tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18993098617143422592024-03-13T23:14:24.673-07:00AJW's BlogAJWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04387120797582582699noreply@blogger.comBlogger328125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1899309861714342259.post-70335270445054102342014-04-30T06:27:00.000-07:002014-04-30T06:27:31.044-07:00Drugs and RunningThe latest drug bust in big time marathoning has got me thinking about drugs in ultramarathon running. As much as I want to believe our sport is totally clean, I think the time has come for us to prove it. There are simply too many examples of Performance Enhancing Drugs being used in running and by amateurs in other sports to ignore. I do not, in any way, have evidence to suggest there is doping in ultrarunning but as a long time participant and fan of the sport I think it's time we figure out a way to institute testing in our sport not as a means to catch the bad guys but rather to prove we're clean. I hate to say it but the rumblings about drug use in trail running continue to get louder.<br />
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Now, of course, the problem is the cost of a testing program. I am pretty sure that the large events like Western States and UTMB cannot afford to implement a full-scale testing program and the racer confederations (SkyRunning and UTWT, for example) may not have the resources for a testing program either. Therefore, I suggest we turn to the sponsors and companies that are currently investing in ultra trail running. Could some of the larger shoe companies work together to create a testing program? Could they partner with Garmin, Strava, etc...to figure out a way to bring the drug issue to the forefront? The whispering about drugs has been around for a while now and I think such a program could go a long way toward either quieting to critics or exposing the cheats.<br />
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From my perspective the time for change is now. What do you think?AJWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04387120797582582699noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1899309861714342259.post-83294303763152710472013-12-30T13:46:00.001-08:002013-12-30T13:52:30.569-08:002013 -- The Year of Failure<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">In this time of looking back on the year that's ending and the new year on the horizon I always like to find trends going on in the sport. And, I must admit, scanning the reports from 2013 makes one thing clear to me, 2013 was the "Year of Failure." Sure, I bet that there have been other years with as many failures but have there been any other years like this one where so many people have written so eloquently, and often exhaustively, about those failures? I don't think so.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">So, here is a short annotated list of some of the failure reports from 2013 in ultrarunning and here's hoping all these athletes turn these failures into purposeful successes in 2014:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Dakota Jones report from Japan</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.irunfar.com/2013/10/dropping.html" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://www.irunfar.com/2013/<wbr></wbr>10/dropping.html</a></div>
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Adam Campbell hanging it up as a professional runner</div>
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<a href="http://cdamaampbell.blogspot.com/2013/07/raw-honesty-decision.html" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://cdamaampbell.blogspot.<wbr></wbr>com/2013/07/raw-honesty-<wbr></wbr>decision.html</a><br />
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Anton Krupicka succumbing to injury at UTMB</div>
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<a href="http://blog.ultimatedirection.com/utmb-2013/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://blog.ultimatedirection.<wbr></wbr>com/utmb-2013/</a></div>
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Anton Krupicka calling it a day in his record attempt at Nolans</div>
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<a href="http://blog.ultimatedirection.com/failure/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://blog.ultimatedirection.<wbr></wbr>com/failure/</a></div>
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Jen Benna at Western States</div>
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<a href="http://www.jenbenna.com/?p=729" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://www.jenbenna.com/?p=729</a></div>
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Jacob Rydman at Western States</div>
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<a href="http://jacobrydman.blogspot.com/2013/07/2013-western-states-100-broken.html" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://jacobrydman.blogspot.<wbr></wbr>com/2013/07/2013-western-<wbr></wbr>states-100-broken.html</a></div>
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Joe Uhan at Western States</div>
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<a href="http://joeuhan.blogspot.com/2013/07/bending-map-2013-western-states-100.html" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://joeuhan.blogspot.com/<wbr></wbr>2013/07/bending-map-2013-<wbr></wbr>western-states-100.html</a></div>
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Jeremy Humphrey at Western States (and anything in the spring and early summer)</div>
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<a href="http://stayvertical928.blogspot.com/2013/07/western-update-im-ok.html" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://stayvertical928.<wbr></wbr>blogspot.com/2013/07/western-<wbr></wbr>update-im-ok.html</a></div>
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Rod Bien at the San Diego 100</div>
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<a href="http://rodbien.blogspot.com/2013/08/motivated.html" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://rodbien.blogspot.com/<wbr></wbr>2013/08/motivated.html</a></div>
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Ian Sharman at the Javelina 100</div>
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<a href="http://sharmanian.blogspot.com/2013/10/exploring-limits-of-body.html" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://sharmanian.blogspot.<wbr></wbr>com/2013/10/exploring-limits-<wbr></wbr>of-body.html</a></div>
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<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
Anna Frost</div>
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<a href="http://www.irunfar.com/2013/07/reigniting-the-fire.html" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://www.irunfar.com/2013/<wbr></wbr>07/reigniting-the-fire.html</a></div>
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Happy New Year everyone!</div>
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AJW</div>
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AJWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04387120797582582699noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1899309861714342259.post-29552439626547624882013-12-18T18:57:00.002-08:002013-12-18T18:57:05.357-08:00Ultra Performance of the Year Thanks everyone for voting in last week's poll. In case you're wondering, I am using this as a test case for potentially launching a sort of People's Choice Awards type thing some time in the future so I am gathering data and then comparing it to the UR Mags awards over time.<br />
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This last poll was interesting as Rob Krar won the mens UROY in a landslide while Michele Yates and Rory Bosio had a very close vote on the women's side. Of course, on the last day of the poll Pam Smith set a track 100 mile world record so that changed things.<br />
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Anyway, here are the POY polls. Voting open through Monday morning.AJWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04387120797582582699noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1899309861714342259.post-88177371499715117442013-12-12T06:42:00.002-08:002013-12-12T06:42:47.546-08:00Ultrarunner of the Year VotingThe votes have now been cast for Ultrarunning Magazine's year end awards and we should know the results in the next couple weeks. In that context, I have opened two new polls as kind of a people's choice awards type thing. Please vote!AJWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04387120797582582699noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1899309861714342259.post-78546156817424393162013-10-25T10:42:00.001-07:002013-10-25T10:42:01.562-07:00New Western States Qualifying StandardsI am thrilled to see the Western States Board and Craig Thornley take the bold step to amend their qualifying standards. And, while they fell just short of my long-held conviction that a 100 mile requirement is appropriate, they have moved the event in a direction that it needed to go. By requiring at least a 100K finish in under 16 hours in a small pool of races that meet their collective approval they have raised the bar and maintained their long-term commitment to producing an egalitarian event.<br />
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This decision should be applauded and celebrated. Over the past decade interest in Western States has exploded and in response to that growth the organizers have struggled to maintain the event's character, remain true to their roots, adhere to the ethical and environmental standards that are dear to them, and provide fair and open access to the event. These new standards do all those things and more.<br />
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In my opinion, a related consequence of this action will be to enhance the entire sport of ultra running, not just Western States. By providing a short-list of races in which to qualify that have incentivized Race Director's to produce quality events in a broad geographical areas which I can only imagine will be good for the sport. And, not surprisingly, they have immediately added a certain appeal to the 63 races on their list.<br />
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Bravo Craig and Western States! Great job.<br />
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#seeyouinsquawAJWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04387120797582582699noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1899309861714342259.post-39826970867267263322013-09-20T13:27:00.000-07:002013-09-20T13:27:23.461-07:00Injury UpdateA few readers have asked, offline, what kind of injury I am grappling with and what kind of rehab I am doing so, here's the scoop:<br />
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After all the soreness from WS wore off I had a severe stabbing pain that was lingering on my left hamstring. The pain was high up the back of my leg and often radiated up into my glutes and groin. It also was kind of a clenching pain that hurt more as I extended my leg or attempted to run fast downhill. Most of the time the pain was centered at the attachment point of my hamstring and butt muscle.<br />
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In late July I finally went the doctor and he took an x-ray which showed, in his words, "A very impressive bone spur" in my left hip. Turns out the degeneration in my left hip over two decades has caused me to put an extraordinary load on my hamstring/glute and after WS it just said, "Enough!"<br />
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So, first thing I did after going to physical therapy was to buy one of those big, heavy thick rubber bands. The stretch I do daily is intended to pull my hip backward and free up the damaged tissues. Over time, they should heal. Also, I have been getting weekly massage treatments on my leg from a licensed orthopedic massage therapist (her name is Kim Coslett and she is amazing). Those treatments, combined with the rubber band stretches and some snake oil have enabled me to get back to running 30-40 miles a week. <br />
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Time will tell when/if I can go longer.<br />
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I love getting old!AJWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04387120797582582699noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1899309861714342259.post-55768694753215349262013-09-18T07:04:00.001-07:002013-09-18T07:11:10.270-07:00The Slow Road backI went to my doctor yesterday for a follow-up on my hip/hamstring injury and he told me, "Now you know what we mean when we say 'hamstrung'" <br />
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In short, I jacked myself up pretty good at WS back in June and have developed pretty extensive tissue damage caused by years of bad form, over-doing it in training, and general stubbornness. Now, I am working to get back at it in time to get ready for my WS build-up which typically begins in January. Like last year, it's gonna be close. But, 35 miles per week at 8:45 pace never felt so good!<br />
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What 18 years of running ultras has taught me is that we really only have so many hard miles in our legs so we need to use them sparingly. I used to run 4 100s a year without blinking an eye. Now, just a few years later, one 100 a year is about all I can do. But, at least I can do one! I wouldn't trade running WS for just about anything in the world and my experience at WS 2013 was by best one yet. With patience, fortitude, and a bit of stubborn resolve I look forward to making it back to Squaw for one last go at it next June. I can tell you right now that if I do make it to that line it will be the highlight of my year.<br />
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You can follow that journey here!<br />
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AJWAJWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04387120797582582699noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1899309861714342259.post-41252635078404517462013-09-04T18:37:00.002-07:002013-09-04T18:37:54.360-07:00A couple old-school bad asses<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Last weekend Ann came back and ran a 100-miler in Idaho. Can we get Kyle back? He'd be quite welcome!AJWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04387120797582582699noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1899309861714342259.post-80729325474278225432013-09-04T07:29:00.000-07:002013-09-04T07:32:12.359-07:00AJWs Blog 2.0One of the reasons I discontinued this blog two years ago was due to frustration with the increasingly negative tone that the discussions were taking. However, over the past six months I have observed more negativity than ever on the ultrarunning interwebs and I have become frustrated. It is my hope that by resurrecting AJWs blog and writing occasional posts here (to complement my Friday column on irunfar) we can work together to heal some of the wounds that have emerged in the sport and grow together while maintaining the shared values that make us strong.<br />
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Craig Thornley wrote a nice piece this morning on his blog.
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http://conductthejuices.com/2013/09/04/meaningful-contributions/<br />
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And, the resurrection of AJWs Blog 2.0 would not be complete without a weekly poll. AJWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04387120797582582699noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1899309861714342259.post-5098770127750183362013-09-04T04:19:00.003-07:002013-09-04T04:19:30.893-07:00Time to Blog AgainFor a variety of reasons I've decided to resurrent my blog after a couple years off.
I am still going to write AJWs Taproom every Friday on irunfar but I thought it would be fun to bring this old friend back.AJWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04387120797582582699noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1899309861714342259.post-18895815342512415162011-12-29T11:51:00.000-08:002011-12-29T12:00:32.279-08:00Ending AJW's BlogI started this blog as a place for me to write race reports and to reflect on running and racing. For the past four and half years it has been a great place for me to do that. In addition, over time it has become much more than that as over the past two years this blog has averaged 25,000 pageviews per month.. I never thought that would happen so thanks, everyone, for being interested enough in what I have to say to read this blog.<br /><br />For now, for me in my life, it's time to move on. On January 1st I'll be shutting down this blog and focusing on the many other things in my life.<br /><br />If you are interested in what I have to say or what I think or what I am up to or what my training is like there are still many places you can find me:<br /><br />You can read my weekly column, AJW's Taproom, published every Friday on <a href="http://www.irunfar.com">irunfar.com</a><br /><br />You can become my friend on <a href="http://www.facebook.com">Facebook</a><br /><br />You can "follow" me on <a href="http://www.twitter.com">Twitter</a><br /><br />You can check out my training log on <a href="http://www.attackpoint.com">attackpoint.com</a> <br /><br />Happy New Year everyone and I'll see you in Squaw!<br /><br />AJWAJWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04387120797582582699noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1899309861714342259.post-2720340199423703402011-12-23T08:12:00.001-08:002011-12-23T08:16:32.176-08:00Run Junkie!My good friend and erstwhile training partner Hank Dart (yes, that's his real name!) maintains an excellent blog that features outstanding photography and compelling prose. <a href="http://runjunkie.blogspot.com/2011/12/something-completely-different.html">Here</a> is a sample.<br /><br />Proof that, contrary to popular opinion, Stanford and Harvard can deliver:)AJWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04387120797582582699noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1899309861714342259.post-71803729348182357592011-12-18T17:46:00.000-08:002011-12-18T18:03:25.991-08:00Returning to RunningI am so excited to be running again! <br /><br />It was way back in August, the 18th exactly, that I came down with a severe case of PF and, I must admit, I haven't felt like a runner until this past week when I successfully ran 50 miles, on hills and trails, and am no worse for wear. In fact, I actually feel good.<br /><br />Certainly, without a doubt, I am getting progressively older and I need to pay attention to that. In addition, I am not exactly lean and my weight can be a factor in my ability and capacity to go long distances. But, and this is a big but, I think, for now, I am back in the game. And that feels very, very good.<br /><br />Obviously, this coming summer we have big plans; I'll be running Western States #9 and Hardrock #2. In addition, my family and I will be able to enjoy some quality time out West after spending a year here in the East adapting to our new lives. It's been good but it's not the same as powering through the Sawtooths every day, that's for sure. Furthermore, I have come to a place in my life and with my running that I know what I can do and I accept what I cannot do. That is an eye-opening experience and one that I continue to address every day.<br /><br />In the end, we all run for our own reasons. Perhaps we run to escape or perhaps we run to evolve or perhaps we run to experience or perhaps we run to emote? We run to live and we live to run. <br /><br />Some of us run because we want to and others among us run because we have to. We run to open ourselves up and we run to close ourselves down. It's an intensely personal thing and nobody should tell us how to do it, why we should do it, or what it means to us to do it. We know why, how, and for what we run, and that's all that matters. Running takes us places nobody else knows and makes us into the people we are meant to be. That's the way it has always been and the way it always will be. The rest will take care of itself.AJWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04387120797582582699noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1899309861714342259.post-74931193467093387002011-12-16T13:59:00.000-08:002011-12-16T14:14:51.565-08:00"Unbreakable" CommentsSaw "Unbreakable" last weekend and loved it. From my perspective, it's the best Western States movie so far. "Desperate Dreams" is a cult classic, "Running Madness" and "Race for the Soul" were nice human interest documentaries but "Unbreakable" took the genre to the next level. Now, I'd love to see JB make a Hardrock film!<br /><br />Two things I'd like to add that may strike some as nitpicky but I need to get them off my chest so here goes.<br /><br />1. In the part when Geoff came through in the snow and changed out his bottles with his dad and brother I am pretty sure he was outside the aid station boundary going into Robinson Flat. Again, I know it's a minor detail but I also know that WS cares alot about the rules. And, it is clearly one of their rules that runners can only be crewed at established aid stations. I am not suggesting in any way that anything should be done about it rather that it was something I noticed that could be perceived as a violation of the rules.<br /><br />2. In both the Foresthill section and the Green Gate section I saw at least two runners being muled by their pacers. Now, it is clearly stated in the WS rule book that you can be "crewed" anywhere in these areas but muling is prohibited. There has always been a blurry line here as often bottles and gels and stuff are getting passed back and forth but blatant muling (pacers carrying the runner's stuff) is expressly against the rules.<br /><br />So, maybe an unintended consequence of this great film and the close-up exposure JB and his crew gave to the runners in the race is that it showed some aspects of the race that could cause WS obsessives like me to question. Again, I am not saying anything can or should be done about this and, it goes without saying that the film will provide excellent exposure to the sport, but still...AJWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04387120797582582699noreply@blogger.com58tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1899309861714342259.post-87733533277614789012011-12-13T13:54:00.000-08:002011-12-13T14:02:09.822-08:00ShoesMy battle with Plantar Fasciitis has been well-documented on this blog as I have been struggling with it for about four months. Over the past four weeks I have been able to successfully return to running and am now up to about 50 miles per week. While I don't feel as though the injury is completely gone and I am confident that it is, for the most part, behind me.<br /><br />Several things have been at play in my recovery; intense physical therapy, Graston treatment, ice and rest, self-massage, etc...But the one thing that has allowed me to return to running most successfully has been a change of shoes. I am not too proud to admit it, Hoka One One Bondi B's have given me my running back!<br /><br />About a month ago Karl Meltzer contacted me and suggested I give them a shot to give my feet more cushioning. This was followed up by a phone call from my friend, pacer, and unofficial PF consultant who said the very same thing. I picked up a couple pair and have been running pain free ever since.<br /><br />In this age of minimalist footwear it is clear to me that Hoka are going the other direction. And, indeed, these shoes are not for everyone. But for a guy with a lot of miles on his body, struggling with an injury and the onset of middle age, these puppies have been a lifesaver.AJWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04387120797582582699noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1899309861714342259.post-92173499591632620072011-12-12T13:10:00.001-08:002011-12-12T13:47:35.918-08:00irunfarThe poll on the right was a fun one, wasn't it? I find it interesting to see that the votes were so close and I can't help but wonder if the ballots were split down gender lines:) One thing I do think is that the irunfar twitter coverage of races has certainly highlighted an interesting aspect of social networking in general and of Twitter in particular. I am not sure about other folks out there but knowing Meghan and Bryon as well as I do I find it remarkable that within their twitter coverage one can get a sense, and I must say a real sense, of their personalities and temperaments.<br /><br />Bryon's analytical approach peppered with insider knowledge is wonderfully balanced by Meghan's more colorful commentary and humorous one-liners. When you think about it, it's kind of amazing that you can get a sense of a person in 160 characters on your phone. Furthermore, I just love Meghan's use of language with phrases like "not gonna lie", "sadfaced", and "buh-bye" when contrasted with Bryon's matter-of-fact anecdotes about obscure Europeans runners with oddball sponsors. For those disappointed about not getting into WS or HRH look on the bright side, you get to follow the races this summer on Twitter with the two best "voices" in the business.<br /><br />Which brings me to irunfar itself. I remember when Bryon hatched the idea back in 2007. He was a well-paid attorney living the good life in Washington DC when he got the itch to start irunfar. He had been writing a personal blog for awhile and it was quite good but I could tell he wanted to do more. When he paced me that year at Grand Teton we talked a bit about the whole thing and it was clear he was getting ready to pull the plug. He traveled around getting to know people, he worked tirelessly at the OR Show while the rest of us hung out and drank beer, and he meticulously outlined a plan to bring his vision to life. He sold his house in DC, re-located to a doublewide on the fringe of Yosemite National Park and got to work. A year later he and Meghan moved to Park City, UT to a palatial one bedroom house (well, actually one-and-a-half if you count Bryon's office, aka, the Pink Closet) and the launch was complete.<br /><br />Today, the website has won awards from Outside Magazine and other media outlets. Bryon and Meghan's reviews and articles appear all over the place, and most ultrarunners I know go to the site first thing every morning. The gear reviews, the interviews, the videos and, of course, the race coverage make irunfar truly like nothing else. It's amazing! Imagine trying to explain it to someone ten years ago! I am not sure anyone would believe it.<br /><br />So, as another year draws to a close, I want to thank Bryon, and his partner Meghan, for giving us of yourselves in such a selfless and creative manner. I know I speak for many when I say we truly value all you have done as the chroniclers of our sport and I know how hard you have worked to make your dream a reality. Here's to another great year at irunfar in 2012!AJWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04387120797582582699noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1899309861714342259.post-82594868721567577522011-12-08T18:06:00.000-08:002011-12-08T18:11:49.374-08:00WS LotteryInteresting notes as we look ahead to the WS lottery this weekend:<br /><br />Five of the top-10 men from 2011 are registered (lowest # in the last 10 years)<br />International applications are up<br />First time applicants are up<br />Female applicants are down<br />Five runners are registered to go after finish #10<br />For the first time in ten years LB is not in the lottery<br /><br />Good luck everyone. <br /><br />See you in Squaw!AJWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04387120797582582699noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1899309861714342259.post-35230338686130226292011-12-07T17:27:00.000-08:002011-12-07T17:40:06.440-08:002012With the WS/HRH Double now set the family and I have spent the last 48 hours furiously planning for the summer of 2012. We need to book rooms in Squaw now before the lottery and the masses converge, we need to figure out what to do with the dog during the two races, we need to set up our itinerary of 14'er climbs in early July, we need to make sure all the kinks are out of our travel gear, we need to buy a new car, we need to get a new JetBoil, we need to...you get the idea. It's going to be the "summer of a lifetime."<br /><br />I must say, I was really really, really hoping this would happen. With my oldest son Carson turning 14 last month, Shelly and I realized the opportunities for full-blown summer vacations were running out. In addition, since we pretty much design our vacations around races, we knew that this three-week window between WS and HRH this year held the key to that one last great escape before life truly takes over. And, it happened.<br /><br />You see, my family loves WS and HRH. We talk about these races all the time. We sit at dinner over mac and cheese and debate minimalist vs. maximalist shoes as well as the relative difficulties of the "Morton" course vs. the "Jurek" course vs. the "Roes" course. Hell, my kids even know Kyle's splits from the 2008 HRH!<br /><br />To be frank, my family understands that there is nothing quite like running through the mountains with a bunch of like-minded people who get it. But, from my perspective, when you add to that a family that simply can't wait to get out there with you the experience becomes exponentially more meaningful. I know everyone reading this blog might not understand that but for those who do, you know what I mean. And this post is for you.<br /><br />AJWAJWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04387120797582582699noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1899309861714342259.post-16948187134734263192011-12-04T15:06:00.000-08:002011-12-04T15:07:54.378-08:002012 -- The Double (part 2)#6 on the HRH Waitlist. 20 days between WS and HRH this year. Gonna be a great summer! And, what a stacked field!<br /><br />AJWAJWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04387120797582582699noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1899309861714342259.post-88723087588338205872011-11-29T17:02:00.001-08:002011-11-29T17:20:48.491-08:00BalanceOver the last year or so several people have asked me to comment on this blog about how I manage ultramarathon running with a full-time job and raising a family. Admittedly, I've basically dodged the question but recently I've thought more about it and can think of five essentials for balancing running, work, and life:<br /><br />1. Pick a family that loves ultrarunning: Without my wife and kids as supporters and guides I would have quit this game a long time ago. But, with them along with me in races and in training the events are as much about the family as they are about the running. I admit that it takes time to nurture this (my son Carson "crewed" his first race when he was 10 months old) but, in the end, it's worth it.<br /><br />2. Learn to integrate running into your life and not have it as an "add-on": Since my family knows running is important to me and my sanity they support me in doing it every day. But, I can't let it get in the way of our daily existence. As such, I have run in such inauspicious places as airport terminals, around multi-field soccer complexes, and up and down ski runs while my kids are waiting to race. It's not always perfect but it is part of the deal and its better than not running so that's good. And, I can say things like "I once ran around a mall 8 times while my kids tried on clothes"<br /><br />3. Wake up early and run: While it is brutally hard, the best runs happen before the spouse and kids are awake. There is nothing better than coming home from a 15-mile tempo run and then waking up your family with fresh coffee and hot pancakes. It takes will power to drag yourself out of bed two hours before the milk man and you're likely to doze off in the third quarter of the Rose Bowl but, again, it's worth it.<br /><br />4. Make sure your employer/employees know how important running is to you: Most of us don't have jobs in which running is part of the deal. Therefore, it is incumbent upon us to be sure to let those who care for us, love us, and employ us know that running is not only what we do it is who we are. Once we have convinced them of this it is easier to share in the endeavor and to spread the joy of running to others. Or, at least, it let's us squeeze in a five-miler at lunch. <br /><br />5. Keep it simple: As a fully-employed, married, father of three it is impossible to really stick to a training plan. Sure, I like to think I have one but, in the end, all I really need/want to do is run. So, if I can do that every day I'm good. Then, when May rolls around and I need to be a bit more prescribed in my thinking/planning/processing I have some money in the bank to do so. And then, it's time for vacation in Squaw Valley!<br /><br />Here's to running everyone!!!AJWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04387120797582582699noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1899309861714342259.post-87092476242173898742011-11-24T05:15:00.000-08:002011-11-24T05:18:55.500-08:00Unbreakable<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIT8uCW-aEkT2mSrC-FarZFCXygiV4j7Nd87pKs40LzZy2S5SBfVVgu9AK2kaL4-EDKG7vrkKqUu7OTmmzeLumKvFzs3milziqBQOGm-x_i5MjBfAfIyXmfaFWT6_cYlZgk2WppVXXoCuH/s1600/Unbreakable_Poster_v1_Small.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 217px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIT8uCW-aEkT2mSrC-FarZFCXygiV4j7Nd87pKs40LzZy2S5SBfVVgu9AK2kaL4-EDKG7vrkKqUu7OTmmzeLumKvFzs3milziqBQOGm-x_i5MjBfAfIyXmfaFWT6_cYlZgk2WppVXXoCuH/s400/Unbreakable_Poster_v1_Small.jpeg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5678550679789021074" /></a><br /><br />Coming to the Tandem Friends School Theater on December 11th at 7:00pm.<br /><br />$5 tickets at the door.<br /><br />Cool raffle prizes from Patagonia, Scott USA, irunfar.com, and others.AJWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04387120797582582699noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1899309861714342259.post-89753265796540225832011-11-15T06:52:00.000-08:002011-11-15T07:07:51.038-08:00Update and AnnouncementSeveral folks have asked how I am progressing with my recovery from Plantar Fasciitis so I thought I'd send out a quick update:<br /><br />It's been almost three months since I finally succumbed to the pain and shut down my running. At that point I took a full month off from running and spent time in the pool and on the bike. In addition, I did all the usual home remedies in an attempt to get things cleared up. During that time I used the night splint, rolled my arch on a golf ball, picked up marbles with my toes, iced, gave myself massage, and stretched my calves and achilles about three times per day. After a month of that I was not seeing very much improvement.<br /><br />At that point I went to Dr. Bob Wilder, running doctor here at UVa. He gave me steroids and high powered naproxen. He also told me to buy a Strassburg Sock and an arch brace. Finally, he prescribed eight sessions of Physical Therapy with the "enforcer" Eric Mangrum. I felt some initial relief as a result of the steroid but when that wore off the pain returned. But, when Eric began taping my arch, really hard with "Anchor" Tape I started to feel improvement. Then, I started very slowly back into running. Well, not really running but rehab. <br /><br />Now, I am up to running five miles a day (only on the treadmill, totally flat and at an easy pace) and the pain is manageable. But, it's not completely gone so the frustration continues. This week I am starting Graston treatments at a nearby chiropractor so I am hopeful that those will get me over the hump. This is by far the longest I have been on the shelf with an injury and it makes me thankful for the five years of injury-free running I enjoyed before this came on. With any luck, once I shake this thing, I can enjoy five more years of injury-free running. We'll see...<br /><br />And now, the exciting announcement:<br /><br />I will be hosting a screening of JB Benna's film <a href="http://www.ws100film.com">"Unbreakable"</a> in Charlottesville at the Tandem Friends School theater on Sunday evening, December 11th at 7:00pm. For those of you who don't now, this is the highly anticipated documentary of the 2010 Western States 100 battle between Geoff Roes, Anton Krupicka and Killian Jornet. I hope that those of you in the area will come to see it and if you can tell your friends about it that would be great. Tickets will be $5 and I'll have refreshments available (including coffee for those locals recovering from Hellgate)<br /><br />Hope you all have a great Thanksgiving!<br /><br />AJWAJWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04387120797582582699noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1899309861714342259.post-87081231571623587602011-11-10T19:18:00.000-08:002011-11-10T19:55:05.947-08:00Western States Application PeriodOn the eve of the opening of the application period <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oC16jRBuGh8&feature=related">this</a> showed up in my inbox.<br /><br />The good, the bad, and the ugly.<br /><br />AJWAJWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04387120797582582699noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1899309861714342259.post-10504218986166841782011-11-10T09:55:00.000-08:002011-11-10T09:58:40.111-08:00Hardrock LotteryLooks like there are 427 names in the hat for <a href="http://hardrock100.com/">Hardrock</a> as of October 29th. At that rate there will be as many as 800 by the time Dale starts pulling the names on December 4th. By my calculations I have three tickets this year (one for my 2009 finish, one for not getting pulled last year, one for this year) which I would guess would give me about a 12% chance of getting in this year. In all likelihood, the HRH lottery will be tougher to beat than the WS lottery. Amazing!AJWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04387120797582582699noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1899309861714342259.post-51490496330949677982011-11-07T17:15:00.000-08:002011-11-07T17:23:47.820-08:00WS100 Panel - 2011 "Passion"Scotty Mills turned the microphone around and asked me a question. Marcus Warner kept the camera running. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9ZD5uZukug">Here</a> is the result:<br /><br />Looking forward to 2012.AJWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04387120797582582699noreply@blogger.com1