enjoycollisions

AT-AT day afternoon from Patrick Boivin on Vimeo.

Though I’ve had the Afton Trail Run my schedule and front of mind for some time now it kinda crept up on me. I think I put it on my race list back in November when I was sidelined with an injury and at the time it seemed so far away and I think this mentality stayed with me till just after the Stillwater Marathon. Completing Stillwater seem to put an exclamation point to the looming July 3rd date on the horizon. It wasn’t months away now it was weeks. And now its come to down to days 17 as I type here now.

It is far to late to put any more training in that will physically help me in this race but what I can do is to prepare as best I can mentally. I run the course about twice a week now and see every twist, turn and step before it happens. I know exactly what to expect around every turn and understand what it takes to make it over the next ridge. I hope that my understanding of the course and my limits will be what takes me that extra distance and allows me to finish my first Ultra.

Last Saturday I wanted to get a good handle time wise of what it would take me to complete a 25k loop so I took the pause off the Garmin and locked it in. Before I left I noticed a few more vehicles in the lot than normal and many with Ultra related stickers on them. This gave me a bit of a motivation for I didn’t want to be the guy that was caught walking rather I wanted to be the guy doing the catching. This attitude might have cost me some friend points for I was bit rude as I didn’t stop to talk at all as collection of fellow trail runners and bloggers (Helen) that gathered at intersection of the “Back 40 Loop” – If your reading this sorry about that, I kinda had my focus on. I moved through the course and a deliberate speed walking hills when I should and running otherwise, I stopped for a bio break, shoe tie and occasionally to hold a tree up. That said I finished loop in 2:40.

The time was one thing but after I was done I felt optimistic that I could jump into it again and enjoy another run around. I figure this puts me at a finish somewhere around 5:30 – 6 hours. For my first Ultra and knowing what Afton can throw at you I would be very happy with this time.

If you have any pointers for a Ultra newbie drop me a note in the comments.

Marathon number 4 is in the books. Sunday morning arrived early with me staring at the clock reading 4:15. I never sleep well the night before a race and for that matter long runs so this was old hat for me. I patiently waited till 4:25 got out of bed, showered and dawned my race gear, grabbed something to eat and stretched out on the inversion table. Anxious to get going I left home at 5:30 to pick up a friend and speedster Tären. She arrived right on time and we headed off to the park and ride, grabbed a bus and headed into downtown Stillwater. This worked out pretty slick for they drop you off in a lot that has about 500 porta-pottas I think. There I met up with my neighbors and friends running the Marathon and Half-Marathon that day. We chatted about our goals and previous races and wished each other luck.

After the quarter mile shuffle up to the starting line and a great national anthem we were promptly sent on our way. It was a warm morning but I couldn’t really get a read on the humidity till about a mile into the race. That is when I realized this might be a bit moist today and I prepared to take in all the water and Powerade I could. Miles 1-6 went off without incident and I was on pace for a 3:50. Though I felt good I knew this was a pace I would not be able to maintain for the next 20 miles. I gave it a shot through mile 11/12 but as my banked time kept getting gobbled up I saw that goal slip away. In a strange way I felt relieved to see that goal fall away and that I realized it early enough to really enjoy the rest of the race. Mile 12 brought me my wife and girls with a big sign, after sweaty hug an kiss I marched off to mile 13.

After a big uplift from seeing my family and removing my pace band I remember for the first time in a Marathon feeling a genuine smile and the realization of how lucky I was to be out here doing what I love. Miles 13-15 came and went with a bit of walking and bio break while mile 16 had me scared half to death as a snapping turtle crossed my path hissing and me as though he was jealous of my speed. Or was he taunting me with his speed – still not sure.

I kept taking in fluids at every chance and made it a point to thank the volunteers and officers that were nice enough to give up a part of their weekend so I run for 4 and half hours. I can’t say I ever hit a wall or anything during the race but I did see plenty of it around me. Through miles 19-24 I had the opportunity to meet and run with some interesting people. Some running their 30th Marathon and others their first. Mile 24 made me commit to myself that I was going to run the rest of the race in no matter the mental conversation that went on telling me to walk. I picked up two American flags that lined the route to give my girls later on and headed out determined not to walk till the finish line. Coming into town is a great mental achievement and my body responded to much quicker pace.

My friend Steve and I have a strange way of running into each other on race routes and this day would be no exception. As I rounded the final turn to the finish line I nearly ran into Steve hobbling along next to his wife and daughter. Thinking he was most likely done I high fived him and moved to get around. It turns out Steve was hurting and his hip had been causing him problems since mile 15. I grabbed his arm and told him we where going to run into together – reluctantly he agreed and we set off for that final 300 yards. With Steve in tow my daughters quickly recognized us and jumped in with me to finish the race. As a Father and a Marathoner I have to say this simple act of my daughters crossing the finish line with me means the world.

So I crossed the finish line at 4:35 – not my worst time and not my best. Sure I had goals to do whole lot better but today wasn’t the day. That said I did have a blast – I met a few interesting people, ran with some friends, gave my daughters a Marathon memory that my spur them on to life of running and I learned a few things about myself along the way.

And if nothing else it was a great training run for my first Ultra Marathon coming up in a month. Look out Afton here I come.

iPad + Velcro from Jesse Rosten on Vimeo.

via Swiss-Miss.

As I write this I’m 5 days out from running the Stillwater Marathon and by this point I’m a bit nervous about to embark on. But for some reason today I have strange calm about this coming weekends race. This calm before the storm stems from a reply to a post at Sea Legs Girl by Olga Varlamova of Run More Talk Less where Olga reminds the writer that frankly no one else cares how fast you finish and to just get out there and enjoy the race and weather you finish or not at least you walk away learning something about yourself. To me this rang very true. I’m a middle of the road runner that is hopeful that I will break the 4 hour mark someday but that said I’m just thankful to be out there running and doing what I love.

I hope you are out there doing what you love.

It may a bit early for the shoe and my trail running career to offer a review on my new Sabino Trail shoe but I must say I’m impressed. I was trying to stick with Solomon and as focused on that brand I quickly lost site of of the many other great shoes out there. That was until a my visit to 45 Degrees in Stillwater MN. last week. I had my eye on the Solomon XT wings 2 for many reasons, brand loyalty, good reviews and well its orange (call me stilly but that matters to me) but after I tried it on and wondered around the store I noticed a weird pinch above my big foot. Years ago I would have played this off and ignored it but I’m a bit wiser now after a few hot spots and blisters.

The lady helping me was patient enough to bring out several other pair to no avail than in one last attempt she showed me the male version to the shoe she wears and presto I was sold. I’d remembered Helen talking about Montrail on her blog one time amongst many others and I thought these people that are on the top of their game must know a few things. After yet another walk around the store enjoying their the lightness and comfort I was sold. It also didn’t hurt they have a bit of orange on them and the store was having a 20% off sale.

I woke up early the next morning and heading to Afton for a quick 25k loop. I quickly noticed the weight difference and cushioning and that new shoe smell. My feet felt comfortable in there and the traction carried me over some of the slickest stuff. I do need to get use to the lower profile of the shoe though, I fell twice out on their maiden voyage, but I’m not sure if that was cause of my increased speed that day or being a bit tired. That said I kinda like falling out there as long as I don’t get hurt. Not that I seek it out or anything but the the dirty legs and scuffs make it look like you really enjoyed yourself.

Between May 1st and May 2nd, 2010, Middle Tennessee received the greatest amount of rainfall in recorded history. It left them with several casualties, millions of dollars in damage and an indelible mark on the city. This video shows but a small sample of the destruction and mayhem wrought by this disaster. Please pray for those affected. If you feel so inclined, please make a donation at the Nashville Red Cross. Via Maniacal Rage.

In the spirit of making ideas happen, we evolve the identity of the 99% Conference every year. For the 2010 edition of this intimate gathering focused on creative execution, the motion graphics were all about bold colors and crisp, decisive movement.

Art direction by Behance’s Matias Corea, animation by Hugh Gran.