Coming off of a spectacular season filled with new adventures, tough competition, successes, lessons, and a couple of bizarre traumatic injuries, I’ve decided to call it a year. Having been eager to try a 24 hour race for the unique ability to “race” against all other previous 24 hour runners, I had been thinking I’d make my first attempt at Across the Years this 31st of December. However I usually take at least four weeks off this time of year to recover mentally and physically and quite frankly I feel like doing just that right now rather than waiting until January to do so. Read the rest of this entry »
This past Sunday, I loaded up my bicycle with at least 50 pounds of local, organic food. Not in ownership of a car, this is nothing unusual, although these are special occasions when I have to be creative about using the panniers, rack, and a backpack.
Not more than a mile from my Seattle apartment is the Broadway Farmer’s Market where I bought ten pounds of pinto beans from one of my favorite growers. In the Yakima Valley, Alvarez Farms grows peppers, tomatotillos, onions, garlic, peanuts, beans, and much more. They tell me next week they’ll have two other varieties of beans which I also plan to stock up on. Their fresh beans I’ve bought in years past, but wished I’d done so in larger quantities as the freshness is like nothing else! Read the rest of this entry »
Last February I did an interview with EliteRunning.com. We discussed my training, transition to becoming vegan, racing, and ultrarunning in general. I’m commonly asked a lot about these topics and feel this interview provides some insight.
Tomorrow, Saturday November 3, is the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials for the Men’s Marathon. More than 130 Olympic hopefuls, the fastest field in history, will start at Rockefeller Center at 7:35 AM, run through Time’s Square, and continue with five loops of Central Park. Usually a small-field, stand-alone race, I’m envious of anyone there to watch it before Sunday’s NYC Marathon. But the event will be broadcast live on NBCSports.com. I’m not going to miss that!
Recently I had the opportunity to view the documentary “Forever Running†which chronicles the life and running pursuits of the legendary ultramarathoner Yiannis Kouros. While including archival race footage and interviews with Yiannis in his home, at work, and while training, Yiannis shares with us his upbringing, historical events, and inspirations that led him to amazing feats of endurance. Over the past thirty years Yiannis has set many world records that may, in his own words, last for centuries. His records span from the 200K to the 10 Day distances. These include his spectacular marks which no one has come near for the 24 Hour road at 290.2 km and 24 Hour track at 303.5 km (188 miles, 7:38/mile)!
Having great respect and admiration for this great Greek runner, I feel he is an inspiration for all runners aspiring to explore the depths of their endurance and inner abilities.
Last weekend I made a trip down to Auburn, CA for the Endurance Capital Expo. It had been almost a year and half since I had been down in Western States Trail country and a few years since I attended the first Endurance Capital celebration.
This year’s event was an indoor expo at the Auburn Fairgrounds, producing a great community vibe and featuring local organizations like the Cool Bicycle Club and the Western States Trail Foundation. Also present were area businesses catering to endurance enthusiasts including Auburn Running Company. Clinics and presentations were provided by Auburn heroes including legendary Tevis Cup rider Potato Richardson, Tevis Cup rider and “father†of the Western States Endurance Run, Gordy Ainsleigh, and five-time Western States Endurance Run champion, Tim Tweitmeyer, among others. I also spoke about my recent wins at the Hardrock 100 and Spartathlon and answered questions from an excited crowd of endurance enthusiasts. Read the rest of this entry »
The women’s finish at the 2007 Chicago Marathon is another memorable moment in sports. Worth taking a look. The course closure may have gotten the press, but this is one amazing finish! This is a fine example of race strategy and tactics.
The award ceremonies are over and most runners are back home following another successful running of an event we’ve come to know as Spartathlon. This year’s event was extra special being the twenty-fifth anniversary. But it was also an emotional one due to the disaster of forest fires that just a few weeks earlier brought enormous devastation to Greece, including the Peloponnese Peninsula where the race runs through. Nearly 500,000 acres were burned and the fires took 65 lives. Although the affect of the fires was felt by the runners and event organizers, the spirit and celebration of the race was alive and well. I’d like to make special note to the German runners who raised 10,000 euro for aid relief as well as point to a link on Daily Frappe with more information and links to numerous ways of helping.
I’ve returned home from Greece having enjoyed another great race we’ve come to know as Spartathlon. My race report for this fabulous international event will follow shortly, but for now enjoy the photos and video from some of my crew: Glenn Tachiyama, Barefoot Ted, and Lisa Bliss.