Summer time and the blog’n’s… difficult.

Summer time and the blog’n’s… EZ  difficult.

Is it just me and my small circle of blogging buddies, or has the blogging world slowed down a bit lately?  Yes, people did blog about WS, but other than that it has been pretty quiet, right?  Maybe everyone is racing less as they train for hundo’s and they have less to blog about, or people are taking summer trips and have less to blog about, or we’re all enjoying the longer days and are too busy doing things more worthwhile?

HARDROCK!

Can’t wait to follow HR100 this year.  Yes, Tony and Geoff won’t be toeing the line, which is disappointing, but it will undoubtedly be a good show nonetheless.   Can’t wait to watch my buddy the Unicorn represent CA Mtn. Runners.  I will be the medical volunteer at the Pole Creek Aid Station at mile 80 and look forward to checking out the San Juans… in preparation for racing next year’s race perhaps????

My picks for winners: 

Male – Dakota Jones

Female - Diana Finkel.  I haven't been following the entrants list that closely this year.


ANGELES CREST

With 12 days until race day I guess I’m officially in taper mode.  About 3 weeks ago, while running near the Idlehour Campground I drank some questionable water that left me with giardia in my gut, nearly through my antibiotics I’m almost back to normal and hope to have a strong belly by July 21^st.  Nothing like a little intestinal parasite during a taper to keep weight down.

Despite my stomach issue, my training has been pretty good lately, I guess.  Haven’t been able to rack up as many miles as I’d like, but I have gotten in a decent amount of steep training up at elevation, including some great camping trips at 8k’

Felt bad about killing him, but with it being our first of 3 days at this site,
and with all the kids camping out next door, don't feel that bad.

AC TOP CONTENDERS

MEN:

Jorge Pachecho (of course).  Justin Angel has multiple AC finishes in 20 hours.  Raphael Arceo, saw him training near Telegraph Peak awhile back - looked and sounded focused this year.  Word on the street is that Dylan Bowman isn't racing AC after states now, but is going to toe the line with a thickening field of fast cats at Speedgoat in Utah.  Brett Rivers won't make it either.  Bummer.

I hope to be somewhere in the mix, but with my limited experience with this distance, if I were a betting man I’d place my $ on Jorge and Justin.

WOMEN: 

This race is going to be much more exciting.  Keira Henninger is my top pick.  She's run the course, she's in great running shape right now and she's uber fierce.  Angela Shartel will definitely be a contender up front as well, as long as she hasn't been disqualified for arguing so much with RD Uncle Hal during the trail work day, we'll see.  Sada Crawford, from the looks of things, has been training like nuts and is super talented.  I don't think she has raced a 100 yet, but has the potential for setting a new CR if a hundo isn't that big of a deal for her.  Paulette Zillmer, yeah, she's really good, won AC last year.  While Wendy Barth isn't thought of as being as speedy as the women mentioned above, she's a smart & steady long distance runner and I see her on the podium because I know she'll finish.

While it's exciting to think about who'll finish in front, the day is more special that that.  Hundreds of runners, with hundreds of crew/pacers are going to spend a day to day and a half running around in the beautiful San Gabriel Mountains and lifetime memories will be made.  Can't wait to see all my friends out there in a couple weeks.

Happy Tapering.

Why older runners out run younger runners:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/06/060624120556.htm


Guess that changes the meaning of "running hard" doesn't it?!

While I have been running hard lately, in preparation for Angeles Crest 100, it has been the difficult exertion kind of hard.

Looking over at Taqhuitz Peak as we came down from San Jacinto Peak (10,800' sans Viagra) with Jesse and Chandra.

Loved returning to SD100 to pace this year, after running it last year for my first 100.  Was planning on pacing the uber fast Fabrice.  Unfortunately, he has been plagued by injury and unable to train adequately, resulting in a drop at 50 miles.  This was serendipitous though, as I snagged the first pacerless runner to come through the Sunrise aid station and run the next 49 miles with him.  Have never met Joe Rowland before, but got to know him pretty well in the 12 hours we spent running into the night and into the next morning.  What a stand up guy, and solid runner.  His fiance, Alison, was very motivational and fun to see at each AS, what a crewer!  Thanks for putting up with me for the second half of the race Joe!

Stonewall AS

I've been sneaking in a lot of fun runs with different circles of friends, love seeing everyone running races lately or training for WS, HR or AC.  From the Wolfpack up in Idyllwild, to the Badrats at SD100, running all over the AC course with PT extraordinaire Michael Chamoun, the 3 T's with Wendy and Elissa, camping at Guffy with Elissa, Dom, Jesse, Mari and Jorge, running around San Gabriel Peak with Billy... I've been getting after it, running hard, and loving the company.  Also enjoyed my solitary run today up to Mt. Wilson and back.

Allllmost to Telegraph Peak.

Chamoun on the way to Mt. Wilson, Baldy looming.

Elissa climbing San Gabriel Peak, Purple Poodle Dog pre-bloom.

Dom training for HR, Wick for WS and AC for myself.  

Eric, Jesse, Dom - Baldy via Bear Creek

Good luck to everyone at States this weekend!  Go out too fast and Eric Wickland will real you in fast!  He's a smart runner, smarter than he looks.  You've been warned...