Brooks ID 2013

First off, I have to give my most humble thanks to Brooks Running and Steve Dekoker for giving me the opportunity to be a part of the Brooks ID program for another year.  2012 was my first year with the program, and it was an outstanding experience.

Secondly, I thought I'd try to explain exaclty what the ID program is about.  Not entirely performance based, this grassroots program of running enthusiasts ranging from race promoters, to inspiratioal stories to elite athletes, does reward those that lay it on the line and race to the best of their ability.  This is the description that's posted on the Brooks Running website and is what caught my eye last November and convinced me to apply:

Brooks I.D. (Inspire Daily) Program

Brooks I.D. stands for Inspire Daily. These two simple words guide the principles of the program. Brooks I.D. is made up of over 2,000 members who are active in their running communities and share a passion for the Brooks brand. They are runners who are winners in their own right: Winning their age divisions, accomplishing their personal goals, pushing their own limits, and, by extension, encouraging others to do the same. They are coaches, mentors, and leaders.

Click the link to the right and it'll take you to the online store for the best running gear on the planet.  Brooks - thanks again.

Otter Creek Trail Marathon

View of the Ohio River from the "OTC"

The race plan was pretty simple really - take into account that your race fitness has been dwindling recently - be careful because your nutrition / hydration were sub-par at best - see who's around after the first few miles and just take it easy early on. 

Then they said go.  And, I went.  So did the plan.  Plan? What plan? 

First of three laps - (1:04 after the aid station stop to get bottles and fuel - way too fast).  One of the single lappers, Murphy Sheets, had rocketed off the front from the gun and won handily.  But, I was in front of every other person doing one, two or three lap races.  I knew the guy that I had left just past the Blue Hole aid station was only going two laps, but right behind him were Ryan, Mike, and Heath (all super strong guys - Ryan was coming off an injury and unsure how far he'd go, Mike is a pro triathlete that I don't see that much on the trails but I know is crazy fast, and Heath is a pure ultra trail runner who is happy to hammer you the harder it gets and smiles all the time he's doing it).  I was thinking to myself "this might get ugly", but I just tried to put some more distance between me and them, abandoning the plan. 

Second lap - (2:11 after leaving the aid station - I set the course record at Otter Creek last year in 3:19  so seeing an average of just under 1:06 a lap on a slower course was a little scary).  Especially scary considering that it had already started raining and I had already started cramping. 

Finish - (2nd place 3:35)  What happened?  Coming off of the second lap I was experiencing some pretty significant cramping and the picture was getting a little dark around the corners.  But, I hadn't seen anyone behind me in a long time and just tried to maintain something that looked like running.  The rains had made the downhills almost impossible to stand on, let alone run safely down.  The flats and the climbing too slowed due to the mud I tried to tell myself, but in reality I knew I was just dying.  Still, I couldn't see anyone at the top of the descent into Otter Creek when I got to the bottom of what is a long section of trail full of switch backs - so I just kept telling myself that I had put on enough time and this was just a marathon.  "No big deal.  Mine to win".  And, as I had those fleeting thoughts, I was coming apart pretty badly and tightening up on a steep little rise when I heard "On your left!"  What?  It was Mike Hermanson and he was just scooting along with fluidity that I hadn't felt since an hour earlier.  I had no idea he was back there, and by the end, he put over seven minutes on me.  Well, I was right - it got ugly. 

But, it's not necessarily a bad way to end the year.  2011 ended with a win and a course record.  2012 ended with a 2nd and barely dragging my sorry carcass to the finish.  A little fire in the belly is a good thing with the long winter miles approaching.  Time to get ready for Lovin' the Hills - the toughest 50k around.  Can't wait.   

Rave(n) Run

Stolen from the pages of Running Times, the "Rave Run" that I went on today was at Raven Run Nature Sanctuary outside of Lexington KY.  My only knock on Lexington's park system has been a lack of really rugged natural lands with trails available.  I've been spoiled by the epic trails of Jefferson Memorial Forest in Louisville, Otter Creek in Brandenburg, and by living in the country where I can actually access the backside of Bernheim Forest Arboretum and research forest with some sleuth parking and a long fire road approach.

But, for me Lexington has always meant training on the roads and UK Arboretum's 2 mile loop, Henry Clay's track, or the very nice paved Legacy Trail (providing a 22+ mile day from my girlfriend's house).  Finally I made the short drive to Raven Run Nature Sanctuary to see what it had to offer.  Masters national records holder, Kevin Castille, told me that he does a lot of his long runs out there, so I figured it had to have some mileage to offer. Featuring over ten miles of foot-traffic-only trails, this hidden gem gave me all I wanted today.  Initially, the trail enters the woods and is wide and groomed.   Lucky for me, within a 1/2 mile I was skipping from rock to rock and grinning from ear to ear.  While a person moving faster than a walk will have to knock out multiple loops to get a decent day out of it, the trails are just technical enough to keep you paying attention and don't have any punishing vertical challenges so you can just roll and roll.   They also offer a spectacular visitor center with running water and restrooms.   Check out the link the below, or if you're in the area, pay Raven Run a visit.  It's worth the trip.

http://www.lexingtonky.gov/index.aspx?page=276