Defy The Odds

Well... They are slight odds. I recently saw my doctor, who specializes in tick-born diseases, and I am making a "miracle" recovery. What she meant by that was the timing. I'm recovering faster than she anticipated (she obviously doesn't really know who she's dealing with, even though I eluded to my super hero self). she felt there was no way I'd be able to run, let alone 10 miles. So that was cool, defy some odds. This doc is the real deal and once we discussed recovery, patience and current state of fitness, I mean, health; she was very encouraging to keep at it. It was unnerving to hear that I'll be on heavy antibiotics for the next 90 days. That blows, and not sorority way!
I'm over it.
Saturday was a gem of a day. I felt disconnected from my bro's and it is great to get back out on the trails and log some kilos. Boj came out and was anticipating only running, at most, 7. That weren't gonna happen, I told him we were trying for 10 which made both our days. We drove to Ledge Rd for a very cool loop, what I call the Lost Trail. It is the middle 8-10 part of my 17 miler on the Dome Trails.
Just being outside was amazing. We had to walk a short slippery piece and I could have walked the rest of the way, I was so happy to be out and moving around. I felt like could have run 2 hours.
The run was awesome. We yapped about tattoos, chicks, and a cuss load of who-the-hell-knows and it was great. when we got back to the house we went south of the border and crushed some VT style burrito/fajita things. F N A!!! Rocked a slight headache, but it was worth every step and breath outside.
Sunday was a day of rest and chill.
Monday was my day of birth, so cuss had to get done fun. Greg hustled out for as much running we could get in with daylight available. That was 10 miles and it was cussing great. We lit up the headlamps on the way down the switchbacks and rolled it in easy the last mile. Slight headache, but worth every bit to be outside running. I was grateful for all experiences and glad I'm not going through this last one alone. My bro's have been encouraging and right there the whole time like family. Cussing awesome.
Greg is carrying the competitive torch for our group of outlaws right now and rocking it too! He's also the type of guy you want on your side. I'm convinced that if I had to fight a 1000 people, Greg would toe the line next to me. (this is completely hypothetical, but here is something factual: we always will win).
Greg and I then Voltron'd with Larry, Najem, Boj (who was the first one to the pub) The Gremlin and Emily to the local pub for Monday night wings. Great way I celebrate the birthday, with friends who are like family.
Tuesday was a day of rest bc of the doctors appointment.
Wednesday was CUSSIN awesome. Better than a Sasquatch sighting, I ran with Fyffe! About GD time... We met up at the Windmill Hill Pinnacle Trails in West West. We only had time to haul for 5 but it was great. I caught Fyffe up on the dress code of our school (I am adopting bow ties as "my thing" to grow old with as a teacher) and some other details.
This week is going great. I'm super motivated and ready to hunt! And let me tell you, THIS DOG CAN HUNT! I got me a fight in me and when I catch a scent, I'll hunt all cussing night! Just like Marty Huggins 012!!!

Allegations

So it was brought to my attention that there is some speculation that the Salazar camp is dirty. This is disappointing. (if dirty) It would disappoint me to not be able to cage fight one, or all (at the same time) of those less then prepubescent boys. But seriously, I'd love to fight them all at the same time, and throw in the Brit, Mo, for a full fledge international "friendly." That's only if they're dirty.
If clean... (Rupp still looks like a little boy) its disappointing to know how much faster they are SMH.
Today's run was a borage of "Ferenc vs The Dirty Camp" fight scenarios like I was in the levels of the video game Streetfighter. It made my 4 miles go by quicker then the short time I was out there anyways. It must have been all this thinking that brought the headache on, or the weeks body of work, but it does feel great to be outside.
In wildness is the preservation of the world (thanks Thoreau).

Jingle Jangle

Getting wild is a great feeling. I hustled out to the trails in Grafton and with limited daylight was going to roll out 5 easy miles. The first mile climbed over 700 feet and a lot of that was in the second half mile. I got hooked up with Highgear Timing Devices and I was rolling with the XT7 GPS-Altimeter. I really like the altimeter function. Very cool. it has the capability to measure large and big, which is what I roll with. That jingle jangle ain't change in my pockets, it's adamantium balls banging together.
After the very slow, but very hard first mile, the run was flat with minor rolling hills and I was able to run a solid pace. I wanted to test the functions of the watch a bit and wanted to see what pace I was rolling at. I was around 7:00 minute pace for the flats and in the 8'a when hills came. I had a 400m stretch (of flats) at 5:20 pace, which felt magical.
My brain was overloaded with ideas of distant lands and epic races with legendary outcomes... It feels good to be a gangster. Or an outlaw.
Jingle jangle...

Wildness

Wildness: the quality of being wild and/or untamed.
Cuss yea, that sounds gnarly and feels clear in my head (it's still fuzzy up there). I was imagining this word and what it means to me and really enjoy it for what it is. It was also the thought basis of half my run today of 3 miles.
I'm convinced that I could hustle 10-12, no problem, but I'm going to ease it on in there (that's what she...). Very excited to get to do that and more on a daily basis.
The other half of my run was a torrent (check out that vocab) of people. This year has been an amazing year for meeting amazing people. I was thinking of making a list, in an order or in no apparent order, of inspirational people I've met this year. I've had the most unbelievable opportunities present themselves this year as well and was very very fortunate for them. Here's a little shout out to people that were newly met and very inspirational: (in Random order)
The ladies -
1. Melody Fairchild - she has the best attitude and is amazing. Watching her run is like, what I would imagine, an angel. She has the perfect everything when she runs. Getting to know her was awesome and I'm thankful.
2. Kim Baker - Lululemon's finest. Hooked it up gooooood. Talk about positive, Kim's your lass.
3. Stevie Kremer - don't even get me started (please do!?!). She is an out of this world badass.

The Dudes:
1. Gabriel Rodriguez - generous and unbelievably thoughtful. He hooked up the Sussie expedition, and made me look louder than I already am.
2. Joe Gray - he's gnarly. I'm praying to make a team with this horse so we can hustle some chumps in hoops after the race. He's also killing everything he enters and is very encouraging.
3. Sage Canaday - he seems so nice, but when he races he's farthest from it. Dude's awesome, and he helped lock me some silver neckwear.
4. LevelRenner - these are bro's. Great dudes that were interested in what smut I could come up with.

Through this latest adventure in the realm of illness, I had a lot of time to reflect on many things. I always seem to have to learn the hard way, but def took out of this two things:
1. Take no prisoners
2. Take nothing for granted

All this in 3 miles...

Metachlorian

It's like being single again. Thinking about what I'm going to say and how I'm going to say it. I decided to rev up my repertoire and enlighten the cyber sphere. You're welcome.
The past month has been a cussing cuss show. I was sicker than I had ever been in my existence on earth in this lifetime and I'm just starting to feel bits and pieces like me. It wasn't so much the Lyme's disease that cussed me, it was the spinal meningitis, I hate that guy. Once I started to look NOT like Sloth from the Goonies ("Hey you guys...") and the paralysis went away (I was still too pretty), was when I made the turn for the better. 21 straight days of intense IV meds blew!!! (although, I won the hearts of a few middle aged nurses and they fed my crackers of graham and saltine and supplied me with as much apple juice I could throw down in the 40 min it took to leak all the IV into my temple).
Supposedly I need to take it easy, but if I did things the easy way, it wouldn't be me.
I'd like to thank all those who sent their thoughts my way, it was much appreciated and valued. I truly believe in transcendental energy and it helped. For any haters, that helps just as much, so thank you and cuss yourself. For the 6 people that read this, spread the word: Ferenc is motivated.
I was able to run the day before Thanksgiving, a whole GD cuss mile. Results were immediate: I thought I was going to die by my heart pounding out of my chest.
Day 1: huge success.
I then took the day of thanks off and relaxed with the fam. Black Friday was a decent day and probably the happiest day I had by myself this whole last month.
I took the girls to Grafton, and hit up the power lines with the mountain bike. It's wicked hilly but a fun run. I was praying that the power lines would sent waves to my brain and kill off the rest of the cuss that's giving me headaches. (results are inconclusive). I rode 10 miles in around 2 hours. It was cussing awesome. It was a great day and brought a months worth of self reflections and life thinking to a new level. The girls were great and loved every second we shared outside.
Day 2: Bangarang
Sunday brought a morning without a headache, so naturally, it was a run day. I laced up my new La Sportiva Vertical K's (which will get your life hard they are so awesome) and hit the trail behind the house for a "test trial" 3 miler.
My main goal was to go very very very slow. I checked my watch at the end of the first hill and I was wildly fast. Cuss yea! I ended up running normal pace and was relaxed. I thanked the holy of holiness in the universe for a great day.
Day 3: mashed potatoes kind of party.
Today, Monday, brought me feeling good (slight headache) to GP for some trails with the girls. I was going to do 3, but once I was out there I didn't want to stop. Breathing was tight, but the air was cold, and everything else was in place. I hustled the Lady of the Wood to let me have 5 miles and she was down (Mother Nature is rooting for me, never betray her).
Day 4: Tom Bombadil would be proud.
Overall, I got my being ravished and I'm slowly feeling more like me... More confidant in my abilities than Kim Jong-il's at golf, prettier than Brad Pitt in Fight Club, more magical than Hermoine Granger in the bedroom working with MY Ollivander's and sexier than SK ;)! BOOM! That's what's happening in the wilds of VT...

NorthEasternPlayallisticBakWudzMuzik

I haven't been able to run in a full 7 days and it's starting to get old. My body has been rocked by a super cuss hole virus and I'm pretty sure the virus brought some pals with him.
All last week I thought I was hovering on the safe side of the flu. I had joint aches but it never manifested into anything.
Slowly my body started feeling like cuss, to dramatically feeling like cuss. Along the way I went to the doctors 4 out of 5 days with on day being a not so fun day in the ER.
What they thought: meningitis, Lymes disease, Super Flu, GhonnaHerpaSephulitis.
All this drama and no running really takes the wind out of my sails, but there has been an up side to this. When I get better, I got a ton of swag to throw down in.
I'll be rocking some awesome under armor gear (which is the best running apparel I've seen/got), a Highgear XT7 GPS-Altimeter and some slick La Sportiva kicks to shred the trails with.
All things happen for a reason? Well, if that's the case, then the reason im sick as cuss was to rest my body for the next onslaught in training. Very exciting.

Pinnacle Challenge

What a cuss show! One, I was/am righteously fired up; an two, cycling is borderline elitist and I can't stand that honsey ponsey hog cuss. Lance is full of donkey cuss, IT'S ALL ABOUT THE BIKE!!! Hahaha
Here are my comparisons:
1. I would have had a better shot at riding a donkey in the Kentucky Derby.
2. My truck and me at Daytona.
3. Rocket race to the moon with my paper airplane.
Here's the real story:
The Pinnacle Challenge
Greg led off the 5 mile road run in PR form at 25:30ish, and looked good, but def could see the marathon in his legs. It was super awesome that he was able to lower his personal record and I wouldn't have traded the events of the day for that.
Greg then handed off to George, who had a mechanical failure last year and ran his bike over the mtn biking course. This year George had a great ride, and gave me the go in a great position in 2nd. With Fyffe as the anchor, all I had to do was match my efforts from the previous year. Better bike + better fitness = no brainer.
Bitterness is my friend right now; cuss me, I had a good bike leg going but at the top of the hill in the middle of the 13.5 mile course I had a mechanical failure of epic proportions. I do love epicness, but not like this. My derailer in the front got all cussed up and broke off. I just got the first guy into view (no way in Hades fiery Hell would I had caught him) and liked my efforts. I'm not a cyclist but my engine is just fine.
So, I'm on top of the climb, 5 miles from Fyffe and my derailer is hanging like the V lips of Jenna Jamison! I run my bike to the nearest house and ask nicely and frantically if they had any wire cutters and a screwdriver. They had both, so I cut my derailer and pride open the derailer to free my chain so I could get riding again. This felt like a minute or two, but in actuality it was about 10-12. All I could think about once I was riding was to get back and get Fyffe the go to run and kill the trail run and get the fastest time on the day.
This sucked in more ways than one. There was a lot of pride on the line.
Miller did the race solo, and had a phenomenal day winning in course record time. We knew it would be close bc he is a fantastic cyclist and runner, and he has a rocket ship tri-bike.
Without the mechanical we could have been in it for the overall win and under 2 hours, which would have been exciting to see Fyffe anchor and vision quest our team to victory.
Both Greg (25:30) and Fyffe (22:50, way ahead of anyone) had the fastest runs of the day and the real point of the race was fulfilled: best friends sharing team camaraderie and having fun.
After the awards, Greg and Jen, Fyffe and Jess, Emily, Maisie and myself, all went to Salt hill Pub for some grub.
Overall was a fun time with greater people. Hanging with my bros is always fun (except sometimes when Fyffe wants to do a predator run at his house and his goal is to leave pieces of his DNA on the course), I'd rather polar plunge!!!
Get one, find one, be one!

Welcome to The Show

I've been having a tough time getting the blog updated and especially coming off a huge high of the Switzerland trip, it is almost tough to try and give such and amazing experience justice.
My buddy, Gabriel Rodriguez, (who was originally a part of the team) asked how it went. I sat down and sent him an email. The email has essentially turned into my blog update of the event. Gabriel is also the Under Armor hookup and supported Team USA with great gear. I love gear, so it was awesome.
Here is the email I sent (let it be k own that no words can do justice to the beauty or difficulty or just the general experience. It was beyond all expectations or thoughts.

Hey Man!
This trip was the athletic highlife of my life! I feel amazingly fortunate and still shake my head when I think about the opportunity and place I got to got to and race I got to race in.
The region of Switzerland was the most amazing backdrop I've ever seen. It was unreal. I could still be there exploring the trails and mountains (and possibly the fragments of my soul from the race!).
They say that the Jungfrau Marathon is the most scenic marathon in the world, and they are beyond right. It was, at times, too much and surreal as we climbed out of the villages towards Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau.
The first 10k was pancake flat with literally 0 feet elevation gain. But over the next 10k we averaged a steady 3-4% incline, which was wicked deceiving bc it still looked and felt flat.
At halfway (1:19:45) we hit our first climb, and dear sweet holy cuss, it was unbearable. It was about a 1000m of 18+% grade straight up! Then, it was a series of switchbacks at 15-17% grade. I asked how many switchbacks there were and they told me 7, but there was actually 16!!! Holy cuss, that part was epic and hard. That one section alone was the hardest thing I had ever done. I had to walk, but was reassured by spectators that I wasn't the first... At his point there were 250m markers! This was hard bc they seemed like mile markers and just getting to the next 250m mark was a bear in places.
The next 10k following to the village of Wengen was steady and had some tough sections but amazing views.
I was still doing "well" at this point and maintaining my position in the top 30. At one point, later on I was in the top 20, due to people dropping out, but only knew that by seeing some people's finishing places that past me with 5k to go.
The villages were exactly like the tour de France, people were banging on the barriers, the whole village was out to watch, thousands of cowbells and I even had a few dudes run beside me and give me a push here and there, it was epic.
Out of Wengen, we have about 8k left. The first 2k of it was nothing new, but brought us up to a point where we had a downhill. This was nice and there was an aid station with coke (all said and done I really feel like I drank about a 2 liters or 2 liter-cola of coke over the second half of the course). You then duck into a small tree section and pop out to see the last 3k of climbing... This was nothing I've ever seen in my life, it was both amazing and demoralizing at the same time. I really started to struggle here and really starting soul searching. It was so unreal in ways of beauty and devastating destruction. It is unfathomable, even now.
There is an awesome ridge that I was determined to run across (I ran about half), and is the quintessential photo shot of the marathon and is wicked tough.
This is epic: a dude caught me on one of the earlier unreal climbs, and as he past me, he told me the best thing anyone has ever said to me in a race, "keep your head and eyes up. Don't forget to look around. You are doing great, this is the hardest race in the toughest mountains in the world. Don't forget all the beauty, keep going and keep it up!"
This was humbling and oddly comforting.
I finally climbed to the last stretch of 800m downhill to the finish. I tried as hard as I could the whole time, even when I was physically reduced to a walk.
I never knew how my teammates were doing (praying to the universe they were doing awesome), but fought all the while just in case I was the 3rd man. I def did not want to let down my teammates.
I know I was there by my own doing, but I felt I was there for much much more. I had a feeling of: don't let down your family, your friends, and myself... The mountain really challenged every bit of me and reduced me to nothing, but I love this race (it's my favorite ever), I love Switzerland and I'm grateful for the experience. I get to say that I was on the team that finished second in the world. Team USA beat all the african nations plus all others. I got a sweet silver medal that is a reminder of how important a team is to me. I know I'm good and I will have some great achievements, but to have the success I truly covet I need a team, and was blessed to be a part of a great group of dudes to make a great team.
The race is epic, the experience was life changing and I can't believe it all.
Cuss yea!!!

Nature never did betray the heart that loved her.

House of Bëor

It's Wednesday and I'm off to Switzerland not feeling 100%, but feeling mentally ready for the challenge. I truly have no idea what I'm up against but I'm so excited I can't unfocus.
My throat is still itchy and I don't feel great, but the idea of what and where I'm going are too much and I think they are taking some of those feelings away. I won't run today and probably only once before the race to conserve some legs. I will not waste my trip and I will take in some sites. The work has been done, a little walking and site seeing wont take away from anything.

Hole In The Wall

I made it to Switzerland without any real issues. I didn't know where to go, but that's nothing for me to worry about.
I tried to video document some things along the way and I'll try to add them sooner than later.
I got from Zurich to Bern, and then Bern to Interlaken. No one knew where my hotel/hostel was, so it took a while.
I ended up walking 3k to my destination: Hotel Schönbühl. It was awesome.
I commandeered a bicycle and wanted to check out the course. This was easy bc the whole course was marked with permanent street signs! I rode over the first half the course but never got the first big climb. Like I said, I took some vids and will post them ASAP. I got to one of my favorite places, Lauterbrunnen, which is a mountain side village. Very cool. All the villages have a flag, the village I stayed in had a badass mountain goat on a shield. Cussing gnarly. I love Switzerland. The mountains are almost fake looking. the rise from a few hundred feet above sea level to 14+! Cuss yea!!! I was right in the bottom of the valley.
I hoofed around the town for a while before I met up with Brandy Erholtz. We both got to town a day before the rest of the gang. We chitted and chatted and was great to meet her. She is beyond unreal when it comes to climbing, but is a tremendous person and great fun energy to be around.
We hob knobbed all through dinner, mostly me asking her about the weeks before world championship where the USA women won gold at the USA Mountain Running Trophy.
Dinner was cool and meeting up with Brandy was awesome. I am excited to meet everyone else.
Friday brought an amazing sunrise to the deepest valley on earth (cool fact). Brandy and I joined up for breakfast and to talk about the days events ahead of us. Today, Friday, is when the whole gang will stroll in. We were to meet at the main tent, which was cussing ginormous, to meet/greet and gear up.
Outside the tent we ended up bumping into the rest of the women's team, coincidently, and introduced myself to all: Kim Dobson, Gina Lucrezi, Ashley Arnold. Melody Fairchild would round out the group of ladies and we would catch her that evening.
We entered to tent and noticed Sage Canaday wandering. As an amoeba picking up another, we continued to the main area to meet Jason Bryant. He had all the team gear. Sage's parents were there also (great people) and it was great to meet everyone.
Once a together we divided up all the gear, which was electric in energy and color, and ate us some lunch.
Drinking, peeing, eating and repeating is all I'm thinking about in attempts to refuel to 100%.
After lunch, Jason, Sage (and 'rents) and I went to check out parts of the course. I had a separate agenda also and it was to see the famous Trammellbachfalles (waterfalls).
After seeing the course, everyone else headed back to either run of rest and I went adventuring. I didn't want to miss this natural phenomenon and I got some other great sites along the way. I had to hitchhike my way around, but relied on my boyish good looks and innocent smile. It worked every time.
The waterfalls were beyond what I expected and were unreal.
Hitched a ride back, thought I was going to die bc my driver was a Andretti fan (?) and drove like a pissed off teenager.
In my head: Dear Deities, let me be able to run this race...
Also worked!
I then got back after that adventure to head to the opening ceremony and dinner. We missed the ceremony bc the tent was so big we, along with all the other English speaking countries (Wales, Scotland, Ireland, England) and the Africans, that we were all sitting waiting for the damn thing to start. Hahaha. It was still awesome hanging with all these gnarly Americans and just talk. G dug! Haha. This is where I met Melody Fairchild (sounds like an actress) who is amazingly humble and great.
The night was late and the ladies race the next day. Very pumped to see their race and root for new friend.

Odd Timing

It is the weirdest thing. All this self righteous confidence and all the miles and all the runs that served one purpose were challenged incredibly when I woke up on Monday. I woke feeling more awful than I can remember. My throat was on fire and I couldn't believe this was happening. No words can describe the utter fear of how my body felt. I had the thought that I might not make it to Switzerland.
My doctors was closed, so I had to deal with urgent care. thank goodness the doc on duty liked my idea: give me so many cussing meds to destroy this bacteria ASAP.
I leave for Switzerland in less than two days and I am beyond myself. My whole race plan is out the door. Strep throat can suck a penicillin cuss!
Monday and Tuesday were complete isolation days and drinking of fluid days. I peed every 20 minutes, and I was on a new challenge besides running. 500mg of penicillin 3 times a day. Nows the time to see what made of.

Owls

Keene State Alumni race:
This used to be a race between the college and former collegiates, but now has turned into a fairly large preseason meet. It really didn't matter who is there, the shape I'm in, I'm going to run well.
I looked at this two different ways. One, it was a race, but two; it was more "us" (alumni) vs. "them" (college). The KSC team was looking good coming out of the summer, but comparatively they were a man with no arms: can't hang. AND, no one can be sour about that comment bc as it turned out, no on from KSC hung with 30 secs... But they did get some race experience with dudes (mostly me) from out of this world.
There was some, "who's going to be the top guy," bullshit, but that was all wasted words: everyone cussing knew.
The race plan was one of two things: go out in the front or just chill. I chose to just chill while on the warm up. When the gun went off, I slowly went to the front and ran my pace. As it turned out, that pace put me comfortably in the front and by myself for 2.79 miles. Two MIT nerds caught me with less than a quarter to go and it sucked to only have one gear.
With other races just been completed and accolades laid upon us I now say this: I was 3rd in the KSC PreSeason Invitational Friendly 5k, but 1st in the Alumni Race! Hell yea. Hahaha.
We then went to the legendary Pete Thomas house and had a BBQ, or a CharBQ...
The next day we hustled out 14 at my place and I ended the taper week with 66 miles and an itchy throat...

Where The Wild Things Are

It was unsure if people were going to live without my updates, but low and behold (or however that cussing saying goes) you managed to breath. You managed to eat and live...
I left off a while ago but did some sweet cuss along the way. I'll do my best:
Wednesday 8/29 - I went to Grafton and hit up the single track 7 miler. I was full taper mode and wanted to have a solid 5k showing amidst my marathon/mountain training.
Thursday 8/30 - 3 mile hill tempo.
Friday 8/31 - low key 4 miler. The Keene State Alumni race is the next day and I wanted to do my thing.

Tuesday - And Then There Was Rest

Today was the rest day. I had school, which was meetings all day, then practice (practice?) and then I headed home to run. I was tired from the change in routine, but managed 10 out behind my house with a finish down the switchbacks. It took about 38 minutes to feel ok and slowly loosens up from there and finally felt relaxed and stretched out the last mile.
The run was perfect and filled the roll of recovery.

Monday - War Pigs

Our ritual continues and it is great. The ritual is run, then head down to Pleasant Valley Brewery and hit up the 35 cent wings.
Greg made the trip out to run, and we cruised a rugged 12 miler known as the Sap Lines. This is also a 14 miler with a different finish down some switchbacks, but we opted for the 12 (I did) and wanted to recover a bit. Not sure how much I recovered bc we were rolling fit fast and relaxed.
Najem, Boj and T-Paq joined us at the pub for wings and sweet potato fries. The serving staff is always delicious ;).

Epoch

This was an epic week and marked an epoch of awesome. The week started at the top of Mt Washington and ended at the top of Mt Mansfield.
On Monday, Greg and I headed to the Franconia side of Mt Washington for a solid day above tree line. I suggested the Crawford Path, which is a quick 2.9 miles up to above tree line, then 5 awesome miles to Mt Washington. It was mapped so we could get 16-17 miles.
We packed small packs (Greg had 70 oz of water haha) and hit the hill. The first climb was great. I think I said either, "this is great," or "this is awesome," and uncountable amount. But it was great and cussing awesome.
Once we were above tree line it was even more amazing. It was a crystal clear day. The weather could not have been more perfect, we were very fortunate (and grateful) for the weather.
I felt more inhuman than human, I felt awesome the whole day. It must have been transcending energy of the outdoors, but I was wired and could have run all day.
F N A, it was awesome. There were some views where it looked like there was no civilization.
Ran up in 1:38 and descended in 1:14.

Epoch Week Continues

Tuesday - the day after an epic 17 miler on Washington should be a rest day. I plan on racing at Mt Mansfield on Sunday so a day of rest will be good. Ran 7 at GP with the girls. Felt fine, no real things. Added another 3 plus 16 miles on the bike to town (BF) and back.
Wednesday - Headed to Greg and Pisgah to run 9 in the AM. The trails were great, we coasted. Later in the evening I ran with the future 2012 VT State XC Champs for 6. I added 2 more to get 7.
Thursday - went out to the Marathon Road for 10 miles with 3 at a good effort. Felt more sluggish today than any day this week, but opened the first mile in 4:52, felt faster, but I was more flat than I thought. I tried to hold this pace and went 4:58 for mile 2, started to feel better. By the time I ended the third mile I was finally feeling ok and way better than when I started and clipped 4:50 for a total 3 mile in 14:40. Felt good about the time.
I later went back out to GP for an easy shake out 7.
Friday - hit GP trails again with Boj in the evening. Gave my temple as long a wait as possible until the next worship.
Saturday - Greg joined me for the Sap Lines 12. This is a hilly run, and as it turned out, not the best prerace run. But, it doesn't really matter, I've run tired and a bit flat before...
Sunday - Mt Mansfield 4.3 mile road race, Race to the Top of VT in Stowe.
I knew Stowe was awesome, but I also got a chance to check out Smugglers Notch, very cool and gorgeous.
This race was at 9am, so I was up and out by 5:15 to make sure I got there with time to spare.
It was to be a hot day. Very hazy and humid, but I was very excited to race to the top of VT.
As I'm warming up a van opens its doors and the most legit looking dudes piled out. There must have been 6-7 of them and they looked the part. I would figure them to be XC skiers, which meant they could be tough on the climb.
The race started and a few dudes went out hard. The first 500m is the worst of the whole race, and I wondered for a split second on what to do. I hung in the pack till the top of the first climb (500m) then took the lead and made a move to end any ideas of anyone trying to hang on to me. The beginning had some very runnable sections and I made sure to press hard on these and open up the stride. It might have cost me a bit at the end, but it worked and I ran solo for 4 miles increasing my lead.
I ended up 33:53, and to make sure I was King of the Mountains I continued running to the tip top of Mansfield (which is beyond awesome!!!) and then ran down to bag 17 for the day.
It was a tough race, with a lot of talent in the field. Before the race started the starter announced said that anyone who breaks the course record will receive $500 bonus! This was too much to ignore, so I kept my watch on and was checking splits as I clipped. What the dude failed to mention is that the course record includes bikes!!! Haha. Seriously, the running course record was held by a guy I never heard of, so I knew that was coming down, but then after the fact to find out that it included the bikes... Made me shake my head and smile. I joked with the race director that the running record should be apart from the bikes bc they have 21 gears to choose from and I only got 1! I also joked that bikes are a great machine and was made bc it is easier/efficient than running or walking.
Instead of complaining I took it as a challenge for next year. Karma is great, by laughing about it, the director told me that he was going to toss some dough bc I broke the running record by almost a whole minute!
As it also turned out, as primarily a runner, I was a minority. It seemed that most people there were XC skiers or mtn bikers. Def a great venue. The prizes took forever but thats bc they were the best prizes I've ever seen at a race or heard of. The raffle prizes were ridiculous.
Great day to end a great week as I start the taper a bit. Got 95 miles this week and feeling good.

ET

This will bring up to speed the week of 8/13-8/19. It is really is the same cuss different day. I probably could do it in one sentence: I rule and ran 108 miles. Sounds good. But, one of the five people that read this silly idle words may be curious how it happened, so, here it goes.
Monday - ran a DeMar Marathon course 20 miler with Greg. It ended up being 6 miles at 5:40 pace, then 2 c 5:40, then 1 x 5:40. This was a lot of road after a solid week previous.
Tuesday - I went an checked out a trail that would link up a new run. It went from behind my place but then crosse over to the Athens/Grafton trails via a snowmobile path. Ended up with 14 long miles. Tough recovery run, but who are we kidding?
Wednesday - shook out an AM 10 miler on the trails. Felt ok, but felt good on the afternoon 7 I added at VT Academy trails.
Thursday - another double day, but had an intense hill session in Grafton. The hill is Turner Hill Rd and is vicious the first 800. All together the hill is 950m with the first 800 very steep and the last 150 mild/gradual. The goal was to stay just at redline then open up the stride on the "flats," which wasn't flat at all, but try to change gears. Ran 10 miles worth of hills and felt awesome! The 7 I added later at GP was slow and felt good to clip off some miles.
Friday - workout #2... It was a 12 mile lead out into Putney Mtn. Najem joine me and paced me through, and then 2 miles before the hill we added a 2 mile in 10:30 (5:18, 5:11), then up the hill I went. The week before I ran just over 19 minutes for the hill, but today I climbed in 17:30!
Saturday - the KSC dudes joined make and I for a long 15, which I called 16, around the abandoned orchard. Great run. We went very controlled and stayed that way. Rest on the rest days was followed today.
Sunday - Fyffe made and appearance and we ran the 10 mile version of the apple orchard loop. Great to see Fyffe. At one point he told me he felt like he was racing. I reassured him that it was BC, WE WERE RUNNING 5:20 pace!!! Dude can roll.
Week total = 108
After 8 weeks I has 937 miles, avg of about 117.

Sunday - Focused

Greg had a run planned in Pisgah, this sounded great bc I was ready to get back on the trails. We ran a 15 mile loop, and I felt awesome. It was a great run with Najem and Fyffe as well. Once we got back to Greg's house I opted to add 5 more miles on. I wanted to nail another 100+ mile week and this is what I had to do. I also wanted a long run. 15 is just a run now, and I don't want that to go away...
After adding my miles up I found I was at 97, so I shook 3 hilly miles behind te house out to get the Benjamin. I later found out that I never wrote into my running log the 9 miler around the orchard, so I ended my week with 109, a huge CUSS YEA!

Saturday - Popple Dungeon

Najem and I had an awesome day. The weather was perfect after we climbed a righteous hill, bc it started to down pour and wipe away the heat.
We parked in Grafton and headed west, wrapping around to Popple Dungeon road. This stretch was awesome. The rain and the downhill for 6 miles, was a great combo. Najem felt good/great so we ran well. This is an awesome winter time run of 17 but worked just fine in the summer.

Friday - 9

Easy 9 miler with Najem around the Leach Rd abandoned apple orchard. Felt a little residuals today from the workout out, but I'm telling myself it's just my body wanting more epicness. Cuss yea!

Thursday - Me Thing

The day after an epic workout is always interesting... Will I be sore? No. Will I be tired? Nope. Will I be able to run? Cuss yea!
Woke up the next morning feeling good. Had a goo stretch after last nights run which made my morning enjoyable. I hustled out to GP and covered a 7 mile loop of single track trails. Awesome morning...
Later in the evening I joined the BF high school kids for a run at the Hugh school. I ran 5 with Tim Eno and Larry Legend Sayers and then tacked 2 more miles with Eric Malnati. It was great to run with Eric. He didn't say 17 words on all runs I've done with him when he was in HS, but he ha great stories and was a great training partner. He has some awesome opportunities ahead. One great thing about Eric is that he trusts and listens to his coach, and had great insight about the "good stuff..."

Tuesday - Abides

With workouts planned Monday and Wednesday, my rest days need to be on point and do the job of rest and recovery. Tuesday was just that, originally planned to run 7 and 5, but ended up feeling great after the 7 miler and didn't need the other 5...
Najem and I drove out to Windham VT, to a place called Hamilton Falls. (Rated #2 waterfall in New England). Very cool spot, but best past is there is a great 7 miler that is 6 miles of flat and 1 mile of climbing back to the car and the waterfall.
The water is fresh out of the mountains teat and is gloriously cold and perfect for soaking the legs or cleansing your soul. So... We did this.
Then hung around the house with the girls and relaxed!

Wednesday - Mr Self Destruct vs Heresy

Today was to be an epic 10 miler on the Marathon Road in Grafton. I was shooting for rice pace and hoping it would feel like training effort with a click up of intensity.
This was all a great idea, but I was freakishly on and the run was of legendary proportions to my current training. I rolled...
5:29, 5:22, 5:18, 5:29, 4:48, 5:03, 5:05, 5:10, 5:19, 5:04 = 52:18...
Felt godly the whole run. The breathing was normal and I was one with the effort and rolled comfortably. Everything was better than expected.

Monday - Loin Queen Parader

"Gonna turn it up inside your head..."

Yesterday's mountain finish was awesome and very exciting to feel good while making a solid climb. Monday was looking to be a true test to try many things: run, run relaxed, fast, in control, comfortable and within myself.
I headed back to the Marathon Road with Najem and Boj on the bike. Boj ran 4 hours the day before and was looking to loosen up on the bike.
Here was the plan: 3 mile warmup, 3 x 2 mile at 5 min pace or as fast and relaxed as possible, and then cool down. The 2 mile repeats were going to be run on the same section of road to keep it honest, so 2 miles in one direction, mile cool down, turn around and then go the other direction, mile cool down, then finish heading back towards the start.
The warm up was what it was. I didn't feel great leading out and hoped I'd make it through the workout still on point. Composure was huge to today.
The first mile of the first set was a bit fast at 4:50, but felt well within my comfort zone. Ended up chilling and settling in for a 10:00. We jogged off a mile and turned around to start the second set which is "up hill" or flat... I opened up the first mile of the second set in 4:55 and comfortably ran to a 9:59. Certified roller is certifiably rolling. Once again I jogged off the recover mile and mentally geared for the last one. I was surprised to find how little effort it was in regards to the day I had the day before. Don't get me wrong, it was an effort but I could not have done this workout a few months ago, so to be tackling the work and the times was a great feeling.
I opened the first mile of the third set in 4:45 and knew I had the third set all wrapped up. My main focus was checking in with Boj to see if I looked as relaxed as I thought I felt. With 90 seconds left I smoothly increased the pace all the while keeping my relaxed breathing pattern. It was great to finish in 9:41 for the last set, know I was done for the day and took down another obstacle in my training.
I ended the day with 19 (7 miles in Keene on the rail trails) and felt very good, especially bc it was Monday an we were going to crush wings after at the pub!!! Cuss yea!

Wednesday - Independence

July 4th... Great day to get outside... Well, I'm already always outside so this is just another day in that realm, but its ELLIE's birthday!!! Hell yea! My babe turned 5 today we had a full day of events.
1. Run Saxtons River 5k (3.2+ miles)
2. Log some miles
3. Hangout at Greg's house
4. Catch a few fireworks before bed.
I woke up feeling ok after last nights mile, more sluggish from the miles than the wicked cussing speed... I planned on running to town, racing, cooling down, then running home.
Got to run the (adopted) hometown race. Here was the plan: run to town (2.5 miles), 2 mile warm up, race, 2 mile cool down, run home = 12 mile morning.
Plan was great, ran a decent effort with the main goal of staying relaxed and bio mechanically sound. Ended up tacking on 2 extra miles in town for a 14 mile day...

Void

Let's get philosophical. I am training at a level with numbers and times I've never trained at. I've ripped down the norms and established the highest levels as my new regime. I am at a place I've never been, fitness and mile wise, and everyday is "void" running. "Void" running to me is placing yourself at a point in the universe where new things are approaching. Being in the void is exciting. I am fully aware that I am striving and striding for/towards new goals, times, results and adventures. I'm training at a place I've never been in hopes of results I've never seen. There are also hopes that all this will lead to other great opportunities I will be fortunate enough to attain.
There's a force greater than all out there and I'm about to add it to my repertoire.

Back to the CussFest: Villain Running

7/31 - 8/6: 130 miles for the week.

Monday - Jesus, Moses and all those other holy cuss', did we get some trail covered today! This run was not for the weak. Greg, Najem, Boj, and yours most handsome tackle down a ridge run from Mt Wantisquiet(?) to Pisgah ridge to Greg's house. Cuss me! Brutal. The conditions were tough and the terrain was rugged yet runnable. I felt very good the whole run which saved me. If I was off by the slightest %, it would have sucked a cuss. All that, when I could have just said, "21 hard miles."
Eager to add to the day I hustled out for 5 more in the PM where I saw 2 young bears (2yrs old) and got to within 40 feet of one. It was awesome day! I'll do the math for you: 26 miles for the day (as I typed this line I just shrugged my shoulders, indicating that it ain't no thang).

Tuesday - 10 very flat miles on the Westmoreland Railbed with Najem. Followed by a solid outing at GP for 10 more. 20 for the day (in case you ain't Rainman with your math).

Wednesday - decided on some "light work," and for out to Grafton to do 2 x 2mile on the Marathon Road with Najem. 10 miles total, with a 9:24 and 9:41 splits in the mix... Righteous!!! College days nickname is back, "certified roller!" Felt completely under control and within my comfort zone. May tackle a 2 mile time trial on the track, I might pace, but will people e able to hang on???
Almost forgot about the 10 miles I added on in the PM on the Vermont Academy trails... :)

Thursday - had to use today as a recovery day, so Greg cam over and with Najem ran a hilly 14 behind my squalor palace. Goosh, it does feel good to be a gangster.
I hadn't seen Fyffe in a few days sink planned a 5 miler with him before the Olympic trial races. Ended up adding 3 more in Putney for a total of 22.

Friday - had a late start to my fitness, but ended up running before the Olympic track races to Fyffe's house. Najem dropped me off and I told them I was going to run 10 (bc I felt tired). I ended up running quick and felt light and very very strong. 10 turned into 14 hilly trail miles on the Pinnacle trails before reaching Fyffe's house. It was also 95 degrees out and it felt it. But I was zone running and rolling. Felt good.

Saturday - Fyffe came over and ran 10 with Najem and I. I had a double run day planned but only ran this run. We ran in the abandoned apple orchard and it is the least hilly (but hilly) run I have. Great run that ended well.

Sunday - Swiss Marathon training run. My idea was to simulate, on a mini scale, of what I'll be racing in Switzerland. We, (Greg, Fyffe, Najem and I) were going to run from my house to the top of Putney Mtn and go via Athens. The lead out to the mountain is a flat 15 miles on mostly dirt road and ending with a 2.5 mile climb (on easily 10% grade) up Putney mountain. This run was awesome. I felt like a bag of mashed up cuss holes the first 5-6 miles but slowly started to feel ok, then good, then up the mountain if felt great. The best I ran was on the mountain. It wasn't a workout or anything any different. He goal was to "just run" the mountain stage and feel in control (which I did).
Ended my week with 130 miles, feel excellent and look forward to hitting the Alps. It is fun I think how precise and exact I'm training for dudes I haven't met or briefly met. I'm fortunate to have been selected for this team and want to make sure I am at the best possible fitness/race level as I can be.

Stepping Up the A Game

Having a "down" week for what I was looking for was probably for the best. I was shooting for 120, but cuss happens. This week was very similar as far as where I chose to roll...

7/23 - 7/30: 120 miles for the week.

Monday - Took a bit of an adventure this moving and had a solid AM with righteous hills. Took down a 14 miler at GP with the girls. Later in the PM I Voltroned with Greg an we glided through a rugged 9+ behind my house on the switchback trail. 25 miles for the day. Felt very good each run.

Tuesday - had an appointment near mt Ascutney, so I decided to conquer the mountain. The road race was there a few days earlier but decided to roll 22 miles with my crew instead. Also, honestly, didn't feel like paying to race up a mountain I can train on (later to retract exact statement and sell out to hypocrisy). In my training run I put together a solid time that I was happy with, 32:0... is a time I can live with. I adventured around the summit and checks out some other trails until I ended up with 12 on Ascutney.
Hit GP with the girls for a great PN run before it got dark adding 7 to the day and calling my day 18.

Wednesday - these are days I truly believe to be extraterrestrial. Had a great day and felt great the whole time. Woke up and started the day with a solid 8 miler. Headed to Keene for the Wednesday workout and had a good miles day adding 13 for 25 on the day. My workout was a series of strides at 5:30 pace and felt good to shake it out.

Thursday - THE Pete Thomas asked if I would speak at the KSC running camp and I planned my run to be in Keene. It was great, I got to speak about motivation (which doesn't take much to get me cussing wild) and then go for a run with a Death Hill, cool. I ended up running close to 2 hours and climbed Death Hill in 2:40.

Friday - Made and appearance in Burlington and hustled 5 miles on the VCM course. I was asked by race officials if I'm coming back to VCM to defend my #1 VTer, and had to tell them that I'm not interested. I'm in for the big W! Yup, you read it, run an tell that to whoever you think needs to know...
Ended the day with a 5 miler at GP with the girls. Good pre-race day.

Saturday - So I said I wouldn't pay to run up a hill I could train on and did just the opposite a week later and really paid. When I say pay, holy cuss, I paid. $65 entry fee (which is ludicrous) to run the Okemo Mtn Challenge. A 10 mile race up Okemo an down. Good news: course record. Bad news: the prize I was told about was not there. Oh well, I'm not ungrateful, just was super pumped when the lass told me about an awesome prize... Cuss happens? That's my karma slap for not going to Ascutney.

Sunday - 15 mile dirt road run in Putney with a huge gang. Awesome way to end a 120 mile week. My legs and body are responding well to the high mileage (which is normal now).

Post Stowe

The last few weeks are a blur of strides, hills, mountains and great times. I'm going to zip through and get caught up on the last three weeks, which were monstrous!

7/16-7/22: 113 miles for the week.
Monday - flat 10 in the morning, and out and back styled run on a dirt road in Cambridgeport with Boj on the cycle. Followed by a 9+ miler behind my house with Greg.

Tuesday - I was tired today and had to just bag 9 in Putney with Fyffe, Greg and Najem.

Wednesday - experimental run. Combined a few parts of run into one run. A very hilly 15 mile run through Saxtons River and Athens.

Thursday - parked out in Grafton and hit the Grafton Ponds trails. These are awesome single track and not very hilly. Great way to break up the week and cruise through the woods on well maintained trails. 15 miles in Grafton was so nice I went back out in the PM and snagged 7 more: 22 for the day.

Friday - 11 miles on Grafton Ponds (GP) trails. Felt a bit tired but not too bad. Planned an epic weekend.

Saturday - Keene Staters came out for a solid 15. Awesome run with rolling hills the first 12 miles before a bear of a climb. Tough climb but honestly my least hilly run.

Sunday - Greg came out and with Najem tapped a 22 on the Marathon road. Running completely chill and relaxed (I felt F-ing amazing!) we rolled 2:21 for 22 like we were out for a 5 miler!!!

Monday - Swift

Monday is becoming a distance day, and I really like starting my week with some miles. In the morning Boj came over and he rode the bike next to me as I shook out an easy flat 10. He ran epically the day before and was resting. I felt borderline great. I definitely didn't feel like I raced 8 miles the day before and this was mentally uplifting.
In the afternoon Greg and Jen came over to run. Jen and Emily ran out in Cambridgeport, while Greg and I ran the challenging 9+ miler behind my house. The weather was starting to c get interesting and by mid run, Greg and I were getting poured on. This was awesome bc it took the humidity away and it cooled everything right down. Made for an amazing run in the wilds of VT. Boj ended up meeting us at the top of the switchback hill (his favorite part) and running the last 3 miles with us and running well. It is always great to chill yet run a solid effort and talk about who knows what.
We then met up with the ladies after their run and rolled to wings at the pub. Great little Monday in the summer. Total miles = 19.

Sunday - Stowe

I hemmed and hawed whether or not to do this race while training at 120+ miles, and wondered if I would do alright... Then I remembered, I have to!
The idea for Stowe was to race but race with a workout in mind, i.e., run conservative at 5:30 pace and ten see if you can drop to 5:15 pace. All the time being in control, fast and relaxed. Leading in I was tired and a little flat. Had two great weeks, like no other two weeks back to back, and figured an 8 mile race would be a possibility. I also really wanted to be able to say, "I won Stowe."
This is a comment that a lot of people want to say, I acknowledge their thinking, but as tired and flat as I could have been, I was going to the race to win.
It was a gorgeous day for anything other than trying to run as fast as you can for 8 miles. It was hot (as it always is) and it was humid (as it...).
At the start of the race 6 dudes jumped out in front. They all looked legit, but I didn't know any of them. I had demons early in trying to stick to the race plan before I said, "cuss it, bring it on."I could still run part of my goals of, fast and relaxed and in control...
They hit the mile in 5:02(?), and I was at 5:17, and seemed out of the race. But then guessed they had ten seconds on me after the 800, so all there time was from the start. As soon as we were past 1 mile, two if the six looked done. By 2 miles I caught the pack (running a 5:24 mile, they must have dropped a 5:40+), while one guy was still 5 seconds up, but about to come back on his own. I continued to run my race and was very relaxed as I passed him on the hill leading to 3 miles. He made no effort to stay as I kept my pace (5:15). After passing my friend Justina's house (100 meters from mile 3) and was told I had 10-15 seconds on the next person I decided to take a gamble down the hill and push a bit harder than my effort. I ran a 4:55 down the hill and continued I stretch my lead. By mile 5 I was starting to notice the heat and get a bit hot. At every water station I was Harvey-ing the waters, and taking as many as I needed (this is more of a "fun" jab at anyone who complained about my teammate) and dousing my entire being. This was refreshing, bc the long section of dirt road around mile 6 was cussing warm.
By mile 7 I finally turned around to see... Not a cussing thing, which was awesome. I was able to relax, get some composure back and finish. The last mile was a 5:48 and felt glorious to know that I didn't have to go to the well. My workout was perfect, I ended up running 5:22 pace for the whole race and felt very good.
Had an extended cool down and logged 16 miles for the day and 116 for the week.
Next stop: Mt. Ascutney

Catching Up

Now I don't like it anymore than you do, but I'm going to have to consolidate a two week period into one long cuss entry. Here it goes:

Thursday - banged 12 in the AM with Greg, Fyffe, Najem and some Keene Staters; Brett MastroItaliano and Chris Plankey. In the evening I got on it for another 10 in Athens VT. This run was rugged and tough terrained... In the pics of the Montpelier Mile, I'm chill as cuss through the first 56 sec quarter, but not as cucumber cool as Najem finishing, killer steez.
Friday - met Fyffe in Putney, parked at the culvert and shagged 12 like it weren't no thing. Conversationally fast but easy. That evening I hustled 5 on the desolate roads of scenic VT town Grafton.
Saturday - this was a preview run. Fyffe and I ran from the culvert but added a loop in the woods on the trails I make it 15. This was in preparation for a Sunday run with a group.
Sunday - same loop as Saturday but also in attendance was Greg, Thomas, Brett, and Chris. This run was a reality check for myself and a reminder that, even though sent to earth from a distant land, I still have human qualities. Aka: I was cussing tired. We all ran together for 12, and I chilled in at 7 minutes. Meanwhile, the other dudes had a cuss measuring contest and did some work to finish the run. No lie, not sad I missed it. That trojaned up my July 4th week, happy birthday Ellie!
Total miles for the week: 121

This is from July 9-15...
Monday - took an adventure out onthe Grafton power lines. Wasn't much of an adventure, I tried a new trail that was only 22 min add on... Still great. There is a valley known as Satan's Smile, unbelievably steep and vicious climb. Just picture a V, that's what it looks like, awesome. 17 miles
Tuesday - Boj joined me for another adventure day. This was more of linking a bunch of runs into one run. It was awesome, we weaves around and then through an abandoned apple orchard and crossed a cool suspension bridge. Found some new trails in between. 2+ hours of conversational rubbing, 18 miles. Later that night I met up with Tim Clark and shook out 4 more. Felt fresh and brand new on both runs! Got to tell Tim all about the anatomy of Amsterdam... 22 for the day.
Wednesday - parked at Vermont Academy, which has amazing XC ski trails, and ran 7 easy miles. Then went to the workout in Keene. In Keene , Boj and I parked at the Stonewall Farm and ran a loop on the single track and continued to the workout at Keene Middle School. I chose 8 x 200 in 38-40 seconds to shake it out an run possible race pace at Stowe 8 miler on Sunday. Nailed 19 in the afternoon to nab 26 for the day.
Thursday - Met up with a lifer, Matt Haley. He was up visiting from ATL. We drove to Windham VT, and ran a 12 mile loop that ended at Hamilton Falls, an awesome 125' cascading waterfall. Later in the evening, pirated 5 more easy miles with Larry Sayers and the BFUHS trails.
Friday - took a moderate rest day with Stowe in mind. I parked in Putney and lonesomely ran an out and back on amazing picturesque dirt roads.
Saturday - Ran an out and back 6 in Athens VT at the "Secret Swim Hole." you're wondering where it is? Keep wondering mother cusser, it's got it's name for a reason cussers. This rounded my weekly mileage up to 100 on the dot with Stowe to go...

Tuesday - Finger Poppin'

Najem and I had some giggles to 21 J St the night before and planned out our day: run easy 7 in the morning, hang out all cussing day, hustle a mile in galactic speeds, make $ and relax for our 4th of July races... Cussing easy.
The 7 miler was flat and easy out on Athens roads. It was warm but we finished and soaked in the healing waters of the River Saxtons. This meant that we had all day to fret (or I did) about the mile and hopefully win some $.
Najem and I had a plan: we'd go 1, 2 and win all possible $. Sounds easy enough.
Larry Legend joined us for the ride to the capital city. Najem and I were solely going to win $, we weren't going to finger each other cussholes, so I needed to be on. Najem can roll for the mile, an I'm just filthy at everything, so we had a good shot to clean house. Not to mention how handsome.
We hit the capital and the first thing you got to do is size, size everybody up. The winning time from the precious three years is around 4:34 and I by a masters runner. I'm not hating (maybe a little bit) but this shouldn't be a thing. I did see that the masters runner son was 16 the previous year and ran 4:44, this is solid and was second.
The first people we see are said masters runner and his Galen Rupp lookalike son. No bull cuss, I thought it was Galen Rupp finally courageous enough to tow the line against me. This kid looked legit.
Here's how the race goes: $50 bonus to the first person I cross the quarter mile, $100 bonus for the course record, and money to top 5... We in the $.
I was dead set on bringing soemthing home and after a solid sizing of all competitors it was Najem, Galen Rupp and myself. I'm figuring I will need to sprint the whole thing, I got 120 miles from last week and some not cussing around miles from this week, so sprint I must to run well. Truthfully, I figured on sprinting yes, but Najem winning easily with myself second.
At the sound of the gun I was cussing gone, for real. I went, figuring Najem would pass me 200 in and lock up that bonus, what I didn't realize was that I was on the verge of PR-ing through the quarter. I ran with my head turned behind me, set on not losing that bonus. Once I knew I was going to get the bonus toward najem's and i's pocket, I wasn't about to let up and let some sneaky cuss steal something I was killing to get.
I hit the quarter in 56 and felt awesome. Had I not heard my split I would have figured that I ran a 64-65. Now the real questions: will I run 3:44? Did I just cuss my race in the cuss with no protection? Is that time cussing serious? Cuss!
Cuss it, I just kept going... By half way I was ready to be done but saw that Galen was still with us. Najem and him went by me just after half way and starting gapping me. Was I gaped? They put a little distance on me the thirds quarter and knew I was going to rally, I didn't like the lactic acid I was tasting but knew I would close well.
The kid was hanging on Najem but could see Najem putting a stride in front. With less than a quarter to go, Najem and Rupp were 15 meters up, I put my head down and started hunting. I put my head down and told myself to try and get back to Najem's shoulder. My head was down for three strides and in the time I caught the kid, and Najem put another 15 meters on us. He must have switched gears the same time I did but Najem is working with a few gears I don't have installed at this time.
Najem won, just missed the record, but ran 4:24, I was second in 4:29, Rupp was third in 4:31... Kid turns out to be a 4:21 NY high school miler. It was good to know that my VT powers were alive.

Monday - ReBegin

Woke up feeling fresh and awake and very alive, so I hit the trails early. I drove out to Ledge Rd am figured in running 5. The morning was too nice to just run 5 so I hit the Lost trail and made my morning 10. Knowing I was going for 10 later in the day was a great feeling. 20 sounds so much better than 15...
Peter Najem jingled my cellular devise and said he was en route to run the afternoon with me, cuss yea! Once Pete got to VT we ran a great newer loop. From my place we hit the road (I left the girls at home due to the heat and the fact that they ran earlier) am headed towards Leach Hill Orchards. This is an abandoned apple orchard on the top of a hill. Awesome run with only 3 miles of roads... The way we ran made it so we had gradual climbing versus extreme-rape-your-quads and soul climbing. Along the way Najem brought up the idea of racing a downhill mile in Manchester NH. This was a thrilling idea and I was all in (after I battled demons trying to make me soft and question my legendness). I mean, cuss, it's only a mile and it's downhill...
We hit wings for dinner at the pub, where Larry Legend met us. Larry suggested we go to Montpelier and hustle a flat mile race instead. One, it was closer and; two, less competition which means greater chance to haul in some Washington's (but hopefully Grant's and Benjamin's). Montpelier it is.
Not a bad Monday, 20 miles, wings, anxiety to sprint a mile, 21 Jump St and Najem.

Sunday - Rounding Third

Once again I got my way and had people wanting to come out to run an hopefully soak in the awesomeness I transcend. Thomas Paquette an George Adams joined Fyffe and I for a 15 miler on the Avalonian trails behind my house. We climbed our way to the Knife's Edge trail to the Athens Lookout. It was a great day with great visibility. It would have been extremely hot had the breeze not been continual and awesome. This loop has some challenging climbs that are very close together.
I felt surprisingly good/great (having eclipsed 100 miles in the week the day before with 4 to go of the 19 miler) and it helped that I lead the run to keep the pace under control. No one seemed to mind the slow/recovery pace.
Great run, great dudes (and my girls) on a great day. Cuss Yea!!! 120 miles for the week (which ain't for the weak).

Saturday - I Am So Skinny But Live So Fat

Greg shot out to my place today with the goal of rolling the Marathon Road, which is a 19 mile road loop starting in Saxtons River, heading out towards Townsend, back to Grafton and rolling in to the SR. The first 8 miles are large rolling hills followed by 11 miles of flat and downhill where if you want to work, you can fly.
Greg and I hit the road early, trying to avoid the heat, and was welcomed by a great breeze throughout the run. Te best part is the last 11 miles follows a river and we were able to through water on us when needed bc it did get toasty.
Without a lot of effort and a lot of controlled chilling, we ran 2:01:58 for the 19, great time on relaxed effort.

Friday - Wilson

Headed to Pisgah to voltron with Greg and hit a 9 mile run around Kilburn Pond/Lake. This is a great loop of runnable trails without a lot of climbing. There is a huge reward to running here with a stop towards the end for a swim. With another hot day, swimming is godsend.
Later in the day I hustled out for a plodding 5 miler behind my house. Te start to any run at my house goes up hill for 3 straight steeper-than-you-want minutes, followed by rolling to hilly. Shook out an out and back 5 with a swim in the river. Great day: 14.

Thursday - The Pharcyde Of Things

Met up with Fyffe in Putney for a run. Fyffe had a great idea to park at the culvert so we could just be there an jump right in after the heated run. It was a warm one but the loop of meandering through the dirt roads of Putney were well shaded. There was also two water stops along the way to grab a quick swish (a drinkable fresh water spicier right out of the mountain's teat).
I was pulped that Greg was there in hoes of outweighing the Fyffe Factor, and our 2 v 1 could make the run easy...
We didn't have to worry much about the Fyffe factor, bc the day before, Fyffe went out on a hilly 10 and buried souls. He ran a ridiculous hilly loop in 54 minutes, which on a flat run translates out to be 29.77mph for 10 miles! He vomited a few times leaving "DNA samples" on the run. This is hilarious and awesome bc it lead to a very enjoyable day of moderate pace and kick ass aqua therapy when we finished.
I later went out and did 5 miles (2.5 of work) worth of half mile hill repeats. Total for the day was 15, and. Wing Thursday puts me at 72 for the week. 120 here I own.

Wednesday - LYF

Good gracious... Great day. Weather was rocking, mind and body feeling good in the process of rocking 100+ miles in the week. Hell yea!
I strolled a morning 7 with some uber hills. I headed down the street to Acherson Hollow Rd, which is a stunning half mile of relentless up. It links over to some great trails in an abandoned apple orchard (which has miles of trails too). I am piecing together some short trails and linking them all up to what will be a sweet new run of 12-18 depending on which way you roll it. The hills are cussing hard and steep.
In the afternoon I ventured to Keene for the Wednesday workout. There were a few ideas for workouts and since I didn't give a cuss, I listened to then all. I settled myself on a 2 mile, at 5:30 pace, then some 200's. Greg and Fyffe were thinking of rolling a 10:40 and were going to try and hit 5:20 like it weren't no thing... This proved to be a thing bc they were hot through the quarter as I was 79 and they were ahead of me. I hit another 79 and felt a cuss of a lot better so I went with it. I rolled a 5:10 first mile and continues to effortlessly run and wound up at 4:59 the second mile for a 10:10. This was a good effort and felt easier than I could have hoped and also, lead me to not do anymore today and chill. I added a few miles on the track then hit the cool down. Total for the day: 17 bangers...

Tuesday - Bear

Plan: Meet at George Adams' house for a run at 7am.
Greg and I met at George's house for a run... There was no distance determined until I got there. I really wanted 15 or something close and it was agreed. Now, at George's house, his trails are amazing groomed and well kept. The only problem is, I'm not so sure George knows where we are going 56% of the time. If George secretly wants to run 2 hours and we plan for 10, we are cussed. Heart of gold, but stubborn and will try at all costs to get the miles or time he needs. So when we agrees on 15, there was a slight possibility that woe could be out there for 7 hours.
The pace was great and we weaves our way all over Surry Mtn and had some good chats. There are some great climbs on soft surfaces an the legs felt good.
The whole run I could get my mind away from the basketball hoop newly set up in the driveway. It was lowered and it really looked like it needed some jungle dunks to happen. Weird, I'm a jungle dunkin fiend. So when we got bak from our 15 mile run, it was time to thunder.
Now, I'm not one to lead you astray about my athletic ability, but... I'm not just a runner, I can do it all.
It was fun to bang on the rim.
It was Greg, George, Dawson ( George's son/8th grade) and me. George looked like a Celtic Gingery Kendrick Perkins (and played like him too).
It was fun, good dunks, no injuries and great run.
Ps. Ran 6 more that night with Larry Legend and Tim Eno... Ain't no thang...

Monday - And It Begins

Switzerland has completely consumed me. Every run needs to serve a purpose and I'm stoked to embrace the challenge and try some new training ideas as I build up for the World Mountain Marathon Championships.
I'm going to sound like me but... The course doesn't look that bad. It looks like a course I'll run well on, sending I run smart, and think I have a great shot to do well. My teammates will all be ready to rock, so I want to make sure that I too am ready to blow doors down.
The course is flat for a while, then gradual for a bit, then it's up a cussing Alp... No big deal (except for the Alp part, that looks unreal and a HUGE deal). But, when you're the real deal, I'll be ready.
Monday kicks off the beginning, so Greg came out this morning and we went for the standard 13+ Sap Lines run with the switchback finish. I want distance, so pace doesn't matter to me, but we ran a minute slower than normal. This is good.
The afternoon brought a hill workout, which I included photos. The hill is a about 800m and is steep in the beginning and end, perfect hill to repeat on. My goal was 3 x hill and to just run the hill. I want worried about time. I locked into a claiming gear and got up it. Needless to say, I rolled on every one... But you knew this.

Saturday - Simmer

My cousin is getting married today, so I has to hustle the run in. I've turned into a college sophomore and have been sleeping until 9+... I feel heavy, out of shape and slow. Is there a remedy? Yup, run with Fyffe.
Fyffe isn't in shape, but he's fit and can run anything at a solid clip.
It was starting I get hot in the day and bc I continue to have late starts we ran at 11 on Putney. We parked at the Covert Culvert and headed to the dirt roads from there so we could swim when we finished.
We started out slow, but by 2 miles had a solid pace and continued this until we finished our 10.

Friday - Silent AM

Greg was going to be heading to the in laws today and could only run in the AM. We got up to get down at the railed in Westmoreland for 10. I thought this idea was awesome, woke up earlier than the alarm and was ready to roll. That all changed once I started running at 5:29am. I felt fat, slow, out of shape and flat... Awesome. The great thing was we ran very slow, which was stellar, and we got it done. The first 5 miles were at 7:50 pace (about) but we ended 5 minutes faster for the way back in (it's an out and back). It was great to be done with the whole day ahead of me to do absolutely nothing, which I did and I did it well!
Side note: threw in the towel on some upcoming races to focus on miles and hills for Suisse. Monday embarks a new chapter of focus to the training.

Thursday - Robin

Thursday started rough... Woke up like I was a feeling like a frat boy, as it was 9:45... Cussing Cuss. I got my mind around eating a breakfast and getting out the door for a shake out 5 miler then had hopes of a second run. With Switzerland keeping my mind fresh I know I need to get after it.
I drove out to Grafton (again) and knew a flat 5 would be easy. I ran hard the night before and needed some restful miles.
My girls and I were able to sty cool on the woods and had a lot of water stops to cool off in. This made my 5 miler into a solid 10. Having ten miles in the books in the heat on a rest day made me change my plans and settle for the 10 knowing that once Monday of next week comes its going to maniacal.
I sat out in the sun the rest of the day and got some great vitamin D, UV rays and the a red belly, hence... Robin.

Wednesday - Lightning Bugs

Today was gnarly hot. There was no avoiding the heat today, it was a gorgeous day but too hot to run. I opted to wait till the evening before I got my stride on.
To guarantee that I would run 14 miles I went with my lady out to Hamilton Falls (look it up, its awesome spit with amazing energy flowing) in Windham and got dropped off on the way back. The road goes right through Grafton and of the 14 miles 9 are on flat dirt roads with picturesque VT scenery. I had the whole road to myself and the path was lit with millions of lightning bugs... It was awesome.
The best part was when I started to bonk a bit (first 10 miles in 62:02) there is a farm that has a stand open 24 hours and they sell the following: ice cream (many flavors), drinks, farm meats, lemon and raspberry bars and other country cuss foods. I was getting a lot of colors as I flew along and rolled to a stop to grab some cals.
I grabbed a peanut butter cookie and a coke. If I'm playing with being and ultra runner, eating and running can't be no thang... Ended the run completely soaked with humidity sweat and huge feeling of success, 14 in the books on a righteously hot day.
I chilled on the couch and took a peak at this Jungfrau Mt marathon, and here is the first cussing pic that comes up, GNARLY!!!

Tuesday - Ursa Major Veritas

Today was another double run day. With news of a marathon in the trails of the Alps only 80 days away, I'm no longer concerned with anything besides miles. I don't want to be reduced to walking due to poor preparation... But seriously, that ain't gon' happen!!! So miles it is. Greg's 1000 mile summer idea was a perfect fit and this week has been right on target.
In the morning I drove out to Grafton and hit Mollie Beattie State Forest. There is a great out an back dirt road, which is more snowmobile trail than road, and has some great rivers along it. The girls came and was a mellow shake out. I felt horrid on the way out and slow but loose on the way back. The afternoon run would be with Fyffe, Greg and Najem at Fyffe's house.
I love how the BAA is referred to as the Evil Empire, I love it (great album also!!!) and felt truly connected in a bizzaro way today. There is the Imperial Death March and then what I did on every hill today: Dying Death March. This afternoon 10 was tough, I was sluggish and just depleted of energy.
I was able to catch back up after the beginning hills but never felt comfy on the climbs. Rob Zombie said it best " I feel more human that human..." Today, that was me, but it was a great run otherwise. We hit the covert culvert after and soaked the legs in 32.9 degree water (or so it cussing feels).
Side Note: I rode my bike 10 miles to Fyffe's house and back, so on the day: 15 miles of running, 20 of biking. Summer of "fit."

ALSO::: DUDE!!! This is epic!!! Emily and I were outside at her house and there was something in the bushes. We were laying looking at the stars, and I heard noises in the woods... It's a CUSSING BEAR!!! No bull cuss... I get Emily into my truck and hit the high beams... I walk out with my flashlight and the bear is 20 feet up the hill in the backyard looking back at me. It/he/she then does a fake charge (grunts and snorts while slamming their front paws). It was exhilarating and epic and slightly terrifying. Holy cuss, that was awesome. I wasn't too scared bc "Nature never betrayed the heart that loved her..." It def sent my adrenaline through my body. Hell yea!!!