick up packets. We have now been there the total of twice...the fucking wildlife exhibits have been closed both times so all we get to see is fat fuck rednecks wandering around lusting after camouflaged underwear, guns and fishing shit. It is a slice of Americana to behold. It has if these good people have found the holy grail. Awesome.

We get our packets and head to Branson...we decide a steak would be nice since the race is two days away...pull into an Outback Steak house...whatdafuck...that dude is smoking...at his table...so is about half the restuarnt...wow...we leave hoping for a non-smoking anything.

Pull into Branson and find a rib crib....mmmmm ribs...around this time it strikes me...this place is fucking weird...old people every damn place...no police....just old people milling around like some kind of fucking elephant grave yard...dude there is evil afoot.

So we get to our hotel which is surprisingly nice and chill...since we were the first of our crew to arrive. Wake up Sat morning and head back to Springfield so Shelley can shop and we can see more of America...well we apparently didn't see enough cause back to Branson we go to the Bass Pro shop there...wow...more of the same.

The rest of our crew arrives and we head out to the race site so they can pick up there packets...talk with the RD...ask about drop bags...RD has no idea what a drop bag is or what she is going to do with them...OH shit this might be a cluster fuck of a race. Get sorted head back to the hotel and crash...

Race morning...

We are greeting by Barney Fife and the race site...seriously...a Don Knotts impersonator...he was spot on and actually funny as hell. We get instructions that we will be starting with the 25k people and basically run the second loop backwards.

One bullet Barney shoots his gun and we head down a little asphalt to start the day....then the first creek crossing at about 1/2 mile...then another then a couple more then a few more...the RD said there were 5 creek crossing 10 for the 50k...I stopped counting on the first loop at 1o meaning 20 at least for the 50k. Once were left the first creek we went straight up. I mean freaking straight up. These were by far the steepest hills I have ever been on. I thought my back was going to seize up and paralyze me. I was blown after the first up and down...I thought my knees were not going to make it. So I settled into an easy pace on what ever flat I could find and took the hills very slow...

I believe we covered 7 hills in each lap and had a total elevation gain of nearly 10,000 feet. The course was beautiful as all the leaves were changing colors. I really just had fun running the thing even though I was shit slow at 7:29. I actually thought about pulling at 25k because the hills were killing my back but I thought now way and I wanted the sweet North Face Finishers fleece.

Shelley rocked with a 5:08 but spent time trying to figure out the course on the second loop. There needed to put about twice the signs up that they had. The course marking was shit.

Shelley was 2nd female and 11th OA...there were 4 guys from the New Balance Mountain running team so the front was really stacked.

Bass Pro Shops Outdoor Fitness Festival.

2008-10-27T05:59:00.000-07:00

http://media.basspro.com/images/outdoors/outdoor_fitness_festival/DogwoodElevation.pdf

Fuck me. 4880 feet of climbing x2. I truly thought that my knees were going to blow.

Too tired to post more but will in the next couple daze

Are We Fucking Crazy?

2008-10-24T07:22:00.000-07:00

As Shelley and I head to Missouri this afternoon for the Bass Pro Shops Outdoor Fitness Festival...man that is a long name...50k I again question my/our sanity. Not that we do more than many of our friends but we have this race on Sunday...then next week is a cross race...then the following another 50k. This will make 3 50k's for Shelley in 3 months...only two for me.

We have a friend who is funning 3-100's in like 4 weeks. I wonder how many people to this type of shit. I really can't be normal.

I am feeling awesome though and it seems that my last few runs have been awesome.

So here we go back into the mix....run mother fucker run!

Palo Duro 20k

2008-10-20T07:19:00.000-07:00

What an amazing place to run. I will get some pictures up soon but I think that Palo Duro is the most majestic place I have ever run. Just so remote and stark. Fucking awesome.

The weekend was really cool. We camped out thur-sun. with Jamie and Andrea, Lauren and Marc got there on Friday. We spent a lot of time hanging out and catching up. Shelley and I really appreciate our friends.

Sat morning broke nice an cool and we got the start about the time the sun crested the rim of the canyon. Shelley was up front of course I started in the middle hoping to run a even race. I was really concerned about my calfs as they have started to lock up again. No worries, I was just going to cruise it. I settled in and went through mile 1 around 12:15. Cool if I run 12's I will be at 2:30...so that was goal #1. My calves weren't complaining and I was just loving the run...mile 2 around 11:35. Feeling awesome. Sun was warming things up and the trail was just perfect...miles were clicking off and I was beside myself with how good I was feeling. I was getting a few sub 11 miles but I told myself to hold back until mile 9 then we would run hard. I really didn't get passed at all once we spread out. My biggest fear was I would catch the nekked dude and not be able to pass him, causing me to run behind his naked ass for 4 miles. Thankfully I never saw him after the out and back. I got to the last aid station and started to push it. Mile 10 was 10:10 or so then mile 11 was 9:58 then mile 12 9:38...finish 2:13:27. Not fast but I really felt great the whole way. I was 52nd out of 188 total.

Shelley rocked and was 2nd female and 8th OA! Awesome day for her.

The Canyon....

A cool wall on the run course

Shelley and I taking a break running the day after the race...sore fucking legs!

46 years today

2008-10-06T08:31:00.000-07:00

Wow man, I can't fucking believe I am this old. When did that happen.

I guess age is just a number because I still feel really good and there are many things that I still want to do before I slip off the deep end. There is so much to explore in mind, body and the world around me.

...but...the clock does tick on and on.

I guess it just goes back to making every moment count.

This weekend was an awesome for a birthday...ran 20 miles or so with friends at Turkey...then home for a quick shower and headed to McNeely's for burgers, many beers and shots, then Shelley and I stayed downtown so we didn't have to drive...up at 6:30 for an hour run at Turkey...

...what do you know the oldest of our crew was the only one other than Shelley to show up!

Last Crit of the Season

2008-10-01T06:52:00.000-07:00

Last night was the final race in the series here in T-Town. I pretty much decided last week that I was only going to race once since my legs were beat to shit. We did some really long runs this weekend and I took Monday completely off. Yesterday morning I did a short run in the morning and my legs were complaining.

My shoulder is still sore, as well as my hand. I was concerned about my grip but it did bother.

Got to the race site and the director was late so it was a hurry up kind of warm up. The legs were not as bad as I feared. Got the line up and the whistle and we were rolling. The usual guys were there so I just sat in most of the way. Nothing really got shaking until 5 to go. Then an attack from some new guy. Covered easily. Crazy Ivan never came through which was different. I was holding 3rd wheel and sitting well.

We get two to go and I talked a guy into attacking and went with him. American flyer cuts me the fuck off but I hang onto his wheel. Excel sports guy's attack doesn't get a break so we are all together with one to go. Strange jersey guy goes with about a half lap...American Flyer guy and I stay with him. Last turn as we head the sprint...American Flyer guys goes way too fast and into the gutter...I kind of sat up and though what the fuck is he doing...about that time he fucking cranks it up and caught me napping. We both blow by Strange jersey guy and he takes the win.

Great way to end the season...

The question?

2008-09-29T09:14:00.000-07:00

If Kurt's Big Fat ASS (TM) falls in the woods and nobody is around does it make a sound.

Flat Rock 25k RR....

The Flat Rock 25k/50k is billed as one of the hardest trail runs in the country. They base that statement on results of other races blah blah blah...they rank it as 4th hardest.

I don't know about all that but I will say this it was fucking hard really really fucking hard. After leaving the 1/2 mile of road that starts and finishes the race you are either running up or down...and you are ALWAYS running on rocks. Rocks fucking rocks on top of fucking rocks. There are so many fucking rocks I dreamed about fucking rocks last night. My feet feel like they have been beat with a ball peen hammer. My right thumb is bruised and torn from tip to the wrist and the x-rays say my shoulder is just so other than that I am just fine.

I did a 10-15 min warm up to see if I can keep my calves from blowing up in the first mile which is basically up hill on rocks.

We start off and I actually feel pretty good Shelley goes with the lead men and we make the first 1/2 pretty quick. Once in the woods it is straight up over the rocks. My calves were okay but I wasn't pushing the point with them so I settled in and made my way to the top of the ridge. I was hanging out in the top 10-15 and I was feeling kind of good about my chances to get a top 10 (36 starters I believe). The trail is beautiful as it follows the shore line of Elk Lake. I really like the trail even though it was seriously hacking at my will to live. I was making fair time...took a break to pee and got passed about a 1/2 dozen people. Then I get the fucking choo choo man behind me. Holy SHIT this dude ran like a fucking steam engine...huff puff huff puff...I was thinking about just kicking his ass off a Cliff but decided to let him go in front at the first aid station.

The lead runner comes by going the other way then second...now I am looking for Shelley in hopes she is leading at doing well. I see the 4th place male then Shelley she is looking great and has about a 10 minute lead over second. I figure I am in about 15th or so at the turn and I am feeling awesome so I pass a couple and head for home.

Just like my race a couple weeks ago my calves/Achilles start feeling much better at about 1:30 on the clock. I hit the turn about 1:41.

I was ready to go hunting...I get through the only open section I had seen all day and back to the woods...them BLAM-O FUCK THAT hurt! My right hand is bleeding like a MO-FO and I am trying to feel to see if my collarbone is still intact. I believe it is but my shoulder and hand hurt like a mother. Oh, and yes when my BFA falls in the woods it makes a lot of noise...mostly in the form of...........OH FUCK THAT HURT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I never really recovered from the fall. I was able to sling my arm in my camlebak strap and I just sort of hobbled back in. I was like 18 out 36 starts and had a crap time of 3:50 and change.

This course is freaking hard but fun...

Shelley won the woman's side and was 3rd overall. She set a new course record by like 2 minutes...she is on a roll!

How?

2008-09-25T08:55:00.000-07:00

I am about as sick of this election shit as I can get. I have had a few friends ask my opinion then get seriously offended when I gave it. I guess all in all I am an anarchist. I don't what the govt. fucking with me about anything. If I want a hooker, leave me the fuck alone, if I want to smoke pot, leave me the fuck alone, if I want an abortion, leave me the fuck alone. Obviously all of these things can be hurtful to society but won't society correct those things all by themselves? Why does the govt. have any say so in it at all?

My biggest question right now is how can a person who is a professed "Christian" reconcile arming themselves? I have a friend who is born again and seriously the only thing they love more than Christ is their gun. That is just hard for me to understand. What happened to love thy neighbor, meek shall inherit the earth, turn the other cheek.

I guess it was bound to happen

2008-09-25T08:01:00.000-07:00

Tues was crit night and for the first time this season I just didn't feel good and felt toasted. I guess the long runs over the weekend caught up with me. I raced the C's and was third but I really didn't race that well. I stayed out of the wind most of the time and when it came time for the sprint my legs were just toast.

I lined up at the back of the B's but since it is getting darker earlier they combined the A's and B's. We took off like someone stuck a rocket up our ass. My legs were fucking screaming. I knew I had to move up or get popped being the yo-yo. I would get up a couple people then get blown off the back...after about 20 min I just pulled out. I was spent. So I was/am pretty dissapointed. I gues I shouldn't be as I am only one of a couple that do two races a night. I did feel better seening all the other people who got blown up.

Weekend Trip to Mt. Magazine and Devils Den in AR

2008-09-23T05:50:00.000-07:00

Great running this weekend in Ark. I am still worried I am not getting enough real long runs in. I think my longest has been like 3:30. With the 50k coming in a month I need to get at least two longer than 5 hours. We'll see how it goes.

Saturdays run was on the Cove Lake trail to a fire road down at the bottom of Mt. Magazine. You lose like 1700 feet in 3 miles...which means you gain it coming back which we did but on the road (309) it was actually 5 miles all up hill.

I helped this little guy off the road. He was pissed and scared the shit out of Shelley. Check the rattles there are 16 of them he was an old buy and really beautiful.

Soaking the feet during a long run

Shelley loves butterflies. They are every where

Waterfalls all over the place.

Vew from the top! It is awesome

Shelley and I at the top!

Great weekend we spent Sunday running at Devils Den.

Crit night tonight

Sometime Two Is Not A Good Thing

2008-09-17T07:47:00.000-07:00

Tuesday night crits and the fun that is max heart rate. I hit 182...my max=175

After not being able to race the crits the past two weeks I was really jazzed to get to the race. The weather was perfect except for a little wind in the back straight of the dreaded "horseshoe" course set up. I figured I would race the C's and the B's since I was so stoked to race. The plan was to race the C's fairly easy and not work then race hard in the B.

We get the call to the line and I take the front middle. I usually stay back but thought what the fuck. We get the whistle and of course everyone lines up behind me. So I decide then and there that this is going to be attack day. We make one lap and I go. Get a small gap then sit up…let a dude pull through…go again…..nose in the wind….sit up….go again…I have a friend in the pack who is a strong female cat 3 and we work together so we start taking turns attacking and holding the pack back…some dickweed keeps sitting in every time we get a gap so she starts giving him crap. I am laughing my ass off as she says "dude, f**king work a little so we can stay away" poor dude just looks at her like she is nuts…then she goes again. It was a blast but we were working very hard playing off the front. The guy the Lauren bitched at would get up front and start doing Kevin Costner American flyer shake and break moves…we looked at each other and said WTF is that all about. I just needed to hear Alexandra Paul yell "WHEEL SUCKER" and the picture would have been set.

We get 5 to go and crazy Ivan goes off the front. He does this every single race…so I jump behind him and American Flyer guy is on my wheel, followed by Lauren. The only person missing was Oregon Duck guy who won last week. I was keeping my eye out for him figuring he would jump. I sit in behind Crazy Ivan and fake a couple of attacks to see if Duck guy would come forward but he didn't take the bait. We were driving hard and had the field in a line. We get the bell I am second wheel, with American Flyer is there and Lauren has slipped back a few spots with Duck guy on her wheel. Just before the head wind section I hear Lauren yell GO! I knew the Duck guy was going. I catch his wheel as we turn into the wind and he is behind crazy Ivan…we hit the short turn section and I am third wheel…I finally am set up for the sprint…we hit the last turn and I get ready to go inside to sprint for the win…but American Flyer guy fucking dives into my line…I pull around and go to the outside around Duck guy and Ivan…fuckstick American Flyer takes the short side and I couldn't get in front of him at the line so I take second. Lauren beats Duck guy for third in the sprint.

Man it was fun controlling the race. I just wish I could have finished it off.

Now the second part.

I literally had about 1 minute to get to the line for the B race. The plan was to tailgate and move up after I recovered a bit. Some dude in the race is an ex-euro pro who rode the Giro back in the day. So of course we get the gun and everyone had to pull it out to prove how big theirs is and we are flying from the gun. I am in the back 5 or 6 which is fine but we are riding like a Duncan yo yo. The pace gets reasonable and I try to move up. I get mid pack and things get nuts again. I am back in the back…this goes on for the whole race…I am about to pull the plug but I see the 5 to go sign and decide to see if I can hang on…we get the bell and I said screw it and go hard trying to move to the front then I swear it was like I got unplugged. You could have heard the pop and I was done…I got on back and cruised in the last 1/3 of a lap eating bar tape. Man it was good but it was so freaking hard.

Hello Darkness My Old Friend

2008-09-15T16:56:00.001-07:00

FUCK MY LEGS ARE GONE...was all I could think about for the first hour and a half of yesterdays Turkey and TATURS trail race...I was running the 25k and LMS was running the 50k.

With Ike pissing rain like it was Noah's day it was shaping up to be a mud hole. I predicted no rain and sunny on Sunday and I nailed. The day dawn beautifully. We had spent Sat. marking the trail and doing a little clean up. I was really looking forward to a nice long run. My legs have been trashed from all the training I have been doing and this was the standard no taper taper for the run...shit it is only 25k anyway.

The Turkey Mountain course is basically roots and rocks on top of roots and rocks...with short steep climbs with some roots and rocks. In other words dump 3 inches of rain on some roots and rocks and you pretty much have the course.

Shelley got started before first light and her little headlamp bounded into the distance. We got lined up and I hadn't warmed up at all. I figured the first few miles of trail would be packed and have us walking so I would get my legs warmed up fine. I have been having issues at the start of my runs and my calves Achilles just lock/cramp/fucking explode.

We hit the first up and it was as if I was getting hit in the Achilles by a pissed of midget with a baseball bat...I knew I was fucked. OH man it hurt. I could almost run the flats but if the ground went up I was hosed. I was reduced to a walk almost from the start. Man, I got depressed as a motherfucker. Like a dip shit I kept trying and trying but my calves heals just wouldn't let go. I was sick to my stomach it hurt so bad...after about 1:20 it just sort of got better like all of a sudden. My spirits were immediately lifted. I thought just cruise it until 2 hours and if you still feel good run as hard as you can for an hour and see what happens.

Around 1:55 I see our friend Dee on a lower trail, I decided to take off to see if I can catch her...I pass my friend Bob and hit the switch back to the trail I saw Dee on...there is a log across the trail I do by best hurdle catching my toe on it of course and splat...yard sale on the trail...dumbass...I hop back up and catch Dee...we chat briefly and I am now on a mission.

One thing about sucking as a runner you have to take what you can get...I decided that I would not be passed in the last 1 hour plus to the finish line and I was going to pick off at least 10 people on the way home...

I was running like I was shot out of a cannon. The big hill or wall on the course is called lip buster cause someone fell face first on it thus splitting their lip...I saw 5 or sicks people starting the hill...I knew I could catch a bunch if I hauled...2 down 8 to go. I got to the top of lip buster and there were 3 more dudes just starting down the long decent to pipeline...I was on them in about a 1/4 mile...5 down. Feeling like I was flying...hit a few switch backs and get a couple more...7 down...came around a blind corner and saw a group of 5...see ya later...12...I had less than a couple miles to go and I see Shelley heading out for her second loop and she was IN FRONT and smiling! I was so proud to see her in the lead and cruising. I see the second place female about 5 minutes later. I was hoping Shelley could keep it together and not let her sneak up. I wind up catch 5 or 6 more before the finish which was a 3:21 suck time but man the last half was so awesome.

I started my re hydration process with beer and sit around waiting on LMS to make the turn home...A few of the men's 50k guys are coming in..the first guy won by about 30 min. then second then a couple more...then SHELLEY! She was 10th OA and 1st Female! Second would not come in for another 36 minutes.

Great day on the trails!

Shit!

2008-09-13T15:27:00.000-07:00

Man, where has the time gone. It has been two weeks since my last stream of shit here.

Lots has been going on. Doing some big runs, racing the crits, getting ready for a 25k tomorrow.

Work has been a huge PIA due to this being budget time. I won a couple battles last week with the bean counters which is always fun.

OK I have to get on my trainer for a little while. I will post up some pic's from our camping trip to Arkansas from a couple weeks ago.

No you don't rawk

2008-08-29T11:39:00.000-07:00

Saving this Tri Drs post for prosperity

QUOTE FOR THE DAY
"When you're stuck sitting in a comfort zone, small problems become magnified. Get out of your comfort zone, touch the edge, and you come back with an appreciation for life." - Barbara Warren, 1943-2008

From AdventureCORPS News.
clm

Rest in peace Ms. Warren, didn't know her but like the way she thought...from what I gather she still thought this way at 65 years of age at least I hope she did.

I pitched out a little friendly shot at my boy Mr. Mina. As always he caught it. As always thanks for being the straight man mate and setting me up to put this out there...

When I told Mark Seale I was going to retire from triathlons...again...he said you will miss it and will be back. Well the truth was I already was missing it even while racing it. I will be back I am sure but it might be awhile. A little about me...I ain't squat as an athlete when you compare times to people who actually have a gift of speed. What I have is a burning desire to push. Just to find out where the f**k is the edge. I want to know what it feels like to push to complete exhaustion. I want to race so hard that I literally think I am going sh!t my pants in a three up sprint during Cat 5 race. I want to run across places so f**king remote that if I get hurt there is a high likelihood that some very bad sh!t could happen. I refuse to settle for oh here is your nice participation ribbon you rawk. F**K THAT! We are athletes, we should demand from one another that we go out and do things that others dare not try. Does that mean doing stupid things no, does that mean dedicating the time, energy effort, that you have to great things YES. Does that mean I am better than anyone else who throws a leg over a bike or puts on running shoes no.

It really saddens me that races fill up in minutes, it really has changed since the first time I tried to get Amy Weiss to give me her coffee at IMUSA in 2000. We now have people who look to "fast" and "flat" as if there is magic in the finish clock time. That they will be transformed into immortality...f**K you. I used to be so intimidated when I showed up at IM with my fat butt. There were hundreds of ripped speed freaks concerned about going FAST! Not what kind of gadget they could buy to make them go faster. Now I am one of the skinny ones, I don't give two sh!ts if you are fat or skinny, fast or slow but your @ss better being putting the effort in to do the very best you can. We should demand that from one another and call BS when we see our brothers and sisters giving anything but there best since what we do is a choice.

Some of us on here have coaches...guess what they work for us. The Queen B said to me one time "I am going to give you some sick workouts" during one of our heated chats I said fine I will do double what you send. We should all look forward to the hard stuff! That is where the good stuff is. Sport is a non=lethal way to test yourself. If you don't want to take the test take your @ss back to the aerobics/body pump/spin whatever the hell is out there. Don't come to a competitive arena looking for a "YOU RAWK" cause guess what if you didn't put yourself on the rivet...you didn't rawk.

Just sayin'

The Power or Prayer?

2008-08-29T06:05:00.000-07:00

What does that really mean? This morning there was a whole news story about a community praying for god to heal some people who have come down with e-coli that they contracted from a restaurant in eastern Oklahoma. The really funny thing is that I ATE AT THAT FUCKING PLACE LAST FRIDAY...okay not real funny but...

The news story really is interesting...they were interviewing people who said "oh, yes I prayed for the people who got sick" so is praying like manual labor? I mean is it like building a barn?

So if the prayers work, does that mean that god made a mistake by allowing them to get sick in the first place? Does god do something and just kind of hangs out until we pray to reverse his decision? Or does he just miss some shit that is going on down here? Or is he just proving he is the boss and just fucking with us? I guess he could be real busy and just one step behind the devil and we are like a really crappy neighborhood watch for him.

Strange stuff.

Two Fer Tuesday

2008-08-27T03:33:00.001-07:00

Okay for the past couple weeks I have been thinking about racing both the C and the B races at the crits. I have honestly just been scared to do it knowing that the pain would be more than I really cared to edure on a Tuesday evening. Last night that though struck me as funny. Me afraid to go out and hurt on a bike ride. Realization that you are being a puss is a funny thing. So with that I laughed as I included my name on the B race sheet as well as the C. I figured fuck it my legs hurt so bad from all the running I have been doing that I won't feel a thing.

I get a 30 min warm up and the legs were sore. My run total for Sat, Sun, Mon was over 5 hours.

We get to the line and get the go. As usual the whole race was a cluster fuck. From go a guy new guy jumps off the front...reel him in, another attack, reel him in, another attack, reel him in...I finally decided not to cover every fucking attack by myself so back it off a twitch and kind of take turns in the wind with a couple others, with 5 to go we are riding like someone stuck a torch up our ass and I am hanging on for dear life. There are 4 of us in the chase but we never caught the one up and pulled up for a 5th place. I just had no crank in the legs...

I have about 30 seconds to get a drink and line up for the B's. BAM! Go shit here we go again! I was figuring to hang with the B's off the back and once I got popped I would call it a night...1st couple of laps I am in the top 5-8 feeling pretty good...next few laps....still in there...attacks are going and I am still in the chase for a half dozen more and we bridged the last attacks...get 5 to go and we are chasing the break away down...we might have a chance...1 to go and we catch the break...a second later they are back up the road...shit! I missed the jump...spin around and cross the finish line! I think I was 8th or so.

I was totally and completly blown man did it feel good. I got lots of dude, good job with both races comments.

JFR boys and girls

Seriously my fucking head is going to explode.

2008-08-25T10:45:00.000-07:00

I really need to stop reading slowtwitch. It has to be some sort of fucked up addiction. With the exception of a few the people on that site are the most mental people I have ever seen. Fucking stressing over the most minute details of shit. I swear for no other reason reading the crap on there will make me quit triathlon for ever. Everybody is an expert. Then reading the lavender room is about a fucking mess. I really need to stop looking at that train wreck.

fucking idiots

Fun

2008-08-25T06:48:00.000-07:00

What a cool weekend. Shelley and I ran the Escape from Turkey Mountain, 5 mile trail race. Shelley did well top 5. I just felt like crap all morning and didn't run that well. I did go 53:12 I think which was better than the toe stumper 5 miler in March. Similar trail difficulty. After that we were going to go meet some friends for Breakfast but I went home and ran an additional 35 mintues, we got a call that some other friends needed 2 people for their Mud Run team...so we raced twice in one day...my legs were killing me. We did well in the Mud Run but for some reason we were scored indivdually instead of a 5 person team. Shelley was 4th I was like 88th out of 300 or some such. Total blast.

Had a nice 2:15 run on Sunday but my legs were no where near recovered from the day before...

Last week I put in 12:15 in training with 7 hours being running...I still can't drop a fucking pound. I actually ate well all week too...I give up

Wednesdays of Death

2008-08-21T07:10:00.000-07:00

For some reason as of late Wednesdays have been giving me the eebjeebies. After riding my balls off in the Tues night crits and going for an easy spin on Wed mornings the Wed run with the TATURs is a killer. Generally we haul ass for the first hour then easy run the remaining 30-45 minutes. I have actually been hanging with the lead group but I swear my lungs are screeming.

Last night was no exception...we blazed the first hour and I was fucking dying but stayed with the fast group. My legs were toast! We saw a big momma deer, which is always a treat. After we got back to the parking lot we all decided to run a little more so we hooked down the red trail. I was thinking we were done but back in the parking lot Shelley and Vicki decide we need to do another loop. I sez um it is dark...no matter the three of us take off. By the time we get to the turning point I had busted my ass in the pitch black. We decide to take the power line trail back because it is direct and there aren't any trees the only problem is it is FUCKING ALL UP HILL mother fucker that hurt...we finished in total darkness with no illumination. What a great run!

Second race...

2008-08-20T12:50:00.000-07:00

SAME FUCKING RESULT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have discovered I am a great lead out man….for FUCKING everyone.

Last night I had a plan a good plan not like my orange slice candy and 50k plan but a real plan. The plan was to sit in and keep my nose out of the wind. Simple plan for a simple man. I need that right? So with the threat of rain there were only 9 or 10 of us in the C race. There were a couple new guys I hadn't seen the first race so I wasn't sure what to expect. I had a decent warm up and was ready to go.

I executed the plan to perfection…the first half of the race was just as I hoped. I stayed out of the wind and in 4-6th wheel as we all stayed together. There wasn't really any aggression to speak of but we were keep the pace pretty high. We get a little half way through and new guy from Arkansas decides to move…I covered it no problem and drug everyone with. We get the 5 laps to go and fat dude in Excel jersey makes a huge move. The group must have been in shock cause this dude is twice my size and can fucking ride. I figured since I chased the first attack down someone would chase this one down, assholes look around like someone farted in an elevator. So what does dipshit Kurt do…takes up the cause and goes across…then what does Fatfuckk do…SLOWS DOWN to a crawl…I said "dude ride!" fuckweed…says that is all I got…we nice but we still have three laps to go.

We get caught and with two to go I say screw it I am hanging on to blue shirt guy (he won last week) if my lungs shoot out my ass. We get the bell and we are freaking cranking away and into the last corner we go…I am on his wheel!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I think awesome I got his ASS. Then FUCK ME! The guy behind me jumps and it is a 3 up sprint…I am 3rd again! SHIT

Seriously ya'll should race them. The only thing better is cross and we all know that CROSS RULZ!

Games

2008-08-18T11:32:00.000-07:00

Games, what we do is nothing more than a game. I have been reading on ST and other sites and people take sport way too fucking serious. Of course we should train, race to do our best but there is no true standard of "our best". Fucking people bitch about the Bolts dude getting fired up or what ever need to get the fuck over it. Do I think these sprinters and BB thugs act like idiots...sure sometimes but that doesn't effect me one fucking bit.

Had a great weekend training the the TATUR's. Legs are good and I love to paly in the woods.

My legs My legs I can't feel my legs

2008-08-14T06:54:00.000-07:00

First thing I have to talk about is "Dollar Chip Guy". We went to lunch after a meeting. We go to this dive Mexican restaurant and we are sitting at the bar. Guys comes in sits next to us. He starts bitch to the waitress who can't speak English real well. Well what do fuck stick Rednecks do when speaking to someone who to them English is a second language. Well the just talk LOUDER...the guy is fucking going on and on about a $1.00 for a second basket of chips and salsa. He looks over to our group and we have a couple extra baskets. He asked "Did you pay a extra for that"I had no idea but I couldn't help myself and responded yeah I think a buck. The shithook starts in again. I finally say here and hand him a one, I said dude if an extra basket of chips is going to make your day, I am buying. He gets pissed. I was cracking up big time. My group is looking at me like I am nuts. It was awesome. He did finally shut his cake hole.

Rode the trainer yesterday morning for an hour to spin out the crap that the crit injected into every pore.

After work Shelley and I met up with the local trail running club. I was thinking like a 45 min easy run...yeah right. We freaking hammer the first loop of the run which I thought would end our run for the day as Shelley said she didn't want to run very long...well then much to my surprise she said okay to doing a second loop!!!!!!!!!! OH SHIT my legs were fried but I was staying up with the lead group the whole way and I was really stoked about that. Even though my legs were killing me from the crits on Tues!

FINALLY...

2008-08-13T11:50:00.000-07:00

something to write about...this is going to be long cause it has been like forever since I wrote...said like a 14 year old gymnast. Can you believe someone named their kid Nastia? Seriously.

The past couple weeks have been a little on the strange side. I go through these periods where I just seem to lose my center. You know all that yin yang stuff. I don't know really how to describe it but I just feel off...I really didn't want to train, I didn't really want to work, My weight had gone back up for some unknown reason...well okay I ate a shit load of salt is my guess and thankfully it is back to 195.6...I was supposed to race the crits in OKC last Wed but my car was being worked on and the fuck sticks stripped a bolt so they didn't get it done PLUS they got it done like 3 hours late so I didn't drive to the race.

Last weekend we headed to Ark to race a sprint Tri. I was pretty stoked to race it then Sat afternoon the rains started. Toads were choking like a mother fucker. It poured. Shelley was NOT game to do the sick descents and started to worry. We wake at 4:30 to drive to the race site and you could not see a fucking thing. I hit one water hole and the water was damn near mid way up my door. Shelley had this look on her face like "screw this". I told her to say the words and we would head home. I just love her so much she said "you can race, I will wait in the car". The pretty much made my mind up...we headed back home and called it a vacation. We did eat at Doe's Eat Place...spend $90 on a steak it was awesome. The place is rated #2 in the country by the food network. Really good stuff.

This really bothered me not to start the race. I have never gone to a race and didn't race. Shelley asked if I thought we made a good choice but how would you know. If we would have raced and crashed we would know that we made a bad choice but know way to know if it was a good one. Called Holloway and she of course said GOI (Get over it) I do love the Queen B

We cruised home and did a short run on the trails after a long nap. That part was awesome as well as every minute we spent together.

I started to find some balance this week and found out that there is a weekly crit series in Tulsa. A friends team puts it on.

So last night I get my first crack at a crit in a years time. Man I was half pucker assed worried that even in the 4/5 race these dudes have been riding racing all year and I would get lapped right off the bat.

The course is at a police driving range...this weeks set up was 8/10ths of a mile long, 8 turns with two long straights. There are about 12-15 in the C race of course no one I knew. The race was 30 min +/-

So we get the go and immediately two chicks from Tulsa Muscle head to the front...okay well then, take off an do the work went through my mind. I was going to sit in and try to hold on as long as I could. I was afraid I would get popped so I just sat in about 5Th wheel. The pace was pretty quick from the start but I felt really comfortable and was not really taking any turns out front. There were 5 or 6 people taking pulls but I kept my nose out of the wind as much as possible. About mid way through we get a bell for a preem lap and some dude goes off the front and three or four chase. I decide to go with them as I am feeling pretty good. We close on the guy but he gets the Subway sandwich preem. Looking back there were 6 of us with a pretty good gap. We all pretty much start working to see if we could stay away. That worked well for 3 or 4 laps then we started to slow since 3 of the 6 didn't want to work.

We get the 5 laps to go and things picked up for real. The field had caught back on and I was taking pulls with 3 others for the most part everyone else was tailgating. I didn't want to be second wheel but with 2 to go me and the other guy were pretty much pulling the field. I figured he would go in the last set of turns and I was cornering better than he was so I thought I would catch him in the last turn with about 100 meters to go...I let one dude pull through so I could work him on the into the wind straight. That dude touches a pedal and bounces about 3 feet into the air...shit I am back in second wheel and that dude leading makes a big move and gets 20 meters on me. SHIT, I don't think I can bridge and now I am pulling the field...with 3 turns to go I figure I am screwed so I jump. Hit the last turn with 50 meters to go and FUCK!!!!!!!!!!!! a chick that was stuck to my wheel comes around and my leg are FUCKING GONE I thought I was going to shit my pants trying to hold her off but it wasn't to be.

All in all I had a blast and it feels like my head is back on right.

Ahhhhhhhhh me loves the crits

Stupid Fucking Hot

2008-08-04T06:00:00.001-07:00

I can not wait for this weather to crack. Today will be day 5 of temps over 100. Training is awesome but that is about it. Train...then pass out the rest of the day.

OK, I am fucking depressed and pissed. Is it possible to be both? On Thur I weighed in at 184.6 over a pound below my goal for the week. I knew the weekend was going to be a challenge diet wise since we were going to be out for most of the weekend. I guess I blew it with a hamburger and fries at lunch on Sat but that was after 2.5 hours of hard riding. I KNOW I was in a calorie deficet this weekend but this morning...199.6 FUCK ME. No way I gained 5 fucking pounds. I am going to hope that I am holding water since we did have some salty foods this weekend and yesterdays run in the heat was brutal for 1.5 hours. The trails were awesome though.

Yippy Ki A mother fucker!

2008-07-31T08:14:00.000-07:00

Had my first run post IM last night. It was a freaking blast. Went with a group out and ran 50 minutes in woods. It was fucking Africa hot but I loved every step nothing really hurt but I could still feel Ironman in my legs that was only 10 short days before. I was almost DFL but it was so good just to be out there moving. I am so looking forward to trail season.

OH and 195.8 this morning. I am surely dehydrated but still that was the number on the scale

196.4

2008-07-30T10:53:00.000-07:00

.6 lbs to go for the week. Good clean meals and training. I will be below 190 soon.

Smart Guy

2008-07-29T07:22:00.000-07:00

A friend and I were exchanging emails about triathlon. In the end he said "we are lucky men to have such pursuits". This is exactly the essence that I try to pass on to every person I meet. We, those in pursuit of fitness, find the good things in life. Actually we don't find them they present themselves to us...we just have to be aware so that we can enjoy them

This guy understands...

We should quickly seize enlightenment while we still have the chance. In much less than a century all of us will be dead. We cannot be sure that we will be alive even tomorrow. There is no time to procrastinate. I who am giving this teaching have no guarantee that I will live out this day.-His Holiness the Dali Lama

Addiction or Obsession?

2008-07-28T10:04:00.000-07:00

I seriously don't know what the fuck is wrong with me. I am totally craving training. I really just can not get enough. Normally after IM I take a couple weeks off to be lazy, eat too much and drink too much. This year I am totally amp'd to train. I waited until Friday but I couldn't hold out any longer. I jumped in the water for an easy 1100 yards and was on the trainer for 45 min. The legs feel great. So this weekend I rode two hours on Sat then again on Sunday. I swam after the ride on Sat but yesterday I ran 10 min off the bike then headed to the pool for an easy 1200. Feels awesome.

Time to work on my nutrition...196.8 this morning. I really want to be 185. 1 lb a week is the goal.

Faces and Places not the times of the races.

2008-07-25T13:08:00.000-07:00

We are finally back from LP and my work emails are caught up for the most part. I have got a nights sleep or two so I suppose it is time to reflect on the training, the race and even more importantly the friends I made along the way.

Man what a blast. I had about 3 pages of crap written about training, race execution blah blah blah...but delete is what it said to me. Basically since IMCdA I...changed jobs, moved twice, had shingles once, the flu once, colds a couple times, and trained 425 hours in the past 12 months.

What does that get you on the clock...13:23 and I am fucking-A satisfied with that.

Now for what is really important. I HAD A FUCKING BLAST! I smiled the whole swim, I laughed for about 101 miles of the bike, I enjoyed the run.

The best part.....friends. We saw many old friends and that is always a good thing. Bummed I didn't get to spend time with every one. Makes me miss my Austin crew. We were fortunate enough to meet up with Ed Wong and his Canadian mob. What a fucking blast the laughs were non-stop.

Above would be Greg and Fran...she just loves screaming little shits. Greg had a great race. Again we are fortunate to have been able to spend time getting to know them better.

The crew from Left to right....Me, Christina She-rah Princess of Power...The Pissin' Mick Irene, LMS in front, Ed the Geek, Elaine ain't gonna die.

A huge thanks to Karen Holloway who put up with me the past few months even being pregnant. And of course LMS for being there every step of the way.

To all our friends...thank you

Game Time

2008-07-14T06:50:00.000-07:00

Dang it has been awhile.

Well it is almost in the books, all that is left is some travel some easy spins, swims and jogs then the race itself. It has taken awhile but the pre-IM thoughts are finally starting to creep in to my head...have I done enough...what if it rains...do I have my nutrition right...etc etc etc...I am also dreading the Sat before the race...frantic to get transition bags packed...get bike checked in...you would think that after doing these as long as I have that it would be an easy deal but for some reason I never seem to feel comfortable on Sat before the dance.

All in all I feel pretty good going in this year...no pressure since honestly this one is the victory dance as it will be a few years before I am back to IM's. That is a little bitter sweet but I am really happy with the decision.

Rant time!

2008-07-09T19:37:00.001-07:00

Okay boys and girls it is time for a good ole uncle Kurt rant...are you ready? I hope you are....

As I get close to what I hope will be my last Ironman/triathlon in a long time I have asked myself what it is that has gotten me to this point. I do this a lot simply because I wonder about all the little things/moments/seconds that lead a person to a decision or behavior.

One of the things that is certainly aiding in the effort to get to more simple sports endeavors is the amount of bullshit people have to play at swimming biking and running. Garmin's, Ipods, powertaps, SRM's, all this shit to play at being fit.

Swear at the starting line at a 5k this year I saw a woman with a fucking garmin, a big honking fucking ipod thing, a fucking fuel belt, and of course her racing chip. How much shit do you need to fucking run for 20 minutes. I bet she was hauling 10lbs of shit.

Same with Ironman and us dork fuck triathletes...Spend $7000 on the most aero fucking light bike that Joe Shit the rag man pro is riding...then for the race...and I don't care if it is a sprint or a IM we load that fucker up with a aero bottle in the handle bars, two 20 oz bottles on the frame...two more behind the seat...a bento box full of crap.

A good friend was racing LP with me a few years ago...she went through and hacksawed off about 3 inches of her handlebars to and I swear "drop some weight"...then proceeded to put 4 bottles and her areo bottle on her bike. 10 lbs of shit. I asked her if she knew that they hand out water and crap on the course. She didn't want to have to stop...I told her for the weight of one water bottle she could have kept her handlebars whole.

Just Fucking Ride

Ready

2008-07-08T03:55:00.001-07:00

Woke at 4 am this morning. I was unable to quiet my mind so sleep would not come back to me. No worries, I hate to sleep anyway I always look forward to what the new day will bring or it could be that I am afraid clowns will eat me. To me there is so much wonder in a sun rise. I constantly hear people say..."I wish it was Friday". This is pretty common on Monday mornings at work...when I hear that I always say "don't wish your life away there are 5 days between now and Friday what are you going to do with them?" I never get an answer just a look of bewilderment.

What does this have to do with being ready to race? I really don't have a flippin' clue but when I woke this morning I really felt ready mentally. I have done what I can physically. As with every Ironman I always wish I could have done more, been more consistent blah blah blah...but at least now I am ready for the day mentally.

New Office

2008-07-07T14:23:00.000-07:00

OK I don't really know how the hell I happend here but today was move into the new office day. I am so stoked! Corner office with two walls that are glass...view isn't awesome but at least it is outside! I just saw a dude from the Tulsa Wheelman ride by...fucker I should be out riding

Speaking of riding the tri bike is in the mail to lake placid...that means the time is very near. Had some good training this weekend...

My Baby is Okay

2008-07-02T19:19:00.000-07:00

Spent the day with Boo...I am so thankful she is alive. Bruised battered and way shaken but she is alive. It has been one hell of a couple days. As the world reaches out and makes/allows (?) me to touch mortality once again I walk away with a deeper sense of me and my place...

Can one person make a difference?

2008-06-29T18:47:00.000-07:00

Let me answer that before I go on...Yes I believe so and I think it has been proven many times. That being said...FUCK YOU fat ass dip shit redneck in your POS new little PT cruiser looking motherfucking car! OK I feel better now.

Finishing up my 6 hour ride today Fat as and her fat ass husband think it would be cute to show their kids something funny...lay on the horn behind the bike guy...as they drive off...You should have seen the look on their collective fat fucking faces as I caught them at the light...

Conversation goes...

Me...Sorry was I in your way?

Fat Bitch...yeah get off the fucking road

Me...seriously? We are supposed to share the road.

Fat Bitches husband...We pay taxes

Me...so do I and I would bet that I am in a higher tax bracket that you

Fat Bitch...you need to get off the fucking road.

Me...You are really teaching you kids a fine less there you fat bitch

OK I went way beyond whar is acceptable but man I was just fed up with redneck fucks for the day.

Then as I am getting my shoes on for my transition run...another family of fat fucks gets in their truck to leave the trail parking lot but before they do...out of the door comes a half a trash sack of MacDonald's shit blowing across the parking lot.

I really try not to let these things bother me but today was just one of those days.

Great 6 hour ride and 20 min T run but man I was fed up with my fellow human this afternoon.

So...can we do anything to change the minds of those who see the world through selfish eyes? I sure hope so.

What day is it?

2008-06-26T13:27:00.000-07:00

I'm so tired I forgot my name...common theme that last few days...work and training is at all time high's right now. I feel good but sleepy just need to kick these next 10 days in the ass and all will be well.

Had a good swim at lunch and have a track work out scheduled for tonight in the fucking heat. That should be good. bwhahahaha

Thought for the day...all things have their place. For some reason that has really been on my mind as of late.

Now What ???

2008-06-24T07:24:00.000-07:00

I swear I will never make it to the start of an Ironman healthy. Just won't fucking happen.

Going up the stairs last night I felt a pop in my foot. Not I am limping. Just fucking great.

Rode the trainer for 45min this morning to see how it felt and it didn't bother me so hopefully I will be okay to ride.

Me and My Shadow

2008-06-23T06:44:00.000-07:00

Fuck it is hot. Well since I totally ate a turd at KS 70.3 last weekend I really needed to JFR and have a solid weekend. My confidence has taken one hell fo hit.

So this weekend I just needed to ride by myself not worrying about dropping anyone or getting dropped just me and some road. I took off west planning on an easy 5 hours and that is exactly what I wanted to do. Easy spin in the hills followed by short T run.

Yesterday was a 3 hour run and a short swim (1500). LMS and I talked about getting up early but that didn't work out. We hit the asphalt at 9:30 and the heat index was already in the 90's. I felt okay until the last 20 min or so then I started to die. Not a bad run at all...

Life is good

I need a nap

2008-06-19T12:49:00.001-07:00

I need a fucking nap. I just fell asleep at my computer. Swam a good 2500 at lunch. I am running an easy 30 min after work. I might need a 40 of RedBull to get me cranked up.

A New Day

2008-06-18T19:39:00.000-07:00

I love meetings! Spent the day in a staff meeting...Fucking Captain Obvious agrees with everything the VP says...drive me bat shit.

Any way I took a couple days off of training Mon (planned) and yesterday lazy...had a very solid 2 hour ride/15 min T run. I don't know why but man I felt gret.

KANSAS 70.3

2008-06-17T06:19:00.000-07:00

What the fuck was that?

I guess Karen MIGHT have been right. I should not have done this freaking race. Maybe...

but...I wanted to.

Shingles are some painful sumbitches. I have been in pain since the 3rd of June. A couple rounds of steroids and anti-viral meds. I pretty much trained through them...again not a good idea...with the exception of swimming. I really didn't feel bad until Thur and Fri of this week. Even LMS was concerned about me racing. I am hard fucking headed. I was beat down tired Thur and Fri but with Jamie and Fish coming into town I wanted to drink some beers and catch up. Fish cooked a big dinner for us all on Thur and it was a great time. I really miss my Texas peeps.

Friday was travel day and I was feeling really tired. I basically sleep all day Friday but never felt rested. Sat was packet pickup etc...shingles were acting like big fucking knives digging at my skin. We went out and swam at the race site but only for a couple minutes.

Race day:

Up at 4:15 am eat drive regular stuff...

Got a little warm up in the water hurried to the front of my wave and boom we were off.

I was stroking well and time seemed to be flying...I was in the middle of the wave ahead of me and felt like I was flying out of the water and FUCK :39 minutes what the hell...nothing to do but go...ran a bit through the sand to the TA. Got on the bike...I really just wanted to have a nice solid ride...hills hills hills...I have never been passed by so many people in my life. I was so fucking bummed out. I really wanted to just get off and forget the day. I seriously said "No way am I doing placid". My that sucked but I just sort of tried to do the best I could...

I saw a dude lying on the ground with his femur sticking out of his leg..it was pretty nasty. I have no idea how he crashed. The medical guys said his quad was ripped open but it wasn't a compound fracture..it was nasty to say the least.

I also saw a dung beetle rolling a ball of shit across the road. That made me laugh. They are funny little critters...

Finally of the bike in like 3:07 by far my worst ever 1/2 split. I was totally embarrassed. I got off on the run and actually felt pretty good and was enjoying the run...about mile 8 a huge stormed rolled in and the temps dropped about 20 degrees...the down side was they pulled everyone off the course around mile 11...so I didn't get to finish the whole run.

Had a nice dinner with CLM and her dad and went back to the room early...I was asleep by 8:15 and didn't get up until 7:30 the next day. I was toast.

I am keeping the red wrist band they gave us as a reminder to get my shit together in the next 5 weeks. Karen chewed my ass out of at least a 1/2 hour about me doing this race. She was totally pissed and didn't cut me one inch of slack.

Fuck stupid

Testing pic

2008-06-11T16:58:00.001-07:00

LMS on top of Mount Scott...Lawton...23 min of climbing to get there...tough day in the saddle

In a year...

2008-06-11T11:56:00.000-07:00

How the hell am I supposed to concentrate until I can get to the start of this race?

I am stoked out of my mind. It might be because of the 1/2 IM taper I am on. The shingles? Shit I don't know but it does remind me of that feeling I got watching the count down clock to my first Ironman in 2000.

It is good to have the feeling back...

On a snide fucking note...I hate when someone uses the phrase..."I was on pace to blah blah blah...PR" then DNF's or blows...a little tip for you...you were not on pace to do shit unless you get it done..if you blow that is what is the result of the so called pace...now fucking stop it.

Transition...

2008-06-10T06:28:00.000-07:00

Since LMS and I made the decision to sign up for Desert RATS

http://www.geminiadventures.com/DesertRATS.html

next year I really feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders...I love Ironman that much is a given but in the 10 years I have been racing and training IM's it seems that it has become more and more of a participatory sport. I think that is a GOOD thing for those who wish to find fitness and a lofty goal...but...I want to be out there looking into the unknown...wonder if I will make it.

I am 40 days out from IMUSA at Lake Placid. Time to focus and race well. I will return to IM racing soon enough but for now I want to be out there.

2008-06-09T12:35:00.000-07:00

The level of boredom that will be reached here will be of epic proportions. If by some chance you have consciously stumbled on this place on the Internet leave a note of encouragement or animosity. These ramblings are for all to see and few to understand...

I decided to start this even though I think blogging or whateverthefuck it is call is stupid and selfish. I just want to make notes.

So there you have it.