Off and running (and donating)

It's actually a bit strange to be blogging again after taking a year off.  I am very proud to note that Team Single Step has already collected $510 thanks to generous donations by my mom and dad, Denise, Aunt Edith, Simon and Sally, Sandi and Andre.  We are already the team with the most donations collected so far!  I've decided to purchase the domain name for teamsinglestep.com and will be redirecting it shortly so that it is easier for people to make donations.

I don't have much to say about running.  I did a 25 mile run on Saturday to burn off the excess turkey consumption.  I've mostly been putting in a few 5 milers and 10 milers here and there with no clear training plan.  I confess that I've been more focused on the Western States 100 lottery that is being held on Saturday since this will largely dictate my running in 2011 (I ran the Fall Classic 50 in October as a qualification run.)  For those of you who aren't familiar with the race, it is probably the most famous 100 mile race in the country and, due to its mountain terrain and remoteness, it has a reputation as one of the toughest.  They use a lottery system since it is so popular and space is limited.  Just over 1600 people have applied, which means I only have around a 20% chance of getting in.  Keep your fingers crossed.

On a side note, does anyone have any ideas for T-shirt designs?  I really like the link between the team name and the Confucious quote so perhaps something Chinese.  I, unfortunately, lack any reasonable artistic skill, but I would be happy to send a free shirt to anyone who can come up with a good design.

My blog is active again!

I'm back and this time I'm preparing to run the 12 hour Relay for Life event at Saginaw Valley State University on April 8th to raise money for the American Cancer Society.  I'll make more updates to the blog as I gear up fundraising efforts.  However, the first step is that I need a team name.  Any ideas?  Please post them in the comments section!

Thanks for all of your support these last three years!

As anyone who has come across this blog recently has probably noticed, it hasn't been very active lately. After spending three years building up Lupus Runners and working with other dedicated runners to raise over $12,000 for the Lupus Foundation of America, I have officially redirected the domain name for Lupus Runners (www.lupusrunner.org) over to Cruz Pitre. These past few years I have been pleasantly surprised at how our group has grown and am glad to see that there are so many runners who are willing to contribute their time and energy fundraising even though my time and energy has been limited this past year.

I look forward to continuing to run in 2010 and have my sights on Burning River again. Tim Smith is also putting together a 50k in November or December to help raise more money to fight Lupus. I would love to make it out for that run. I'll also do what I can to continue to help raise money and heighten awareness. Perhaps in a year or so I will sign back on, but I'll probably take a break for 2010. If you are ultrarunner, I'd encourage you to check out Tim's race at http://www.chemsmith.net/50k.html. If you are interested in helping raise money to fight Lupus, I would encourage you to check out Cruz's blog at http://www.lupusrunner.org. Thanks again to everyone who has supported me and the rest of the Lupus Runners over these past three years. Your money has gone to a great cause and your comments and emails have helped inspire our group. See you on the trails.

Fort Worth Marathon'n For Lupus

It's been a while since I've posted. I'm afraid that life is somewhat interfering with my running and definitely getting in the way of my blogging. As a quick update, I've had my first DNF at the Hallucination 100. I probably shouldn't have tried a second 100 miler less than two months after Burning River. I want to thank Dirt Dawg for dragging me through that last loop and Nate and Mae for being willing to come out and crew in the middle of the night. As always, thanks to my wife for waking up early, staying up late, and driving around to all those aid stations to make sure I was functioning as well as possible. Also, thanks to my parents for being there to support me.

I've actually decided to write this quick post to ask all of you out there to support another Lupus Runner. Cruz Pitre is running his first marathon on November 8th to help raise money. He has been a tireless supporter of the fight against lupus and he deserves our support. All you runners out there know how difficult those last miles can be and your contributions support a worthy cause and a worthy runner. I'm re-posting information about Cruz's run below.

From Cruz Pitre:

On November 8, 2009, I'll run my first Fort Worth Marathon. My wife, Michelle, my cousin Marisol, and friends (or some of their relatives) have Lupus. I would like to use this occasion to raise funds for Lupus research.

TO SPONSOR MY FIGHT AGAINST LUPUS, simply go to Brian's Firstgiving page at http://www.firstgiving.com/lupusrunners. When you make your donation, PLEASE MAKE A COMMENT along the lines of "FOR Cruz AT FORT WORTH" or something that makes it obvious that your donation arose from reading this page.

There are other Lupus Runners also raising money on this page so don't let that confuse you.

(I should note that we've "followed the money" and any donation will go directly to the Lupus Foundation of America. None of it goes to the Lupus Runners. We are only facilitating the fundraising.)

After you donate, you will be able to print out a receipt page, and you'll also get an email receipt.

If you would prefer not to donate online, you may send money to the following address and I'll donate the money in your name.

Cruz Pitre Jr.
600 Parkview Court
Kennedale, TX 76060

Upon request, I'll send you a donation receipt for your taxes.

2009 Burning River 100 Race Report

Well, it's been nearly two weeks since the race so probably about time that I put together a race report. First of all, this was probably the funnest race that I have ever participated in. It was well-organized and scenic and a pleasure (er, relatively) to run. Holli, as always, was the best crew that I could ask for and deserves my utmost thanks and appreciation. I'd also like to thank my parents for coming out to support me and for my brother Dave and sister-in-law Lauren for coming out to help pace. I'd like to thank Dirty Girl for some much needed cups of soup and espresso beans at the covered bridge station, Kevin for his help as I cruised in and out of aid stations, and Mae and Nate for their enthusiastic support. Finally, I'd like to congratulate Dirt Dawg, who has finally chased down his first 100 miler and thank him for his support and company during those first miles.

In truth, there are many others who also deserve thanks. There are Tom and David who I had not met until the covered bridge station, but who both volunteered to pace me through much of the night. David, good luck finishing the Grand Slam--that is an incredible accomplishment. There are the podiatry students who did their best to keep my feet from falling apart at various aid stations. There are the aid station volunteers and fellow runners who magically showed up with mole skin, duct tape, and a variety of other medical supplies when the podiatry students weren't around. Then, of course, there are all the volunteers who just made the whole event happy.

I've decided not to write much about the details of the race itself. Let me say that the first 50 miles went pretty well (11 hours) and I was even feeling pretty good after 60. Then a couple blisters began to form. Then, I made the mistake of removing some moleskin that I thought was bunching up on me (it was, but it was also providing some critical padding). Then it began to rain. Then I had to run through some pretty significant mud.

I finished in just over 28 hours and 30 minutes, but my final pace was a pretty pathetic hobble and my over-riding memory of the last third of the race was largely one of, let us say, discomfort. It was frustrating as my leg muscles held up well and it was really my feet that caused me such significant problems. As you can see from the photo of Holli and I crossing the finish line, she is quite literally pulling me along. Still, I didn't give up and I am proud of that accomplishment. Furthermore, I think the foot problem is something that can be managed. In fact, two days after the race I realized that my toes were so cramped up that during I was not actually moving most of the muscles in my foot. I'm not sure if this was caused by the change in my gait due to the rather large blisters on my feet or the other way around. In either case, it gives me an excuse to buy some new socks and shoes and, perhaps in the near future, to try out some barefoot running to strengthen my foot muscles.

All that aside, here was my epiphany as I cruised through the ups and downs of the race. What if, rather than thinking of all this running as a series of training cycles and races I just ran when I felt like it. I mean, why does something as fun as running 100 miles need to be a once a year event? In fact, it has taken me a couple 100 mile races to realize that I do, in fact, really like to run. Perhaps for people who are training intensely for particular times or to win competitions, the distinction between training runs and actual races matters, but I have typically run races at nearly the same pace that I train. So what is the point of distinguishing between training and racing? This matters because, despite the foot issues, Burning River was just fun and I would like to do it again.

So, I've decided to go ahead and sign up for the Hallucination 100, which is Michigan's first 100 mile race. You are all welcome to join me as spectators, crew, or pacers. The run is a series of 12.5 mile loops and there is a campground on the loop where everyone can hang out all weekend. What else can you ask for in a good time?