San Diego 100- Bigger Than Just a Race

It's been about three full days since I finished The San Diego 100-mile Endurance run. The race was epic indeed--a long day in the sun navigating rugged trails overlooking beautiful vistas in a part of the world I've never visited.  However, the way in all unfolded was definitely not the way I expected. I will have more of a detailed report soon but as I am here on the east coast on vacation with my family I will leave you with a quick summary and some powerful glimpses into this wild and crazy sport of ultrarunning.

*I led the race for 61 miles....got off course for about 7-10 minutes and blew the lead to Bowman....Deflated
*I kept motoring on knowing that there was still a lot of race left....finally the sun went down giving us cooler temps.
*Mile 85-ish....Rod Bien passes me w/ his pacer David.  It blew me away as I thought he was not a contender (I got updates that he was puking all day)
* Aid station 87.5 I came in about 20 seconds behind Rod to find him standing there waiting for me. He asked if I wanted to finish this thing up together.  I was surprised but didn't hesitate to say, "Let's do this!"
*Finished much faster than I would have alone in a time of 18:12 and made a strong connection along the way. I learned a lot last weekend...and I still got a PR in the 100-mile distance.

In a response to why or how we finished together here is what Rod wrote...:

I'll try and answer as honestly as I can from my perspective.  I had a tough day.  Nothing was coming easy to me on Saturday.  Not sure why but it felt like a lot of work.  The course was tougher than I thought.  It is a harder course than WS.... or slower anyway but not as tough as AC.  It was just quite technical and that caught me off guard.  My first 50 miles just sucked.  However, when I came into mile 58, I heard Yassine had gotten off track and had lost the lead after getting lost for about 10 minutes.  I felt bad for him as he had been in the lead all day.  At that point, for whatever reason, my stomach turned and I was able to run hard.  At that point I was 45 minutes behind Yassine.  However, I was pretty sure during the next section, I was putting time on him.  I was just running well and would have been surprised if he was running as fast as I was, without a pacer, and considering he had lost the lead.   When I got to mile 63, they said I was 25 minutes behind and that definitely got me fired up.  I ran the next section as well as I have ever run in the second half of a 100.  When I got to 71, they said Yassine was about 10 minutes up on me.  At this point, I knew I'd catch him as it is much easier to be "the hunter".  I was surprised that I didn't get catch him on the climb at mile 75 or so as I ran every step.  When I got to mile 80 (?), they said I was 3 minutes back.  Anyway, at this point headlamps were on and we were running on a cold and very windy ridge (PCT) and I could see him looking back at me (and my pacer).  I assumed (correctly) that he thought I was part of a relay team (there was just one out there... long story), and would have no idea it was me.  I finally caught up to Yassine at about mile 87.  I think it definitely surprised Yassine as I was pretty destroyed earlier in the day.  I quickly passed him and headed towards the aid station.  On my way there, I realized that it had been awesome having him as a "goal" but I really had no real interest in beating him.  I know.  I should be more competitive and a lot of times I wish I was more like Browning or something.  But, in the end, I just thought it would be cooler to finish with Yassine.  Its actually kinda weird that we had never met before this race.  And, given the choice, I'd rather become a closer friend with him because of this position than to work my ass off to try (and maybe he would have beaten me) and put a couple minutes on him and secure second place on my own.  He was just behind me when I got to the aid station so I asked him if he would just like to hop on the train with us and finish together?  He said it would be great to have the company as he had been alone all day.  It was cool to run the last 12 miles in together.  Its a cool bond that we will always have.  There is no prize money and no one is ever going to remember any of this shit, so why not create something a little bit bigger.  Maybe it is just a cop out that I'm not competitive enough or maybe I was scared he would come back and beat me.  But, really and truly, it just sounded cooler to finish together.  I'm glad I did it and I hope he is glad that he agreed.  100 milers are powerful stuff.  That's why we do it, right?   It was a great race and we both had to overcome a lot of shit and setbacks.  It seemed fitting to finish together.

Sorry, LB, we didn't hold hands though.  Thanks again, Yassine.  That was a cool run.
I should also mention that I believe that if Yassine had not gotten lost, he probably would have won.  I think we all know how tough it is to get lost while in the lead and to get back on course, especially if you don't have a pacer.  Those last 20 miles are tough in a situation like that.

RB




Wow, I'm still humbled and blown away by all of this. It definitely made for a weekend that I will never forget.  Thank YOU Rod and David, and to everyone else at San Diego 100 this past weekend.


For more insights and perspectives read Rod's race report HERE
and his pacer (and a stand-up guy) David Easa's post on Sportsmanship HERE

Forest Park 50k Race Report- 2011

The 2011 edition of "Ultramarathon Sunday" (seen on signs intermittently throughout the park's race course) went down in my backyard training grounds and it was really nice to see so many familiar locals and friends.  The weekend started off with a 25-mile run in the gorge that included the summit of Larch Mountain on Saturday, and then a pre-race-mountain-of-a-meal with Glenn Tachiyama at one of my favorite vegan restaurants called Blossoming Lotus.

It was fun and kind of strange to be in my living room less than an hour before race time on Sunday morning. I was a little nervous how it would all go down with this last back-to-back big weekend before San Diego 100, but I assured myself that it was just a training run race, as I tried to alleviate some of the pressure.  I rode my bike over to the start about a mile away and met with some friends before the start at Lower Macleay Park.  The weather was perfect and I knew the course well so I felt really comfortable in that regard.  Just before "go time" I looked over to see Erica and Farah and that made the smile that was already on my face a little bigger!

The 20k and 50k runners started together up the Macleay Trail to Stone house (Wildwood) and I found myself behind about ten runners who were mostly 20k runners. Todd Braje and I ran together for a bit but then he pulled away about ten seconds ahead. I knew that he was the man to beat in this race and he and I have run many miles of trails together in the park. 

(At the junction of Wildwood and Macleay Trail sits a landmark called "Stone House")

Strangely after about three or four miles I started feeling supercharged with energy. As we climbed a little I started clipping off 20k runners one by one, and then I passed Todd. A little voice in my head said, "what are you doing Yassine?", but I decided to just go with the feeling. The endorphins were in full effect and I eventually came across my buddy Rob who was just behind the two 20k leaders, brothers Martin and Joel Dieterich. I was feeling so good that I passed them as well and really didn't say much more than, "good job guys".  I think we were all pretty surprised at that move...especially when I surged on out of sight!

I was the first one to come into aid station 1 at Firelane 1 and was greeted by Rick and my friend Joe Kleffner who were volunteering....thanks guys! and good to see you out there. I continued to just push the pace on the familiar muddy trails of Forest Park and the Wildwood Trail. Wearing my Inov-8 X-Talon 190's also gave me some confidence in the sloppy conditions and I just decided to see how much ground I could cover while I was still feeling strong.

Finally I made it down Oil Line Rd. which I knew was going to be a potential butt-slide all the way down to Leif Ericson fire road.  Of course Glenn picked that spot to photograph all the runners but I managed to wipe out just before I came into his view. He got some great shots of people....CLICK HERE to view all the excellent photos Glenn Tachiyama captured last weekend, and the Oil Line slip-and-slide photos are definitely comical!

Miles 21-24ish I really started fading and I was very surprised that I hadn't been caught yet. I just kept plodding on and welcomed any climbs as my hamstrings were kind of hurting from hammering for so long.  This was only my second 50k that I've ever run that had less than 5,000 feet of climbing in it so I knew there was potential for a PR (3:52). Just before the last aid station I got past the rough patch and started running really well again. I ate some food, downed some drink quickly, and headed for the finish. A few minutes after I left I see buddy and new neighbor Jason Hill coming toward the aid station at this out-and-back section! I give him a high five and start hammering home knowing that the last 10k is pretty fast being mostly downhill.

The 50k Elevation Profile...about 3,200 feet of climbing

I also knew that I was going to go sub 4-hour, unless something drastic happened, but was wondering if I could get that PR. Just like early in the race I seized the opportunity and went for it! "On your left!!!!" I yelled at hikers and other runners and hopefully I didn't come off as too obsessive or rude!  Eventually I made the last turn at Stone House and I see my friend Todd Janssen walking his dogs. He tries saying something to me but I just blew past him maybe giving him a high five. About a minute later I realized that I wasn't going to make it, but still ran strong to the finish in 3:54....First place overall. 

See full results HERE

It was a fun day and I was happy to run so well on my home turf.  I met some really nice people and I was satisfied with how I ended my training leading up to San Diego.  Thanks to the race directors and volunteers and to the Forest Park Conservancy. 

Congratulations to all that raced on "Ultramarathon Sunday" in one of my favorite places to run....Forest Park!

Forest Park: Portland's Sacred Sanctuary

(Light coming through the trees in Portland, Oregon's Forest Park.--Photo by Ethan Siegel)

I spent some time in the parks today and, for a change, I wasn't running the trails getting ready for my next ultra marathon.  Within minutes of crossing an intersection downtown we were quietly nestled between towering trees and thick foliage in the hillsides of Portland's Forest Park. When you look around and listen you really can't believe you are right next to a city. There is also a certain beauty and "aliveness" that the often damp and dreary climate here gives to the forest. Everywhere you look is the quintessential pacific northwest magazine cover!

Living here in Portland almost two years now I have learned the park pretty well, including the deep and meaningful history of the area. I have volunteered providing trail maintenance, become a member of The Forest Park Conservancy, and just as of late been asked to assist in the revamping process of the park map sets, which is all quite an honor. A few weeks ago an editor from Portland Monthly Magazine came across my blog and discovered that I do a solid bit of running in the park. He contacted me for an interview and we talked on the phone for about 20 minutes about my running and my relationship with the glorious Forest Park. It wasn't until I heard myself passionately answering his questions how obvious it is that I truly cherish this "backyard gem". As a new father I look forward to passing along this sort of respectful and appreciative manner toward the land to my daughter and I hope she can enjoy it half as much as me.

This past week I had some quality runs where I felt super connected and strong.  I ran 76 miles in total.  Six of those miles were run on the waterfront esplanade...the other 70 were spent in the largest urban forest in the nation...steps from my front door.  Despite the sloppy trails in the winter I often remind my running buddies, my wife, and sometimes myself how spoiled we are to have easy access to this expansive park that has been kept so sacred. Forest Park boasts over 5,000 acres and over 70 miles of trails! The Wildwood Trail goes 30 miles from end-to-end and weaves it's way through some breathtaking sections of forest.

Watch this very interesting and informative video on the history and future of our very own Forest Park!






Next weekend (Sun.) starting at Lower Macleay Park there will be the annual Forest Park 50k that I will be racing as part of my training for San Diego 100-miler. 


... and check out this satellite photo of Forest Park (green) next to the city...pretty amazing!

Enjoy the forest....maybe I'll see you there!  

Happy Trails...

Miwok 100k Race Report- 2011

Several days have passed since the 2011 Miwok 100k that is held in the Marin Headlands of beautiful, sunny, and warm California. A couple friends have been asking me what's up with the race report that I usually get up on the blog shortly after my races. Well, my friends, sorry but I have been dealing with some "issues" that I'll get to in a minute.

Miwok is notorious for attracting fierce competition and large crowds of runners due to the beauty and challenge of the course, and the fact that the race is part of the Montrail Ultra Cup series.  I knew that, much like the 2011 Chuckanut 50k that I raced, a top ten finish at Miwok would involve a pretty spot-on day of trail running.

The race started on the beach just at twilight and the wind off the Pacific was enough to have us huddling together whether we knew each other or not.  The race director Tia didn't take long to get us started because of this and before we knew it we were off! Even though I've run three hundred milers in my career this was actually only my second race at the 100k distance. I was excited to get another good one under my belt.  I ran Waldo 100k in 2009 as my first 100k in 10:16 so I knew I had a prominent chance for a p.r. on this faster Miwok course.

The Miwok course was changed a little from previous years and had us climbing pretty much right from the start. I found myself toward the front with the usual suspects. As we were climbing some of the steep road ascents the sun was shedding light on the pristine area just north of the city and afforded us some amazing views.

(climbing the steps with some nice views all around....Photo: Diane Forrest)

Despite the climbs the first several miles felt very easy to me. Maybe this was because some of it was on paved road, or maybe it was just a barometer foreshadowing a day of solid running. By mile 11 I found myself in the lead heading into Tennessee Valley aid station where I dropped my long sleeve shirt to Mike Wolfe's girlfriend Steph.  From there we headed up Coyote Ridge and on to the next section of the course.  At around mile 15-ish I had to stop off into the bushes to relieve myself. As I did so I saw probably eight fleet-footed runners sail passed me and out of sight. After a couple or three minutes I got back on the trail and was moving forward again. I decided that I was going to mix some Perpetuum into my empty water bottle before I got to the Pan Toll aid station. When I pulled the baggie out of my pouch I must have ripped it because it poured all over my hand, my bottle, and the wind then blew it all up in my face and on my clothes. I probably looked like a drug dealer or addict when the D.E.A. kicks in the door with a search warrant! Right around this time Scott Jaime and Phil Kochik passed me and I think they could sense my frustration. Despite the annoyances I kept moving forward and ended up passing these guys back shortly thereafter.

(Dropping my shirt at mile 11)

Finally I made it to Pan Toll aid station and I emphatically told the volunteer to bathe my hands and bottle in water and fill the inside as well. That person did a great job relieving me of all the stickiness and discomfort I ran with for the prior two or three miles. Thank you..the volunteers were wonderful all day!

As I was leaving that aid station Sean Meissner was there crewing and pacing and he told me that Lewis Taylor was 30 seconds ahead, and that the rest of the guys were only about a minute ahead of him. That fired me up and I just started hammering. Before long I saw Lewis and came up behind him. I passed him and moved on for the rest of the pack.

We hit some gorgeous wide open fields with narrow single track and I could see the lead pack way off in the distance. I could recognize Timothy Olson's hair flying in the wind so I would pick a landmark where he was currently and look at my watch, and then look at it again when I got there. I was about 90 seconds back from Olson at that point and probably another 30-45 back from the rest. We started hitting some climbs through some redwood forests which totally got my attention, but another thing that got my attention was some tightening in and around my calf. I stopped at a tree to stretch for a minute and then looked over to see Scott Jaime passing me. At this point I was just trying to play it conservative...I mean we weren't even at the half way point yet!

I got back to running and eventually made it to the point where Mackey, Wolfe, Dakota, Hal, etc. were coming up the hill. We exchanged some smiles, words, high fives and then it was onward bound. I could tell that they put some distance on us down to the turn-around, and I knew that going back up being the stellar climbers that they are they would put even more time on me.  At that point I decided just to get into my zone, run my race, and to not worry about them. If some of them come back to me...great...if not...oh well!

After wolfing down a nice lunch-on-the-go while power hiking a bit toward Bolinas Ridge I started running the incline and seeing friends in the process. Jason Hill, Topher, Meghan, Pam, Krissy, Amy, I even thought I saw Elvis Presley....must have been a little dehydrated! ;-)  

I started running pretty well at this point and felt really consistent leading up to now except for those few little hiccups.  When I arrived at Pan Toll aid station at mile 47-ish I saw Phil Kochik walking toward me telling me that he had to drop, and then I saw Dan Olmstead standing there telling me that he was feeling dizzy and that he was going to take a rest. I was starting to see some casualties, and Dan O. told me that Scott Jaime was feeling pretty rough too and he wasn't far ahead. I sponged myself real quickly, grabbed some food and charged down the trail a little tired but motivated.

(Mile 51....feeling the heat!...Photo:  Doug Bond)

By mile 53-ish and before I saw Scott Jaime I see Nathan Yanko coming into the aid station behind me. He gives me a pat on the back and tells me good job and that we only have nine miles to go. Being that he knows the area so well he briefed me on the last climbs that we would face, and then disappeared up the mountain side! Then Dan Olmstead reappears! Here we go again Dan...how's it gonna finish this time?  Dan and I ran/hiked together for a bit and eventually passed Jaime but Dan started turning it on and pressed on ahead of me.  I couldn't believe how quickly Yanko but distance on us though...he was moving!

The last five miles were all about gutting it out....like most longer ultras. It was getting hot although there were times of gusty winds in your face. Pirates Cove had some awesome views and at one point I said, "are you kidding me?", because it was so surreal and picturesque looking.

Finally made it up to the YMCA and finish line but not before seeing the spectacular view of San Francisco, all the buildings, the Bay Bridge, etc. and after running 60 miles it just all looks so much cooler! ;-)

Tia was waiting for me to put a medal around my neck and to give me a much need big bear hug! I was happy to be finished with a time of 8:51 (a huge p.r.)...and 8th place overall. Satisfied with my strength and consistency throughout the day but always room for improvement... :-)

The guys ahead of me ran a gutsy race from start to finish. They pushed the pace but in the end Dave Mackey was able to squeak away from Mike Wolfe. Hal was hot on Mike's heels which was quite impressive....This year's Western States 100 should be another fun one to watch.  On the women's side it was the women from the Pacific Northwest stealing the show....Pam Smith won in a blazing fast time w/ Meghan not too far back, and Krissy rounding out the podium. I was pleasantly surprised to see Amy Sproston come in not too far back of Krissy given that she strained her calf recently. Lots of hugs went around post race and as usual it was a great vibe of camaraderie.  Thank you again to Tia Bodington and all the friendly and helpful volunteers...this is a top notch event for sure!

OK so back to my issues that I talked about at the beginning that delayed this blog post so much. Well I got back to Portland Sunday morning and took Erica out to brunch for her first Mother's Day and afterwards started feeling a little itching on my leg. I noticed some little bumps and I just kind of chocked it up to a prickly heat bumps because I wasn't really used to all the sun and heat being from Portland, Oregon. It wasn't long until it tripled or quadrupled in size, areas, itchiness, and burning. I started doing some research and quickly realized that I had gotten a nasty case of poison oak. Long story short it spread to all areas of my body except, thankfully, my head and face but is a miserable thing to deal with. The swelling and discomfort even got so out of control that I had to go to the hospital for some Prednisone, and antibiotic. I've been taking oatmeal baths and it still hasn't alleviated too much. I've never had this that bad and after theorizing I think that when I gave up the lead around mile 14-ish to visit the bushes I must have had the poison oak oils on my shorts, shirt, and legs already. I may have spread it around to "other" areas and I just had a major allergic reaction which didn't kick in until 24 hours later. Whatever happened....this sucks!...and I'll definitely take precaution if I go back to Miwok or any other trail run where the stuff is prevalent.

All in all I still had a wonderful experience and I keep telling myself that this is part of the gig of ultra trail running. I always thought that I was never allergic to it...WRONG!  

Here is a well put-together video of the course and race at the 2011 Miwok 100k in the Marin Headlands...Enjoy the video!

Full results can be found HERE

Gear used:

Shoes- Inov-8 F-lite 220- *worked well for the hard-packed terrain and fire roads...much more breathable than when I wore them for White River 50 last summer.  Probably had to do something w/ the socks too.

Socks- Drymax hyper thin- black- very breathable...These are basically like having a women's stocking on underneath...allows maximum breathability.

Amphipod- Endurance Airflow Pouch- This worked great...very flat, bounce-free, easy to access for gels, block shots, etc.  I also used an amphipod 20 oz. hand held.  

Thank you to all my sponsors (Inov-8, Drymax, and Udo's Oil) and very nice to see the Oil the Machine tent there at Miwok being manned by Shane and company. On to the next adventure....peace

Next race:  San Diego 100-miler on June 11th

Running for Mt. Hood Kiwanis Camp

Last year I participated as a counselor at Mt. Hood Kiwanis Camp.  Caring for another in that capacity prepared me for fatherhood and touched me in a way that, much like trying to explain ultra running, is often difficult to articulate.

This is my next project and we would be so thankful if you could help us...even if it's just a little.

Please visit www.runforcamp.blogspot.com to learn more!

Born to Rumble

The 2011 Peterson Ridge Rumble 40-mile trail race held in Sisters, Oregon took place this past Sunday and, since I won the race last year, I was invited back to "defend my title."  It's crazy how much and how quickly things change in 365 days.  Last year we found out the gender of our baby the day before the race, and Erica barely had a round tummy as we made a weekend trip to the low-key central Oregon event. This year we had an extra traveler (Farah, seven months old) and, with all of our gear, our weekend getaway looked more like a Mt. Everest summit!

We ended up staying in the Best Western Ponderosa Lodge, which is the same place we stayed last year.  The fact that there are friendly llamas right outside of our room and that we're a quick jaunt away from the start/finish area makes it really enjoyable and convenient.

(The lodge even has little bowls of feed for us to bond with the animals.  Photo Erica Wagner)

Once we got settled into our room we realized that we were serendipitously four doors down from Dan Olmstead. It ended up working out nicely too because he provided lodging for three other runners and we enjoyed ourselves just hanging out the night before.

Race morning wasn't as cold as the prior year but still a little nippy. We made our way to the start line area and ran into many familiar faces.  Before long we were directed to the trail head where Sean gave us some brief instruction as spectators gathered around. He counted us down and we were off....Peterson Ridge Rumble 40-miler was underway!

(Rockin' the red Inov-8 x-talon 190's....in fact I saw a few people wearing 'em too....good choice! and as usual thank you Drymax socks for a blister-free ultra! Photo: Erica Wagner)

I took off of the front after about 30 seconds and didn't run with anyone until over an hour later. I just felt that since I knew the course that I would try to take it out hard (which I do often) and then just settle into "cruise control." Eventually Dan and Jace caught up after aid station two and we got a chance to chat a bit out on the trails. Despite the friendly chatter we were moving pretty good and a little voice in my head was saying, "I hope I don't completely bonk three hours from now!"

At about mile 15 I realized that my Amphipod water bottle carrier's elastic band broke causing the bottle to fall out too easily. I ran for a bit just holding the bottle but eventually made the decision to drop it to an aid station worker, who just happened to be Kami Semick! From this point on I was just running free and it felt so nice....nothing around my waist or in my hands, but I made sure I quickly slugged down a couple cups at the aid stations.

(Zipping along through the ponderosa pines at around mile 24....Photo: Erica Wagner)

At this point I was actually just behind Dan and Jace, for the time being, right before we hit the long dirt road.  Once we got into the road I pulled ahead just a bit before we turned into the trails again. Jace hung pretty close with me but by mile 26, and now back in the forest, I made a move. It was sort of strategic but mostly because I started feeling so good.  Endorphins rushed out and I had goose bumps all over my body as I pulled away from the two. We approached some climbs and I just seemed to power right up them. Toward the top I gave a quick look back and didn't see anyone. Still ten miles to go...."just run" I kept telling myself.

I came to the second to last aid station a little out of breath and made, in hindsight, maybe too quick of a transition not taking in enough fluids. I definitely had enough Gu stashed in my pockets but since I wasn't carrying a bottle the little dixie cups at the aid stations just weren't doing it. Shortly after I was startled by something black ahead of me up in the bushes. Thankfully it ended up being Darla Askew's dog and not a bear, and I then approached Darla and Amy Sproston.  It was a steep, technical, rocky descent and I was forced to take an awkward leap. As I did this I felt my hamstring start to seize up!  AhhhhH! Amy and Darla yelled from above, "are you ok?  you crampin'???"  I assured them that I'd be ok and for them to not tell Dan my status!

I downed an S-cap, a Roctane, but what I think I really needed was some agua! I continued running but had slowed considerably.  A couple of miles passed and I wondered what was taking these guys so long to catch up.  Did I make my move too ambitiously?  Yes, maybe I put a nice gap in between us but did I force myself into bonkville?  Did I start the race too fast??  These are all fine lines we dance when racing and it's very hard to calibrate how hard to push, especially at races of different distances such as 40 miles.

Finally at around mile 37-ish I see Dan approaching from behind.  When I turned around to see him I felt the hamstring seize again a little.  As I was bending over trying to work it out with my hands my abdominal muscle seized up too!  This is something I never experienced and I couldn't believe this was happening.  Dan passes me and I am thinking..."where is Jace? Nick? Joe? Others?  Stay calm....you got this..."just run".  I gathered myself, chewed up another S-cap, choked down another Gu, and descended toward the finish in a smooth, controlled motion.

All the sudden, after a couple minutes, I started running with intention again.  It ain't over yet!  I could see Dan ahead and we approached the school area where we had started some four hours earlier.  I started pumping my arms and doing my best version of a finishing kick.  I entered the track area and I see Dan on the other side!....Doh!!! He's right there!!!  

(In a 40-mile race...300 meters separates the top two! Photo:  Erica Wagner)

(Dan Olmstead finishes numero uno and I'm still huffin' and puffin' on the track! Photo: Erica Wagner)

(What a fun race....I'm satisfied with my run!  I left it all out there! Photo:  Erica Wagner)

Even though I am training right through this race sometimes it's fun to take a risk and just go for it.  Rumble is the type of course that you can do that on.  It doesn't have a lot of elevation change so it doesn't beat up your body the same way some of the more mountainous courses do.  Plus the soft trails of this area definitely are much more forgiving.

Again, Sean Meissner and his crew put on such a great event.  Thank you for all that you do brother!  It's no surprise that it sells out quickly every year.  So maybe we'll see you there next time?  If you have a dog that runs enter them in the 20-miler.  This is such a nice community gathering and I really enjoyed seeing everyone.... and big congrats to all the ran the 20 or the 40.  

(Team Yassine in full effect!  Photo:  Gary Robbins)

We came.....we saw....WE RUMBLED!

You gotta check out these photos taken by wife Erica:  Click HERE

HERE are the results from the 40-miler and the 20

Long Distance Running Coach Charged with Child Abuse

A 32-year old man in Portland, Oregon was charged today when authorities arrived at his home to find him training his seven-month old daughter for ultra marathons.  Child and social services were tipped off when some neighbors noticed the continued "strange" parenting techniques.  One anonymous neighbor claimed to have seen the man taking his daughter through the trails near their home in Washington Park in a "tricked out" baby jogger--"The stroller had hydraulic shocks, lugged tires, and an aerodynamic shape to it....and they were moving through the trails at a pretty dangerous pace for carrying a young toddler", said the concerned neighbor.

Others reported sounds of the baby being left in her music-playing "jump-a-roo" for extended amounts of time to, apparently, build quadriceps muscles, strengthen feet, and to "push through the pain" hoping to build mental toughness.  When the house was searched authorities found a cassette tape that played subliminal messages on a loop while the child napped, and a projection screen for guided imagery.

The child's pediatrician was contacted and admitted that this baby was a little "advanced".  Her Residual Lung Volume and VO2 Max was much higher than toddlers her age, and she ranked in the 99th percentile for muscle tone and mitochondria found in the muscles.

THIS VIDEO was also found when searching the home, and authorities believe that he may be already training the young girl to consume Gu Energy Gels- which are often used in ultra marathons.

The father, who is an avid ultra marathoner and coach, awaits a courts decision.  You can follow the progress of the case by clicking HERE.