The Merit...

Probably will not have time to post again until after I get back from the Hexer.  Before I take off wanted to share this excellent perspective on ultrarunning that I came across from run100.com.

Perhaps the genius of ultrarunning is its supreme lack of utility.  It makes no sense in a world of space ships and supercomputers to run vast distances on foot.  There is no money in it and no fame, frequently not even the approval of peers.  But as poets, apostles and philosophers have insisted from the dawn of time, there is more to life than logic and common sense.  The ultrarunners know this instinctively.  And they know something else that is lost on the sedentary.  They understand, perhaps better than anyone that the doors to the spirit will swing open with physical effort.  In running such long and taxing distances they answer a call from the deepest realms of their being - a call that asks who they are... - David Blaikie

See you on the other side...

Hexenstieg Ultra Live

What will Michael Frenz think of next...?

Now you can follow along with this weekend's Hexenstieg Ultra by viewing the web page below:

Hexenstieg Ultralauf

Definitely going to be an interesting weekend!

Getting Ready

Where has all the time gone?  That friends is the question.

The Hexenstieg Ultra is right around the corner.  In fact, with this post it's in five days and a wake up.

I've spent the last day or so doing some intense planning for the event; reading through the Road Book; calculating passage times and basically getting wrapped up in the event.  At this point I'm excited.  I don't know if I'm physically, mentally, or spiritually ready at this point, but there is little room to turn back now.  I chalk this worry up to nerves.  You've got to love the edge...

The Hexenstieg Ultra is a challenging competitive event that takes place along the famous Hexenstieg or Harz Witches Trail in the Harz Mountains.  The 200KM route passes from Osterode over the Brocken to Thale; back over the Brocken and home to Osterode.  

The Witches Trail contains significant elevation change and traverses the Brocken Summit which even in April can still be covered in snow.  Weather conditions are dramatic and can change abruptly with rain on one day and sunshine the next.  

There were originally thirty-eight runners signed up to run the Hexenstieg Ultra.  On Friday, 20 April the Race Director, Michael Frenz indicated that he was tracking twenty-five confirmed Hexers.  It will be interesting to see who all shows at the start line.

The Hexenstieg Ultra is a semi-self sufficiency event.  In planning for this race I've focused my efforts and plans very much along the lines of planning for the Grand Raid Dentelles Ventoux.  I've put together a pretty colorful mix of energy food and beverages to keep me on my feet for the 48 odd hours planned for the Hexer.  Fortunately the Race Director has offered to carry and place two drop bags for each runner.  The photo above illustrates the contents of both of my drop bags and my race back pack.  The packing list for the back pack is not yet complete, but I'm pretty certain I've hit all of the high points.

The Hexenstieg Ultra starts at midnight (0001) on Saturday, 28 April with the race closing on Sunday, 29 April at 2400.  I plan on leaving the house Friday morning after breakfast to travel over to Osterode; meet up with the crew by 1300; get organized and if my nerves can deal with it; get a couple of hours of sleep before we take off.

Where has the Time Gone

The last two weeks have been a blur of activity with work, travels and play.  Much to discuss, but so little time.

Early spring trail run out in the enchanted forest.

Early morning run in the Tiergarten last weekend.

Brandenburger Tor during the same run last weekend.

 Garmisch the morning of 19 April 2012.  Love that snow and those mountains.  I was in Garmisch for a couple of days last week for a conference and got in several good two-a-days.

Training Week Ending 8 APR

I went into last week as a new training experience following the Saaletal Marathon. Until now I had not turned a week of training immediately following a race. Turned out that things went really well.

Sunday immediately following the Saaletal I took it easy and only walked 5KM.

Monday I stretched and got in a slow 5KM run.

Tuesday I knocked out a 13KM and although there was a bit of soreness leading into it; the run was overall great.

Wednesday I put in a let workout in the gym and stretched.

Thursday I put in another 13KM with hills; again a bit of soreness getting into it, but things turned out well.

Friday I got in a nice 16KM (Gut Check) and felt super.

Saturday a fast flat 10KM (Sonnenallee).

Sunday I took off as we were traveling for Easter.

All-in-all a great week considering that the Saturday before I ran the Saaletal Marathon. My biggest concern was hitching on an injury, but things remain in the clear and I feel good. Here's to another good week of training...

Saaletal Marathon 2012

I ran my first and actually, the first Saaletal Marathon as a bridge between ultras in 2010. I had planned to run this small marathon again in 2011, but was prohibited from doing so because of the surgery I had shortly before the event. Having had such a wonderful time in 2010 I looked forward to running in 2012.

The Saaletal Marathon takes place on home turf in the region where I first settled when I got to Germany. My wife is also from this area so it holds a special place in both of our hearts.

I was so impressed with the size, the route and the organization of the event that I talked the wife into trying the 2012 marathon with me. This was her second marathon with her last marathon taking place in 2009. She wound up achieving a new PR; improving her race time by thirty minutes!

Travel to Ramsthal takes us about two hours so we got up early on Saturday morning; had breakfast; and got on the road by 0700. Traffic was light so we got into Ramsthal shortly after nine. The Ramsthal Sport Club is relatively easy to find as Ramsthal is a small village in Unterfranken. That said, there were no signs for race parking or where race check in was to occur. Unlike 2010 the Freiwillig Feuerwehr Ramsthal was out in force and assisted with parking.

Simone and I got checked in with relative ease. The check in process was spot on and well organized in the dining room of the Sport Club. Race packets were pre-packed and came with your start number, a bottle of water and a couple of energy drink mixes and energy bars. The Saaletal Marathon is organized and hosted by the SV Ramsthal 1921 e.V. Like 2010 SV Ramsthal did a fantastic job with organization and conduct of the race. The volunteers and logistics support of the event were first class.

Shortly before 1000 and with very little fanfare the marathon, half-marathon, 10KM runners and power walkers lined up at the start line. Regretfully, the former Fränkische Weinkönigin, Melanie Unsleber nor a start gun were available this year to get us all started. Fortunately we did have on site a very enthusiastic announcer who kicked us off at about 1003.

Leading up to the event SV Ramsthal hosted the marathon on their web site. A simple site, it hosts a good bit of information on the race and associated activities. Registration cost 25 Euro up to 31 DEC 2011 after which a 3 Euro late fee was attached. Registration was possible on-line which was straight forward and easy to accomplish. Confirmation of registration was passed back to the runner via e-mail immediately. Registration costs included registration, chip rental, payment for support during the race and I’m assuming the race medal. Multi-function T-shirts were available at an additional price. Late registration and runner check in was possible at the SV Ramsthal Club House in Ramsthal from 0730 – 0930 the day of the race. In addition to the marathon it was possible to run a half marathon, a 10KM route or walk an 8 KM course. The evening prior to the event the Saaletal Marathon web site showed 132 runners registered for the marathon event. (I love small, friendly races like this!!!)

The first half of the marathon route is by far and away my favorite part of the course. The first five kilometers took us up to the highest point of the course. Simone does not like running races that start out on a hill, but she did very well leaning into this event. The race profile although it did not include massive changes in elevation was challenging throughout. The course itself included a pleasant mix of tar, gravel and dirt roads and double track paths through the woods and across fields. Sufficient road guards were available at points where the path crossed a major road or intersection as well as at points were the route changed direction dramatically.

The second half of the course is largely over tar surface single track roads. The leg between Elfershausen and Langendorf is a bit irritating as it runs on a narrow, yet very active roadway with cars, fourwheelers, trucks, and tractors. I recommend that a mid-way safety station be put in place to remind drivers that a race is occurring around them. Running on hard surface roads is also burdensome because of the wear and tear on your lower body.

The final third of the course was the most challenging given the race route and that we were pushing. Simone dug deeply, and I’m certain was taking her frustration out on me in her head, but did very well. As I mentioned, she set achieved a personal best and came in second for her age group.

Like many other marathons of this caliber the race volunteers were simply fantastic. From start to finish at the Saaletal Marathon this as a great group of people – much appreciation for their support!

Like 2010 I was very disappointed with the support fare. That first year I thought it was based on the fact that the race was new. While reading the pre-race information we overlooked the fact that the only thing served at rest stops was water, tea and fruit (apples and bananas). It would have been great to have had oranges, toast, pretzel sticks or another healthy sold snack. And… I strongly encourage the organizers to stop using plastic drink cups, use paper. The Saaletal is a wonderful biosphere – I hate to see our heavy hand days/weeks after the event.

Overall, the third Saaletal Marathon was a great event. The race size is one of those that I really like. It’s a great race course and the people (runners, volunteers and spectator) make it a blast.

Why I run...

In the course of a conversation this past weekend with my mother about what my sisters were up to (they participated in an eclectic spiritual retreat in south central Texas) my mom asked me why I run. She suggested that my running is very much in line with what my sisters were up to. My first reaction was to deny a connection, perhaps there are indeed one or two. Is running an eclectic spiritual experience? Sure – it certainly can be.

There are many reasons why I run. These and others are captured within this blog, in photos and video, quotes and personal experiences that are beyond the scope of the written word. (If you’ve run into the dawn on a cool, crisp morning in the woods or mountains or watched a late summer full moon come up headed into a night of running you’ll know what I mean.) This post will attempt to describe a number of the reasons why I run…

I run because I’m an athlete; never thought I would or could call myself that. I was never that good at sports that involved some degree of coordination and the ability to throw, catch, chase, pass, hit or kick a ball. I’m an ectomorph so I didn’t fit in real well playing American football. As a runner there’s no real requirement to be coordinated or have the ability to catch or throw anything. Yes – I’m the last guy that got picked for any teams forming for Grade School Physical Education. And yes, I’m that kid that stood out in left field with my mitt over my face wishing I was fishing instead of standing out in left field. When it comes to athletics I’m an ultradork.

I run because I’m a member of the approximate one tenth of a percent of the people that do. Let me say that in a different way. According to Wiki.answers approximately 15000 people run ultras in the US. If you divide 15000 by the US population of 300M you come up with a very small percentage! Looking at it from a different perspective check out what the Center for Disease Control has to say…

I run because every now and then I can run for someone else at a charity event like the Brocken-Challenge or Le Grand Raid Dentelles Ventoux.

I run because my body and mind say that “I shouldn’t” or that “I can’t”. There are many mornings particularly here in Europe when I think, “It’s cold, raining and dark. If I go out I’ll probably catch a cold and besides, it’s dark. I ran yesterday and I have a run planned tomorrow; heck I could get a run in later this afternoon (NOT!). I honestly loath the first 2.5KM of just about any training run. It’s getting over that first hump in training that leads you to pay dirt. It’s knowing that “pay dirt” is out there that feeds the dedication to train.

I dread the sixteenth hour of a twenty-four hour mountain race like Le Grand Raid Dentelles Ventoux. It usually comes late at night on a lonely, poorly marked trail going up yet another tough climb in the middle of nowhere. It’s these times where deep inside I hear a quite, demanding voice that won’t let things rest - the voice of will. It’s a will to endure and a dedication to what I’m about. That voice and spirit know all too well that the pain of running now is fleeting; quitting is forever.

I’ve found that finishing a marathon or ultramarathon is not just an athletic achievement. It is a state of mind. A state of mind that says I can surmount almost any physical, mental or spiritual obstacle. “Going for a run clears your mind, but running 100 miles clears your soul,” Keith Knipling.

As we course through life we sometimes think that we have it all figured out. What we too often neglect to consider are those moments that change our lives forever. One such moment was my diagnosis of colon cancer. I run because I have cancer. I run because I’m at war with cancer. It is medically proven that colon cancer and running don’t get along. Running offers tranquility, a coping mechanism, a weapon in my struggle with cancer and freedom. Every day that I can run is a celebration of not having to pursue chemotherapy or be stuck in a hospital.

I run because running offers serenity whether running alone, with my wife or with a friend at dawn under a cold rainy sky in the French Alps.

I run because I crave the chase; I crave the race. No, I’m not that good; I’m a middle age, middle of the pack ultra athletic dork. Training forces me to concentrate my mind and effort. It gets me to the race. I dread, yet love the night before a race. It’s here that the sharpest reviews occur. It’s here that I can reveal my OCD behavior in the preparation of my kit. It’s here where nerves are on edge. It’s here just before the start that you look into the abyss; seek the will and go. Yes, the first five, okay, the first ten kilometers are filled with doubt and sometimes loathing. It’s after that first ten where mind and body settle that things begin to get wonderful. AC/DC is playing; it’s usually dark and I have time to work out all of the problems with technique, pace, posture and focus to conquer the next 10…, 30…, 50…, 70KM.

I once read that there are two types of runners extrinsic and intrinsic. My take is that we all start out as extrinsic runners – it’s all about reinforcement. Through reinforcement there is a transition that occurs with time and experience that leads runners to become intrinsically motivated. It’s at this point where athletes run for the pure pleasure of running. The love of the experience enables them to persevere during the inevitable highs and lows of training and racing. President Theodore Roosevelt poignantly captured this sense while speaking on “Citizenship in a Republic” at the Sorbonne in Paris in April 1910.

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, and who comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.