I figured I have offended enough people in my blogging years that those are still read don't care.
So here it goes. Got this from Bad Ben of the KC Trail nerds.
Very funny
http://www.youtube.com/embed/NPdb7ZDJKS4
Don't kill the messenger
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Monday, January 30, 2012
Worth a post
I know someone who turns 50 this week and is going to run 50 miles on his treadmill to celebrate
Think he will make it?
Happy birthday dude
Think he will make it?
Happy birthday dude
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Ice Age 50 Mile...... again. But things are changing
I am not one big on "streaks", although I have at times been inadvertently caught in one.
The most common one is the "I have run x days in a row".
The other is the
"I have run this race x years in a row"
Well, I am caught in the second. Not sure how it happened, because I am not a big fan of the streak.
So in walks Ice Age 50 mile. This race has become my favorite race. It strikes the perfect balance of factors which are in my "zone". Here are some reasons why
1 - Course - It has everything to offer. Technical, flats, hills, scenery. People see it as an "easy" course, but it is really not. It is hard enough to make you run a smart race, but no too hard where it tears you to pieces. You can actually run most of the race.
2 - Time of year - Mid may. Almost never hot. Usually 50s or 60s, often rain/cloudy/overcast/ etc. Rarely hot and humid.
3 - The people - I have tons of great friends who show up every year to represent, set the bar, and put it on the line.
But this year should be a little different......
Last year I was surprised to get an email in late February from "tater Todd" saying I better sign up quickly, as it will fill up shortly after. I was surprised, as the prior year one could sign up on race day (and here we were almost 3 months from the race).
I was also surprised at the race last year the large influx of "newbies" to trail running. I am all for "newbies". I embrace anybody who wants to be a part of this community. But this class of noobs was a little different from when I was a noob. I almost go the feeling that people weren't getting their "cahce" from marathons, so they graduated to ultras to be cool. One can see it in the amount of gear people think they HAVE TO HAVE to run these. Even a 50 miler. (and this is a 50 you can run with almost nothing because of the copious amount of aid stations and frequent access to drop bags).
Enter 2012. The community has been changing, and is showing a much different face. The race director decided to create an official website instead having the site an extension of the Badgerland Striders site. Good call. It used to be tricky to find the site, and it had become a nationally recognized race. It needed it's own (I am not sure if I have that 100% correct with the Striders, so sorry if I am wrong).
So the RD ran into some snags with the website development. No big deal. It was delayed going live. No big deal. Heck, it is January. Who needs to worry about a race in May? Well nobody told that to huge influx of noobs. If you go to the facebook page for the race, you can see threads of people freaking out that the website isn't up yet. One person even commented by saying "Radio silence - for the past week - wouldn't be the way I'd want to treat runners who are interested in participating in my event..."
Wow... Tough crowd. This person went on to defend his comment and saying that there was no disrespect. More surprising were the people who "liked" his comment.
I don't think people realize that trail ultras are much different than typical road races. They take a lot to put on. Sponsorship is rarely in money, but in free stuff. Resources are limited. Races typically don't make money.
Gone are the days of "you are responsible for knowing the course and markings". In are the days of "who marked this course?.... it is horrible. I got lost x times!"
(if you get lost at Ice Age...you need help)
Gone are the days of "results will be posted later this week". In are the days of "come on, this race was chip timed. Why aren't the results posted (this being said a few hours after finishing)"
So I signed up last night for this race, as I saw it was almost full. The website/registration went live Monday, and it hit the 300 mark yesterday. Limit is 375 (which I believe to be the largest), and that will be hit this week easily.
But luckily most of my Sconnie nemesis are on the list. And this year I will show up at least somewhat trained for the race.
And if I don't have a good race, I will pile on the race director and blame it on him.
The most common one is the "I have run x days in a row".
The other is the
"I have run this race x years in a row"
Well, I am caught in the second. Not sure how it happened, because I am not a big fan of the streak.
So in walks Ice Age 50 mile. This race has become my favorite race. It strikes the perfect balance of factors which are in my "zone". Here are some reasons why
1 - Course - It has everything to offer. Technical, flats, hills, scenery. People see it as an "easy" course, but it is really not. It is hard enough to make you run a smart race, but no too hard where it tears you to pieces. You can actually run most of the race.
2 - Time of year - Mid may. Almost never hot. Usually 50s or 60s, often rain/cloudy/overcast/ etc. Rarely hot and humid.
3 - The people - I have tons of great friends who show up every year to represent, set the bar, and put it on the line.
But this year should be a little different......
Last year I was surprised to get an email in late February from "tater Todd" saying I better sign up quickly, as it will fill up shortly after. I was surprised, as the prior year one could sign up on race day (and here we were almost 3 months from the race).
I was also surprised at the race last year the large influx of "newbies" to trail running. I am all for "newbies". I embrace anybody who wants to be a part of this community. But this class of noobs was a little different from when I was a noob. I almost go the feeling that people weren't getting their "cahce" from marathons, so they graduated to ultras to be cool. One can see it in the amount of gear people think they HAVE TO HAVE to run these. Even a 50 miler. (and this is a 50 you can run with almost nothing because of the copious amount of aid stations and frequent access to drop bags).
Enter 2012. The community has been changing, and is showing a much different face. The race director decided to create an official website instead having the site an extension of the Badgerland Striders site. Good call. It used to be tricky to find the site, and it had become a nationally recognized race. It needed it's own (I am not sure if I have that 100% correct with the Striders, so sorry if I am wrong).
So the RD ran into some snags with the website development. No big deal. It was delayed going live. No big deal. Heck, it is January. Who needs to worry about a race in May? Well nobody told that to huge influx of noobs. If you go to the facebook page for the race, you can see threads of people freaking out that the website isn't up yet. One person even commented by saying "Radio silence - for the past week - wouldn't be the way I'd want to treat runners who are interested in participating in my event..."
Wow... Tough crowd. This person went on to defend his comment and saying that there was no disrespect. More surprising were the people who "liked" his comment.
I don't think people realize that trail ultras are much different than typical road races. They take a lot to put on. Sponsorship is rarely in money, but in free stuff. Resources are limited. Races typically don't make money.
Gone are the days of "you are responsible for knowing the course and markings". In are the days of "who marked this course?.... it is horrible. I got lost x times!"
(if you get lost at Ice Age...you need help)
Gone are the days of "results will be posted later this week". In are the days of "come on, this race was chip timed. Why aren't the results posted (this being said a few hours after finishing)"
So I signed up last night for this race, as I saw it was almost full. The website/registration went live Monday, and it hit the 300 mark yesterday. Limit is 375 (which I believe to be the largest), and that will be hit this week easily.
But luckily most of my Sconnie nemesis are on the list. And this year I will show up at least somewhat trained for the race.
And if I don't have a good race, I will pile on the race director and blame it on him.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Happy New Year
As most people commit to their new years' resolutions, I will commit to my curmudgen response. "Why commit to something in the new year when you can commit to it all year long?"
My wife and I rarely celebrate valentines's day as well. Aside from it being a manufactured holiday, valentine's happens in my house year round.
One does not only need a race to hget in shape for. Somwtimes being in shape is enough for to feed the soul.
If you made a new years resolution to get in shape or lose weight, I ask you this....
"What was stopping you before?"
My wife and I rarely celebrate valentines's day as well. Aside from it being a manufactured holiday, valentine's happens in my house year round.
One does not only need a race to hget in shape for. Somwtimes being in shape is enough for to feed the soul.
If you made a new years resolution to get in shape or lose weight, I ask you this....
"What was stopping you before?"
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