Michael: It's Not Shoplifting Anymore

Warmly meditate;
Lie in the comfort of bed
Until we believe.

Sunday, December 30, 2018

I made one trip to the mall this year for Christmas, and as much as I hate going to the mall (I worked retail for 12 years first at Kmart then at May Co.), it was a very interesting experience and again one of those eye-openers telling me just how old I am.

In the good old days when I was a young skinny 20 year old stock boy everyone knew what role they played in the whole shoplifting scenario. The shoplifter ran. Our security gave pursuit. Sometimes they won. Sometimes people were handcuffed.

 At Kmart when someone tried to steal and tried to evade capture sometimes a code 2 was called and that meant all male employees were to head to the front of the store and assist in securing the criminal. I always, hesitantly, answered these calls and feel fortunate that I was never hurt.

Now last week Kimme and I were at a bookstore at the Grove and, although it sure sounded like someone was shoplifting, the store itself seemed to be much more lenient and accommodating in providing the suspicious person with an alibi or excuse as to what their true intent was.

As someone left the store this was the automatic voice response after the buzzers sounded, “You have activated our automatic inventory control system. Please see our concierge for assistance.” Or something pretty close to that.

Wow, if Kmart would’ve played that message by the time it was over the shoplifter would’ve had such a head start there never would’ve been a need to call for a code 2 and I would’ve never had to hang on to big old dude’s leg for dear life hoping that he wasn’t going to shake loose and kick me across Bristol street and through the goal post at Mater Dei high school.  

Michael: Christmas Karma

The Kwanza parade:
Low riders, Michael Jackson
And an old, small train.

Monday, December 24, 2018

Why I’m returning these shoes.

This has turned out to be my second worst Christmas package opening of my life. The worst was when I was about 10 and I set my brand new electric football game too close to the living room door causing my sister to trip and fall on it when she came in leaving the playing field badly mangled and me in a rage that I took out on my sister. So in a way I suppose I deserve this.

Today I opened a package from Competitivecyclist.com expecting to find a brand new pair of bike shoes. I should’ve been suspicious right off the bat when the box was a Backcountry/Competitivecyclist generic shoe box and not the manufacturer’s, but the glowing orange shoes and my boyish delight temporarily disoriented me from the truth; not only did I not receive new shoes, I did not even receive usable used shoes.

- The hardware in the zip lock is badly rusted and damaged.
- Some of the cleat hardware in the soles are broken and/or missing.
- the shoes are scuffed.

 I will at least give you credit for delivering this gag gift in the promised one day free delivery window and to the right address. Surprisingly, the shoes are also the right color and both are the same size.

I’m too old to cry and throw a fit now. And your not my sister, anyway. But when I see her tomorrow for Christmas, I’ll let her know how Twilight Zone bizarre the karma of this shipment was. It’s not the same as the whipping I deserved so long ago, but the $6.99 it’s costing for the return shipping I’m sure will give her a little bit of satisfaction.

Michael: Travel Time

When the sun is high
Is the time to move about
And enjoy the day.

Friday, December 21, 2018

One great thing about living in Southern California is the ability to race just about any distance any time of year. One of the perplexing things about living here is planning when to leave for a race, particularly if involves a drive of an hour or more.

Why is that? Because, paraphrasing Rudy Guiliani, miles are not miles. And nowhere is that more true than in Southern California.

Take my race in San Diego in a couple of weeks. It’s about 120 miles from where I live. It starts at 6:30 a.m. Let’s say I need an hour to do all the preliminary prep stuff before that. That would mean arriving at 5:30 and leaving home at 3:30. In order to get dressed and have breakfast before that I would need to get up at three. That’s damned early.

So what are my alternatives? I have two; One, stay at my sister’s in San Clemente which would leave me only an hour drive time to the race meaning I could get up at a more decent 4 a.m.

The trade-off would be driving there the day before, and that’s where the devil that’s SoCal traffic comes into play. I work until 1 p.m. and get home at about three. At that time of day the drive to San Clemente isn’t going to be pretty. But better to sit in a car the day before a race instead of the morning of.

Another alternative would be to stay at a hotel near the race sight. Then it would almost be liking sleeping in for me. But on a Friday afternoon that could prove to be a very tortuous sit in the car to get there. Also, races are expensive enough without adding any additional costs if they can be avoided.

So to my sister’s it is. It’s not ideal, but it’ll work.

Planning race travel is just about as arduous a task as any other aspect of ultra racing and almost as important to get both lucky and right as just about any other aspect of race preparation.

Michael: Keep it Simple

A dusting of snow
Covers the local mountains
At least through Christmas.

Tuesday, December 18, 2018

I’ve always envied those racers who show up at long races with only a small bottle in their hand to meet the minimal race requirements for carrying fluids and who can rely on aid stations alone for all of their needs. On the other hand, I’ve always been a bit dismissive of people who show up with full packs as if they’re just going out for another training run.

Yes, I fall into that middle ground of racers who realize I’m racing and can rely on aid stations to carry some of the load, but am not confident or fast enough to just use whatever goo/junk/food they have at an aid station table and hit the ground running until I run into the next aid station where I’d  repeat that process.

I’m a bit nervous. And those nerves connect to my stomach, which if I worry too much I’m afraid may get upset with me; a scenario I’d like to avoid. So I’m going to use the Ultraspire Revolt pack and race belt to carry a few comfort items with me.

I’ve been debating on whether to use just one or the other at the upcoming San Diego 50 miler, but to cut down on time at the drop bag station, I’m going to use both. That way I can have a loaded belt waiting for me at the drop.

At certain 50ks I’ve had the guts (pun intended) to use shorts with a few pockets in them to carry a few hydration/sugar/caffeine goodies and just a bottle. And maybe one of these days I’ll be bold enough to just run naked with nothing but a bottle or nothing at all. But don’t encourage me. At this age, even in shape, it’s not a pretty sight.  

Michael: Devil Dog Dies

A squirrel dying
Staggers across the sidewalk
Near our restrained dog.

Monday, December 17, 2018

This weekend provided another one of those funny little coincidences that make life amusing.

I’ve been re-reading Jason Koop’s book on ultra-running to prepare myself for next month’s San Diego 50 and February’s Sycamore 100k. His advice is to seek out races that you have an emotional involvement in. That’s not very many races for me. In fact, now that I’m 60 I figure it’s time to seek out as many new challenges as I can.

There’s only a few races that I have a long history with and attachment to; Bull Dog, the State Street Mile, and the Devil Dog Duathlon. I had planned to do all three again next year, but unfortunately that option has been taken away from me. The Devil Dog Du, the race that I had the most fun at last year, and got me so excited about doing duathlons again, is going to be open to military personnel only.

I sure hope it doesn’t stay that way for long. One of my new challenges I’d like to give a go to is triathlons and I sure hope the Marines will see their way to opening back up Devil Dog in the near future so I can put that on my calendar as one of my first triathlon challenges.

Michael: Just a Spoonful of Sugar

Where there is still ash
Grass is growing on the hills
Early in winter.

Friday, December 14, 2018

While I’m still in the mood to do some math I might as well try and workout my hydration and nutrition plan for next month’s 50 miler. This usually involves taking terrain, weather, distance between aid stations, what’s at the aid stations, and change in taste preferences as the day progresses into account to come up with a general plan of action.

In training I try to stick to the general guidelines of 4-6 ounces of fluid every 15 minutes and about 100 calories of sugars every half hour. I race and train with a watch that beeps every 15 minutes to keep me on track.

Applying these guidelines to this race, given that it’s basically a flat course and if it doesn’t rain and the temperature stays in between 40-60 degrees throughout the race, planning, so long as I can maintain an even pace, becomes so much easier than any other ultra I’ve done. Really I ought to be able to stick to how I eat and drink in training.

There are a few caveats. One is the simple fact that I’ll be out there so much longer than I train. This means I’m going to throw in a variety of gels and solid foods just to add variety and to overcome any nauseousness due to consuming just one type of food for 8 hours. Usually, I’d just stick to a flask full of Hammer gel or Gu. I use a flask in training because Hammer and Gu sell large size containers that are more environmentally friendly than single serving packets.

The downside to using these products are that I don’t end up getting as much out of a flask as I would like. During three hour rides or runs I haven’t felt this has hurt me, but I’m worried that going longer without reliable doses of calories will hurt my performance. Therefore I’m occasionally training with single serving packets of gels. To aid in performance I’ve occasionally been using Accel gels. They’re less viscous than most gels and  contain 50 mg. of caffeine. And that’s another issue. I’m afraid relying too heavily on Accels would put me in an uncomfortable buzz zone in this race. Beside, I’ve been carrying Run Gum with me to take in the last part of a race to get a jolt from caffeine and if I use Accel all day, how could I get an extra boost if I’ve already O.Ded on Accel? So I’m going to cut my Accel use by alternating it with Gu, Untapped and Tailwind.

Untapped is pure maple syrup. I haven’t tried it yet, but it’s sugar pure and simple and readily available through REI. I’ll pick up some this weekend so I can have a month’s use under my belt and be assured it sits well with me.

And Tailwind? Another product I haven’t used before and doubt will use much in the future. Why? Because it combines electrolytes and sugars, and I prefer to keep those separate. So why did I order some and am going to train with it for this race? Simple. It’ll be at every aid station. Again, if I can tolerate it in training, it’ll mean less I’ll have to carry during the race. I’ll take it at the aid stations and use my always reliable Skratch Lab electrolyte mix or water between stations and alternate gels. I’ll throw in a Lara Bar and a pack of Skratch Lab chews just to have some solid food as a change of pace.

Wow, for a plan that was suppose to be somewhat simple, this is already getting kind of complicated and I’m not even that deep into the math of the race yet.

So here are the numbers: The aid stations are at miles 5.75, 10, 15, 20, 24, 29, 36.25, 40 and 44.5. Drop bags are at miles 15 and 29. I’ll only utilize the drop at mile 29. These are spaced pretty evenly apart and I can’t foresee going more than an hour in between stations except perhaps the 7.25 gap after the drop bag station at mile 29. It’s kind of convenient that that’s the longest gap as I can make sure to load up there drinking Tailwind going in and plain water on the way out.

All right; given that the stations are about an hour apart and I’m going to get a 100 calories at every aid station, that means I’ll need to carry 100 calories for every hour out there. Since I’m going to pick up a drop bag at mile 29, up until that point I’ll carry 160 calorie packet of Skratch lab chews and 5 packets of gels; 3 Untapped and 2 Accels. That’ll give me 660 calories plus the 500 calories of Tailwind which adds up to about 1000 calories for the expected 5 hours I hope to take to reach that point. That’s 200 calories per, which is how I train.

After the aid station I’ll have 20 miles to go and about 3 hours of work. That means less to carry, Yeah! A flask of Gu (Salted Caramel; oooh…), one Lara Bar, one packet of Run Gum and the Tailwind at the aid stations ought to do it.

Hydration will be even simpler; one packet of Skratch Lab for every hour out there. If that starts to feel like a bit much I’ll just cut it with water when I hit the next aid station. Since I’ll start with a full bottle, that’ll mean carrying 4 packets until the drop bag and since I’ll have a full bottle waiting for me there, just two packets after that.

That should do it if all goes according to plan. Incredibly, once in a while it does.

Michael: 50 Miles: Over 60 Under 8

There should be flowers
Where the stones of my sister
Lie over the soil.

Wednesday, December 12, 2018

The mathematics of my next goal is relatively straight forward; I’m going to run a 50 mile trail race in under 8 hours.

The way that breaks down is I’ll need to run about 1:35 every 10 miles.
That would look like this:
10 miles - 1:35 I’ve done that many times.
20 miles - 3:10 Manageable.
30 miles - 4:40   It’s been a while, but in the realm of plausibility.
40 miles - 6:20 Never raced that distance.
50 miles - 7:50 Add a few minutes for aid station stops and voila! I’m
Under 8.

The only kinks in this protocol is I’ve never run a 50 under 8:35 and that was a good five years ago. So am I going senile or is my ego on the fritz?

Maybe. But the reasons I feel I’m capable is that the course is relatively flat and all my other experiences have been with very hilly courses. For example, that 8:38 was done in the Headland 50 that had an elevation gain of 20,000 ft. The San Diego 50 gains only 4,000 ft. That’s a pretty flat course. So the challenge is trading hills for a brisker pace and hoping that’ll translate into a gain of at least 40 minutes. Sounds like a puzzler worth giving it a go.

Of course my condition going into the race and the weather along with all the other variables that go into ultras will come into play.

But lets lace up the shoes, or a couple pair of them next month and give it a go.

Michael: One Down

Younger woman’s eyes
Wander in my direction
And I am blinded.

Monday, December 20, 2018

With the postponement of the Xterra Crystal Cove trail race this last Saturday, my racing season came to an abrupt end and has given me just a little more time to reflect on my accomplishments and goals than I had wanted or anticipated.

More time than I wanted because I don’t enjoy long gaps between races as I don’t like to allow myself to get either to up or down on a past performance. I prefer to have a race pretty near on the calendar so I can tweak a training and racing plan around what’s next.

And what’s next is the challenge of running a 50 miler in under 8 hours January 12 in San Diego. That’s close enough to sharpen my focus through winter and keep me both away from too many Christmas indulgences and from basking in a pretty successful 2018.

In 2018 I ran 13 races ranging from 1 mile to a 50k. That was the plan on my first year back from the states after living in Panama for three years. Ironically, the only race where someone older finished in front of me was the State Street Mile in Santa Barbara. The irony of that is when I was in high school the mile was my forte and as a sophomore I only lost one mile race in league competition, although I also finished a disappointing 3rd in the league finals. Now I can’t even place in a mile race. That’s something I’d like to change.

But I’m not going to bend this upcoming year toward that end. This year I’m going to start with a focus on longer races. Then after that I’ll up the speed work a bit and hope that pulls me under the 5:37 I did at State Street.

But that won’t be the main focus of picking the pace up a bit in March. I’d also like to think with some intelligent training I could go back under 20 minutes in a 5k.

Even more of a delight would be to be competitive in a few more duathlons. I only ran one this year but it was by far my most enjoyable racing experience. Saddling up my old Gumby Guru tri bike was a blast. Yet another irony of the postponement of the Xterra race is that it allowed me to transfer the cost of that race to another one of their events so I’m now entered in a March duathlon. I’d like to do at least three this year.

Whether or not I can have as successful a year next year as last won’t be so much dependant on wins and losses as reaching my goal times. So many factors determine finishing place in any given race that there’s no point  worrying too much about that. If I train the way I should, do as I expect, and enjoy myself for the most part, I’ll be content.

Michael: What's in Your Drop Bag?

The cactus flowers
Are about ready to bloom
After the hard rains.

Thursday, December 6, 2018

Next month I’ll once again run in a race where I can utilize a drop bag. But should I and how best to utilize a drop bag if I do, are questions that add to the intrigue of running an  ultra.

From one perspective the answer is simple; am I going to stop at any aid station at all for any reason? And no matter who you are, even an elite, the answer is yes. You’re going to stop for at least hydration and nutrition. You could avoid this by using a large enough pack, but nobody does. Why not? Because water is heavy and a 50 miler that’s going to take at least 8 hours is going to require at least 160 ounces of water. That’ damned heavy and I’m not sure I’ve ever seen any one out there with a pack that has that capacity. That’s a load that’s really going to slow you down and you’re racing, for Pete’s sake.

Okay, so I’m going to stop at some aid stations. So then how many and what am I going to pick up at those stations? If  the weather’s mild and the aid station are about an hour apart, I can get away with just using a 20 oz. flask and only stop every hour. And even if I don’t carry any nutrition on me and rely only on what’s available at the aid stations, my stops shouldn’t be more than a minute. Over the course of a 50 miler, let’s say that’s typically going to add about 10 minutes to your time.

This basic recipe has worked well for me for events up to 50ks. So what changes for a longer event like a 50 miler?

If I could run a 50 in 6 hours, nothing would change. But I can’t. And at about the 6 hour mark, if I’m going to continue, I want to make some changes; particularly changes in shoes and perhaps packs to vary the stresses on my old joints. Solution? Drop bag.

Hold on there partner. Remember, you’re racing and racing is about time and drop bag pick ups aren’t just regular run through aid station affairs. They involve finding the bag and getting in and out of your shoes… and all that’s going to eat up time. So the question is, is the trade offs of a drop bag worth it?

For me, yes. The way I look at it, I’m going to stop anyways for at least hydration. And if I already have a loaded bottle in my drop bag, that’ll counteract some of the lost time of using a drop bag. And it only takes a couple of minutes to change shoes. And since everyone is different, I’m not sure if it’s possible to calculate the time difference between changing shoes or not. I can calculate the extra time in transition, but how would I calculate whether or not changing the stresses on my body from changing my shoes, or the placebo effect involved, adds or detracts from my finishing time?

The other unknown variable is how long it takes to locate the bag, and depending on that, the lost time could be significant. To some extant that’s always the roll of the dice in using a drop bag. But that’s just another of those variables that makes planning and running and ultra such a kick in the butt.

Michael: Cinderfella

The pitter patter
Of rain against the windows
Are the rhymes of spring.

Tuesday, December 4, 2018

This is another one of my spins on the Cinderella story.

In Cinderfella we focus on the trail running prince who’s satisfied what’s her face, but has yet to find the perfect companion to his newly beloved Hoka Torrents.

But wait, you ask, if he’s content with one pair of shoes, why would he be looking for another? Oh, you naïve, possibly road loving beginner. No man, nor woman, should be beholden to only one pair of shoes. Haven’t you heard of rotation? Differing terrain? Differing purposes? Differing styles?
But enough of that. I’m looking for a complimentary pair to my Torrents because I’m hoping that changing shoes in longer ultras will pay off in improved performance. How? By changing the stresses on my poor older body and maybe throwing in a placebo boost on top of that.

In the past few months I’ve tried the Salomon Sense Rides, the Hoka Speedgoat Twos and Napalis. None of them have hit me yet as hands down winners. I do like the Napalis, but I did have a little heel pain after my last two hour run. The Sense Rides are growing on me and I’m hoping that it was just a long break in period that was the cause of my worries. But those initial uncomfortable runs still linger in my memory. The Speedgoats have been relegated to work/hiking shoes, which for me is one in the same.

Next up, I’m going to give the New Balance Summit Unknown’s a go. I’m hoping with the right replacement insoles and with their 10 millimeter drop, they’ll be the perfect compliment to the Hoka’s and they’ll both get me through 50-60 miles together. I figure going from the 5mm drop of the Hoka’s to the double the platform height of the Summit’s is bound to shake things up a bit.

Damned, there are a lot of shoes to try out there, and if the Newbies don’t cut it, I have a few others I’d like to try out. But I’ve only got 5 weeks to go, so decision time is coming soon.

Michael: A Belt I Can Live With

As almost human
She doesn’t talk much
But she tells the truth.

Monday, December 3, 2018

The Ultraspire Fitted Race Belt pretty much solves my one major dilemma when deciding on gear for ultra races. That problem is whether to go sans pack and rely on a shorts pockets - hand/butt cheek held bottle set up or use a pack.

I’ve always liked to race as minimally as possible, but because I don’t like to use a handheld or waist pack, I’ve often used a small vest, the last few years that’s been the Ultraspire Revolt.

When I’ve tried to use the shorts/bottle set up I haven’t found the right bottle or the right shorts. In fact, the last time I tried this I lost my soft flask with about 5 miles to go in a 30k. This belt pretty much solves those issues. It’s a very Spartan belt with just enough storage and features to use in any training or event where the aid stations are an hour apart or less.

With a Youtube search or a check on the Ultraspire website anyone can get a one minute briefing of its features. I’ll just give my slight variation of the way I use the belt; I like the flask behind me. In this position I have no problem either removing or replacing the 550 Ultraspire flask. And it sits, unlike almost all lumbar packs I’ve tried, on my hips and doesn’t ride up high onto my waist.

Now I did say pretty much solves my problems. The caveats are that with a full flask the belt does bounce a bit. However, this annoyance is easily solved in one of three ways; 1, Use a smaller or soft flask. 2, Don’t fill the flask completely. 3, carry the flask as a handheld until your first drink. I prefer the latter method as this is what I’ve been doing anyway using the shorts/hand-butt cheek method. But with the belt I now have much more storage and versatility.

The other problems would be in races where aid stations are further apart or where a waist light will be used. But no pack or belt is perfect for every situation. However, I do see this belt as having very broad training and racing applications and plan on using it in the upcoming San Diego 50 miler.

Michael: The Paradox of Now

The fields are barren
With permanent dark shadows
Under the burned trees.

Thursday, November 29, 2018

What do you do with all the time on your hands now that you’ve been laid off ? Sadly, temporarily, I hope; I’ve fallen into the ‘About Schmidt’ complex of dreaming I would do a lot while actually doing very little. From what I remember he watched a lot of T.V., while I’ve been grazing through Youtube.

You would think some of that grazing would encompass some gain in knowledge, particularly as I haven’t just been viewing clips of old Colbert bits, but searching training tips for 100ks. But instead of enlightening me, most of those I just find kind of irritating.

The most annoying clips are the ones aimed at trying to convince me that when I begin to struggle I should just focus on the now; my next step, soon the steps will add up and I’ll get through what would’ve seemed like an insurmountable difficulty by inching my way through my temporary difficulty.

As affirmative head nodding as this Zen’s philosophy appeal is, I’m not buying into it; at least not completely.

Mainly because experience has taught me that having a plan ahead of time, and sticking to that plan as best I can, pays off far better than just living in the moment and dealing with problems as they arise and then just trying to get through them one small step at a time.

Of course, I realize that when people, myself included, are out there, we’ll work with both approaches if necessary; sticking to our plans as best we can, but dealing with those unexpected issues of the moment by just trying to focus on our next move, not the miles ahead. But that’s rarely the focus of these Zen slanted advice videos.

Not to say that a bit of paradox isn’t worthwhile. It’s part of the philosophical make up of ultra running that I find appealing.

Michael: The Count

Pressed into the stone
An imprint of ocean life
Now seen through the fire.

Tuesday, November 27, 2018

This being my first year back in the states for the holidays in three years, I’ve been a little more keen on observing the differences between the small farm community of Volcan, Panama and Los Angeles.

Without editorial comment one of those differences hit me this morning when KCRW talked about the annual homeless count in L.A. In the mountains of Panama, at about this same time, they’ll be setting a date for their annual bird count.

Michael: That Time of Year

A dog’s loyalty;
Our responsibility;
Is a bizarre love.

Friday, November 23, 2018

 Halloween through Christmas are treacherous times for an athlete; particularly an older athlete.

For most of the year my weight is pretty stable and for the many years now I’ve been able to hold my seasonal weight gain down to a decent 5 lbs. This year, with my part time work as a hiking guide 4 days a week, I thought I’d be able to get through this time of year without any weight gain, which would set me up for a great start to the new year.: particularly as I’m committed to running a 100k in February.

But now with my job having gone up in flames I’m going to have a lot more free time on my hands. And those hands, particularly now, are prone to reaching out for sweets when they’re within range.
Work, in my case, not only was an enjoyable 4 hours on my feet, it kept my hands well away from any temptations.

Now I’ve got to deal with good old self discipline, which has never been my strong suit when it comes to Christmas indulgences. And if Thanksgiving was any indication, I’m not off to a great start.

Michael: Dear Santa

Through the pine needles
A delicate whisper says
It’s time to exhale.

Wednesday, November 21, 2018

Recently I was asked what trail running product that I believe is missing or if there’s an existing product that could be improved upon.

A product that I would be excited about, and sadly, this shows how easily pleased I am, would be a handheld that can also be comfortably tucked into the back of my shorts after a few ounces have been drunk.

The closest bottles that have come to meeting that requirement has been the Simple Hydration bottle, but that only held 13 oz.. Hydrapak made a semi-shaped collapsible flask that also was semi-successful, but one of it’s problems is its  small opening ( though larger than most collapsible). Soft flask also tend to bounce a lot and won’t stay in place reliably.

Also, like a lot of bite valves on soft flasks, they can leak if squeezed against anything; for example, a fitted waist belt.

Whenever I can, I race without a pack. But the last time I tried the collapsible flask hand/cheek trick, I lost the flask. Fortunately, it was late in the race, it was a comfortable day, and there were enough aid stations to see me through. But if I could get away with just using short pockets and a bottle that had a decent capacity, filled easily and could comfortably be tucked into the back of my shorts after a few ounces were displaced, I’d be one happy camper.

Michael: Lights for Christmas

Why some trees remain
Among the devastation
Is because they do.

Monday, November 19, 2018

As ridiculous as age related goals are, I have one; compete in a 100k while I’m 60. That goal entails one of those paradoxical thrill/dread propositions; in this case possibly running (that’s already looking on the bright side - this is a pun - far more likely is stumbling in a zombie like state) in the dark.

So far in life my experiences with darkness after being out in the wilderness all day have not been good ones. Its meant that somewhere I made a mistake. I either started too late, over estimated my abilities, or got lost, and in some instances; all three. I’ve never planned to be out after dark.

I travel through the woods to see places so the idea of having only a small spotlight to shine on a very small area is antithetical to my reasons for fast packing.

So ideally I’d prefer to start at the crack of dawn and finish before sundown. But I realize I need to be prepared for the possibility that I may need to move through the darkness if I’m going to complete this race.

And that’s where the plus side of this goal comes into play. As a newbie Ultraspire Immortal I get to purchase Ultraspire products at a substantially discounted price. And that makes it much easier to indulge in one of my favorite trail related activities; trying out trail products. In this case I’m going to start doing a little night training with the Lumen 170 2.0 and  Lumen 600R And just to make it a little more worthwhile I’m going to make it a family affair by bringing the wife and dog along.
Once I’ve given these lights a go, I’ll let you know what I think of them. The claim is that lighting has really improved from decades ago. I sure hope so, though I’m also hoping I won’t have to make use of either one of these gizmos after the 100k starts.

Michael: 45 Miles of Solitude

The Angeles Crest
Is an unrelenting road
Into the forest.

Thursday, November 15, 2018

With access to my usual rides through the canyon roads of the Santa Monica Mountains closed due to the Woolsey fire, I wasn’t sure what alternatives there would be near my Los Feliz home that would satisfy my requirements for a decent ride.

The reasons, outside of familiarity, for heading out to Mulholland and Las Virgenes every Tuesday, were to start a 2+ hour ride outside of all the hassles and dangers of suburban rides. This starting point requires a drive of about 45 minutes, but that’s a trade-off that was well worth it in my book.

So to Google I went.

First, I looked at rides I could do right from my front door - Griffith Park. When I lived on the Westside, I could get to PCH with just a few traffic lights and not too terrible of a ride with traffic until I got north of Sunset. But Griffith Park is a different beast and the loops I found are only between 10-20 miles; not worth the hassles and stress, in my book, for the trade off  of not using the car.

The other alternative was Angeles Crest Highway beginning in La Canada.
I use to ride up that road with a friend over 20 years ago. It’s less than 30 minutes away and seemed to meet my requirements of a no suburb hassle start, along with plenty of solitude.

The route I mapped out was Angeles Crest to Angeles Forest to Big Tujunga back to Angeles Crest. And Wow!, what a sweet ride that was. Just as little traffic, if not less, than the coastal canyon roads, long climbs, great scenery and great pavement. The only downside I can see is that in the heart of winter these roads may not always be open, and even if they are, a ride through them could be one Dumb and Dumber snot freezer.

But for now, this loop is definitely worth throwing into the rotation, even when my old canyon road friends open back up.

Michael: Scorched Earth

A trickle of rocks;
A whisper from the mountains,
Otherwise silence.

Tuesday, November 13, 2018

The trails I work, train and race on have been engulfed by the Woolsey fire. The wellness center in Malibu where I work, fortunately, only sustained minor damage, but there’s no word on how long it’ll be before it’s up and running again.

As for myself, I love those trails and it’ll be a blessing to get back out there to them as soon as I can so I can experience their rejuvenation from scorched earth to the Mediterranean eco-system that so quickly springs to life again from a fire.

It’s simple and cold callousness to chalk up this destruction to karma. Yet the blessings and curses of nature and life are remarkable. How long the embers take to settle and how far they’ll travel, is impossible to determine at the moment. But they will come back to earth. The rains will come and those of us who are fortunate enough will again have the opportunity to work and play in the majesty of the Southern California mountains.

Michael: Trials and Errors

The gray, white, red clouds
Rise up over the mountains
From a choking fire

Saturday, November 10, 2018

Races are experiments. Saturday, during the Griffith Park 30k some results were undeniable, while the lab results for others were mixed.

For example, a sure conclusion can be drawn on my feet’s compatibility with Hoka Torrents. For the second long race in a row my feet came through pain free. Last month in the Rocky Peak 50k and today in the Griffith Park 30k. I’ve never been one to hoard shoes and store them away, but I’m definitely going to put in my request that Santa stuff my stockings with a at least one back up pair of the Torrents.

On the iffy end of the spectrum, my usual hand/butt cheek flask procedure failed me at about mile 10 when I reached behind me and realized that my flask was no longer there. This didn’t cost me though as there were three aid stations over the last 8 miles, the weather and terrain were reasonable, and I was moving along at a reasonable clip. My next experiment to overcome this dilemma will be to use the Ultraspire hybrid flask with their fitted race belt.

Also in the dubious column was my decision to cut Skratch Labs hydration packets and secure them with more easy opening scotch tape. The one remaining unused packet was leaking powder and, combined with my sweat, was creating a pretty colorful raspberry tinge to my shorts. The one packet I used earlier on in the race though worked much better than just the stock packaging, so the jury’s out on this procedure.

As I’ve done at all my races this year, I pre-lubed with Tropical Edge and chewed a couple of pieces of Run Gum within the last 45 minutes of the race. Whether those applications or having an unexpected “Fire” day off from work (more likely all three; along with the placebo effect), I easily surpassed my goal for this race of finishing under 3 hours, coming in 2:43.

Even getting lost for a bit, which has really cost me in the past, didn’t cost me much time or worry this go round.

Experience definitely has it’s benefits. Though how much ground that can overcome due to age I can’t say, but I’m hanging in there and still finishing in the top 10, so I feel encouraged and want to keep going out there and experimenting and having fun while hoping to get a little bit closer to that perfect race every time out.

Michael: Decisions...Decisions

The woods at twi-light
Are a mysterious place
To go for a walk.

Wednesday, November 7, 2018

Now that the mid-terms are over it’s time to make some important decisions; like what shoes I’m going to wear at this Saturday’s Griffith Park 30k.

I took a new pair of Salomon Sense Rides out on Monday for an hour and a half run around the park and was pretty impressed. They were a little tight in the forefoot, but otherwise I really liked them. But today, when I took them to work for a 2 hour jog + 2 hour walk, my heals were in a bit of pain, my feet felt a bit more pinched and my right little pinky was crying wee…wee…wee all the way home.

I’m not completely giving up on the Sense’s; maybe they just need a bit more brake in, or Super Feet Green insoles. But for Saturday’s race I’m going with my tried and true Hoka Torrent’s. The tread is a bit overkill for the trails the race is on, and I’m not overly keen on all the road surface they’ll have to negotiate, but those will be small sacrifices if the Torrent’s keep my feet as happy as they did at Rocky Peaks.

After that I’ll see if the Senses are salvageable, and if not I’ll look into some other shoes.

I feel fortunate in having found one set of glass slippers in the Torrent’s, but for the 100k I plan on doing in February, I want another Cinderella to show up. Greedy I know, but I’m a tenderfoot and I just believe that changing shoes after several hours has a lot of benefits for my old muscles and joints.

Michael: Testing 1...2...3

The Santa Ana’s
Are the hot, dry mountain winds
That spark our fires.

Monday, November 5, 2018

Trail racing and training, for me at least, involves a lot of tinkering. For example for this Saturday’s Griffith Park 30k I’m thinking of trying out different shoes, a different gel, and a different way of getting my hydration mix into my bottle.

Why? Both for logical and pleasurable reasons - sometimes it’s just fun to tinker and sometimes it solves one of those annoying little quibbles that many racers come across.

The little quibble is the Skratch Labs single hydration packs. At the Rocky Peaks 50k a couple of weeks ago, I had a damned hard time opening them and even after tearing them open along the perforation lines, the opening was so small it seemed like it took forever to pour out. To solve this I’m going to pre-cut them well below the perforation and use scotch tape to hold the package shut. This will allow for easier opening and pouring. The only drawback could be that during the rigors of a long race the packages might open prematurely and it could cover me in a cloud of hydration powder.

The reason I’m trying another gel also has to do somewhat with ease of use. Normally, I use Hammer Gel. I like the fact that it comes in a large bottle and therefore saves on the environment and allows me to use a flask instead of single serving packets. However, for racing I do like to sometimes use single serving packets for convenience. And the downside to single serving Hammer gels is that they, like a lot of gels, run a bit thick for my liking. When I use a flask this isn’t a problem because I can add just a touch of water to thin it out. 2nd Surge gels are a bit more thinner to start so I’m going to give them a try. I do feel their slogan of being “Protein Powered” is a bit misleading when their first 4 ingredients are sugar, sugar, sugar and water. But that doesn’t bother me too much because that’s what I want.

Now the big experiment …shoes. I have discovered the perfect trail shoes for my feet; Hoka Torrent’s. But this isn’t a typical trail race. It’s exclusively on hard packed fire road and single track with just a bit of grit on top to make the downhills a bit slippery. It really could almost be considered a gritty road race and there’s really no need for the lugs or grip on the Torrent’s. For that reason I’m considering road shoes. The only problem with that is the uppers on my road shoes are very unstructured and I’m afraid I’ll be banging my toes and sliding around in them on the downhills. I do have a new pair of Salomon Sense Rides that have a nicely structured toe box and upper, but they feel like they need a bit of a break in period. The lugs, though not overly substantial, also would be a bit of overkill, but I may give them a try anyway.

Either way, I’ve got to decide soon, as I can’t start working out a race kit until I’ve made a shoe decision.

Michael: Rest Up, Ramp Up, Speed Up, Or Slow Down?

The jagged red rocks
Cut through the morning sunrise
Like an old man’s teeth.

Monday, October 29, 2018

Since I began racing again this year in April, I’ve run 11 races and am beginning to feel it. My last race was a 50k and, as a build up to a 100k in February next year, I had planned to run a 40 miler in December. But I’m beginning to feel a little worn out and feel it might be best to switch gears a bit and do a few shorter races that won’t be as mentally or physically challenging.

I’m still going to run a 30k I can walk to from home, but instead of the 40 miler, I’m going to run a 17k trail race in Orange County in December which will allow me to visit my family there since I’ll be working on Thanksgiving. I’ll also throw in a road half marathon in January. I hadn’t planned a race for that month, but I’m hoping the gear switch to the road and shorter distance will help keep my form up and will serve me well going into the 100k in February.

This is what my mind and body are telling me is the way to go right now. Whether I’d be better off building up to the long race with other, shorter ultras or not, time will tell. And that’s part of the fun of coaching myself and trying to go with my intuition at times instead of a strict training schedule.

Michael: Champion, Master or Grand Master?

Gooseberry moonlight
Tickles the dark forest pines
With beams of delight.

Tuesday, October 23, 2018

Through good genes, hard work, and the random kindness of the universe, I am now the RRCA 2018 50k Master’s Champion. I won’t get into the genes and work thing here, but the way the dice rolled last Saturday, seems interesting to me.

First off, let me explain the categories: The overall champion is pretty self explanatory. The Master is for 40 and over, and the Grand Master is 60+. Technically, it ought to be possible to be all three; for example, if someone over 60 would win. But either Nancy, the R.D., or the RRCA, or both, prefer to share the wealth, so you can’t hog all the prizes to yourself, and therefore, if you’re the Champion, that excludes you from collecting either of the other top prizes.

Saturday, at the Rocky Peak 50k, a 43 year old won the race. He’s the Champion. That left me, at 60, as the Master, since I was the next person over 40 to place. Personally, I feel the title of Grand Master sounds… well…more grand, but I’m very happy to accept Master.

Ultimately, I’d love to break into the top three again in some event, but all’s I can do is go out there, do my best, and wait and see what the randomness of the universe throws my way.

Michael: Misses and Modifications

The blackbirds flutter
Like leaves scattered in the wind
By a playful child.

Sunday, October 21, 2018

Yesterday, I approached the Rocky Peak 50k with a decent amount of trepidation; I hadn’t run a 5k in over a year, the conditions had changed, and despite what I thought was an updated and comprehensive checklist, I knew I was still bound to forget something. And I was right.

Fortunately, that something was minor - a towel. I like to have one on hand to wipe up after applying Tropical Edge before a race. I forgot because I was using a rental car. I keep a towel permanently in the back of my car, but this wasn’t my car. I instead used the give away race t-shirt.

As far as modifications go; because of the dry Santa Ana conditions and the high temperatures, and with some of the aid station being over 5 miles apart, I opted to go with a larger pack, from the Ultraspire Revolt to the Alpha 2.0. I’m not keen on using bladders for racing, and was considering the Revolt + a handheld, but I hate carrying things in my hand when running. The Alpha worked great, and because of it’s extra capacity I only had to stop twice to fill up, which may have been an overall time saver compared to a bottle system. Yet still, when it’s manageable, I’d prefer to stick to a single bottle pack.

Despite the expected high temps, it can still be a little chilly in the morning and I’m a pansy when it comes to the cold, so I originally planned on starting with a vest and arm sleeves, but as it was near 70 at the 7a.m. start, I ditched those.

I also broke one of the cardinal rules by using something new; a Columbia shirt that my wife modified for my skinny frame and cut off and reshaped the lower hem to give me easier access to a belt or short pockets. It worked to perfection and I’m happily planning to wear it for as long as it’ll hold up.

One item that only needed a slight modification was the one I was most pleased with, and in an ultra, what else could that be but shoes. I used the Hoka Torrents with Superfeet Green insoles, and my feet and body have never felt better after 5+ hours of activity. Normally, even after a half marathon, I can get terrible heel pain, but this combo has me very optimistic heading into 2019 believing that I’ll be able to manage long races pain free.

Michael: The RAD 10

Thunder shakes the dog
Whose fangs would bite the sky
If it had a neck.

Tuesday, October 16, 2018

You would think that having to drop your wife off at work before a race would put a stressful kink in your race morning preparation/rituals, but in the case of the RAD 10 miler held last Saturday, it all worked for the best.

For one, the race was 5 minutes away from her work. And not only that, but the hotel she works out of is pretty damned swanky with bathrooms that have very nice wood doors that extend all the way to the floor. That’s the best pre-race porta-potty I’ve ever used. Heck it even beats home base. And to boot, I could walk downstairs to the gym and grab a free cup of coffee on my way out.

However, that luxury time saver was a bit negated by the fact that the transition to the 101 freeway was closed so he had to do a little Waze navigating around that. Not that I do an extensive warm up anyway, but I do like to have at least a half hour to loosen up. That was pretty much negated with the detour.

So what to do? Apply Tropical Edge and hope the cream/placebo and massage would work better than a slight jog and some lunges - ala Trail Runner? I opted for Tropical Edge. And it seemed to work out just fine. I finished in 8th overall with a time of 1:12. Not bad given the rolling course.

Because I didn’t get a proper warm up I was looking for someone about my age who I could use as a pacer, and I got lucky in that department as well. A group of about 4 guys were paying homage to their buddy, another skinny grey hair, so I thought, that’s the dude. I’ll hang with him the first couple of miles or so and see if he’ll hold a comfortable pace I can use to work my way into the race. That strategy worked out perfectly. Turned out he was actually two years younger than me, but at this stage of the game we all kind of look alike.

Really also got a hand it to (pun intended) my New Balance Sonics.  I’d only used them before in a 5k at the end of a duathlon and wasn’t sure if they’d hold up for 10 miles, but I like them so much I’ll get it’s more upscale brother, the 1500 T2s, if the BOA lacing system holds up.

This Saturday is the Rocky Peaks 50k which would be a bit of a stretch driving wise to drop my wife off and use my favorite pre-race porta-potty. But I may just keep doing the RAD 10 miler so long as she works the early morning shifts at that hotel on Sundays.

Michael: The Freak Show (DMV Edition)

Luminous white spots
Emanate webs of color
Throughout the heavens.

Saturday, October 6, 2018

After work on Wednesday I returned to the DMV to see if I could amend my CDL application and apply for a Passenger Van Endorsement and take the test necessary for that. And within 10 minutes of walking through the doors, I was almost scared straight enough to believe that maybe, after getting a good look at some of my fellow drivers, I should stay away from the roads altogether.

Upon entering the DMV, there are three lines; the far left line is to make appointments, the center line - the red carpet - is for people who made on-line appointments, and the far right is where people go when they’re called to the counter to be helped by a clerk. Right off I was called out by an 80 year old in a track warm up suit for cutting in front of him on the red carpet. But he wasn’t on the red carpet. He was leaning on window 10 so I thought he was waiting for a clerk. I apologized and told him that’s what it looked like to me, and that seemed to satisfy him. I haven’t been in a fight and I didn’t want my first and last one to be with an 80 year old at the DMV. I’m not a tough guy to begin with, and telling my heavily tattooed homeys that I was in county for whooping an 80 year old’s ass, wouldn’t likely keep anyone scared away from me behind bars.

While still in line, I witnessed another middle age man complaining about the wait and that he wasn’t getting the proper attention given how much pain he was in. When the clerk tried to empathize, she was rebuked for not understanding, nor ever being capable of understanding. It was his pain. Inside him and him alone. It‘s not possible for her to understand. And he made that belligerently clear to her and most of us at the DMV. I wish I could’ve explained to him how much anxiety he was filling me with, but - by his own circular reasoning, I knew he wouldn’t understand.

Finally seated and with an appointment number, I watched an older woman in a long hound’s-tooth coat with her hand covering her face, pace back in forth and mumble nervously in front of the seated section of the DMV. How many trips to the DMV would it take before that was me?

But redemption and good luck at last! When called to the counter, I got the same clerk as I had yesterday. She recognized me and amended my application. I took the test, passed, received my permit and was out the door.

I’ll need to return again for an inspection and driving test, but that can wait for a bit. I have a 6 month window for that and I’m in no big rush to spend another day at the DMV until the nightmares from the past few visits have subsided.

Michael: Days and Dazed at the DMV

The taste of colors
Swirls in bubbles on the tongue
Like party balloons.

Tuesday, October 2, 2018

As a job requirement I need a CDL (Commercial Driver’s License); one with an endorsement for a passenger van. I wish this wouldn’t have entailed numerous trips to the DMV, but it has and it’s ongoing. Here’s how the process has worked for me, and in some instances, worked against me.

First off, you don’t get the license all at once. You start with a medical clearance,  then present all sorts of I.D., next takewritten tests, and finish with driving and vehicle inspection tests.

Initially, you get a permit and after two weeks and before 6 months are up, you make an appointment for the driving and vehicle inspection tests. This is where a careful reading of the newspaper print handbook becomes essential. And this is where the beginning of the bureaucracy and I parted company.

Since there was a small section listing the permit requirements, I thought I wouldn’t need all the documents for the full CDL up front. One of these documents is a S.S. card. Mine was in storage in Irvine. I needed it, along with a passport, and proof of residence. One visit down; how many more to go?

Yesterday, I returned with all the required documents, but for some reason, the clerk also asked me for my current vehicle registration, which they did not ask Kimme for, although we are both applying for the CDL. That was in the car, so no problem.

What was a problem was the DMV system going down just as it notified me that I had passed two of the required tests; the General Information CDL test and the Air Brake test. Are my results in the system or not? That’s the cliffhanger I’m in now. I was told I could wait but it could be between 2-4 hours before the system came back on-line. I decided to go home and come back tomorrow. Visit two to the DMV down.

And now again where I goofed. If I would’ve read carefully I would’ve realized I needed to take another test - the Passenger Endorsement test. I read where if you take the driving test with a van that holds less than 15 persons you’ll receive an exclusion on your license limiting you to 15 passengers or less, but I should’ve noted in a few paragraphs above, that a vehicle that seats 10 or more people requires a Passenger Endorsement qualifier on the CDL. Can I make note of this when I find out whether my tests are in the system?; will I need to start the whole process over?; may I amend now?; or is there a time frame I can do this in so I could possibly amend my application when I do the inspection and driving test?

All these and more confusing details are bound to ensue on my next, and sadly not, final visit to the DMV.

Michael: Conspicuous Consumption

The buzz of a fly;
The occasional bird song;
Otherwise silence.

Friday, September 28, 2018

When we were living in Panama, I vowed to only purchase 4 pairs of shoes per year. I’ve blown through that barrier in less than two months here, and now I’m afraid there’s no looking back.

Within the last two months I’ve purchased New Balance Sonics (on sale at Running Warehouse - RW), Hoka Speed Instincts (also on sale at RW), Hoka Torrents ( at RW minus their 10% discount) and Hoka Speedgoat 2s at Fleet Feet for 10% off.

Naturally, no purchase is without at least a minimum of necessary rationalization, though thankfully Kimme no longer questions me about my foot fetish fancies, so long as I throw a pair her way once in a while.

So here goes; The Sonics are for road racing and duathlons. Just last week I used them as my second shoe in a du at Camp Pendleton and I’ll use them again in a couple of weeks for the RAD 10 miler in Agoura Hills.

The Speed Instincts are my Monday trail running shoes. The Torrents are  my short to medium trail racing shoes and, what I was hoping would be my long racing shoes - the Speedgoats - are now going to serve as pinch hitters - in long trail races where a drop bag is allowed. I was hoping that the Speedgoats would serve as my primary shoes in 50ks and up, but despite having more cushioning, the Torrents just fit my feet better. At the end of the month I’m going to use them at the Rocky Peak 50k and if they work there, I’ll feel good about going with them over the Speedgoats. But if they let me down I’ll move the Speedgoats up in the batting order, and if they don’t work, it’s back to the reviews, REI, RW, and whatever promise land of foot comfort is on the horizon.

Michael: Muscle Memory

Shimmering green leaves
On the lonely sagebrush trail
Reminds us to live.

Tuesday, September 25, 2018

Last Saturday was my first duathlon in 4 years and coming in 6th and really enjoying the experience has me pumped up for adding more dus into next year’s calendar.

This was almost a sheer muscle memory test as I’ve only ridden my tri bike 3 times this year, and that was predominantly as equipment checks. Fortunately, my muscles’ memories were decent enough as my cerebral memory let me down a bit, or I would’ve done slightly better.

And this is where numbers can be deceptive. According to the numbers, I actually gained time during the transitions as opposed to 4 years ago and lost time on the bike and first run. I’ll concede the loss on the first run (Though I’m pretty pleased with still holding to a 21 minute last 5k over a 4 year time lapse. Not bad for a 60 year old.) But I know I didn’t lose as much on the bike as the clock indicates.

And this where the cerebral failure comes into play. Outside of the transition area, I struggled to get my foot into my bike shoe. Why? Because I forgot my old trick of holding my shoe up with a rubber band so I don’t have to play with trying to pull it up into an easy position while trying to slide my foot in. I also didn’t start off riding with my feet on top of my shoes and build up a little momentum and then coast and be moving forward while I put my feet into my shoes. Both of these lapses cost me time on the bike that really were transition mistakes.

Still, I probably lost about a minute on the bike compared to 4 years ago. But being stubborn and cranky (pun intended), I’m not willing to chalk that time loss up to age just yet. As compared to 4 years ago, I didn’t do any brick work and have cut my bike training rides from three per week to two. But I feel the biggest difference between now and then was not training with a group at all this year as opposed to regularly training with Holger’s L.A. Tri Club group on Saturdays four years ago. I’m not sure I’ll be able to fit that in, going into next year’s training, but I’m sure that would make more of a difference than anything else I could do to improve next season.

Still, all considered, I was very pleased with doing so well after such a long lay off and tickled about getting back into such a joyful sport.

Michael: Choices

In the sea of white
Dark angels are whispering
Sirens to the lost.

Monday, September 17, 2018

At this stage of the game choosing a race is looking for what’s local, what’s interesting, what haven’t I done before, and what haven’t I done well in before.

For example, although I finished fifth in the 2nd annual Valencia Trail 50k, because I got lost for a decent amount of time, when I received an email from that race for an early bird special I was strongly considering signing up. I just wanted to make sure I’d have enough recovery time from another revenge race, the Sycamore 100k, to compete decently. The Sycamore is at the end of February and the Valencia race is at the end of March, so case closed.

But when I went to sign up the sign up server was down. Out of curiosity, I thumbed through what other races were occurring in SoCal at the end of March. Turns out the Nine trails 35 miler is in that time frame. I’ve never run a 35 miler before, at least on purpose, so I decided to look into it.

Turns out it seems like both an old and formidable challenge. It wasn’t run this year due to the Thomas Fire, but the director promises to have it up and running again next year.

Outside of a new challenge, what I find intriguing about this race is the spread between the best time of 5:35 and the best time in my age group (60+) 9:18. And that 9:18 has stood since 1991. A record where there’s almost a 3 hour time difference between the gazelles and the old goats calls for a reckoning. So Valencia’s going to have to be put off for another year.
I’ve got to sign up for this Nine Trails race as soon as registration opens and see which one of is more ornery. I haven’t DNFed since 2014, and I plan on keeping it that way, but Nine Trails must be a real butt kicker.

Michael: Returning the Favor

Murmurs of the rain
Carried down the dry creek bed
On a summer wind.

Thursday, September 13, 2018

Like many people nowadays, I buy many of my shoes and other trail and running goodies on-line. But since Jeff at Fleet Feet saved me by having a booth set up at Bulldog with vests to try out (I left my bottle at home.), and the store was close to my work and they were offering 10% off (the same as Running Warehouse), what the heck?

They also had the next shoe model I want to give a tryout; the Hoka Speedgoat 2. Only problem is not in the color I wanted. I want the flashy yellow. I’ve got plenty of race attire to match that color scheme. But all Fleet Feet had was the grey and red; a pretty mundane combo and difficult to build an outfit with flare around.

But I’m going to give it a go if the shoes pass my initial trial runs and I don’t return them. But now outfitting is going to require at least new socks and a shirt; which really ought to be included in the hidden cost of shoes that don’t have the right color scheme. And these shoes, even with the discount, are Hokas, not quite up there in the outrageously expensive category as some Salomons, but not that far behind.

Gray and red… I wanted to be a bit flashier. Oh well, at least in short races the Torrents, in their light green flavor, holds out some promise of panache.

Michael: Thai Massage

It’s a cruel world
Where disabled veterans
Survive on cardboard.

Tuesday, September 11, 2018

Outside of bicycle accidents, I have been extraordinarily fortunate in avoiding injuries, though my recent push, as I’ve turned 60, to compete often and well has left me with a strained hamstring.

And with another challenge just over a week away, deciding between rest, working out, and using other methods of rehabilitation have been foremost on my mind.

One of those methods is massage, which I haven’t done on a regular basis for over 10 years. And my last regular masseuse was a small Philippina woman whom I developed a long term deep tissue/S&M bi-weekly enticing/dread relationship with. Fortunately or not, we don’t live near that neighborhood anymore where it would even be worth the long shot call to see if she’s still in the business.

Here, we’re within walking distance of a Thai massage place that has very reasonable rates, so what the heck?

I’m not sure the combo. Swedish/Thai massage I received from Lila last week was therapeutic for my hamstring but it did feel both good, worrisome and different; kind of a amalgam of ballet, performance art, chiropractic maneuvers, contortionism and wrestling. But I liked it and will be back for more.

Michael: Updated Checklist

Within my day dreams
Ten minutes of clarity
Is all I ask for.

Friday, September 7, 2018

Due to my recent goof in forgetting a water bottle at home before a race, I’ve decided to update my “Less Than One Day’s Travel; Short Race Checklist”. Hopefully I won’t be adding any items to it in the near future.

Clothes: On Body:
-socks -Body glide
-shoes -nipple guards (band aids)
-shorts -Topical Edge
-shirt -Heat
-gloves
-hat Fuel/Hydration:
-watch -Pack
-race belt -gels/chews/bars
-necklace -electrolytes
-warm up pants -Run Gum
-warm up jacket

Logistics: Research:
-Directions -Course profile
-Registration info. -Weather
-Re-set alarm -Terrain
-Breakfast ready -Plausible finish time
-Gas in car -aid stations
-Coffee or know coffee stop
-Water/food in car
-Carry or hide key?

Misc.:
-toilet paper
-phone
-I.D.
-Cash
-card
-towel
-flashlight
-pen to write contact info. On bib
-towelettes/hand sanitizer

Michael: 4 for 4

Chocolate bulldog
Lunges at the marble cat
With intent to kill.

Monday, September 3, 2018

The Pier to Peak on Sunday concluded my fourth race in three weeks. That was a lot of fun, and though I wouldn’t rule out a stacked schedule like that again, I feel it would be wise to avoid it. I’d like to continue to perform well in every race I schedule, and though my ego, obstinacy and intelligence are still duking it out, it finally feels like I’m going to wise up and start spreading my races out a bit more.

But I did it. In the four races no one my age or older came in front of me and I would’ve been competitive in most age groups in most of the races. I also accomplished my goal of setting the age group record at Bulldog, so I’m halfway to my goal of trying to hold both the 25k and 50k age group records. Hopefully, I’ll be healthy enough next year to go after the 50k mark.

An interesting note about the differences between the Bulldog trail race and the Pier to Peak road challenge is the composition of the competition. At Bulldog I came in 10th overall and at P2P I came in 43rd, yet there was virtually the same amount of older men in front of me at both races that both included fields of about 300 runners. At P2P one 40 year old, one 50 year old, and 6 women beat me. At Bulldog, four 40 year olds, and one woman beat me. That means the P2P road race  was stacked with a lot of younger, very fast competitors compared to Bulldog, and a lot more strong women runners. That’s only two races which I know isn’t much of a scientific sampling. But I always find such comparisons interesting to look at.

Also of note was my wife’s encouraging yet keep me grounded support. When I told her about the logistics of this race and that I would need to do this race in about 2:15 to get to work on time, and that I was basing this time on last year’s best time by a 60 year old, she was hesitant to throw her full support behind my ability to do this. Again, like my comparisons of the two races mentioned above, she thought I was drawing on an awfully small sampling to jump to a conclusion of what I could plausibly expect to accomplish. She proffered that that old dude could’ve been a fluke; an age group super-hero. And of course, she could’ve been right. And I was full of … for not investigating further and basing my time on over confidence.

But out on the course she pulled off on the side of the road when it was safe to do so to give me support and encouragement without any hints of doubt. And, somewhat paradoxically, I know without her being there I wouldn’t of done nearly as well as I did - a 2:08:39, well under the 2:15 I was shooting for.

Michael: Rolling the Dice

My muscles have lives
And aches and pains of their own
They will share with me.

Monday, September 3, 2018

Before last Sunday’s race, the race director answered one of my two questions I e-mailed; should I take the shuttle or arrange for a ride back from the finish? He was right. If I had waited for the shuttle I would not have made it to work.

The other question, the one he didn’t answer before the race, was how many aid stations there would be and where were they located on the course? Without that answer, I had to do a little investigating and guessing as to whether I should bring a bottle or not.

All the website said about aid stations is that there would be water on the course. It did, fortunately, have a short video of  a previous run of the race and from that 3 minute clip I gleaned that not very many people were using packs or bottles. I also discovered, this morning while I was searching for race results, that the 2017 description of the event stated that there would be at least 7 water stations on course. I wish I would’ve had that information earlier, but it is what it is.

From this, and knowing that the weather would be mild, I decided to roll the dice and not carry water. That turned out to be fine decision. Turns out there were 8 stations on course, about one every mile and a half, providing ample opportunity to go sans pack. And when going from sea level to just a pinch under 4,000 ft in 13.1 miles, it was a relief not to carry any unnecessary  weight

Michael: Racing on a Work Day

Ginger red mushrooms
As large as a dinner plate
Decorate the tree.

Thursday, August 30, 2018

One of the great things about being semi-retired is that I have more time to train, rest and race. However, there is a slight hitch compared to when I was working a Mon -Fri gig, and that’s that I now work Sundays starting at noon.

Usually, with shorter local races that’s not a problem, but now I’ve got to think at least twice about how far away or how long a race I can do before work on Sundays. This Sunday is going to test how well I manage those new considerations.

Here’s the lowdown; The Pier to Peak in Santa Barbara is about an hour and a half from work, which means I should be near the 101 heading south around 10:30 if I’m going to make it safely to work on time. With a 6:30 start that gives me about 3 ½  hours to run a pretty tough half marathon. I’m pretty confident I’ll finish well under that mark. In fact I looked up how the best 60 year old did last year, and he finished in 2:16, so I ought to be in that ballpark.

That time frame isn’t the only hold up though. The kink is that it’s a point to point with a shuttle service back to the start. I mailed the race directors about the shuttle service and they replied that the shuttles will take about an hour to get back to the start. They didn’t say when these shuttles would start, and they advised me that I’d probably be better off having a family member or friend pick me up at the finish. Okay.

But that would mean asking Kimme to give up a day - a very long day - to serve as my crew as I go from early morning racer to early afternoon worker. She’s willing to do it, but is it worth it? That, we’re going to find out, but I’m not planning on making a habit on leaning on someone else to give up their day so I can race.

And there are a lot of races on Sundays where I’m now going to have to factor those variables into what races I do, which adds a few new variables to my race pro/con ledger.