Don't trust Mother Nature! But she can't stop me!

I think I'm starting to get my running mojo back. Not sure where it went, but I'm enjoying running again. Even looking forward to it. Planning routes. Slowly upping the miles. Today I was hoping for at least fifteen miles. I thought it would be a fitting start to 22, yep, count 'em, 22 days of vacation!
This run started out better than I thought it would. I only slept a couple hours. 11-7 shift last night and VACATION starting this morning. Hate to waste the day. Steady rain last night led to a bit of a muggy start, but the skies seemed mostly clear. I headed out of town with plans of doing around 15 miles. About 3 miles in I noticed that the sky was looking dark towards the west. I crossed my fingers and hoped it wouldn't amount to anything. At my only option to cut the run short I heard the ominous rumble of thunder. Well, maybe I'll take the turn and make it home before it rains. Whoa, that's not like me to make a smart decision while out running/biking/insert other endurance endeavor. Must have been the sleep deprivation. And maybe not!! I got less than a mile down the road and a light rain began to fall. Well, this isn't too bad. I guess I shouldn't have spoken out loud because I think I really pissed off Mother Nature. Another half mile up the road and the rain was almost a white out. At least there isn't a breeze, I thought. That lasted another couple miles, thankfully. The most nerve wracking part was the lightning. A couple cracks were close enough to make the hair on my arms stand up and to leave the lingering scent of ozone in the air. I tried to stay somewhat under some type of cover. At least I wasn't the highest point on the road like I had been about 10 minutes earlier! What had been planned as a nice and easy long run was changing by the mile. Amazing how nature can help you push the pace. By the time I got back in to town and hit the last downhills towards home, I was dodging small rivers flowing down the roads and running through ankle deep water. At least I didn't have to worry about the cars splashing me, because I couldn't have possibly gotten any wetter!! I don't think I've run in much worse. I was really thankful I decided on a run and not a bike ride!! But, in the end, I made it home. A little soggier and wrinklier, but home nonetheless. The street in front of the house looked like a small river. Water was pouring down the little bitty hill and up over the curb. Next time, I'll check the weather a little closer!! And maybe I'll check out plans for building an ark! Lesson learned!!

The North Face Endurance Challenge 50K

Good day, all! I thought I would sit down and put thoughts to computer monitor while those thoughts are fresh in my head. It sure beats trying to recall things a week or more from now, especially with my scatter brain!
I wasn't really sure how the day was going to go in the week leading up to Saturday. I had some niggling aches and pains that always leave me wondering if they will affect me on race day. Add in a helluva cold/sinus infection and I really wasn't feeling 100%. I took it really easy during the week. Only a few days of really short and easy running. I resisted the urge to do more. I even passed on a local 5K the Saturday before the run. Hard to do, but I've learned my lesson in that regard!
My eating habits weren't the best all week either. Not bad, but not exactly healthy! A big club sandwich, french fries and a tall, cold ( and very tasty ) beer the night before aren't really my first choice for a pre-race meal. McDonald's for breakfast ain't very wise either!!
Race day started nice and early at 4:30 a.m. for me. It looked like it was going to be a perfect day, weather wise. 40ish at race time and warming in to the 60's. Some sun and a nice breeze were forecast for the day.  A quick banana and some chocolate drink before a warm shower to ease the kinks out of the muscles. A fitful night of sleep didn't seem to have me too tired as Tammy and I loaded up the car and headed out from our hotel to the race site.
I got to the event site with plenty of time to check things out, wander around, try to stay warm and try to settle some pre-race nerves. I met up with Joel, a friend who used to live near me. We were planning on running at least a few early miles together.
A few minutes before 7:00 a.m. we all lined up and got a pep talk from Dean Karnazes. Right on time the gun went off and away we all went. I have a nasty habit of starting off too fast. Definitely not a good thing in a long race! I kept towards the middle of the pack and wound my way down some pavement before hitting the trail.
Joel and I spent the first miles talking and keeping the pace easy-for him. I had a few splits under 10:00/mile, which had me a little concerned. I usually don't have a time goal for these 50Ks, but that pace is faster than what I have averaged in previous races. Joel and I hit the first aid station just before seven miles. I grabbed some water and topped off my bottles. I knew Joel was getting itchy to pick up the pace, so he peeled off his coat and sped off down the trail. I'm glad the pace was slightly faster than I planned for those first miles. I just didn't know it at the time.
I fell in with another runner, David, from the Chicago area, just after the first aid station. Our paces seemed to mesh perfectly, so we passed the next miles together. David was using this for a training run leading up to a 50 miler and wanted to hold a steady pace and just keep running. We yo-yoed up and down the rolling hills for a while, talking and making the miles disappear beneath our feet.
I was being very conscious of my hydration and fueling during the race. During my last 50K in mid July, I let this slide and paid for it dearly. I was stopping at every aid station and grabbing something-potatoes with salt, PB&J, Mtn. Dew. Top off my bottles and I was moving again. I was trying to get in a bit of electrolyte or water every 15 minutes and a gel every 45 minutes. Top it off with an S!Cap every hour. Lots for me try and remember and still keep pushing down the trail.
I was feeling really good as the day wore on. No unusual aches or pains. No falls, which is unusual for me! No cramps, no stomach issues. I know I was hydrating well, since I watered the trees quite a few times. My splits were all over, but I wasn't worried about it. I was settling in to a comfortable zone and putting one foot in front of the other.
As the miles started to add up, I found myself running solo more and more. I got at the end of one conga line for a while, but that didn't last too long. I just enjoyed the beautiful day and watched the scenery go by.
I wasn't sure what to expect about the terrain going in to this race. I ran with a friend a few weeks earlier who had done this race a few years ago. He warned me to take it easy on the hills. The elevation profile didn't look too friendly, but the hills weren't as bad as I feared. There was a long and steady climb around mile 6 and again between 20 and 21 miles. Nothing steep, but steady. The worst thing for me was the stretches of energy sucking sand! The section going out wasn't too bad, but coming back, it felt like quicksand. There wasn't a good way around it, so it was just plow ahead as best I could.
At mile 21 I told myself, "ten miles to go. You've got this. Take it easy. Relax and rein it in a little." I was feeling really good and getting a little worried for some reason. Just waiting for the wheels to come off. Not that I was flying by any stretch of the imagination. My pace was averaging right around 10:35ish. In the back of my mind I started telling myself that I might be able to hit a 5:30:00 finish time. I had entertained this thought leading in to the race, but that would be a 15 minutes PB.
The last 10 miles went by smoothly. I did a few strides to change up the pace and use some different muscles. I kept the walking to a minimum, mostly through aid stations and up the couple longer climbs. I was getting feedback from the app on my phone of splits in the mid 9:00/mile range. Other than aid stations and the longer climbs, I stayed in the mid 9's from mile 16 on!
I hit the last aid station with less than two miles to go. I grabbed a . Dew from the volunteer and slammed it down. She told me I had less than two miles and asked how I felt. I told her "no problem. I got this!"
Mtn
I pushed down the trail to the highway section we started on and headed the last mile to the finish. I felt great and kept trying to relax. No sense sprinting the last mile of a 50K.
I finished the race feeling great. A little sore, but come on, that's to be expected, right? Hydration and fueling went perfect. No major complaints anywhere. My pre-race goals were: A-to finish (of course) B-set a new PB for 50K and C-break 5:30:00. I nailed two of the three. My finish time was 5:30:45. Just over fifteen minutes faster than my previous best. And I felt great. Feet and legs were still pretty fresh. The Hoka Stinson Evo worked super. Yep, I'm a convert! I honestly had something left in the tank. Which begs to wonder, maybe I need to push a little harder and suffer a little more. A good subject for another day.
All in all a great day. I would like to think my easy (slow) pace to AS1 led Joel to his PB - 4:42:27. Can't even imagine that pace and effort! The course was excellent. The aid stations and volunteers were amazing. My thanks and appreciation to everyone who helped make this event and day flow so smoothly!
A bit long winded, I know. Thanks for checking this out. Now, to decide what's next. I might have one more race left in me! We'll see.

Every little bit helps

Being on vacation this last week has given me extra time to think and reflect. Not always a good thing, considering how my crazy, mixed up mind works. Anyhoo.......I was thinking how lucky I am to have support. A lot, okay most of what I do (or try to do) is made so much easier with the support of my wife, Tammy. She will never admit it, but she gives up huge amounts of her time so I can run, bike, ski, ....or whatever strikes my fancy. And I fully appreciate it! She pushes me some days, tells me to suck it up and get out there. She rides along on her bike on long runs to keep me company and supply me with water and food. She is there at the start, in between and at the finish of my races. Rain, shine, snow, whatever Mother Nature dishes out. Patiently waiting, sometimes for hours! She volunteers at races and cheers on the other competitors. I think you get the picture. And this truly makes what I love to do so much easier. I rarely feel guilty putting in hours and hours a week. We still have "our time". The last thing she did really blew me away and made me realize how lucky I am and how much she does.

Dear Hoka One One Gods,

 

I'm writing on behalf of my husband.  He recently discovered your shoes.  The first pair was The Hoka One One Stinsons which he absolutely fell in love with.  He used them to run

Dances with Dir'ts 50K and actually took a 3rd in his age division.  That was a BIG jump from the 50K before (of course he wasn't wearing the Hoka's then!) LOL

 The second pair is the Hoka One One Bondi B, which again he absolutely loves!  These are fairly new so he hasn't had a chance to race in them yet.

 He is running the North Face Endurance 50K in Sept.  I'm not sure which shoe he will be using (of course it will be one of the Hoka's)  I don't think he will run in anything else now!

 I'm not writing to request anything free.  But I would really like to know how I could get him a Hoka t-shirt?  I've seen other racers with your shirt on and would love to surprise him

before his next race.

 Lastly...I'm sure the other races I saw with your advertising on their shirts are your sponsored runners.  What would he (Hubs) have to do to get your attention.  I think he would love 

to be a Hoka guy!  This year he is running 50k's, next year 50 milers and then...who knows!!! Even if you can't help me out...just know that your shoes are loved 

 

Thanks Much

 

Tammy VandeZande

Pretty nice! I really didn't expect much of a response. Maybe a form letter type reply. She received a personal reply from Eric Emerson of Hoka almost immediately. I was surprised when a week or so later a box arrived in the mail. Inside was a shirt for both of us and two pair of technical socks. To say the least, her support and Hoka's is greatly appreciated. 

I also received some great support from The NorthFace. I received an e-mail a couple months ago inquiring if I was doing the NorthFace Endurance Challenge Series race in Madison, WI. It was on my radar, but I hadn't committed yet. Dani Chandler of The NorthFace presented me with the opportunity of running my choice of distance and covering my entry fee! Sweet! Almost like being a sponsored runner!! What amazing support of just a normal, everyday, middle of the pack ultra runner! And again, the support is greatly appreciated. Want to run with me? There is still time. Use DVZ13 (case sensitive) for an entry discount. #ECSWisconsin

So that is why what I do is so easy. A little support goes a long way and makes the miles and hours fly by!

Thanks to all who support me, believe in me and push me to places I never believed I could go!!

And thanks to all of you (both of you) who read this!!

Sven