#24 Heating UP

    As promised, here is another example of my stupidity. In this example, I must drag Josh and Hunter into believing the same thing though. United we stand, stupid. First day in the new house we realized that there was no hot water, but the stove was working; had a frozen pizza. We could not spark the hot water tank in the basement, but there was gas in the house because the stove was working. So I called the local fixer-upper, pops, and when he came over he walked into the kitchen and said "that's an electric stove you must not have the gas turned on." My response was- Yeah, that's what I was thinking too... Luckily the local gas company was able to rush over and turn our gas on 11 days after requested (5/28). And let me assure you- there is a big difference between a cool shower when you are overheated, sunburned, drunk, etc. and a cold shower that lacks the ability to warm up in the slightest. Some of my worst recent experiences all come in the shower recently. I have been timing my showers. My personal best cold shower time was 2 minutes and 10 seconds. I know that I heavily reference awesome movies, but I look like Marv in Home Alone when he is taking the electrocution; just standing and violently convulsing until I can't take it anymore.

Sunday 5/25- 15 miler with the housemates. I am convinced that someone slipped a few dozen horse laxatives in my drinks last night as the three of us watched the Pacers blow another game. Adam is an Indianan so is a lifelong Pacers fan, and I hate the Heat so currently we are rooting for the same team. I'd pick OKC if I could choose even though I am upset with them for letting James Harden go, never let a beard like that go. It's stupid easy to run from our place and I love it. We just went down the arb and out and back on the trail. I assume that will be a normal long run route. Simple and easy, aside from having to crawl back up the arb at the end of every run. It's weird, like every time we run down hills on out and back we end up running back up those hills. Who would have thought.

Before Conor started. Once he did, I was enjoying it too much for pictures.

     Conor Oberst did not fail to amaze me in Pittsburgh. It's crazy to think about for me. For the last 7 years I have listened to heavy doses of his work. Often times his music served as therapy for me; anything bothering me and it goes away once Conor is in my ears. There probably hasn't been a more influential person in my life that I had yet to see in person. I wish that I could have shaken his hand, but that dream will live on until I hopefully catch him one more time on this tour. That dream will most likely live on forever. He performed a good chunk of songs from his latest album, Upsidedown Mountain, but brilliantly mixed in some of his older songs that helped turn him into the legend that he is. I can't really describe the show in much detail. The more I think of a way to put it into words the less confident I am in my ability to do so. Let's just put it this way- If I was given the opportunity to pick one person from the world, past or present, to watch on stage/meet in person it would be Conor and I can't think of a reasonably close second to him. So it was two of my favorite hours so far in life. I've only listened to the newest album 15ish times through, but currently this is my favorite from it. And like all of his albums, every song on there will serve as my favorite eventually.

Oh and that reminds me, Dawes is an excellent band. They tore it up for 45 minutes before Conor and played his songs with them. I now own all three of their records and I'm trying to get to know them more and more. I want to see them again on this tour. Ideally, I will find my way to Newport Folk Festival in Rhode Island this July. But like the saying goes- shit ain't cheap.

Monday 5/26- 8 miles with the Patrick through town. Patrick crashed on my mildly comfortable futon after the show and we planned on running once we woke up. And after we woke up and played a few hours of NBA 2k14 we did run, just as planned. Then I went to my dads after dropping Pat off and discovered that he can cut hair better than the people I pay. It's not saving a lot of money because I rarely cut my hair, but it's pretty neat. I then went to celebrate an American holiday full of meat and cookies. There were other options but I'm convinced the healthier the food is the harder it is for me to see it so I can't report on what else was there. I enjoyed it, my philosophy on rating how much I like people consists of two tests. Are they cool while sober? Check, well anyone can be cool sober. Are they cool while not so sober? If that checks out then they are cool. Alcohol brings out everyone's true colors and if those colors are awesome then I dig em. Oh one funny story about it. If you have seen the episode of Family Guy where Brian sees a dog tied up and decides to take it off it's leash and says be free. The dog immediately ate a smaller dog and killed two people I believe. Then Stewie said- that's probably why he was tied up, classic Brian Stewie scene. Well the beagle on the back deck was all tangled up on the leg of the table and a different Adam lifted the leg and untangled the dog. It immediately went and ate the food that a little tike was trying to eat. It wouldn't have been as funny without loving the Family Guy scene. Thanks to that show a lot of random happenings comes off a lot funnier to me than others.

Hot wheels, beat that.

Tuesday 5/27- 6 miles. Slacking on the mileage. That's okay though because I feel healthy and when running 26.2 on a trail I am just happy to not have any tweeks. I went in Fairmont with the town's star in the making. Then I went to Chauncy's for the first time since the Fairmont tried to take my license. My younger sister and pops have the same new fancy phone. There is this game on it called don't touch the white tile or something, basically it's like Dance Dance Revolution on the phone. A few days prior she was stuck at 175 trying to catch her friend at 186. Let me try a few times then I got hooked for fifteen minutes. I put it down with a 195. Then she cheated the next day and claimed(lie) that she did 282 which made me mad. I posted a 297 and said you'll never beat me. she then responded with a picture of a 401 and said beat this! I am still convinced that it is not her phone because I haven't seen her to confirm it. I took my dad's phone after finishing up dinner and waiting for the check and played once. I ripped off a 404 and sent this picture to her with the caption- K, now what? That summarizes our relationship. She tries to beat me and fails at everything. I have never let her have anything, and I'm going to be the same way with my kids. For years she would storm into her room mad that I would always just hammer her in whatever we were playing. But what I wanted to happened has happened. She got genuinely good. When we play super smash bros or super mario kart it is a toss up. And on super mario sluggers it is an upset if I win. I figure you can baby your siblings/kids and let them win everything and watch them amount to losers or you can whip em in everything until they are winners. I am proud of her rage quits though. She's just like me when if she is losing she will just toss the controller, turn off the system, and walk out of the room. Moments later returning like nothing happened. That's okay with me because a sore loser is only sore because losing is a rarity.

Wednesday 5/28- 11 miles. 5 and 6 double. I plan doing 6 right after uploading this so I'm going to go ahead and log it on here. It's been thundering all day but I stayed dry earlier on my run. I want to get stormed on. I love running through heavy rain accompanied by thunder and lightning. Only on short runs. I'd be pretty unhappy if I had a longer run and got dumped on early on. It's a nice break from getting burnt. I don't want to brag, but this place totally has hot water now... High roller alert! I said that I would give you all a tour of the new place, but I'm postponing that until next blog.

 Q &A, clothing optional.

1. How do you feel about your Minnesota Wild getting eliminated by Chicago for the second straight year?

    To be Franklin the turtle, not happy. This has been the best Minnesota Wild team in their young franchise. After gift wrapping two games for Colorado in the opening round and went seven games against an inferior opponent had me livid. Had we lost that series I would never forgive the team. At least I could fathom a series defeat to the Hawks; they won the cup last year so they can't be terrible. I respect Kane, Toews, and their top D pair. I don't respect their depth and think we could have won the series. And I especially think we would have won the series if Chicago had to play their 4th string goalie like we did, or if we had Harding in net; that would be more fun. It's like Prefontaine says in one of the two movies- your opponent is not better than you unless he beats you at your best. Do I think Chicago is better than Minnesota this year, no. Were they better due to injuries and deserved to win the series, yes. Am I salty as hell about it, yes. I am rightfully salty because after next season an inevitable chunk of talented youth will depart because they will be off of their entry level contracts and begin making real money that we can't provide to all of them. I say it every year, but this time it's truer than ever: Next year has to be the year. A sliver of me wants them to keep losing because I love them so much and the first time I walk downtown in Morgantown, 17 hours from St. Paul, and see Mr. Frat doucheface sporting a Wild snapback I am going to just lose it. People around here lie about bandwagoning like they lie about being racist. President Obama and Govna Manchin practically stand together on every subject, WV elects Manchin, but goes red. I can only think of one difference between Obama and Manchin...

2. How many tattoos do you have and do you plan on getting any more?
    4. I got my first one on my wrist 3 years ago. Three on my right leg: ms yellow bird, mr demon, and McDagger. I do anticipate one more on my right leg in the next year. Then that will probably be it. If there are more in my future I'm certain they will stay on my upper legs. Though I wouldn't mind getting a blank tattoo often just for the feeling. I feel like there is a reason that you rarely see someone with only one tattoo, it's an addicting pain. Hurts so good.

3. What are your favorite shoes to train in?
    This one is a toughie. Not because I am in love with various shoes; I really don't care too much about shoes. In high school I went all adidas and had four pair of Solutions. People tell me that isn't a good shoe, but who's to say what good is. Shoes that I hated- old Adidas glides, Brooks Cadence 2, most New Balance trainers. I don't like Nike either, unless I'm going to play basketball. In that case I would wear Iversons. Trail shoes are easier for me to talk about. I've only worn the NB 110v2 (coming out in July) and I love them! But I have absolutely shredded them because I either have wide feet or I go too hard in the paint. The original Brooks Cadence are probably the best shoe ever. I still walk around in those bad boys. Today if I had to pick up shoes I'd probably go with Saucony Kinvara because I feel like it. I never have fancy reasons to get shoes. I like em, or don't.

4. Where is your ultimate vacation destination?
    I don't think this counts, but a vacation that I have dreamed of and plan on doing is training through Europe and Scandinavia. Training- to travel via train. Figure that I would start in Switzerland, train all through there- Geneva, Saint Moritz, Zurich. Then go damn near everywhere in Germany, but highlighted by Munich and Dusseldorf. Then to Amsterdam. If I somehow escaped from there I would return to Germany en route to Poland. I would be sure to not travel east of there and head up to Scandinavia. Copenhagen, Oslo, Stockholm, and on to a ferry to Finland and if I never return from there I am cool with that. My vacations aren't to specific locations. To this point my favorite vacation has been driving to Eugene, Oregon and back. That's a vacation.

5. my son is starting high school XC in the fall...right now he's barely under a 7 min. mile for the 5K. Do you have any tips for how to run faster and uninjured for younger runners?
    Consistency. The best way to improve, especially during the summer, is just consistent running. Gaining fitness doesn't have to be complicated and actually running in general isn't complicated early on. As long as he doesn't spike his mileage too quickly, he should be injury-free. Of course there are always inevitable injuries in all sports. I've had my share of bumps in the road, and progressions. It may still be May, but cross country season is just around the corner. Running should be year round to see the best results. Plus running is fun, why wouldn't ya want to do it year round.

6. If you could live anywhere where would it be?

    I am going to stick with places that I have visited before because it's hard to say I would like to live somewhere that I haven't visited. I see two potential final destinations for me and they are quite different. If I live in or around a city it will be the twin cities. Minneapolis and St. Paul are both in my top three cities individually, along with Pittsburgh. If I move to the great white north( Minnesota. There is nothing north of MN in my mind) I will live out my dream of being the 90 year guy in Xcel Energy Center who hasn't missed a Wild home game in 50 years. Crazy old guy is my dream regardless of where I live. The second area I'd like to spend the majority of life is the Teton Valley. I traveled out to the Grand Tetons on a whim for my first trail marathon and honestly getting in my car and driving back home was one of the hardest things that I have done. I stayed in Driggs, Idaho but I spent time in Alta and Jackson, WY. It is the most beautiful place in the world, that I have seen. I would have to take up cross skiing if I wanted to maintain any sort of fitness though. Sidenote- my two favorite campuses I've visited are Colorado State in Fort Collins and surprisingly Ohio University in Athens. It's surprising because Ohio sucks.

7. What books are on your summer reading list? 

    Jo Nesbo's Snowman is next. A good friend recommended it when I spent the night with him in Kansas City and I purchased it shortly after. Every time I go to start another book I keep picking one over Snowman, so it's definitely passed due. Time and Again by Jack Finney will be after that. I am reading that because Stephen King was inspired and credited this book largely for his 11/22/63 novel that I just finished so I have to pick that up. I always follow books and music to its roots. For instance, Conor Oberst has time and again said one of if not his favorite musician growing up was Leonard Cohen and that he has influenced a lot of his work. So I listen to Cohen and try to take from it what Conor would; I am sure that I don't but it passes the time. I also anticipate having my first fictional book published this year. But I won't go further into that until it's out.

8. When did you first know you had a passion for running?

'07 Team. I overdressed with bball shorts. Best fall ever.

    I love this question! Because it is an easy one, and funny to me. First glimpse of running came in 8th grade track. My girlfriend that remained on in off 7th-10th grade ran hurdles and told me I should come out even though I played baseball. Claimed that they do nothing at practice and we could just hang out a few extra hours, I was out the next day. "What do you want to run?" My response- One or two laps. Don't want to sprint or run too long. Ended up 2:26 and 58 that spring. Decided to go out for CC because of the friends that I had made that spring. Freshman year was probably the most fun I've had still to this day in a season. But I was more invested in the social aspect than the training. Then 8/8/08 came and snap goes my femur. After hating the world for a month or so I found my passion. It took not being able to run to discover that I needed running. I also think that caused my to be easily annoyed when I see talented runners go through the motions. I honestly think injuries can be a blessing not so disguised. I broke my leg and prior was all about having fun and screwing around. Came out of the cast determined to snap everyone's neck. So to speak. In the past few years my passion for running has been tested, but no matter how low the coaster has taken me I have kept my passion alive.

9. Are you considering career options as a runner?

    Depends on your definition of career. Do I plan on making running my only source of income? That would be a terrible decision. Unless there was a weekly Clarksburg 10k. Do I plan on making any money as a runner? No. I'm sure I will make child's money here in there throughout life, but I never plan on it. Running is one of the last sports to try to make money in. I anticipate running forever though, so it's a career addiction. I mean after Sunday I will only have 3 out of 50 states x'd off for my goal of racking up 50 trail marathons or longer. Then perhaps I will take to the roads. Completely different races so I have trail and road marathons rightfully in different categories. I will always have goals as a runner, varying in impressiveness, but $$$ isn't one of them. I am planning on doing the US Skyrunning series fall '15, but that's not really a career; just a plan.

Next:

• Monday, I know I said Sunday but that was when I was under the impression that my marathon was on Saturday. It's on Sunday.
• Review of Conquer the Cove Trail Marathon (Roanoke, VA)
• House tour
• Continuing the constant flow of random happenings/ movie references. 

I enjoyed all of the questions!

 One Love!

#23 New House, New Year, Same Dreams

Digem's Trails

#23 New House, New Year, Same Dreams

Last Friday, 5/16 I spent the day lifting and moving furniture from the town home near Cheat Lake and into a runner's paradise. The new house is in sight of the tempo loop and will make it difficult to not double. Honestly, it serves as the perfect kick in the butt. And I viewed it as such. Before I get to the spacious new house, moving all of my crap was a trouble worth sharing. Looking at everything neatly organized in my room now makes me think of my possessions as more than crap, but when I'm carrying things too heavy for me- it's all crap. Anyone with a pulse has seen Home Alone 1 & 2.  Anyone with a pulse stopped watching when Macaulay Culkin stopped being Kevin. I played the role of Harry and Marv in the second movie. My bed played the role of the big red tool chest; thankfully it didn't weigh much. Chris Hunter helped me out a ton with moving everything and I couldn't have moved without him, but before he got off of work I wanted to move everything from my upstairs bedroom to the front door. Then everything from Josh's upstairs bedroom while he conveniently worked a ton. Being lazy and dreading extended manual labor, I made a decision at the cross road that everyone faces before moving out. Heavy to light furniture or light to heavy? Of course, I went light first. I took my bare queen mattress off of the springs and started maneuvering it through my door and to the top of the stairs. I then quickly back peddled down the stairs. There was a moment when I questioned why I was moving so quickly. That thought came to mind as I clipped my own feet and went airborne down the last three or so stairs. I've always had a fear of breaking my tail bone, but to this point I have avoided it while breaking/dislocating a knee, femur, 8 fingers, bone in my neck, two bones in my foot, 5th metatoe, and growth plate in an ankle. Turns out, I didn't even hurt my tailbone in the spill. I landed against the wall smacking my back and head before landing on my fully intact tail bone. The mattress then smacked me between my spread legs and gave me a friendly pop in the face. I remained seated for awhile before deciding to move everything downstairs. I was shocked that there was no hole in the wall from my back, but the wall's days were numbered. The fall initially reminded me of Home Alone 2, then of a New Years party for either 2008 or 09. A friend was looking for an intoxicated friend and it was one of those perfect scenes when he asks if we have seen his friend just before that friend flew down the stairs and put a knee and head through the wall if I recall correctly. That didn't matter because midnight was around the corner to provide a clean slate. Moving provides a clean slate too. 

Me and Chris Hunter

Chris came over after work and we began moving heavy to light as we loaded the moving truck. Josh has possibly the least convenient chest/dresser that I have ever lifted. Or whatever the proper verb would be since I never 'lifted' it. More like walked it. Tugged it. When that heavy s.o.b picked up steam down the stairs you are damn right I moved and let it penetrate the wall. Then we stealthily shifted the chest around and down the last step; leaving a deep trail in the wall. I had no expectation of a check for a security deposit so I wasn't concerned. Relieved if anything. That chest put a hole in the wall; probably would have killed me. I say probably because I can't say for sure whether or not I am invincible. I've gone over 21 years without accidentally dying, so you never know. I would test my invincibility, but I don't know Spiderman's hours and when he can provide my one get out of death free card so I will just keep on trying to not take physical risks. By the symphony of bones crackling when I get up from bed or walk up stairs I would say that I have had enough hard knocks for this lifetime.

Go ahead, try and bring it in my paint.

By the end of the night I was sleeping easy in my new house in suncrest. I have added Adam as a 2nd housemate so there's a fat chance that he will be a part of blogs moving forward. Also, we live walking distance from Mario's Fishbowl and Blackbear which will know the three of us by name behind the bar by the end of the year. My definition of success has changed often over my lifetime. How good someone was at NBA Jam on SNES, how well you flipped on a trampoline, whether or not you can hit/throw a curve ball, the percentage of homework you turn in without doing it yourself, how fast you can run, and most recently- how happy you are. The last year has easily been the happiest of my life. And that's all that really matters, before I would look at people and say: what a loser, but they seem a lot happier than me. With this move I can't imagine getting much happier. Completely satisfied with a lot of things right now. I'd like to improve on my fitness level and complete a few projects that I've been working on before Sid Meier's next game comes out. Because when that happens I begin losing track of time by the weeks. For the first time in seemingly ever, here is my weekly running blog:

Sunday 5/18- 18 miles. I wanted to run preferably all at once, but ended up doubling up. Josh, Adam, and Russ finished a solid 16 out at Cheat Lake. I went nearly 11 with them before tapping out for a second time due to my stomach being in knots. I exited the bathroom and tacked on another 2 before stopping at 13 for another bathroom break. Later on that evening I went for 5 more because I wasn't pleased with my morning run. If it were fatigued legs or just poor fitness I'd be fine with crappin out 11 miles in, but it was my stomach; legs felt fine. By the end of the day I registered 18, but not in the most beneficial way.

Monday 5/19- 11 miles. Consecutive double, but this one was planned ahead of time. Easy 5 miles and then a speed workout with a few legs of my old high school's 4x8 team who were prepping for a lackluster performance at the state meet in a few days (spoiler). 3 miles of track work and taking the warm up and cool down into consideration- 6 miles was put down for the afternoon. My first hot fudge brownie avalanche at Dairy Cream Corner this year which is embarrassing that it took so long. If you are ever blessed enough to cross Fairmont, WV go to DCC because it is the only place that kinda rocks. Plus you get to see the people of Fairmont so it's a great people watching spot.

Tuesday 5/20- 8 miles. Living in suncrest has provided various loops for me to run, but I think this route will be the most common that I run. Just down junkyard and onto the rail trail and head out toward Point Marion before turning around. So out of all of the potential loops, this isn't a loop.

Wednesday 5/21- 11 miles. With my friend leaving for the summer on an internship, I went 5 miles early with him. It was actually my first time running with him. He has cut weight and is just recently getting into running, but a childhood friend so one of my only non runner friends may turn into a hobby jogger. That would take away a serious percentage of non runner friends. I then went six with Josh, Hunter, and Adam. That will probably be a normal group, so from now on they will be addressed as the boys.

Thursday 5/22- 6 miles! The boys headed out toward Point Marion like I did Tuesday, but I wasn't feeling sexy so I turned early and made a loop back to the house.

Friday 5/23- 8 miles. I took to the streets of Fairmont prior to leaving for the state meet. As I mentioned earlier FS's 4x8 was poo. But after sitting through a day of blah, the 3a boys 2 mile kicked off! Colin Radabaugh (Radbra) has made several appearances in blogs already and has taken titles such as "my favorite high school runner". Coming in with the 8th best mark, I just wanted him to get all state, top 6, but the crazy s.o.b went off and placed 3rd. I will not give my play-by-play or post a picture today, but on one of my next two blogs this week I will post the video once the youtube guys upload it. OH! 3 blogs in 8 days coming up, Whaaaa?

Saturday 5/24- 6 miles. Intentionally cut my planned distance down because I feel quite run down, sunburnt yesterday, wanna be ready for a solid long run tomorrow, etc. Pick an excuse. 68 miles is child's play, but I'm all settled in now and I'll have hot water starting Wednesday so a routine should be hit here soon. Next week I'm only planning in the 70s. Racing in 8 days. The 100 miler has turned into a chore currently. I am getting really pumped for the 50k in September and want to just start getting faster, but I have to keep in mind that I am crippling myself at the end of June.

Book Review

11/22/63 by Stephen King

    I thoroughly enjoyed this book, all 800 pages of it. If you are a fan of time traveling, J.F.K, or the late 50's early 60's: you should enjoy the book as well. I'm going to try to summarize the book without giving any spoilers because I really think it is a good summer read. If it sucked then I would tell you what happens. Basically this school teacher is friends with Al, owner of Al's Diner. He noticed that Al had seemingly aged five years over night one day which was odd because he saw Al almost daily. Later Al tells Jake that he isn't healthy enough to finish the mission and asks for Jake's help since he was a single man with no real ties. Al has a portal into 1958 and every time he goes through it and returns to the present, only 2 real minutes pass. Al was convinced that the world would be a better place if he went back and killed Lee Harvey before he assassinated the president. Due to illness, he was forced to put this mission on Jake, his only friend, and with the Diner being torn down in two weeks, Jake didn't have much time to think about it.
    I enjoyed the book, one of my top ten reads ever, but I do have a few complaints/disappointments.  Though the book is about preventing John Kennedy's assassination, only a sliver of JFK's life is told in the book. For the most part it is about Jake and the insignificant fictional characters that crosses his path. It is Stephen King so of course the story was brilliant and full of twists and turns. If it wasn't I wouldn't have blown through the book in four sittings. I believe this is the longest read ever, unless one of the Potter books was longer. In that case, it is the longest read since then. My second complaint is that King and all of his brilliance simply chalked the assassination up to Lee. I like conspiracies, but more so like the truth. I am not saying that Lee didn't shoot the president, but I don't like that no other theory was mentioned in the novel. I guess it was easier to write if there was only one assassin.
    The one generation that should enjoy this book more than every other would be my dad's. I knew that he would dig it and gave it to him to read which he did very quickly. Being around for the real 50s and 60s makes all the difference in this book. The story is full of references to vehicles, music, celebrities, etc all from that era and provided an escape from this world and let my dad and all others who once lived the era, relive the early 60s. As much as I loved the book, pops loved it more. That is because when they are throwing out all of the dance moves and music and cars, that's like reading deutsch. I didn't listen, drive, or know every reference that was made like he does. I would recommend this read to anyone. I would strongly recommend this to anyone 60+ in age. So If you know someone in that age group, make them read it and they will thank you for it.

On my next blog I will go on about the concert tomorrow, give another example of my stupidity, show my new pad, and potentially answer a Q & A. I have actually had several people recommend doing one. So, if you have any questions about anything and want me to answer, leave the question in the comments and I will copy them over to Wednesday's blog along with my answers.

ONE LOVE!
 
Next on tap:

• Conor Oberst concert tomorrow night
• Midweek Blog Wednesday
• Conquer the Cove Trail Marathon Sunday 6/1 in VA
• Mohican 100 miler June 22nd.

#22 Returning to my roots

5/7/14

#22 Returning To My Roots

    Since the Iron Furnace 20k in Ohio I haven't taken a step on any of my trails. I have been running though. I have also decided to venture through the mountain highways to Roanoke, Virginia for a trail marathon June 1st. That's a different state than West Virginia. I honestly feel like I have to say that in case anyone from not West Virginia is reading this. I have been dumbfounded many times by people's honest to god belief that West Virginia isn't a state. Just last year Josh and myself went up toSchenectady, NY (I want to take this moment to say this is the proudest moment of my life to not see a red squiggly line under a word.) to run in a 15k. Well Josh ran the 15k. I decided to only run 4 miles then thought better of it. Upstate New York is such a beautiful place, it's a shame that it is within the same border of that dirty butt NYC that I hate so much. Anyways, about to turn this full circle. Josh sent in his elite entry from Morgantown, WV. The official entrants were put online- Josh Simpson- Morgantown, VA. One of many times that I think people honestly don't know of this state's existence. Other times people have just told me that they didn't know of WV. But we are the stupid ones. Don't get me wrong, this state is infested with stupid people, but so are the other 36 states I've been in; forcing me to assume America along with every country has idiots. I haven't run on trails in awhile. I believe that was where I meant to start this entry off at. I have taken to my original running routes a lot; something that I haven't done in a long time. Returning to my origins as a run is always the perfect move to pry me out of any rut that I find myself in.

    Last weekend was filled of WV running; and I lived a good weekend by a running spectator's standards. Friday I drove through the woods to Glenville. That is one of this state's many sketch communities. There was the inaugural MEC championship. Best friend Patrick & Co were preparing for another dominant performance. The first event that I wanted to see was the steeple. Glenville is notorious for running the worst meets potentially in the world. 45 minutes it took to raise the steeples from girls 5mm height to a height that you can't trip over. The hurdle crew consisted of one big Glenville State football player. I assume that he could throw the steeple a solid forty yards. But he and the rest couldn't raise it. Eventually it kicked off and Joe killed everyone. 1/1 in distance events for Wheeling Jesuit. Men's and Women because Jen won the female steeple chase by a funny margin. I'm pretty sure she has been running the show since forever. Then Jes won the girls 10k. Now, for my favorite- men's 10k. Luke was the heavy favorite and ran like it. Patrick and Riff were trying to beat a Notre Dame runner who was seeded better than the two of them. They annihilated him. Jesuit 1-3. I am looking forward to watching Luke run at nationals later this month up in Michigan. Funny fact- Joe & Jen and Luke & Jes are both items and won the same events. 

Right after chatting with the 10kers and WV's best coach, esp if you're a male- Ricky Moore, I hopped in my car and flew back through the backroads to i79 and made it down to Laidley Field just in time for Jesuit's future Cardinal's 9:34 3200m. I was about 90 minutes late based off of the rolling schedule posted before Gazette Relays kicked off. But if there is one thing that I faith in it is that no WV meet will ever run on time. I did miss the race I wanted to see, and would have if MEC hadn't run much later than planned. Ol Radabra ran 9:34 in the AAA 3200, but I wanted to see my boy from Fairmont run in the AA 3200m. Honestly he should have been in the AAA race, the fact that my old school has been relegated to AA is annoying. We always had AA enrollment but every sport was competitive on the AAA level against schools with thrice the students. I am convinced the relegation was by request because the football team had taken a turn for the pathetic and they wanted to mask it with worse competition. Granted, I am sure that is not the case, but I will believe it nonetheless. Truth is what you make it. The following morning was the 1600m. Jake ran a 4:44, big PB for him. There was Dave Ciarolla, probably the toughest CC runner in Fairmont Senior this millennium, class of 08. Patrick and myself, '10-'11. Nick Trefz '12. All fantastic runners for FS. Then there was nothing. One of the most embarrassing things I've ever witnessed is the distance team of recent. But that is going to change. Jake is only a sophomore and is making leaps and bounds. Running times faster or similar to the champs that came before him did at his age. There is at least one state title in his future- you heard it here first!

Luz these guys

After his mile I head northeast for Glenville. Day two of MEC was underway and I needed to make the 1500 and 5k. I missed the 15, but made it well before the 5k. The plan was to do the same today as they had done the day before. Sure enough, Luke calmly whooped the field and PatRiff broke the field and took 2nd and 3rd once again. The most impressive part of the entire meet was Patrick's chops n stache. Wheeling Jesuit didn't win the team title because there is a stupid school called Wesleyan that breed a stupid number of mediocre people. To attend that school you must be unable to win anything, but with great numbers of losers comes great number of points. There isn't really a rivalry between Jesuit and Wesleyan because Wesleyan is so terrible at everything. Maybe one day they can learn how to do something well and turn this into a rivalry. 

Coolest pin out of the 36. Part of the hardest 18 you'll ever play.

Next week we are moving into a house on the tempo loop. This means my fitness level will shoot through the roof. Living right on an excellent place to run means that I will be running so much more. I am pumped. With the move comes a 5 day layover period where the current lease is up and the next lease doesn't begin. So I have slowly been moving everything into my old house in Fairmont and will stay there for the five days of Morgantown homelessness. Since I have been in Fairmont a lot, I have been running my old long run courses, hanging with old friends, and running with FSHS's future distance stud. Also I started another season out at Morris Park. Out of the five states that I have played disc golf in, Morris Park is still my favorite park to play in. 36 holes and the option to tee off short or long and throw to short or long pins. It's a disc golfer's paradise. When I snapped my femur in '08 I swore off ultimate frisbee. I replaced that with disc golf and have gotten pretty damn good. I played in a tournament either my junior or senior year of high school and took 4th, beating my U18 age group by like 16 strokes in 36 holes. It was a blast. I love the hippies out there. Shelby is the local legend I'd say. I remember when he first saw me playing and I almost nailed a shot from 100+ft out. "Woah you almost chained that maaan." It's funnier to hear in person. Last year I started playing at Dorseys Knob and hit my first Ace when playing with Justin. The hole was weird, you throw it straight down a hill and wrap it around brush to the left and the pin is set out of sight from the tee off. The throw was terribly short and hard, but it skipped up and hit the chains for an ace. Had it missed I assumed it would have been a 4. 

Hole 9 at Morris Park is almost the exact same set up. Blind tee off. The pin is down a big hill and wrapped around to the left. 190 feet away. The tee off isn't really a 'blind shot' anymore for me. I have played over 100 times through those 18 holes and know exactly where the pin lies. Just because I know where it is doesn't mean I can hit it from 190ft out. Twice in my life I have hit the cage, but the disc never stayed in for an ace. Yesterday I was playing a round with my dad, to be nice I will say our calibers are slightly different. Our way of playing makes it a decent competition though. I throw from the long tee to the long pin and he throws from the short tee to the short pin. For example- on one of the holes he has to throw 235 ft and I have to throw 510 ft. Makes for a close game except today I was hitting all of my shots. Making threes that I never make. I believe that I hit four long three shots out of five in the first 8 holes. I had just come from a track workout at the glorious four turn track in Fairmont. Imagine- 100 meters LEFT, 100 meters LEFT, etc. It was build by idiots. I used to always play a round or two after workouts in high school, that's why we were out; returning to roots. When we got to hole 9, last hole that we planned to play that day, I whipped my disc right above the ground. I always throw it less than a foot from the ground on that hole because the ground drops out from under it. 'Get in' I said as it curved left out of sight around the bushes/trees. I have thrown this whole well over 100 times. Every single time I say get in once it bends toward the pin. Until yesterday every time I said that I would look dumb. But I would always say that just in case it would find its way to the cage. Then saying get in as it went in would sound like a boss. Every time the disc cuts left I stand idle for a moment hoping to hear the sound of the chains catching my disc. Yesterday I heard the chains explode. I am not sure what the world record is for the 380ft dash is, but I think I set it. Instantly I threw my hat as high as I could and took off in a dead sprint down the hill to confirm my first ever ace at Morris Park. There my disc was, sitting in the cage. All pink and junk. I rounded the cage and sprinted back up to tee off; with my index finger pointed to the heavens and pumping my fist. I probably sounded like an ass. The only other time I have pumped my fist with my finger raised was on the rail trail from Fairmont to Morgantown last year. Josh and I were running the 18 mile trail when a bald eagle decided to fly with us for a good quarter mile. We both raised our hand and chanted USA for far too long. That was the most patriotic moment of my life. The only thing that would top that is if I rode on the back of a bald eagle as we circled the white house, but I don't see that happening. 

I am completely refreshed and excited for the summer. I have a great feeling about this summer. I am excited for my future. I plan to take all of you along the journey with me. I want to hear what is on everyone's agenda this summer! 

In the comments below, leave me your summer plans!

Coming up:

• Trail Marathon #3 6/1
• No NHL blog. I started it, but was too critical on my work and scrapped it. 
• Lots of Running
• Book Review on 11/22/63 by Stevie King

 One Love

#21 Iron Furnace Trail 20k Review

8 weeks left before 100 miler!
4/21-4/27 - 72 miles

 Iron Furnace 20k Trail Race

Saturday 4/26 @ Lake Hope State Park

This trip started on Friday after running in the rain through Baker's Ridge with Josh and Chris Hunter. Shortly after, Chris and myself drove into Sabraton to pick up Andrew Rhodes and then we headed south for Clarksburg. Then we ventured across the horrendous route 50 until we reached Parkersburg. That is where the road ended on Friday. We got some dirt cheap pizza at Rubi's and, especially for the price, it was damn good. We then went to our hotel in Mineral Wells and Travis from the Sunday wolfpack met us there. I passed out around eleven and was wide awake just before one in the morning. I wouldn't return to sleep until roughly five o'clock, alarm set for six. For some reason recently I have been having sleep terrors and they make it quite difficult to go back to sleep. I also think they enable my restless legs at night. Several times in the last month I have woken in the middle of the night and either spent hours twisting and turning trying to fall back to sleep or I just get up and start doing stuff. It was raining the night before the race which was bad if you preferred to run on dry trails.

Lake Hope ( I assume )

Popped up at six and was out the door shortly after. Tank followed Travis from the hotel through Athens, Ohio and arrived at Lake Hope State Park which is in some small town West of Athens. McArthur I think. I initially heard about this race through talking to Michael Owen, the meet director and founder of SEOTR(South Eastern Ohio Trail Running). He was the first person to greet us and we chatted a bit. After signing up, the four of us went on a warm up. Warm ups are funny. I definitely feel like they are beneficial and necessary, but every single warm I find myself thinking 'shit. what am I doing.' Especially that early in the morning- I never feel to fresh...down there. (my legs) I don't know what got into me, but just before the race I got a huge shot of adrenaline. Perhaps it was due to the fact that there were insomnia cookies, very fitting for my night before the race, and snowville creamery chocolate milk waiting for me at the finish line. Michael did let us know that the race was 13 miles, so it was really Iron Furnace 21k which didn't bother me before the race. I sure wouldn't mind one of these trail races being shorter. After wearing my garmin watch I crossed the line at exactly 13.00 miles. The start was awesome, every race should do a countdown. Perhaps that's what gave me my adrenaline. Everyone counted down from 15 and then we set off. This goofy guy led the first few steps because he said he wanted to lead the race. And then some idiot went out in 6:02 for the first mile. That idiot would be me.

Now deep in the woods, and a decent bit up on Travis, 2nd, I reached a point where I needed to make a decision. I think that was at the top of a hill/cliff that I couldn't have topped without digging my fingers in the side of the mud to pull me up. That was shortly after 3.5 miles; I know because at the top was the first time a took a look behind me and started to realize the damage that I was doing. To myself. I was/am not currently fit enough to be bolting out at like a Digem out of hell for a 13 mile race. So I was standing there with a shovel in my hand, grave dug below me. I could either lay in the grave or walk away and try to salvage a smarter race. I put the shovel down. Went and got a cement truck to fill the grave after I jumped in. If you didn't follow the analogy, I bolted at the top of the cliff and kept running hard even though I knew I had a couple miles left at that pace at best. Sure enough a couple miles later Travis took the lead. Then Rhodes attached to the back of us and we ran miles 5-8 together. At mile 7 Rhodes passed me and I was now the caboose of the train. The picture to the side was taken at 8 miles and the order of runners is misleading. We crested the top of a ridge and Travis and Rhodes took a few steps to far before realizing the pink markings that led us back into the woods. Well I was a few steps off of them so I just cut in on the course while they were backtracking ten feet. I knew the only aid station was right after 8 miles so I used this opportunity to give another surge and go to the station as a group. Though I am leading the pack in the picture, I am easily the worst off at that point.

At the aid station, we all stopped together. I know that I downed a few cups of water and had a GU. Pretty sure my fellow mates fueled similarly. Then we all set off on the gravel road that we would be on for two miles. The race really started there. Right before the 9th mile we started to climb easily the longest hill of the race, but easily the least steep hill. Just a long steady climb. That hill peeled me off of the lead pack and sent Rhodes and Travis. Oh I almost forgot and I'm just going to add it in here. Back at like 6 miles we ran by what I would assume was Lake Hope but it looked more like one of the swamps in Fallout 3. Once we were running in the swamp, the trail was flooded, I had my eyes peeled for a Mirelock. Those things scare the shit out of me. Though it doesn't compare to turning around and seeing a pack of deathclaws chasing you. You run away, but you can't out run them. Actually, stop reading this blog and go log a good 100-200 hours on Fallout 3 and Fallout New Vegas.

 Did you do it? Good, welcome back.

 

Now that your life is significantly better- I will carry on. After topping the gravel hill we went down a very long decline. And by we I mean everyone who ran in the race, personally I suffered through that portion of the race alone. Though midway through the decline I heard footsteps louder than mine, which is rare. Two guys stormed by me and made me look like I was standing still. But I wasn't... I was moving, barely. From mile 10.5 to almost 12 we were running on a single track out and back that you couldn't cheat on. At the turn around there was a heart shaped hole puncher that you had to use to mark your bib. I don't want to brag, but the night before I totally called that it would be heart shaped. I also said that I wanted to be leading the race at that point, punch my bib, and chuck the hole punch into the woods. Because that sounds hilarious to me. The extended out and back gave me a chance to see how the guys were doing. I was honestly surprised to see Rhodes way ahead of everyone else, but stoked nonetheless. Next came Travis who had a good gap on the two Ohio boys that were ahead of me. Don't worry, I had no shot at catching them. My last 3 miles were so slow that I can't post them in case there are any children reading this. I was happy to see Chris in the 6 spot since this was his first trail race and first race over 10k, being a beast. I did eventually crawl to the finishline, but not after some deep thinking up the steepest hill yet at 12 miles. That climb almost brought me to my knees, I slowed to a walk and I have never had asthma before, but I think I had an asthma attack. I was just viciously panting and hoping for death. But if a trail race makes you wish for death at some point- it's a great race and you ran it properly.

I can only assume the little girls were asking how someone can look so terrible 

Travis took second behind Rhodes who set a NEW COURSE RECORD! Granted, it was the inaugural race, so that was bound to happen. He has set the bar right under 1:40. A bar that all of us will hopefully break next year. I think if the trail is dry, we can run a hell of a lot faster. Which is fun. Post race I drowned myself in Snowville Creamery chocolate milk. Sadly I didn't drink as much as I wanted too. It was easily the darkest and richest milk that I have ever had and it just wasn't going to agree with my stomach. If it was all watered down like Yoohoo I could have had a few gallons. Insomnia cookies nearly sent me into a diabetic coma. I assume it was the dry air, but the cookies may have caused the ruining of my vneck. We are standing around for awards and a wasp flies down and smacked me in the nose. Instantly my nose starts pouring blood. I can only hope that it was coincidence. It was dry out, but my vneck was covered in blood and will probably never be the same. This, folks, is tragic. I just want to say a big thanks to Michael and SEOTR for putting up a fun event, and posting pictures overnight. Almost every race is really lazy with that, but this blog is slightly enhanced because they uploaded pictures so rapidly. I look forward to doing this race next year since it is only 3 hours west of Morgantown. I shall be out for revenge. Not against any person, but the trails! They won this round. Actually I've been losing a lot to trails, but having fun in the process.

The last time my vneck was blood-free. Also I am rethinking the amount of cookies I just inhaled.

Champion of the day: Andrew Rhodes

Yes, I am jealous of the locks.

Quick side-note to unmake someone's happiness. To the person that suggested Friday Night Lights to me, I still thank you for seasons 1-2, but I only watched the first episode of season 3 and my god... The writer may actually be the worst writer ever. How in the hell do you end season two with a team still in the hunt for a playoff spot, and starting three with the next season. Coach's wife upgraded from guidance councilor to principal, smash blew out his knee, there is a QB controversy, and worst of all- Tim Riggins a senior for the third straight year! In the first season his brother asked the coach to help him look for colleges for Tim, and Tim and Jason were brothers since forever. Yet in season two Jason graduates and Tim is still in high school. Then season three he is still on the team? C'mon. He's been 18 and buying beer since season one. That makes him a 20 yr old senior. Not to mention all of the holes in the storyline, every character got screwed in the transition. It was great first season, good second season and I won't make the same mistake I made with Heroes when I kept watching until the writers turned a show I initially loved into a crap show. To anyone who hasn't seen FNL, I would strongly recommend the first season, and probably the 2nd. But I would also strongly recommend stopping after that. The rest is fluff. 

Next on Tap:

•  No races until Mohican 100 miler (6/22)***
•  Blog on First Round of the NHL Playoffs coming later this week
•  Moving across town into a boss house in two weeks

One love!

*** there are a few trail races in early June/ late may that I may end up doing. 

#20 Here Comes Peter Cotton Tail

#20- Here Comes Peter Cotton Tail (no relation to the easter bunny)

I got lost up here. Standing to close to the edge.

From time to time I transition from starting my weeks on Sunday to Monday. My reasoning is the simplest: convenience. For instance- Saturday April 12th I ran in the Pilot Mountain Payback marathon. If you haven't heard about that- do yourself a favor and click that entry on the right. Since I ran the marathon on a Saturday, I took Sunday off in an attempt to regain my ability to walk properly. I knew that was ambitious since I haven't walked properly in years. But who cares about walking. I hear that it is the devil's mode of transportation anyways. (I say that all the time.) My point here is- weeks start on Monday now. This will be the way it is until I feel Sunday is once again convenient. Here is the very end of my marathon. As the announcer once said during the New Balance Indoor National high school championship racewalk mile, and with what I assume the same level of seriousness- here he comes storming to the finish line!

Monday
Quebec Run Trails 16 miles (Supposed to be 10 miles...)

My legs definitely had the 'ran a marathon 2 days ago' feel in them throughout the entire run. On top of that, I hadn't slept the night prior. That isn't bothersome to me though. The night of the marathon I may have slept two hours. And honestly I rarely sleep. I think that is why I recover so well.. Granted, during normal sleeping hours  you will find me in the same place that everyone else is. It's not like I am not resting, but I have seen the sun set and rise without budging countless times. Here comes another epiphany! I must have been in fourth or fifth grade the first time I stayed up all night. Prior to this I would play video games through two or three in the am, but then I crashed. On this night I didn't sleep or play any games. I laid in bed, got up and paced, and most importantly- wrote. Ironically I had an assignment due in school, but wrote about other things. Thankfully I don't have someone telling me to write this blog. That's the safest way to make sure that it never gets written. Something about people telling me to write/do things just really makes me not want to. So unappealing. Anyways, I am having an epiphany because today after the run I grabbed a cup of coffee and passed out. When I woke up three hours later I felt terrible and normal. The first night I stayed up all night was the first time that I wrote down anything, first cup of coffee, and first time that I crashed after the coffee. Habits have to have origins I suppose. ** If you ever see me anywhere, typically Terra Cafe, between the hours of before noon and I am not in running clothes- I haven't slept the previous night. So talk slowly.

I can often be found in this pose. Less attractive though. Ever notice how girls are at their peak appeal when they're asleep?

Back to Quebec. Some people pronounce it kabeck. But some people are stupid and sound stupid when they open their mouth. Maybe it's because I have never run rocky trails so soon after a marathon or perhaps it was the lack of sleep, but I did not enjoy a single step of that solo journey through the woods. Running through little creeks and stepping on rocks is far less appealing after doing it for 26 miles recently. I think it'd be like eating a whole lot of anything but ice cream or pizza, and then being offered that the next day. Even though I think ice cream and pizza are the only fuels to my life, even sometimes I can eat enough to where I just don't want to see either for a few days. Another analogy in case you are one of those people that have never eaten more than a pidgeotto, it'd be like hanging out with someone for a few days nonstop and then going home for some peace only to see you have a text from that person wanting to 'do that again real soon'. Just like the food analogy, there are some clear exclusions. There are some people that I could probably be stuck in a room with forever and not kill myself. I can count those people with my thumbs. Anyways, roughly a ten mile loop was the plan, but leave it to me to take a miserable situation and reorganize it a bit to make it worse. If you find yourself ever in a situation where you take a step back and start to seriously wonder if you have subconsciously been trying to see just how bad you can make a situation: you've added the Digem touch. I used to add the Digem touch to every assignment in whatever course tried to teach me to cook. Just add anything that sounds terrible and see what ya end up with. I turned my garmin watch off at 13 miles, because if I listened to that damn thing beep one more time past the agreed upon distance- it was going into the woods. I found myself at the ass (south) end of Quebec rd. Turns out that is home to a fully functional Hooverville. If you don't catch that reference, America's God, read a us history book. I pulled out a map, thankfully they had one. As I am typing this I realize just how turrrrible that day could have spiraled if there was no map. I found myself at the furthest place from where I had started the adventure. All I had to do was stay on Quebec road for 3 miles and I was back at tank. I would say that was luck, but I don't believe in luck after several unlucky turns. No such thing in luck to get you out of an unlucky situation. They just cancel out and you have ordinary. Anyways, run completed and I can't wait to return with some company. After a run so lame it's hard to not look forward to the next time I go there. There is a massive chance that my next run in those trails is going to be significantly more enjoyable.

Tuesday
Morgantown 10 miles

It was more miserable than it looks.

Could you imagine if every day this week was as long as Monday? That would suck.  I don't have any strong evidence that I the sun burnt me yet again this past weekend in North Carolina. You'll just have to take my word. But on Tuesday I got the frosty d again and I do have evidence. Only in this hellhole can I fall asleep, fully exposed with the window open, and wake up in my full pj's with my electric blanket on hot. Window then closed, of course. Who goes from 80 to 30s in 30 hours? Could you imagine if that continued at such a rate for another few days?

If the temperature dropped 50 degrees in 30 hours, 80 to 30, how long until the temperature dips below Zero?

Feel free to answer that, or listen to one of the million underrated tracks by marshall. The correct answer is who cares because answers to stupid questions like that are only relative to this blog, similar blogs, and every single high school in America that teaches you to hold the slowest kids hand for 8 hours a day. No Child Left Behind- No Child Allowed Ahead. On this beautifully snowy late April day I was accompanied by mr. hunter once again. The miles worsened, plateaued, got better, then sucked. That happens when it is cold out. The beginning is terrible especially when it shouldn't be cold out. Normal people probably store their winter clothes away when the weather breaks, but I have a different philosophy that led to me running in shorts through the snow. When the weather breaks I think- don't have to wash my running pants until next winter. Running pants are pricey, and laundry is trivial. I will wear the same pants on four-five solid runs and continue to wear them until the smell makes me self conscious. Which takes longer than you'd think. Also, washing dirty pants before going out through the woods for an hour or so is like making a bed before sleeping. Which is the case every time you make a bed. Anyways, I think that we made it all through town without anyone yelling slurs about our sexual orientation which I couldn't be further from actually being. But as Seinfeld would say- Not that there's anything wrong with that! That's probably why I have never been really upset about anyone calling me gay while on a run, though it does get annoying to hear it all of the time; big reason why I don't run through streets. But honestly that has the same effect on me as being called a fish, impressively tall, or a man who doesn't enjoy the occasional Nicholas Sparks books; all of those statements would be wrong as well so it's whatever. I actually wish that people would get personal. That'd be awesome. Here are my two favorite comments ever- yes, only two because the world doesn't contain many people that amuse me.

2.- Running through Fairmont in high school, every single day, beside Patrick in equally short shorts for years means we heard all of the same stuff. It was always F this F that by people driving by, F standing for the slur that every male runner hears all the time, but is still tasteless. But this overweight, tank top wearin, teen age baby poppin, typical Fairmont hoe yelled out of her busted up van- 'Faggots, why don't you two go fuck eachother.' I don't know if I have ever laughed so hard for so long on a run. I believe my initial response was turning toward Patrick and saying something along the lines of- well... I mean let's not rule anything out. That was followed by many comments such as- it's what the people want, if you think about it..., she may be on to something, etc. God we had so much fun with that. If someone would just yell absurdities before every run that would make conversations more spontaneous and fun.

1. Naturally my favorite comment came from what I assume was a student as I was running through Princeton's campus. As I was running through princeton, a car rolls up beside me. We are on a long steady climb so they are really trying to go slowly. The back window rolls down and out of the corner of my eye I see a guy fold his arms and put his chin down. I never directly looked at them. This was his dialogue to me, will never forget it. "Hey there. Hey. Lift up your shorts a little, I can only see some of your balls. C'mon baby, don't be a tease." I broke from trying to warm up for a track race to absolutely losing my shit. I laughed so hard, but still never even looked at him. He laughed at me laughing and the day went on. If I was a broad that'd be considered harassment. There's your dose of sexism for the day.

Wednesday
Rail Trail 60 minutes

This run with Josh was a typical run through the arb for us. Just laughing and shooting shit; wouldn't trade it for all the ice cream in the world. No one needs that much ice cream anyways, you'll get a tummy ache. Two events that were funny on this run happened in the lower arb as we ran through the woods. Now in the past Josh has like thermal vision and can spot a snake from a mile away. While running behind him, he yelled and jumped to the side. I immediately jumped as high as I could and picked my knees up. That gave me ample time to examine the ground below me for snakes. Turns out it was a woodpecker who was camouflaged into the branch beside us and made a run at us. I knew I was genuinely terrified because I just shut up. Whenever something startles me I scream. Whenever I think my time on this Earth is over, via snake attack, I shut up. The second event was hilarious, to me. If you've ever had a kid napped then you may not find as much humor in it. We run by a family that says hello to Josh because everyone in town knows him. Typically I murmur 'and his best friend digem' when people address Josh. That's okay I don't like having friends anyways. With friends come expectations. Their little boy ran off on the single track trail ahead of us, Ty I think was his name. 90% chance that I am not remembering the name. Anyways, he's trying to out run us and we are completely out of sight of his family before we reel him in and I said- scoop n score. For idiots, I was insinuating we steal the kid, but it was obviously a funny. After we passed him me and Josh expressed our lack of comfort with the scene that had occurred. Two beards running through the woods behind a tike that kept looking back at us and running away... Not a good look. I was examining the woods to my side for an escape route if Chris Hansen came by throwing out accusations. Thanks to all of these assholes in the world I am terrified to even look at an elementary school. Which sucks because that age is my favorite. Once you learn how to talk, but don't understand how to filter what you say is literally the golden years for conversing. Then you suck until you are old and say funny stuff again.

Thursday
Cooper's Rock 8 miles, give or take some amount of distance.

This is me every time Minnesota fucks up this time of year.

I believe this is the least eventful run of the week. Just two guys playing through the woods for an hour or so. We returned to Rattlesnake trail in Cooper's and ran it backwards. That wasn't too smart. I will use this day to talk about Minnesota Wild. Game One of these playoffs has now become the most devastating game of my life as a fan. To be up 2 goals late in the 3rd and blow it is absolutely disgusting. I don't want to go into details with my opinions on the game because I honestly have nothing but ill will toward literally anyone who tries to talk to me about hockey. I get like that when I get cut. After that game I just remained in the seat that I watched the entire game in. Turned the tv off and just stared at the screen for over an hour. Had nothing else going on. I am typing this portion today (sunday) because it took me this long to even want to report that, but I felt like I had to because it was a highlight of my week. Not a great highlight. It was one of those defeats that lead to a sweep, and sure enough those ...players in Colorado won again Saturday. I watched and will watch every last minute of my favorite people getting their ass kicked again. Because I am loyal to the organization. Loyalty is the most forgotten trait in society. So if you see on tv that Minnesota Wild are playing- yes I am watching and no I don't want to talk about it or anything in the hockey world. Especially penguins since that's all I hear every day. As far as I'm concerned I hope they get bounced in the first round too. Why? Because Columbus is good, but around here everyone sucks except Pittsburgh. So to them I have the same amount of ill will as I do for every other team right now. I've grown into the least sympathetic fan that I know. And I am proud of that.

Friday
Deckers Creek Trail 6 miles
 

Radabra yawning for attention. Standard.

Today served as my day off. This is the first week in awhile that I have run 7 days, but my legs were still pretty shot and I had ambitions for sunday's long run. I ran with Radabaugh- my favorite high school runner. We set off down the rail trail and 2 miles in he pointed out this dirt trail that ran off to the right of the trail. This damn trail had to be close to 90 degrees straight up. I mean we crawled to the top and I got pissed that I didn't have my phone to show you all the cliff we were standing on. Also I wanted to get evidence of the annihilation of a deer up there. We found its skull, most of its spine, and half of its ribs. Oh, and one hip. I was very interested in what had destroyed that poor little bastard. Anyways we ran around there and had a jolly ole time. I like running with Radabra. That's his pokemon name.  I pronounce that- (Raaa- Duh - Bruh). The first time I ever met Radabra was his freshman year, 3 years ago, and the idiot face planted on the paved rail trail. That's when I believed in love at first sight. Little s.o.b has had me laughing ever since. I don't follow the running scene in state anymore so in my mind he's the best at every event because rest of the competition consist of tools that actually don't exist in this world, the world of red bull. People only exist if you believe in them. In my world- overpopulation doesn't exist. There's only a few dozen people- rest are ghosts. I would say they are robots, but I like robots.

Saturday
The Friendly City- 10 miles

I took to the beautifully awful Fairmont roads for my run on saturday. I figured it was the perfect pregame to watch the Wild lose again. I actually enjoyed the run. Running in Fairmont anymore is very hit or miss, but some days I enjoy myself. I also binged on Friday Night Lights on this day. Finished the first season, boom. 

Sunday
PA Gamelands- 15.5 miles

I was satisfied with my run even though I didn't complete as much as I wished. It was ambitious to expect to run a hard long trail run 8 days after a pretty tough marathon. Wolfpack beat up on me again, standard.

Friday Night Lights at its best.

To the person that recommended Friday Night Lights to me- thank you. This week I was glued to my television! I finished the first season. If it is like similar shows- all down hill from here. I plan on watching the rest of it though. There is nothing like small town sports and it is brilliantly written. They have a great way of pulling you into every character's life. I found myself rooting for everyone at some point excluding Voodoo. Who doesn't love to watch a show about high school drama and life? I would never want to go back to that scene, but there is nothing like it. I am assuming Coach Taylor returns for another season; I am looking forward to seeing what happens next. I can't tell who my favorite character is. Most episodes it's Timmy Riggins. I love that guy. I doubt anyone dislikes QB1. I don't really care for Lyla or however you spell her name. She just has really annoying traits. Smash grew on me and I think that was the intention; start off disliking him but rooting for him in the end. I can't talk in too much detail on my feelings without name dropping people, but it's definitely a show that has something for everyone. Hands down one of the best shows that I have seen in awhile. I mean I watched 22 episodes each 45 minutes in three sittings.

If I watched 22 episodes, each 45 minutes in duration- how much time did I spend watching Friday Night Lights this week? 
A) Too much time

Next Race- Saturday Iron Furnace 20k (Ohio.)
 
One Love!

#19 Pilot Mountain Payback Trail Marathon

Race week, what? I love it.

Rattlesnake trail. Too cool to take pictures personally.

Alright, training has been decently far off track. I am hoping that this week serves as the kick in the butt that I need to turn it around for the 100 miler in June. Granted, I am running almost everyday, but I habitually run less than I plan on running because I have felt so run down. I am almost certain that in the past week that I have been sick, but I can never tell because I won't admit it when I am sick. I just go about my ways with far less energy. Today was a good day though. I finally did a workout that I was wanting to do all winter, but the course was constantly covered in snow. I plan on making this a workout that I revisit often throughout my training cycle for both the 100 miler and especially the 50k out in Montana this fall. The arb is slightly less than a mile. On Wednesday I hit up the arb for the workout. The workout is basically a fartlek, press the two long straights and easy down the steep hill and up the big ass arb hill. I can't explain how terribly steep that hill is to people who are not Morgantwats, or whatever the term is for someone living in Morgantown. With the trail marathon on Saturday, and typing this up on Sunday, I am happy that I struggled through this workout Wednesday. Thursday I ventured to Cooper's Rock with Josh and we hit up Rattlesnake Trail which was my first time running/hiking it. It is now my new favorite trail in the park.

If you've read any of my entries, you'll know that I am quick to bash WV. But I can't stand the bad wrap this place gets (because I've always lived in the civilized section). It took several north carolina gals to fill up a full mouth of teeth this weekend. And that horrific southern draw! Not the southern belle, super hot draw. Granted a hot girl has a hot accent as long as the volume is down. The worst thing a female, or male really, can do is talk really loud. There are certainly occasions to raise your voice, either when Minnesota scores a goal or when I am not around. Completely hypocritical when I say that though. I will randomly get really loud regardless of where I am. Ever find yourself in a conversation where you are looking around for video cameras to see if you are being pranked? When my pops and myself were checking in at our choice hotel the manly woman behind the desk started talking...and wouldn't stop. I shit you not, the picture to the right from the Cleveland show is exactly what she looked like! Anyways, she asked if we had dinner yet and not paying attention to what she had said I mumbled no. That response opened up her jello arms and she started pointing every which way telling us about all of her favorite joints to eat in. She had specific recommendations pending on how hungry we were. Not one of the places lacked the buffet option. I assume the only time that those buffets have anything on the table is when she was working. The reason I am being so mean is because I am bitter about leaving my book in the hotel and not remembering until it was way too late to return. I am still hammering out Stephen King's 11/22/63, 300 pages down, 550 to go. And now I am on my second copy. I can already tell that it has a real

Bed mate

opportunity to become the greatest book that I have ever read. I am such a JFK and time traveling nerd that this books makes it hard for me not to get all giddy. I have loved every page of it. 850 pages sounds like a lot, but I can already tell that it won't be enough. It will be impossible for me not to dedicate an entire entry to this book once I finish it. And I am convinced that I will convince multiple cats to read it. And I will be thanked for the recommendation. I mean if you don't like it then you are a communist. Nothing worse than that in the eyes of a 1960 american.

Saturday morning was an interesting start to a race day morning. Evidently all participants received an email the night before with specific directions to the starting line. I didn't check my e-mail. So I just went to the state park like the website said to. After an hour of driving to wrong locations, we made it to the start line! With five minutes to spare. Threw on my shoes, grabbed my bib number, and it was already time to go. I'd say 10-12 steps into the race, pending on how long your stride is, we were all knee deep in the first of eight creek crossings that we would hit throughout the marathon. It was high enough to where I was getting splashed in the face by the water; which became refreshing as the adventure continued. Then we were up the first of dozens of steep climbs. Climbs that are steep enough to make you question what you are doing. The last climb had me saying outloud how upset I was with my life decisions. Granted, at that time I was certain that I was going to die.

Right after 13mi. * I hate steps. Esp in races.

The first 7 miles were not bad at all. A few creek crossings and small climbs in comparison to what would come. When I saw the three half marathoners in front of me turn back I was thinking ' damn, this is a really really easy half marathon for them'. At this point we were standing at the bottom of pilot mountain. Next stop: The top! The next 6ish miles were spend winding and climbing to the top of the mountain. On one of the steep downhills that randomly appeared on the hike up the eventual winner blew by me. I actually stood to the side and let him go because 1. I don't like people on my back when I'm trying to not start a rockslide down a cliff. And B. That's just what you should do. I remember in high school, nothing would piss me off more than running a mile or two mile and junior baby son of a bitch makes you swing wide when you are lapping their sorry ass. I started a habit then that I will forever keep when passing slowpokes. I would swing wide and fold all of my left fingers into a fist excluding my middle finger. And I would jam it right up their ass passing by. On old videos of small races you can see kids hopping in the air as I passed them. The best part about that whole deal was David Collins, my favorite person to lap in high school. I did that to him once or twice and by god after that Collins would be the first to stand in lane two as I approached him after that. It may sound inappropriate, but it cleared the inside lane so I consider it quite appropriate. It's just like someone pulling into the left lane to drive slower than you... Back to the marathon.

The top of Pilot Mountain. And a trail from race.

At the half way point the leader put 5-6 minutes on me. As I got to the knob at the top of the mountain and begin to circle it clockwise, he was coming back from circling it. Typically confidence is on tap for me, but typically I don't feel like death. Storming down the steep mountain I felt great; was really moving. Around 20 miles I was basically back where I had begun but with that luxury came a lot more climbing for me to do. Cross a creek and climb a hill. They had the distance between the creeks down to a damn science. I swear there would be a creek crossing the moment I felt that my shoes were completely dried off by the relentless mid day sun. After doing this twice, after 20 miles, I walked the final creek and hill. List of things that had shut down(in order of pain)- achilles, hamstrings, quads, lower back, calves, head, feet, etc. But that's what I'd expect in a race like that. If it didn't hurt it wouldn't be fun. I was certain that I was being hawked down by third place just like I knew that the leader was opening up an gigantic lead. I will touch on the actual outcome soon. The sights I saw atop Pilot Mountain and circling the knob at the top are second to probably only the Teton Mountains out in Wyoming. There was a moment toward the end of the race that will probably be the last memory of this marathon to escape my head. I changed my entrance into the final creek crossing. Rather than attempting to run into the creek, I decided to pretend like it was the first time that I had seen water. I was very drained and on the hottest day of the short year; I sort of felt like I had never seen water. I crouched down in the water and paused to dip my full arms in the creek and smacked my face against the top of the water. The handful of spectators watching on laughed and cheered. They told me I only had a quarter of a mile left. I told them that I was well aware. Nonetheless I rested in the creek as if it was saving my life. Now we will never know if I would have survived that last quarter mile without drenching myself. It's the longest quarter mile ever.


I finished in 3:45. Only 3 minutes behind of the leader. Only 27 minutes ahead of third. It's funny because no one could have convinced me that I wasn't being run down in the last 6 miles. And there certainly wasn't any way that I would believe that the 5-7 minute deficit I was facing half way through; was actually shortened. Turns out everyone was dying. In trail races I have found out that it is very easy to get stuck in no man's land, but I love that land. In the results below you will see just how alone I was. I crossed the line; no celebration, just relief. I experimented with flat coke on the run. Evidently it settles the stomach. I am curious as to whether or not that was the reason why I couldn't stomach anything for hours after the race. After Wyoming I wolfed down so much food almost instantly. I didn't have flat soda during that adventure and was quick to grab two beers, too. Everyone knows it's easy to eat under the influence of alcohol, etc. I did drink two gatorades, but even that almost came back up. Once my stomach was settled I decided to eat something that I figured would be easy to keep down: Chocolate Xtreme blizzard, 1/2 lb Flamethrower burger, and a large fry from DQ. Is there an easier meal to stomach? Not sure. Driving home through WV from the ass end of the state is the worst trip ever. If you ever have to drive over the New River special bridge on 19 and take 79 all the way to the north, you have my sympathy. I believe that route shows you a lot of WV. That's why I don't like most of it. I am curious as to what you all eat after races. Leave a comment below telling me what you typically eat after a big race/workout. I will decide whether or not you are lame or not lame. If you turn out lame, no worries it's just one person's opinion. But isn't everything.

A few quick notes:

• March Madness- Champion was the one and only pops. The top three have been awarded a Pirates jersey, Patriots shirt, and Penguins glass.(By request, personally I'm indifferent about the Pirates, not a fan of the pats, but love the cheating coach and pretty girl behind center, and hate Penguins fans more and more by the day.) I finished tied for 2nd worst bracket! 19 total played, Woohoo! Here are the full results: http://games.espn.go.com/tournament-challenge-bracket/2014/en/group?groupID=315080
• Next Race: Iron Furnace 20k April 26th in OhIhateo. If you want to get beat, show up. *Not saying that I will be the one to beat you.
• This Week: Back at it and will give the first in-depth training log in quite a few weeks. If you dig those, you're in for a treat. If you do not like running talk, you are in for a treat.
• Stanley Cup Challenge: I do not know college basketball, but hockey... Hockey is my passion. From a fanatic stand point. Think you can predict the Stanley Cup playoffs better than me? Here is a link. Prizes for beating me? None, but I will be pissed off. That's a great prize. http://bracketchallenge.nhl.com/playoff_challenge/leagues/14216   You have until Wednesday evening to join. Group password: sinbin
• Rocktape: For anyone who requested Swiss flag Rocktape a few weeks ago and didn't get their way ( went with pink skulls. ) I am ordering Swiss flag in the next few days.
• Goal Update: Pilot Mountain pushes me all the way up to 2/50 states under my belt. I plan on running a trail marathon+ in every god blessed/damned 'merican state. Ohio in June and Montana in September will put me at 4. If you think you know a fun marathon post 9/11 then let me know. But I won't run a marathon on the roads. 26 miles on a road? zzz...

If the winner stayed home I would have looked like such a boss. Can't wait to run a marathon in shape.

One Love!

1	1381	Edmiston, Jake			03:42:24.154	28	M	Marathon
2	1410	McVicker, Dayton			03:45:36.196	21	M	Marathon
3	1363	Bartash, Nicholas			04:12:19.443	24	M	Marathon