10th Annual Alternate Chili Run: Wyandotte County Lake, Ks.

After the Lake Perry 50k, I decided to lay low through November in an effort to get healthy. I only ran a total of 180 miles in the month of Samhain. It was also the first month of the year that I didn’t race or run an ultra, so when December came around I was feeling healthy for a change. I decided to run in the KC trail Nerds Alternate Chili Run at Wyco Lake last Saturday.

A Lunar Eclipse to start the day

The MARA Chili run is a road race held on the eight mile paved loop at Wyco. It’s been held there for years. A decade ago, Trail Nerd founder Ben Holmes and a couple running buddies held an unofficial chili run at the same time on the 10.35 mile Psycho Wyco trail (absolutely OFF-pavement) and a tradition was born. Ten years later the Alternate Chili runners nearly outnumber the “roadies”. It’s not a race but a run with multiple pace groups. It’s kind of become a preview or “a taste” of the Psycho for anyone contemplating entering February’s Psycho Wyco 50k. There’s also usually a bunch of first time trail runners ready to be converted.  Overall, it’s a great time on the trails with great company and no pressure to push a very fast pace (I was going to say a “relaxed” run, but there is no relaxing on this course…ever).

Anyway, it was fun to see a bunch of the area runners I’ve raced with over this past year and talk about our 2011 runs and what our 2012 plans are. (I’m always humbled by what KC area trail runners are out there accomplishing)! The alternate chili run was a great day on the trails and a good way to wrap up an “easier” training month.

Now…it’s time to pick it up!

So far my plans for 2012 start with Coleen’s Frozen Ass run in January. I ran this last year as my first 50-mile run and am planning on getting 50-miles again this year. The Psycho Wyco Run Toto Run 50k is in February (toughest 50k in the mid-west!).  I’ll be shooting for my 6^th consecutive finish there. Then there’s the Pi-river rotation ½-marathon in March followed by the Free State 100k in April. I’d also like to do the Hawk 50-miler this year depending on how fast I recover from Free State. And I can’t forget about the Psycho Psummer 50k, either.   

All in all, sort of a repeat of last year’s schedule….until my 1^st 100-mile race attempt in the fall. I haven’t decided which race yet but I’ve narrowed it down to two: The Arkansas Traveler 100 or the Mark Twain 100 in Missouri…. I’d love to hear from anyone with experience at the Traveler 100 or with the trails of the Mark Twain (since it’s an inaugural event).

Anyway, gotta catch some zzz’s. Finals just ended after kickin’ my tail and in the morning I’m hittin the Clinton Lake North Shore for a 25-mile loop.

Thanks to Dick Ross for the Chili Run photos, thanks to Ben Holmes and the Trail Nerds for another awesome event and thanks to all my fellow runners Saturday for the camaraderie and motivation!

See you out on the Trails!

Kickin it pre-race. Somebody told Dick I looked like Geoff Roes....
Clearly they hadnt seen me run...
I actually look more like Danny DeVito 

Lake Perry Rocks! 50K Trail Ultra: A better-late-than-never race report

Back on October 22^nd I ran in the Lake Perry Rocks! 50k but have been way too busy since to get around to writing a race report. Someday I’m gonna write a race report the very next day after a race (probably AFTER I graduate).  Anyway, here goes…

Wow, what a great day that almost didn’t happen. The Friday before the race I started getting flu symptoms. Early in the day I thought it was just normal pre-race jitters, but by 7pm I was feeling really sick.  The pernicious little“ I can’t run tomorrow” thoughts started creepin’ in helped by the fact that I was still nursing a sore right ankle from a sprain at Rock-Haven two weeks earlier and sprain aggravation at last week’s Fall Fell trail race. Feeling sorry for myself I decided to go to bed and re-evaluate my condition in the morning. What a difference a good night of sleep can make.  The flu feeling was gone but the sore ankle was still there so ignoring what my ankle was telling me, I grabbed breakfast and made the two’ish hour drive to Lake Perry in the dark.

The chilly weather woke me up as I milled around the race HQ talking to friends, getting checked in, turning in my drop bag and making some final gear checks. Finally, the RD, Bad Ben Holmes gave the pre-race brief complete with warnings of the leaf-covered rocks (braille-running, he called it), and it was go-time.

Great Lake views

I started out slower than usual (still a little wary about the previous night’s sickness). That was alright because I’m notorious for going out way too hard. I ran with Travis Kierre and Brian Brooks, two tremendous local ultra-runners and cool guys to boot. Travis was running the half marathon so about a mile or so in he got a rocket up his a$$ and took off to catch the front-runners. Brain and I let him go. The next few miles were pretty uneventful, just running and chatting. At mile four or five I picked it up a little bit and left the pack I had been running with. It just felt like the right thing to do and the terrain was pretty runnable. I also knew that some roller-coaster-ankle-breaking-technical terrain was coming up and I wanted to make good time while I could.

 I ran through the first manned aid station and was happy to see Mark Van Nuland manning the post. I’ve ran a number of races with Mark and we typically run a similar pace. He had also volunteered at the Free State Ultra and done a great job taking care of runners there. Rocks! being a two loop course, I knew I’d be in good hands on loop two. That aid station was also the point where Willie lambert’s old Rock Creek trail races used to start so there was an element of nostalgia there too.

Brian passed me in the rolling tech terrain and was running strong. That’s one thing about these races, just when you start to think you’re a bad ass, you get humbled by some of the athletes in these races. Brian finished this race in good form and then he and a contingent of KC trail nerds would run the Dogwood 50k the very next day! Two 50k’s in two days. Awesome.

They must all be looking at the runner..."that idiot didn't stop!"

Overall I felt pretty good the whole first loop. In fact, lacking some familiarity with the course and having no idea where I was when I came through the aid station at mile 15+, I failed to stop and utilize my drop-bag. My original strategy was to reload my gels, throw some body glide on a couple trouble spots, and pop a couple S-caps. At mile 17 or 18 it dawned on me that everything was looking familiar.  Oh well, I saved a ton of time by not stopping and besides, the Rock Creek aid station had to be coming up soon. Had this been a longer or less-supported race, I may have been in trouble but it turned out ok. In fact, I’ve been learning that I can run long without a lot of the gear that I’ve always thought I needed. Back in July at the Psycho Psummer, I had not even used my nathan pack opting instead for a couple hand-held water bottles. I’m starting to believe you just don’t need all that crap, especially in a well-supported race (as all of the KC Trail Nerd races are).

From the half-way point to the second rock creek aid station I didn’t see a single other runner. I felt like I was moving well and when I hit the aid station mark told me there were 15 to 20 runners in front of me. I mooched some body glide and the s-caps I’d been craving and took off.

My second time through the roller coaster tech terrain I took some hiking breaks on some of the ascents as my legs were getting a little tender. I also rolled the hell out of my right ankle (again!?!?!). It hurt like hell for about a ½ mile but once I got through the roller coaster, I was able to pick up my pace and run the rest of the way in. It felt like a real breakthrough. I had never gotten stronger in a race beyond the 25 mile mark so it felt good to pick up the pace from mile 26 to mile 31.

I hit the finish line 45-minutes earlier than my previous 50K PR. Now, since all fifteen of my previous 50k’s were on courses called Psycho, Psycho Psummer, or Flat Rock some of this could be attributed to Lake Perry being a little more runnable of a trail. But it was also my first top twenty finish in the 50K distance (17^th overall). Glad I didn’t listen to the pernicious thoughts trying to talk me into not running this race. They say to listen to your body, but if I did that I wouldn’t do half the shit that I do because my body is a serious slacker.

Finish line, 31+ miles in the books!

What a great race. Huge thanks to Bad Ben Holmes and the KC Trail Nerds for a stellar event. Thanks for bringing races back to Lake Perry. The Rocks! Race series is a worthy successor to the Rock Creek trail races. Thanks also to Brian & Travis for sharing the trail (for awhile, anyway). Tons of gratitude to all of the awesome volunteers who make the races happen. Much thanks to Dick Ross and his fellow photographers of www.seekcrun.com, nobody does it better! It was also great to see Cameron out there again running the 10k, and Eric Viera and Gary Henry killin’ the ½ marathon.

Most of all, thanks and love to Jessica, Alyena, and Ayden; my unconditional support crew! The good luck note you guys left on my desk was awesome!

Up next, some time off to heal and plan my 2012 race year.

The bling

 Trail Nerd "Bad" Ben Holmes & Trail Hawk Gary Henry.
These guys are the Trail running scene in the area and continue
to do so much for the sport