Wanderlust

This was the last week of school and very hectic. I was asked to be a run leader/instructor at the Wandelust festival at Stratton Mtn on the weekend and needed to start getting wild with some miles to be ready for Poland. 

Monday - Najem came out and we tackle the Sap Lines 12. This was the day after Mt W, and my ankle was feeling destroyed. It held up the whole run and the legs felt fine. 

My arms and back were sore from cliff climbing down Washington's Huntington Ravine. That was a poor choice as I twisted the cuss out of my ankle and bc I'm not going to rest, caused a long recovery process. Ain't no rest for the wicked. 

Tuesday - Voltroned with Greg and Najem on the rail bed for a 10. The rail bed is as flat as flat comes. It was great to cruise an easy 10 and hang out. I felt particularly good in the legs and enjoyed the idea of feeling good. 

Wednesday - I woke up and ran 5 on the trails begin the house. Felt fairly good as it was early. The temperature was ideal. The only way I get 5 is a lollipop type run or an out and back and both are hilly and take forever, but both finish downhill, as all my runs behind the house do, which seems more pleasant on the shorter runs. 

In the afternoon I headed over to Stratton to see the planned run I would be leading Waserlusters on the next few days. When I got there I couldn't find the dude I needed to so I went with plan B: run up Stratton to the long trail and go out 5, turn around an come back to get 10.

This was awesome. Stratton is a tough climb, am I was welcomed to the top by a large, yet young, juvenile moose. Very cool. 

I propellered  my cuss to show him who was boss, and then went about my way. The guy that has the record record up Stratton is a gnarly dude. He has uncuttable cuss hair, cuddles with a whole prides worth of lionesses, drinks from the fountain of youth, tickles great white sharks and kill a yak from a mile away with mind bullets; and yes, it's me. 

Thursday - solid 7 with a group that signed up at wanderlust at Stratton. The run they picked was no picnic, especially for people that are not your daily runners. We took our time and rolled. The coordinator thought it was going to e 6.2, but turned out to be (my Highgear gps) 7.1. We averaged just over 10 min pace total, so it was alright.

I was representing Lululemon as an ambassador and was looking real fine in their swaggered gear. It is a hell of a gig, I'm getting paid to run and hang out with cool people, not to mention, it's a yoga festival where 73% of the population was women that are health conscious, fit and open minded... Long story short, I became popular ;). The small fraction of men that were there was a combination of dudes with their girlfriends or dudes that don't like fems, fish in a barrel, fish in a barrel. 

I then went home and ran 10 more for 17 on the day. Hit the switchbacks and was feeling great. 

The music was awesome and was a hell of a time. I headed back to Stratton to partake on the music piece of the festival and loved every sec. 

Friday - I paid for all the dancing... Haha. Not really, my ankle  is still ballooned/swollen like my cuss in jockey's. Today at Stratton I only ran the 6.2 version of the run. I had a little more of a less experience group than the day before and we just covered the distance. Most of the people are from major cities and loved just being in the woods. It's easy to get caught up and forget how awesome the woods are and they were getting back some primalness. 

I don't take the outdoors for granted and never see myself ever. It was a ton of fun to see the people loving the trails. Also, I swore that Jennifer Aniston was in my group, I had to look at her for a solid 7 min to maybe doubt it. It took me running behind her  to finally conclude that it might not be. I was picturing the scene from The Break Up where she strolls down the hallway nudical, and just couldn't get it. This girls pseudo name sounded and looked like Jennifer Aniston. 

Saturday - early morning run at Stratton, then hustles home to roll 10 more with my girls. 16 on the day and felt great about it. 

Sunday - I had an ambitious group today and we had a great run. At the end there was an option to roll up half the mountain and that was what we did. Great group of people and solid run. 

Najem then came out and we tackled Ledge Rd, into Grafton Ponds, for a 13. We got on the pace and had a solid run, might have even Channing'd all over the Tatum. Great way to end the week. 

Total miles: 95 and it's about to go down! (by miles going up!!!)  

Peccavi

Post Ascutney I was feeling fine. I was hoping for a solid week of building some miles and maintaining my awesomeness through the epicness of Mt Washigton. 

I was mentally preparing for Washington and knew I had something gnarly in the works (if I run smart). 

Monday - 12 miles with Najem and TPaq on the Sap lines. We rolled and chatted about this and that and cuss. Solid run followed by the miday tradition of crushing wings at tw Saxtons River Brew Pub aka. Pleasant Valey Brew Pub. Solid day, and one say closer. Mental preparation is def in the works as I put together the psyche of a God and ready myself for epicness. 

Wednesday- Zipped out to Ledge Rd for an easy 5. Today was a physical epiphany, and was perhaps the best I've felt since I got sick, no bull/horse/goat cuss about it. I felt amazing and was overwhelmed with confidence. Really feeling ready to cuss things up and it was a scary feeling, feeling this good. 

Thursday - Headed back out to Ledge Rd to bask in the energy of the day before. I'm down with transcendant energies and if it was flowing the day before, I soak it in again. 

Had a great mental conversation and the symbiotic relationship between my psychosis and my amazing physical precense was awesome. 

Friday - Eric MacKnight met me at my place as we were about to embark on a solid adventure to the Whites. Najem and Boj were not far behind and we headed out. Our destination was the Auto Road to pick up our bib numbers. Cussing cuss it takes forever but we made it there in time to get our numbers. 

MacKnight and Najem knew there numbers but I didn't. Someone (name not needing credit) tried busting my balls about not knowing my number, so I had to venture to the board to find my digits. When I returned from the board, I returned with a number a fraction of my buddies, the clerk had to unlock a golden chest infused with platinum and jewels where my number was securely kept.

We then headed out for a flat 3 miles before heading to the hotel and dinner. 

Saturday - Mt. Washington Road Race

Woke up knowing I was going to venture to the depths of all I had and leave it all out there. Today was going to be a great day. 

I had a feeling that I had a shot at a 1:03:high, and was expecting to run well. The race plan was simple: run conservative early, then kill all ahead of me and let their gods sort them out. I wanted to go through half way feeling effortless with my breathing totally under control and then throw everything I had at every section. If it was runnable, I wanted to pick it up and open my stride the best I could; if it was steep, then I was to lock back into my climb gear and pin the needle as close to the red line as I can without blowing up. 

The race started fast, as always, and I wanted to have another year where I only pass people and not get passed by anyone (not one person passed me last year or my first year in 2004). I went through the mile feeling ok, about 35th place, but knowing that a a lot of people ahead of me were souls about to be devoured. 

I slowly started passing people by just locking in to my best low/fast/grind gear. 

By half way I was around 15th place and 32 flat. I mentally prepared myself to not think /worry about the first half and only focus on the second half. I was perfect at half way and the light work was over. The second half has some spots that I run very well and I started changing gears and breaking things up around me. 

I was excited to get to the dirt road. I was in 9th place at the start of the dirt road (5 miles-ish) and started blasting. I went hard and kept the throttle down and kept the throttle pinned. 

This worked and I was ravishing the road like Haiti. By 6 miles I moved into 6th place and was quickly catching 3rd-5th. This was inspiring and insanely motivating and the fire couldn't have been any bigger. 

My mouth is big, my ego is bigger, but my heart is the biggest, I made it hurt. 

This was also short lived, the catching part, and by just before 7 I started to stop gaining and started losing ground on them. This felt like a problem and I had to focus on getting done. 

I had some bizarre thoughts around this same time, this being the most impacting of my whole being: I am an infinitesimal particle speck in a never ending space/universe, but this moment means everything.

I want it more, I need it more, now finish!!! I did everything I could do to finish, I left carbon particles on the mountain. The culmination of thoughts, as above, mixed with the effort and the scenery and overall beauty was overwhelming and I had an hear grinding  finish.

I tried to sprint and change gears, it felt like I was but who knows if I did. With 400m to go I started getting tunnel vision and a little wobbly, but still had to grind. I could see Boj up ahead of me cheering, and that was uplifting. Composure was almost lost, then I had to climb 20+% to the finish... Cuss! 

On the final climb I had to pause and use my hands to catch myself from falling, the cheers and support were instant energy fueling me to the finish. 

1:05:35, 6th place, it was all I had. Cuss yea! Solid effort and an amazing day. 

The Cool Down: cuss me!!! I chatted up Joe Gray earlier in the week and the idea was to run 2 miles of trails, the intersect the road, then 4 miles down the road. This was an awesome idea, but just a cussing idea. Boj, Najem, Jeff Dengate, and myself then embarked on a wild friendship test. We found ourselves heading down the Huntington Ravine Trail, which I later found out that YOU ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO HIKE DOWN!!! Yea, that's how gnarly, we cooled down an epicly hard trail. If Joe does that to all his friends, he probably doesn't have that many left. Haha. As gnarly as you want to be!

At the bottom I also found out some sweet news: I will be representing TeamUSA at the Long Distance Mtn Marathon World Championships in Poland! Cuss Yea!!!

Saturday - easy 10 I'm Pisgah with my hetero-lifemate Greg. Decent week, cuss you and cuss yea! 

Ascutney

Ascutney Mtn 3.7 miler

Mountain running is a fine balance. On one side I find that I have to tack the needle to the red line and balance the other side of constant relaxed grinding cadence.
Today's race was a battle within myself. I've had this conversation with Fyffe many times, and we find it interesting: some people don't know how to put themselves into a painful debt. I've been to the stairs of the kingdom, traversed the path and paid my homage to the throne of the King of Pain. Being the Last Hero and Only Hope, I've dethroned many, devoured souls and have conquered pain, absorbing that of which I destroy to only become stronger, more hungry and epically awesome.
My plan going in was to lock into a pace and use Ascutney as a training day for Washington. If my race pace is enough to do something, that will be awesome. I had a couple lingering ideas of the marathon tolls but those were soon diminished.
I had some fortunate events that led to me having a successful day and winning another mountain race. A lot of guys raced a fell race the week before and it sounded like they were still beat up. This played a very minor roll in my race preparation and plan, but definitely gave me an advantage. I also knew the course very well after spending over 2 hours on the mountain the week before.
We rolled in 3 strong with Fyffe, MacKnight and myself. It was great seeing Double J and Brandon N. I hooked Brandon up with some pure VT maple syrup. I def didn't want him leaving VT without it this time. We all hob knobbed a bit and then warmed up. 3.7 miles with only a few places to recover made for a tough challenge with a tough field.
Upon the start of the race I found myself right in the front and people filing in behind me. This didn't last very long when Jim Johnson took the lead before Eric MacKnight made a significant move on a very runnable section just after the half mile. Eric opened up a very large gap on what was now Brandon and myself.
I felt Eric's early move was a bit early for me to try and match it so I let him go. Just over 1.5 I started to catch Eric and I was catching him quickly. I did exactly my plan and was locked into a pace that was both relaxed and comfortable. My breathing was controlled and I was in control.
I caught Eric just before the half way and by the way I was rolling could tell that I was going to continue to press the pace that would be tough to match. I knew it would be tough for anyone to catch me.
The second mile went by very quickly and before I knew it, I was at the 3 mile. This is where I wanted to make a move and push and accelerate through turns. There is a very flat and minor down hill stretch after 3 and I needed to get away here so not to be run down. I didn't have the pep or turnover I usually do but had enough of a lead where I just opened up the stride before getting to the last climb just before the finish. 1st place, 29:54.
It was a very pleasant surprise to take home a W, but it is a VT race and I really wouldn't have it any other way. This boasts great confidence for next weeks race and has me thinking I may be able to mix it up and possibly run sub 1:06. I'll have to run smart and an early relaxed pace is going to be key to later success.
My mouth is big, my ego is bigger, my goals are bigger than that and I'm epic. Hoping to get a solid week and welcome myself to being cussin back!

187

It's been two full weeks since the marathon and there be some transgressions on the going ons.
This unlawful act has been how fast I'm feeling like I'll recover. I figured there would be some down time and also figured on running every other day the first week then settle in to being awesome and ravaging some miles like Haiti.
The first week was lazy, still had some tender areas, but could tell I was going to recover faster than any other race of that distance.
Teamed up with some lifers during the week. Najem and Thomas "Whats in my Paquette," "PacMan" Paquette made the start time. Definitely feels great to run with the bros. Made some trips around the area and hit some miles with Greg and cussing Fyffe!!! Hell yea. It is great to have Fyffe back on it.
This past week led me to the conclusion that I was going to spread my dominance back to the mountain scene with a showing in my backyard at Ascutney. It's a 3.7 miler and I haven't been back since I won the whole series (along with the New England Mtn race) in 2004. There's a reason I haven't been back and that's bc it cussing a tough race. But... Ain't nothing tougher than me, so it'll go well. On a serious note, the race will hopefully be a great sign or great training run for upcoming Washington Road Race.

Monday - Slapped 10 miles out on the rail bed with Greg, Fyffe and Najem. The flat terrain was great and made a slow recovery day an awesome fun run with bros.

Tuesday - Headed south to Pisgah for a run with Greg, George Adams, Najem and Fyffe. We hustled 10 on the trails in crisp great weather. Physically didn't feel great but I was mentally starting to sharpen up.

Thursday - Najem met at my place and we hustled down to Putney and met Fyffe for a run on the Pinnacle trails. Fyffe is back on it and it is awesome. It was a great run, solid 9.

Friday - in miserable rainy weather I Voltroned with Greg in Putney for a 9 miler. This weather is the type that stabs at motivation, but I'm always ready to endure and hustled a solid run with a lifer.

Saturday - I'm getting the fever, for not only more cowbell, but miles and miles and miles. Day before a race is usually a chill day, but I don't give a cuss so I decided to roll out a 8 and 5 double.
I ventured to Ledge Rd for a very hilly and very slow 8 on the Lost Trail. Brought the girls and it was great.
Later in the day, Eric MacKnight was making the trek to challenge Ascutney the next day. We zipped out to Grafton Ponds for a zig zag 5 miler on the single tracks. 13 on the day is a great step in the right direction.
Tomorrow will def be a tough race with a lot of competition. My plan: lock into a solid cadence and run my own race and hopefully that will put me in a good position to mix it up. I'll never count myself out and I'll never bet against me, I expect epic outcomes and I'll be tough.