Planet Adventure Winterfest Trail Marathon Race Report

I'm gonna spit out the detail everyone is looking for right off. I finished in 2:11:25 for 65th place out of 228 half marathon runners. I finished 9th in my age group of 25-29 year old males. My splits were 1:07 for the first and 1:04 for the second loop. Ok now that you have the official results, on to all the fun details that made this race great.


So I arrived to Eagle Creek right around 5:00 to get signed in and pick up my race packet. This was my first Planet Adventure sponsored race so I wasn't sure what to expect, but let me tell you I was impressed. These guys know how to put on an event. The total field (quarter, half, and full marathoners) was limited to 500 runners and sold out weeks before the event. Who knew there were 500 people crazy enough to run a night time trail race on a freezing January night? My point here, the race was not overcrowded and not to small, it had a great feel.

This is a really cool race trailer setup at the start finish line. The two flat screens on the left show a detailed course map including mileage and aid stations. The two screens to the left (and they switched over one of the maps after the race started) displayed live race results for the quarter, full, and half. It was really cool to see how you placed and your splits immediately after running. If you had friends running you could track how they were doing. Very classy setup and much more than I ever expected.

Quick shot of the start finish. It was a bib chip timed event. The bib did not need returned post race which is nice to not have to worry about.

We all gathered for pre-race instructions at 5:40. I was busy looking for all my blogger, daily mile, and runner friends. I did catch on important detail, and one I had pretty much expected, the course was muddy. In fact, we were told 2-3 inches of standing water and mud in places. I think Matt also mentioned quarter marathoners should just wear spikes and they would breeze right through it. More coverage on the mud to come. I was able to find Ben L. and Dan pre-race, but everyone else was bundled up due to the sub freezing temperature and I sadly wasn't able to recognize. The quarter marathoners started their run at 6, and the us halfers were to be off at 6:10. The daylight was still fading, but the headlamp was on for me and most others anyway. 

I contemplated where I should start the race, front pack, mid pack, or back. I wanted to avoid the temptation to take off too fast, but had been concerned all week about the first mile, it's the most tightly winding single track on the course and I feared it wold bottle neck. I started back of the mid pack section, biggest mistake of the night as it would turn out. Just as I feared, it bottlenecked hard as people tried to avoid the muddy spots. First mile was a 12:50 when I planned for a 10:00. I was fortunate in where I started to pick up a new running friend Chris. A tall lanky bearded fella. We paced well together and made good conversation. Chris had quit smoking about a year ago and got back into running. Tonight was a training run for him as he has aspirations to run the Winona 50k this spring (another Planet Adventure race). Cool, one more person who found running as a way to help overcome unhealthy habits. Hmmm, there might be something to this.

We got to the part of the course that on the map looks like you are going to run on the water. There is actually a wide gravel pressed levee that runs through a bird sanctuary section of the lake. This was by far the coolest section of the race as you could see the streams of headlamps and runners across this nearly mile long section. We were also able to pick up pace and start moving at our own speed. We turned in a sub 9 across the levee and up the long slow hill to the next aid station. I had planned to take a gel and water at this point, but was going to rely on the aid station gel. Since we were already behind my schedule I didn't want to take anytime at the station and grabbed a cup of heed, poured it down, and kept on running.

By this point, complete darkness had set in. My headlamp was working well and there were plenty of runners in front of us so that we knew which general direction the trail would be going. Now, here comes the mud. This next section of the course is almost always wet to some degree until late Summer. Ben and I had been talking all week about how we would rather the temps stay below freezing all week so that it would be a frozen over swamp. Well, it had been above freezing the last few days, rained a good bit, and all the snow and sleet from mid week had melted. There was literally a shoe sucking mud mile. I had thus far kept my feet dry jumping over puddles. At this point, there was no jumping over. I started by trying to find a dry path, but eventually gave up and charged right ahead. I made the mistake of following some other runners around the biggest longest puddle on the course and found myself ducking through brush.

Chris and I along with another runner who enjoyed my pace finished the first lap (6.55 miles) grabbed a bottle of water and headed into round 2. This time no bottleneck through the first mile, but it's still the tightest , turniest, rootiest mile of the course so a slowed pace to keep upright was necessary. I had one close call on a downhill where I was about to run off the trail and literally bear hugged a big tree to keep from falling. I got to the levee again and realized I had lost Chris. I also noticed that at this point there were very few other runners in my vicinity and things were noticeably darker. I got passed by a full marathoner just before the lake, but other than that I was doing all the passing and it felt pretty good.

I was feeling great at this point and focused in on watching my light and the ground in front of me. I was able to keep great form by watching my light. The less it bounces, the smoother and lighter you are running. My sole focus at points was keeping that light sailing without a bounce. I also noticed other peoples lights bouncing from side to side and knew they had to be struggling. Right at mile 9.3 I got a shot of runners high. I felt it start in my head with a happy thought, and then seconds later could feel the shot of endorphines coursing through my veins to my extremities. Now, I've never mainlined anything (not counting surgery) but I imagine it feels a lot like that, only no downside to this high, I just started running faster and smiling. It couldn't have come at a better time, because the longest hill on the course was coming up coming off the lake and back into the trails.

Round two of the mud was much more difficult. This time I did it with a no holds barred full on charge through the center of it all I'm not sorry for splashing you attitude. The mud was muddier, the water was colder. At one point I was wet up to my knees and it felt like a million tiny needles stabbing my feet and legs. Thank God for smartwool socks and awesome tights. It only lasted a few seconds. My Kinvaras also don't hold water (literally) and stayed pretty light. However, running through the mud was like skating. Every step my foot would slide an inch or two. I wore my Garmin and knew my sub 2:10 race was attainable, but I had to keep it up through the mud. The little voice were telling me to stop, but I said heck no and powered on.

I went almost a mile without seeing another runner anywhere in front of me, but was determined to find more people to pass. Finally I saw a light and set a goal, pass this guy. It took me probably 3 minutes, but I caught up and passed just before the creek crossings. I came upon a couple of other runners who knew I was determined (pretty sure I was grunting and swearing as I made the creek crossings and jumped all the logs on this part of the trail) and they just got out of my way, sweet. I saw the sign for mile 6, which this time meant mile 13 and I really picked it up. I found one more poor guy to pass, hit the opening in the trees and full on sprinted the last 50 yards to finish and let out a loud and rowdy howl which was awesomely returned by others. Wow that felt great. And hello, my mom brought my kids to and they saw me finish! Best part of the entire race was hugging each of them.

I'm extremely proud of my finish and know there is much more I can do. I will be back for this event next year. Thanks to Planet Adventure, Eagle Creek, all my new running friends and family!

Weekly Round-Up 01/26/12

The trail half marathon is tomorrow night. I'm prepared, excited, and best of all healthy. I wasn't going to set any time goals, but since I've already proven to myself I can run the distance in a decent time (2:17) that I should set a goal or two. I see many runners set an A, B, and C goal. Given that there are numerous factors going into a trail run that can greatly affect time, I'm going to go ahead and do the same. My A goal is to finish sub 2 hours. However I don't expect this to happen unless all the trail running gods collectively put me in their favor and give me the legs of the Taramuhara people.

I would also happily be granted the legs of Scott Jurek. I do however have my ceremonial running robes ready for the event. Seriously, I washed my compression tights and favorite running shorts. I usually just hang them up to let the sweat dry and put them right back on the next day. This guy will be so fresh and so clean come race start. No worries, I'll be back to my filthy, sweaty, stinky self race end.

My B goal is to finish sub 2:10 and C goal is sub 2:15. I honestly expect myself and know myself to be perfectly capable to achieve B goal, but who knows what the trail conditions will be like and it's my first race of that distance. It's supposed to rain more tonight and stay just above freezing which could make for some really muddy conditions and hence a much slower course. Also, there will be an additional 499 people on the 6.55 mile loop with me, so an entirely new experience. In all likely hood, having 499 other people running with me is going to make me faster. It's kind of like when you're running down a desolate road and suddenly a car or another runner comes along, you can't help but pick up pace just a bit. On the other hand, there are a few single track sections where passing simply isn't possible. So hence the C goal.

On the drinking front, I'm 50 days sober and down to one class left in my recovery class. Despite the cost, I plan to keep attending at least one day a week anyway along with an AA group or two. Last night I got to share my story with the group. I shared the whole narrative, from the seduction and the fun times, to the when it became a problem, how it affected my life, the wake up call, and why I'm sober now. I went on for a good 20 minutes and know I could have shared so much more. It's like I was only able to give the cliff notes version. I had even been rehearsing the story all week, trying to get in all the details, knowing I was going to have the chance to share with the 40 other people. I didn't have to do this, but I wanted to. In doing so, I've been reminded of all the terrible decisions I have made under the influence. The behaviors I once would have condemned that had become so casual in my life. I've yet to share the worst, but there will be a time and a place. The story is ever evolving as I remember and recognize and as I hear other's stories and say, "Oh shit! Yeah, I did that too." Telling my story is probably more for me than anything else, a reminder of why I don't want to drink.

The story I shared in my previous post, An Alcoholic Running to Recovery just in case you missed, was a beginning and an acknowledgment. It's funny, when I started writing the post, I had no intention at all of doing anything more than recapping the run, but it happened and I am grateful that it did. More importantly I am grateful for the outpouring of support from everyone who read.

I will keep on writing, hopefully with some meaning and humor, and hopefully in a way that might reach out to others. I love personal stories of the tribulations of life, this blog will be mine.

One of the stranger things about being sober is that I've remembered  I like pop music from time to time and am ok with admitting it. I absolutely admit I like LMFAO despite all logical reason telling me I shouldn't. You've probably all seen the Elmo parody by now, but it makes me smile. So happy Friday everyone!

An Alcoholic Running to Recovery

A little pre-amble then off to to the post. This is a difficult story for me to tell so I present you with two. One more serious, and another covering a recent snow filled run this past weekend. The run is in pictures and orange italics. The other, well that's obvious. The story is evolving, and more will be added as time goes on. This may be difficult for some of you to read. Shocking to some, particularly family and close friends, but it needs to be said and this is probably the least awkward way. I appreciate the support from you all.

First stop on my 10.6 solo trail and road run (just over 3 miles in), the "Galyan's Bear" at Eagle Creek. All you Indy folk will know this one. I never understood this giant rust covered bear. It looks exactly like the Galyan's bear (Galyan's was Indy's sporting goods store before Dick's bought them out). There are no wild bears in Indiana, except for this one. You might not be able to tell from the picture, but it's about 40 feet tall. I snapped a few pictures, downed some GU, found the trail head and off I went.

So the the year has barely begun and I can already reflect on a number of accomplishments. I didn't make any specific New Year's resolutions, but am keeping up with the trends I started at the end of last year. Most importantly I am celebrating more than a month (43 days) of sobriety and all the positive changes that have come with it. I recently celebrated my first New Year's in a decade that I can remember all of, my 29th birthday, and the end to a more than decade long abusive relationship with booze. I've long been a walking contradiction of an alcoholic and fitness wannabe. It was never that I was an everyday drinker. Didn't drink from sunup to sundown, except for on "special occasions". I've always been employed and never needed that "hair of the dog" to get my day started. So I didn't fit that stereotypical description of an alcoholic, at least not in my own mind. Yet, I had a nagging voice in the back of my conscious asking, "do you have a problem, are you an an alcoholic, just maybe?" I dismissed it, more like gagged and bound it, hid most of my drinking from people who loved me, and kept on partying.

I rationalized my drinking as normal, but I still knew that I drank differently than everyone else. Once that first drink goes in, my main focus is where's the next? My brain responds to alcohol a little differently. I get that first rush of endorphins and crave more. I have a 10 drink minimum (weeknight drinking) and easily 20 or more on a weekend night. Light weeks might be one weeknight and all weekend. Heave weeks could be almost everyday, and of late (especially after the broken foot) had become the norm. I usually disguised my number of drinks by having higher alcohol content craft brew (loved my big ass IPA's), and few very stiff cocktails in between. I could stop at a few, but it's rare and torturous as all I can think about is the next drink. All along the way I've had an off and on again affair with working out, lifting weights, doing crossfit, and a new found love for running I picked up this past fall. The trouble is I never saw the progress I really wanted. I was always battling that hangover, the lack of energy, and all those extra calories. I would fall off the workout wagon every 3 months or so and hop back on after few months of binge drinking harder than normal.

Second picture along the way. I wasn't sure if the trail I was following was ever going to cross this creek so I made my own crossing and gingerly hopped on this snow and ice crusted log. It was an adventure run of sorts anyway. I've never covered this distance on my own. Running in groups is awesome, but I also love running on my own. Right now I prefer to run without music. The calming cadence of my feet and the sounds of nature are all the music I need.

So why the change, why now? I was lucky enough to find my way to a substance abuse recovery class (that journey is another story that I'm not ready to publicly share). I didn't necessarily want the help, but I wasn't entirely opposed to it either.  With caution I proceeded, with hesitancy I approached. Basically what I found is that I was forced to unbound that nagging voice that had long been in the back of my mind; to face who I really was and examine my relationship with alcohol. There have been moments where if I had the courage, I would have changed long ago. But now, for the first time ever, I really want to be sober. I'm enjoying it immensely. I've learned and am learning lots about myself. It's hard at times, like when I'm not in the best of moods. Normally I would fix that right up with a drink, but now I have to deal with myself. The good news is I like myself, my sober self anyway. I've made a lot of bad decisions in my day under the influence and driven by the desire to use when sober. I've been neglectful and selfish at times. I've made a fool of myself far too many times, put others at risk, and most importantly to acknowledge, I've hurt people that I love very deeply. One relationship in particular where the choices I made is the biggest regret of my life.

This is the old road that runs down the west side of Eagle Creek after a fresh snowfall. Someone and their dog beat me to being the first ones on it that day, but I had it all to myself. Running has been a great way for me to get to know myself and what I am capable of.

In the past 43 days I've accomplished more in this budding amateur running career of mine than the past 4 months combined. So far this month I've logged more than 90 miles. I ran my first 13.1 (A Personal Best). Made a solo run to and from my favorite trails (something I dreamed of when I first started running). I signed up for and am running my first half marathon race next weekend (a report will be written) and am announcing signing up for my first full marathon. I will be running the Potato Creek Half/Full/Ultra in northern Indiana on April 28th with some new running friends. I have almost completed my substance abuse recovery classes. I've attended my fist ever AA meeting and am forging relationships with other people in recovery.

This is my favorite view in Eagle Creek. I posted a picture from this same view in the fall and have been waiting for a snowy day to get a winter shot. So in all I covered 10.6 miles in 1:53. I was even able to crank out the last 4 miles of road at a sub 9 minute/mile pace. It's my favorite run yet, I loved every step of snow covered sidewalk, street, and trail.

Now that I have some written reflection, I do have some goals for the coming year. I plan to keep developing new friendships in the running community and developing the ones that have started, discovering who I am, pushing my physical limits, and enjoying life not worrying about that next drink. I will run my first marathon and maybe even greater distance. I will spend more quality time with my kids and family. Maybe I will even find the six pack I have always really wanted. 

My name is Josh and I'm an alcoholic, running to recovery!

A personal best 13.1

I've not been a good blogger this year, or for the past month, but I've been battling some inner demons. Really good news on that front and a much more in depth and heartfelt post to cover that topic later. The good news is I'm winning the fight.

This is me 1/4 mile from the finish at the Eagle Creek Trail Daze in December.

The real reason for this post is to recap a new running personal best for myself. Until this past September, I hadn't been a runner since I ran track my senior year in high school. I competed in the 1600 and 3200, mostly because I'm not a sprinter and no one else wants to do those races. And that was the one and only season of running I ever had. I wound up with stress fractures from chronic shin splints. I can look back now and know for a fact I was over-striding, causing over-pronating, causing shin splints. Heavy heel strikes didn't help the cause either. Ultimately the injuries were season ending and what I thought to be a running career ending stress fractures in both legs. I could barely walk for months. Back then I hit a PR of a 5:14 1600 and a 12:13 3200. The longest distance I ever ran was 9 miles in practice. I was never one to go for a long weekend run on my own. I didn't have the zeal for it back then. I was only doing it so I could letter in sports and to have fun with my friends, both things I achieved.

So this past Saturday I met up with 37 other runners who are all competing in or part of organizing the Planet Adventure Winter Quarter/Half/Full Marathon. I will be running the half. We all met up to give the course (a 6.55 mile loop) a daytime run through as this is a night race! My B goal was to finish one loop at a good pace then assess what I had left in me for a few more miles. My A goal was to do two loops and prove to myself I could finish 13.1. I headed out in the front of the pack couldn't hang with the head group of 8 or so runners, and found myself somewhere in the middle of the first and second pack. At one point I needed to wait up for the second group of runners since several of them were carrying detailed maps. Eagle Creek is full of criss crossing trails and I wasn't sure where to make a few turns to stay true to course. I fit in great with the second pack of 3 other men. We made a few wrong turns and finished the first lap at 6.8 miles in 1:08. They were great company and made running seem like a breeze. I was pretty happy with this pace, felt great after finishing like I was strong enough to get at least to 10 miles in. I stopped for about 10 minutes to chat with other runners who were calling it a day and started to get cold as my sweat dampened layers chilled. It was only 23 degrees out and the daylight was fading.

I headed out for a second round thinking I would get in at least 4 more miles in a shortened loop I developed in my mind. It was tough to get going after losing my core heat, but before I knew it my Garmin told me 11 miles were down. I was started to feel energy sapped at this point and had to set little goals along the way to stay motivated and moving. Run 5 minutes and walk one. Run a quarter mile, then another, then walk a minute. Twelve miles came and went and I was close to being back. At this point my glutes, abs, and hip flexors were burning. At least I know my form was good. I got back to the car at 12.5 miles and decided it could gut a .3 out and back just to reach that nice even half marathon finish. I ran every step of that last .6 and let out a loud and rowdy howl when I finished for a total run time of 2:17. Not bad for a first time. Looking back, I loved every step of those snow covered trail miles (even the sloshy marsh ones). I walked to my car, hunched over and much to my surprise a few tears came steaming off my face along with an overwhelming sense of accomplishment and gratitude for life. I did a little Tebow, thanked God for the ability to do something like this, and wiped the tears from my brow. This is only the first milestone of many, but one I will remember.

Can't wait to see those trails lit up with 500 runners and their headlamps at night!