tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28606944525184685462024-03-05T19:59:41.620-08:00Ultrarunning and Mountain SportsMark Hartellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13471980321639374338noreply@blogger.comBlogger41125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2860694452518468546.post-90013803396056580882012-12-11T15:24:00.001-08:002012-12-11T15:24:53.876-08:00Opportunity meets Challenge - an open letter<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Author>User</o:Author>
<o:Version>12.00</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/>
<w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
<w:Word11KerningPairs/>
<w:CachedColBalance/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
I find myself in a very exciting but potentially very
difficult situation and it’s complex. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
A little background first. I have been running long for 23
years. Many of my most memorable days have been on the trail and many of my
closest friends, particularly my wife, I met through that love of the trails. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
Clearly as a competitor I have been a consumer, a taker,
more than a giver but I did inherit a race in the UK and organize it for 5
years and I did setup the UK Ultra-running Championships for which I am proud
to say we grew to over 1500 registered runners and pulled together a prize fund
well over $10,000 in value each year. Our values in setting that up were to
develop competitive standards but also to encourage all onto the trails –
whether experienced or inexperienced. We specifically did not want to be
elitist and we ensured that over 50% of the prizes did not just go to
speedsters. Both of these have been pure volunteer efforts that took many hours
of my time but for which I had a passion and which gave me satisfaction.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
Now living in Santa Barbara, I realized it was time to hand
over that series. From next month it will be in good safe hands with two friends
back in the UK and so it seemed very timely that an opportunity should arise
over here. I was approached about being involved in a developing run series and
of course I was excited and interested. In fact it was something I was on the
threshold of doing in the UK and has long been an ambition. I have run hundreds
of events – good and bad – and have views about how an event might ideally be
designed. Here was an opportunity to put those thoughts into practice. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
Adopting the sustainability principle of triple bottom line
I wanted an event to be primarily for the runners but to be sustainable and to
harness the amazing potential for doing good – outreach, fundraising and
activism – the sport with its dedicated participants can offer. We discussed
and distilled that into the following ideas and principles: </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<ol>
<li><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span>Events should offer a bare-bones entry option as
well as the full price version; they should be inclusive to people of all means
and not everyone wants a t-shirt and a medal from every event</li>
<li><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span>Events must be permitted, insured and safe for
the runners. </li>
<li><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">T</span></span>he last person across the line is just as
important as the first and everyone in between</li>
<li><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">W</span></span>hilst some will always want to race, the events
should promote the experience and the love of movement through the terrain.
These are journeys for all, races for some. We changed the naming from “race”
to “run”</li>
<li><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span>The area where the event is held should benefit
either from volunteer labor (trail work requirement) or a financial alternative
to fund appropriate projects that preserve the area whilst making it accessible</li>
<li><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">W</span></span>e should provide an opportunity for those with
a great story and the ability to communicate it to inspire others from all
walks of life – there is enormous potential for outreach in schools and youth
projects </li>
<li><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span>We should encourage the motivation of those
inspired to raise money for their cause and ours and provide them with support
(a free entry)</li>
<li><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">T</span></span>here is a win:win outcome where sponsor money
can be channeled to local community groups who offer their time in support of
the event</li>
</ol>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
It seemed to me that the untapped potential of the Santa
Barbara, Santa Ynez and Los Padres area coupled with beautiful Santa Barbara as
a destination offered the perfect package and the person offering me a piece of
the action had clearly been working for some time on the ideas, naming,
logistics and permits to make this a reality.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
The challenge comes because some of these proposed events
have happened before. They have not been a great success and there are more
than a couple of people with very strong views about the organizer as a person,
his actions and the events. That person is Robert Gilcrest and it is Robert who
has asked me to be co-race director and partner.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
I take people as I find them and I don’t believe in quitting.
In Robert I find someone who is very open about his past addictions and who has
made difficult choices in order to keep his family together. They are still
together and back living in Santa Barbara. Robert has also freely admitted that
he needs support in terms of planning and organization to keep him on track and
round out his meticulous attention to certain details. Like most ultra-runners,
myself included, he shares obsessive tendencies but is now channeling those
into running rather than anything destructive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I believe that whilst we are very different characters we have
complementary skills and share the humility to know that we will always make
mistakes but should try to listen, learn and improve. As long as that remains
the case I would not give up on Robert or the events he conceived. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
I knew that communication and listening would be an
especially important part of the first year or so – to clarify the facts and
reality of what has happened in the past and make sure mistakes are not
repeated. What I did not expect was that some would not give me the opportunity
to explain my position before they rushed to judgement or that I would be
effectively banished from the local running community. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
Yesterday I found myself removed from the local Santa
Barbara Trail Runners group. I don’t know if this was an individual decision or
one made collectively but I am saddened by it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>At the very least it cuts off a vital channel of communication – even if
someone just wants to let me know that they never want to be involved I hope
they would take the time to give a reason and that is learning for me. My hopes
are to turn this thing around and to develop a set of events for which the
local community can become proud. I don’t pretend that we are as significant
but look at what the Leadville race series did for that community. It is a
model I would aspire to. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
I thank you for reading this rather lengthy explanation and
I urge you to contact me – I will make time and listen to anyone. Hoping that
the spammers don’t pick this up I am on “runningmanuk” at gmail.com</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
I <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>will strive to be
open and objective and to demonstrate through actions rather than words that we
will develop and deliver events that are true to the principles I outlined
earlier….and finally, sometimes the best way to sort out the really tough stuff
is on a long run so let’s hit the trails! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
Mark Hartellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01324572884043625052noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2860694452518468546.post-13824999349898719102012-06-22T11:07:00.001-07:002012-06-22T11:07:25.777-07:00A time to appreciate<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-GB</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/>
<w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
<w:Word11KerningPairs/>
<w:CachedColBalance/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0cm;
mso-para-margin-right:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0cm;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;
mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I have, of course, spent many hours over the past few years
considering what motivates me to run long. This is a necessary process, I
think, for anyone facing the realities of ageing and slowing down.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">It was, after all, 23 years ago that I ran my first Bob
Graham round with 3 cigarette breaks and almost no knowledge of suitable
running food.<span> </span>In those intervening years
I have had the fabulous fortune to enjoy many mostly injury free running years
and, through a combination of luck, determination and being prepared to fail, to
experience some wonderful successes. </span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJMAHgmeuaXAXTOQlbZvYuZHHgiiAm45wuP3ww3EDzmbO2fEUmoic44zAzOHTMQnJHHmxOjY7mM53ZKpVg_Y-0T94Y4pBULtTXXaIvM_HidIppBg3Ui6SE25PB3x3Zc_43z_TImqRZVK1l/s1600/san+diego+100+-1_1024x682.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJMAHgmeuaXAXTOQlbZvYuZHHgiiAm45wuP3ww3EDzmbO2fEUmoic44zAzOHTMQnJHHmxOjY7mM53ZKpVg_Y-0T94Y4pBULtTXXaIvM_HidIppBg3Ui6SE25PB3x3Zc_43z_TImqRZVK1l/s400/san+diego+100+-1_1024x682.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
<br /><span style="font-size: small;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">One of the things I did admit to myself was that I am a
competitive animal. My brother and those around me will testify that I can turn
almost anything into competition – who can eat their cereal quickest anyone! To
be near the front of a race gives me a kick; to challenge a record likewise. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">But then there is what running long represents; simplicity
and an extended focus on a single goal. In our fractured daily lives we flit
from this to that, juggling priorities and often passing the time with largely
superficial experiences and conversations. Running 100 miles gives us plenty of
time with ourselves and, if we are lucky enough to have the company of a pacer,
with another person who shares at least the excitement of being out in the
wilds at odd hours of the day. The shared adventure sets the scene for a more
meaningful dialogue about ambition, motivation, faith in others and what is
important. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">So I realised that a previous resolution to quit running 100
mile events was not going to stand. Well, I started one last year and failed at
mile 64 so even if I never ran another, at least finishing what I started
seemed like the minimum courtesy. In fact some half decent training was a
minimum courtesy; in 2011 I was undertrained and faking endurance. I can’t
really understand why no-one told me or why it took me so long to figure it out
but the reality was that I had run the 50 mile distance or more only about once
or twice per year for the past 3 years. Back in the day I was probably covering
that sort of distance once per month on average. Well Duh – it’s going to make
a difference right!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo8pCt-YPor5OCB4o1ZzzHPyda-PHTOZupB1HpBJJUe8P-2tAIegHfgXdJ8cd-JSFnMt1ZEIpZhVVR_b9Ke_6eaKaAfYhfw7wBjsupSU4OzSDDiOuGMQraPwgJ1tG-B9zXRSKFrWoSQA-_/s1600/san+diego+-+2_1024x682.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo8pCt-YPor5OCB4o1ZzzHPyda-PHTOZupB1HpBJJUe8P-2tAIegHfgXdJ8cd-JSFnMt1ZEIpZhVVR_b9Ke_6eaKaAfYhfw7wBjsupSU4OzSDDiOuGMQraPwgJ1tG-B9zXRSKFrWoSQA-_/s400/san+diego+-+2_1024x682.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">So, enough of the thinking and on with the doing. You have
read this far so thank-you and I will assume that you have followed the plan
for the year so far. In summary it goes like this. A great run at Ray Miller 50
mile in late Feb, a new course record on the 68 mile Backbone trail in March, a
tough run at the Sonoma 50 in Mid April and a tough run at Fellsman in late
April. In both the latter races I took longer than hoped but felt strong
through to the finish. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">What I realised relatively early on was that races and the
hard run at Backbone were taking more from me than they were giving. This was
not always the case.<span> </span>In my younger days
I would race, recover within days and be back to the training. The race pace
just added an edge that took my fitness to the next level. Now, a 50 mile race
knocks me out for at least 2-3 weeks meaning that the mileage actually suffers
rather than being boosted by the race miles. So, going into San Diego, I knew
it would not be a romp but I did hope to feel strong provided I started steady. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTEDK4LjVlwZhd6VXqjkCJgqIDruP9h5V7g8CrS7Wp1EHACGXkutS43zt-3fzrrVSfObZ0wqdklBTYqDktpAxUN95QiOIq2qNS1QuMdEM79pPcv1N4lqCf0-EcoaEf-DfRPp64OAkUODjF/s1600/san+diego+-+3_512x768.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTEDK4LjVlwZhd6VXqjkCJgqIDruP9h5V7g8CrS7Wp1EHACGXkutS43zt-3fzrrVSfObZ0wqdklBTYqDktpAxUN95QiOIq2qNS1QuMdEM79pPcv1N4lqCf0-EcoaEf-DfRPp64OAkUODjF/s400/san+diego+-+3_512x768.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">A little about the race; firstly, it’s a misnomer. Downtown
San Diego is 45 miles away and the race actually takes place in the hills
around Laguna – it is a wonderful area mixing Alpine terrain of upland meadows
and pine/granite scenery at around 6000ft elevation with dramatic views from
the main ridge 5000ft down into the Anza Borrego desert.<span> </span>A god chunk of the course runs along the
Pacific Crest Trail and it almost all single track trail. A view of the course
profile leads many to think this is an easy 100 and that is probably what I
thought last year but rocky trail, enough ascent to feel and the combination of
a little elevation, high daytime temperatures and<span> </span>very cold night time temperatures make this
an event with a bit of a sting. Some years the finish rate has only been around
60%. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Compared to last year, the day dawned balmy, no early
morning frost and comfortable to run in a short sleeved top. Having slept in a cosy
cabin rather than a frigid tent I felt good and ready to run. Deliberately
siting myself in the middle of the pack I thought I would escape any pressure
to be up front but the powers of the internet mean that rankings are widely
available and I had to deal with 2-3 incidents in the first few miles where I
would try to let people pass me but they would say “oh no, I shouldn’t be in front
of you” – well, maybe that was then and this is now. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Much of the course is stunningly pretty, especially the
early miles in pine scented meadows with far reaching and lush views. Actually
the course is a series of loops so whilst on one hand you feel you are covering
enormous distances, on the other you continually see reference points such as
the golfball radar installation on the ridge. The first 24 miles were great,
totally steady and set me up nicely for the descent into Noble Canyon – this is
a long long long 7 miles down into a much drier area and I ran dry a good mile
out from the aid station but it didn’t seem to do any damage and, refreshed by
the ice bath sponge, with some food in me and 2 iced water bottles I was
quickly onto the challenging little 50 mile loop. Last year this is where I
started to swoon – it’s about noon by this time and the section has no shade.
This year, though, I was passing a few people who looked exactly like I felt
last year. After the loop it’s a long, long 8 mile mostly up section and it was
at the end of this in 2011 that I first wanted to quit. What a difference, this
time I ran in on my toes, feeling fresh and raring to go; still eating well and
ready to chew up the miles. <span> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Now for some Pacific Crest Trail time – it is a pretty
spectacular section, never more than ½ mile from the highway but it’s out of
sight to the West and as you run along the benched trail just off the main
ridgeline you look East, down around 5000ft to the Anza Borrego desert.<span> </span>All the way through to mile 64 I was steady
and, by this time, despite the slower start, I was around 60 minutes up on the
time from last year. Somewhere between 64 and 72, though, it got dark, a lot
cooler and the effect of eating less started to kick in. By the time I arrived
at Sweetwater Aid Station I was chilled, sore and definitely slower. With
Lynn’s help I put on long sleeve and windproof, hat, buff and gloves and with a
fresh and cheery Krissy to pace me I set off for the climb back to the main
ridge. Within 10 minutes I pulled over to add leggings to the equation – that
was all the clothing I had and it still was not enough.<span> </span>By now I was being passed a little but didn’t
really care and thoughts of quitting started to crowd in. Back at Sunrise Aid
station (fortunately for me, sunrise was still several hours away) I added a
second long sleeve top, a second hat, a large strong coffee and 2 mugs of
potato bisque to the equation – to good effect – we picked up the pace and for
around 5 miles it was great until the calorieometer hit zero again. That seemed
to be the pattern for the next few – into the aid station, get some soup or
similar, pick up a little then fizzle out. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGfUDgO7dVsx1N9TLxP2bMnrLkqzt9L3GBizqx7qzvHMzvleAegn2rTPEz5qi0ZEcLJMJ-ezoluo_v5Wmga_el9rq4ZMzTDMYGUcurpA3fWhLAzATPNkBuu9dWRL-O0c0evMh80xIZfupg/s1600/san+diego+-+4_512x768.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGfUDgO7dVsx1N9TLxP2bMnrLkqzt9L3GBizqx7qzvHMzvleAegn2rTPEz5qi0ZEcLJMJ-ezoluo_v5Wmga_el9rq4ZMzTDMYGUcurpA3fWhLAzATPNkBuu9dWRL-O0c0evMh80xIZfupg/s400/san+diego+-+4_512x768.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Now this is work!</span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> - climbing out of Noble</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Poor Krissy, she urged me to try a gel as I hit rock bottom
again and had to endure 5 minutes of empty retching as my stomach voted loudly its
displeasure at more gel. The next couple of miles on a completely empty tank
were pitiful but then, as the sun came up and warmth returned, we reached an
aid station less than 10 miles from home and a bacon butty was miraculously
offered and consumed. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">In short, the final 28 miles were slow and I was passed by
many people. At the time it felt intense but my pacer was incredibly patient
and we did see the stars, a fox and a glorious sunrise. There is something magical
about being out there in the very early dawn and lots of memories of past times
spent in Scotland and elsewhere in the quiet still of morning flooded my mind. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Well, as you know the pleasure of finishing lasts many times
longer than the discomfort that seems so all encompassing at the time. It took
me almost 26 ½ hours but wearing the sweatshirt with pride makes it all
worthwhile and, with the benefit of poor short term memory for some of the
finer details, the weekend is already a rosy memory. It’s great to have notched
up my first 100 mile finish since 2008, whatever the finish time. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">...and that leads me on nicely to conclusions and thinking
ahead to the future. Is this is good point to retire from 100’s? (again!).
Well, my conclusions are: </span></div>
<ul style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span>R</span></span>eading my articles is probably almost as much
of an endurance challenge for you as running the races is for me. Thank you
again for sticking with it!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span><span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span>My body has changed and I expect that is
permanent; a consequence of age and 23 years of running long. If I were to race
again, the build up needs to build me up and that means long training runs but
not hard races. Interestingly, my good buddy Roch Horton ran no longer than 31
miles all year in his build up and did one 50k race. He posted a great 22 hour
time.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span>I</span></span> am not as tough as I used to be or thought I
was. Without my pacer and crew I would probably still have quit when I was cold
and struggling to warm up. Not wanting to risk needing some sort of emergency
assistance I would have found the reason to drop</span></li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">So, the conclusion is that I need to either use this
opportunity of completing the course to retire gracefully from 100 milers which
would be entirely reasonable after all these years OR I need to find a race so
tough that time is almost incidental. So outlandish that it’s not putting me on
the edge of deciding whether to continue or quit but it casts me adrift in a
sea so large I have no reference point even against which to judge that
decision; a race where the finish is as elusive as walking on the moon. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Does such an event exist? Maybe! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Can I get an entry? Let’s<span>
</span>see!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span></span>Am I man enough? I
will think on that! <span> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">With many thanks to Glenn Tachiyama for the photographs. </span></i></span></span></div>Mark Hartellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01324572884043625052noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2860694452518468546.post-89125829044286650842012-06-08T10:01:00.002-07:002012-06-08T10:01:57.794-07:00San Diego 100<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<img alt="" height="254" src="http://www.sandiego100.com/images/buckle_sm.jpg" width="320" /> </div>
<br />
<br />
Back to the fray. Unfinished business takes me back to the Laguna Mountain area, around 2 hours inland from San Diego and on the edge of the Anza Borrego.<br />
<br />
Last year I pulled out at mile 64; cold, tired and spent. With a little trepidation but also some excitement I will toe the line as number 78 at 7am US time (3pm UK time) to revisit the early miles and discover the later ones.<br />
<br />
I know I have put in the training this spring and I go into this event fully rested having not run more than 20 miles at a single stretch since the Fellsman 5 weeks ago. I will start slow and see how it feels - no heroics just a solid run I hope.<br />
<br />
If you are sitting inside watching the rain beat down and wondering how life is in Southern California - check out www.sandiego100.com - they promise regular updates throughout the event. Anything under a 24 hour finish time will be considered a result by me.<br />
<br />
Full race report to follow next week once I've got it done!<br />
<br />Mark Hartellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01324572884043625052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2860694452518468546.post-29864893562623385432012-05-13T15:43:00.000-07:002012-05-13T15:43:01.006-07:00It Took A While!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-GB</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/>
<w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
<w:Word11KerningPairs/>
<w:CachedColBalance/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0cm;
mso-para-margin-right:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0cm;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
It did take a while; both for me to write this long overdue
update and to cross the finish line in each of my last two races. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivx0nreV2nlftnwsWMIRddFCjo6wI7rAVeBNBvM7p6Qg28RDFqy5Gjr5qQZpJwX-zeSraH3mnOv9j9u-grcn6vjzrUfvbP8Czo2cCG1Xa9l9ALcE-OI9NdIwbLKmYqHR05CAtECkDCFhho/s1600/Sonoma+50_512x768.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivx0nreV2nlftnwsWMIRddFCjo6wI7rAVeBNBvM7p6Qg28RDFqy5Gjr5qQZpJwX-zeSraH3mnOv9j9u-grcn6vjzrUfvbP8Czo2cCG1Xa9l9ALcE-OI9NdIwbLKmYqHR05CAtECkDCFhho/s320/Sonoma+50_512x768.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Before the wheels fell off at Sonoma 50</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
Two weeks ago, the classic UK 61 mile Fellsman was
epic in many ways but let’s step back a few weeks to Lake Sonoma and my second
50 mile race of the year. In my younger days I used to delight in pulling off
“back to back” challenges like the Fellsman and Scottish Islands Peaks race on
consecutive weekends and the High Peak Marathon on a Friday night followed by
the New Chew on the Sunday. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
Based on that, I felt that 3 whole weeks should be ample
time for recovery from my efforts at the Backbone trail – I knew I had worked
kind of hard over the last 18 miles that day but, 3 weeks, surely. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
Well, the field for Sonoma 50 was stellar. John and Lisa
have turned that event into one of the premier 50 milers and ensured an
invitational field that was deep, deep, deep. Conditions in the build-up were
pretty wet and I had already run the return leg of this out and back course so
figured it might be nicely wet and muddy – after all, there is a significant
subset of Californian runners who don’t like to get their feet wet so surely it
would be an advantange? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
We set off fairly fast and generally speeded up on a roller
coaster of a course that really stops you getting into a rhythm. The hills are
short but sharp – I’m not complaining, I actually love the course, just wish I
ran it a bit better. First half was pretty much OK although I saw the leading
runners heading back way sooner than I had hoped and, boy, was Dakota running
fast or what!!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
It was at about the turnaround that a wheel fell off. No big
thing but then a second one wobbled and fell too. OK -<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>so we have a cart to pull but surely a few
gels and a bit of a drink would sort that out in minutes. No, actually both
hamstrings suddenly tightened on the descent back down to the lake after
Madrone Point and, before I knew it, all 4 wheels were off and I was dragging
the cart. Loosely translated this means a limping walk/shuffle at sub 4mph. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
Oh dear, the trouble is I don’t really remember having to
deal with issues like these on races in the part. It is all perfectly normal; after
all, someone recently described Ultra-running as a long distance problem solving
exercise, but the mind has a strange ability to scrub out all the messy,
painful bits and just retain images of running effortlessly along sunlit
ridges. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
So, feeling suitably sorry for myself I shuffled along for a
few minutes, past Wolflow springs where Stan Jensen recorded my split time with
a look that said “I remember when you used to be quicker than this” and onto
the next climb. This proved to be a very good opportunity to talk to myself –
along the lines of “well, you ARE going to finish this so do you want to wallow
in self pity as well as mud, take twice as long and be late for dinner with
Lynn’s family or do you want to take charge of the situation, make sensible
choices and get going as best as you can”. Put that way it seemed a no brainer
so I ate, drank, took big strides to work out some of the tightness in my
muscles and got going again. In the end though, the pretty girl always works so
when Darcy Africa trotted past me I decided this was a good opportunity to
strike up a conversation about Hardrock, running, life and everything. It worked
a treat. What you think is what you become right? So, I was thinking that I was
strong, studly and determined. Well, I at least managed the 3<sup>rd</sup> one
of those and so we ran together for about 5-6 miles before, amazingly, I pulled
ahead a little. The final 11 miles or so took a while but I was now catching
people again so the virtuous circle established itself, Underworld provided the
metronome and I even started running some ups again. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
In the end, what I had hoped might be a sub 8-hour
completion became an 8hr 46minute effort but, hey, no-one older than me was
ahead of me and that’s one of the benchmarks these days.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
The next day I flew back to the UK. Aisle seat booked, I put
on the compression socks and studiously walked around the plane a lot but boy
was I sore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It felt as if I hadn’t run
like that for months and the following days were not much better. Somehow 10 days
passed in a blur and it was time to head up to Yorkshire for the Fellsman</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
...and so, all too quickly, to 50 glorious years of the
Fellsman. Those who know me certainly know my soft spot for this event. First
attempted back at the age of 17 or so as an attempt to step up from the
challenges of the Masters Hike, Calderdale Hike and 4-Inns, this event in some
ways defines my running career. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
After a DNF that first time with a knee locked solid I
returned a few years later as someone with ideas on a Bob Graham round and a
few fell races under my belt. Coming 2<sup>nd</sup> to Phil Clarke massively
exceeded my expectations as did the satisfaction of a grand day out in
Yorkshire. To this day I love the finish which gives just enough time to
appreciate the transition from the high moors to the enclosed fields and then
the descent down into the pretty little village of Grassington. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
Over the years, a 3<sup>rd</sup> place, a batch of wins, a
12<sup>th</sup> (the wheels fell off that year) and a 2<sup>nd</sup> meant that
this would be my 18<sup>th</sup> start at the event. First priority was to
erase the disappointment of last year where I pulled a hamstring and dropped
out after only 11 miles. It really did not come as a surprise when my hamstrings
tightened again coming off Ingleborough – being honest, I had been bad about
stretching the past 2 weeks and had allowed the tightness developed after Sonoma
50 to remain. I<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>really only had myself
to blame and it’s funny to reflect that sometimes it can be the littlest of
things we overlook or neglect. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
I almost viewed it as a good thing – that I was forced to
slow down early. 6 weeks ago I had grand plans of giving Jez and the other youngsters
a run for their money on this course but previous races, the Backbone trail
efforts and more had left me feeling strong but not super fast. So, without the
leaders to worry about I could concentrate on my own race – well, apart from
dealing with the anxious comments and looks of those who still expect me to be
way out front!!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
I think the real story of this year’s event is not mine – I stabilised
at about Kingshouse and clawed back a few places from there to record 12<sup>th</sup>
place in about 12hrs 30something – the real story is about the weather. The race
was held 2 weeks earlier than previously. Often though, late April weather can
be great and, sure enough, February and March were pretty dry months. The deluge
was well underway during April though and then the weekend of the event brought
biting Northerly and Easterly winds. What precipitation there was fell as hail
and sleet and the day just got colder. For most of the second half I was
running in long sleeve top, short sleeve top, goretex jacket, hat and gloves
and still cold!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
At 2am, with checkpoints becoming overwhelmed with
hypothermia cases and with one ambulance call already underway the organisers
took the very difficult but entirely correct decision to abandon the event. It
is a testament to their emergency plan that everyone was returned to base and
that everyone was eventually OK despite a few hypothermia cases. On the final
section as I raced the fading daylight from Park Rash I was acutely aware that
if I had to stop for any reason I would be in big trouble within minutes. I
only really had a survival bag and that would have done nothing. It is sobering
to remember that conditions in the UK can be so demanding. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
So, 2 races, both finished solidly and in times that I was
not happy with but finished nevertheless. Just under 4 weeks now until the 100
miler so I hope they will stand me in good stead. It is clear that I am not
going to be leading at San Diego but its another piece of unfinished business
to get out of the way. I know a good chunk of the course now and it is
beautiful. Two weeks after that I get to work really hard pacing none other
than Lizzy Hawker at Western States. .Acutely aware that there is a good chance
I might get dropped I really need to keep the training going. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
Then maybe, it’s time to hit the mountains. Let’s see!!</div>Mark Hartellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01324572884043625052noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2860694452518468546.post-39886240893570368922012-03-25T18:00:00.011-07:002012-03-25T18:25:14.387-07:00A Great fortnight and a FKT (Fastest Known Time)<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Two weeks with some great and varied running. Still recovering from yesterday’s effort but more of that later. </span> <p style="text-align: justify; font-family: trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal">The week after our Santa Cruz island and Backbone Trail adventures was quiet but I was entered for the Chuckanut 50k on 17<sup>th</sup> March. This year would have been a great race as organiser Krissy had obtained a huge permit for 1000 runners and was celebrating the 20<sup>th</sup> year of the event in style. Unfortunately I waited until I had news of a job before committing to the plane tickets and, by the time I knew I had a job, plane tickets were $500 and up. A little crazy for a 50k. </p> <p style="text-align: justify; font-family: trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal">So, the alternative was round 1 of the local trail series. A simple 11 mile figure<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>8 loop in Romero Canyon which was pretty much the second run I discovered when we first moved to Santa Barbara. Santa Barbara has some wicked fast runners and ex professional cyclists so local races are no walkover but I thought the unusual conditions might help me – wind, rain, low cloud – all very unSanta Barbara like.<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4PEnsQAlRWG5L6CgQa1wdTQEjZRCKgyOb81kd3TnUXrHtuJFPHYNKg5YId_h0q3jKdMxBHoDzfHeF8tloNWyPCnVOsyOq9s64g1ICzdafZIU7uL04ghB7whdHiPwcdwvFKi5RrB9n9vIt/s1600/Mark+at+Romero+Run.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 288px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4PEnsQAlRWG5L6CgQa1wdTQEjZRCKgyOb81kd3TnUXrHtuJFPHYNKg5YId_h0q3jKdMxBHoDzfHeF8tloNWyPCnVOsyOq9s64g1ICzdafZIU7uL04ghB7whdHiPwcdwvFKi5RrB9n9vIt/s400/Mark+at+Romero+Run.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724007149899333346" border="0" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center; font-family: trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">A very British Day at Romero Canyon</span><br /></p> <p style="text-align: justify; font-family: trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal">5<sup>th</sup> place was all I could manage but I did happen to remark to my friend Howard that the forecast was for the rain to turn to snow right down to about 3000ft overnight. He readily agreed to my suggestion that we might have some fun in the snow on Sunday and so I found myself leaving the house in the dark on Sunday morning for a rendezvous in Ojai.<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbP9CZljGnz3hP6X6nFq6qxqLxkzkzrjGvd7dNOdF2xFPhMLk6EWNaxDWK9M9AgI08JL2eJiG5qCKrKFvIRANF8CMEY5R0SJqb68P5Z8J6cG8yi1Qv8Qqxu7i2HCqYXTyLL6MN11JmsZgz/s1600/looking+into+the+sespe_1024x559.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 218px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbP9CZljGnz3hP6X6nFq6qxqLxkzkzrjGvd7dNOdF2xFPhMLk6EWNaxDWK9M9AgI08JL2eJiG5qCKrKFvIRANF8CMEY5R0SJqb68P5Z8J6cG8yi1Qv8Qqxu7i2HCqYXTyLL6MN11JmsZgz/s400/looking+into+the+sespe_1024x559.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724007303063819250" border="0" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center; font-family: trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">Looking into the Sespe Wilderness</span><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTEhPYJ5zRglI0w2sd4c7ZLuLtqeS_aKMKZzjW3OwA5atpvjoXhSAaEhWMvG7sfKdO0n7rSMF9T4ESa45y1P4XNwzrgxIXfHM6FgArMXZOUIpeVwzkllX01LKJUj6VI-rgz3a24XL7z7pw/s1600/a+fun+descent_545x768.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 284px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTEhPYJ5zRglI0w2sd4c7ZLuLtqeS_aKMKZzjW3OwA5atpvjoXhSAaEhWMvG7sfKdO0n7rSMF9T4ESa45y1P4XNwzrgxIXfHM6FgArMXZOUIpeVwzkllX01LKJUj6VI-rgz3a24XL7z7pw/s400/a+fun+descent_545x768.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724007375842428626" border="0" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center; font-family: trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">The safer descent</span><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal">We took a gnarly jeep road up the hill in his big rig and set off running up to Topa Topa and Hines Peak. Sure enough, snow was at 2500ft, early on it was all crispy and we managed to have one of those “one Kahtoola micsrospike each” mini epics to negotiate an iced up ridge on Hines (we elected the powdery bushwack for the descent rather than the exposed ridge). An outing of around 22 miles and 5500ft capped a week in which I recorded under 50 miles but had a lot of fun. </p> <p style="text-align: justify; font-family: trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal">So then – yesterday</p> <p style="text-align: justify; font-family: trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal">When we ran the Backbone Trail over 2 days recently, I made no secret of my interest in running it whole and that the current record time would soon get reduced. Perhaps the fact that one of the two guys who set the current record stated he thought it would stand for fully two years also spurred me on?!</p> <p style="text-align: justify; font-family: trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal">The Backbone Trail was first conceived almost 20 years ago but has only just come into proper existence and indeed one section still crosses a small section of private land with “grace and favour” access. It links a series of existing trails running from the mountains just inland of Santa Monica through to the fabled Ray Miller trail in Point Mugu State Park. Setting off from the Eastern end you quickly gain height to look over downtown LA and planes taking off from LAX. The trail, though is continuous with no more than a couple of hundred yards of tarmac along its whole length. A few sections are fire/jeep road but the vast majority is singletrack – some groomed and some quite rocky. So, it is a remarkably continuous route, often cleaving to ridgelines and with great views to the ocean and inland.<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQoQNh9wJgTeW_q1os7iumVOUD4MkEmvnXzwCFJIqMnTumJ1gRjSt6m7uA4JvknCR70OKeRZHo9-I15Yqqxt1CJeNOPJdoSScBCSzwHACQxWh9zqpRA2pDxPms4zTIp4efZNNatvGaCZUe/s1600/Backbone+-+at+the+start_1024x707.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 276px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQoQNh9wJgTeW_q1os7iumVOUD4MkEmvnXzwCFJIqMnTumJ1gRjSt6m7uA4JvknCR70OKeRZHo9-I15Yqqxt1CJeNOPJdoSScBCSzwHACQxWh9zqpRA2pDxPms4zTIp4efZNNatvGaCZUe/s400/Backbone+-+at+the+start_1024x707.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724007508734489474" border="0" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center; font-family: trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">Backbone Trail start - 07:15</span><br /></p> <p style="text-align: justify; font-family: trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p style="text-align: justify; font-family: trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal">All previous accounts make a few things clear – most have ended up starting of finishing in the dark because of the length of time taken and the fact that they have run in the winter for cooler temperatures. Heat seems to be a significant factor in accounts and it’s pretty much impossible to do the thing unsupported because there is little or no water for most of the route. Finally, route knowledge is critical – there are many many trail junctions with few good<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>maps and the route is completely unsigned in parts. My recce in the company of the local expert, Howard, would be my secret weapon.<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkW9d6tNmMhG5JeVfiC095t7F-QZjcs9aQOpkJCnbJijoOvOjN8PpwS4a9STBX0xbmnR2mLX33jLy-1yWLaCf5W31IkFDD_PAgH_U3rHhgLCnQY-Tw7sH2HEWA5Cn_DJIj9VQKbn1Qb7H0/s1600/Backbone+-+Grilled+cheese+in+hand_1024x768.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkW9d6tNmMhG5JeVfiC095t7F-QZjcs9aQOpkJCnbJijoOvOjN8PpwS4a9STBX0xbmnR2mLX33jLy-1yWLaCf5W31IkFDD_PAgH_U3rHhgLCnQY-Tw7sH2HEWA5Cn_DJIj9VQKbn1Qb7H0/s400/Backbone+-+Grilled+cheese+in+hand_1024x768.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724007673256168754" border="0" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center; font-family: trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">It's warming up - bottom of the big climb from Piuma</span><br /></p> <p style="text-align: justify; font-family: trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal">Once the forecast showed low temps, overcast conditions and low probability of rain I knew it was time to have a go. Another early weekend start then. 04.30 alarm and on the road at 5 for the drive. Inauspiciously, the park gate was closed when we arrived. Fortunately we were able to park within a ¼ mile of the gates and so my planned 07:00 departure was only delayed until 07:15. Lynn had very kindly given up her whole day to crew for me and had a car full of the usual crap that accompanies these attempts – with the addition of the means to create grilled cheese sandwiches, my recent favourite. The two guys I had hoped might pace me near the end were both out of town so it was to be a solo but very well supported attempt.<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggOEyZBB0TVAPUCWsXCCCapaioAz7AZxPZYhW16Z37YJYnv3uJ0OFkcIQHH10snYfWJt_NZmXh5zE6v_x_Sgeu_XxA49bgDqWalXuxO9-2zQwmUa5zqRA9bwFpdXv6j2YhSmhyphenhyphenu1m8XYE4/s1600/Backbone+-+lunch_1024x768.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggOEyZBB0TVAPUCWsXCCCapaioAz7AZxPZYhW16Z37YJYnv3uJ0OFkcIQHH10snYfWJt_NZmXh5zE6v_x_Sgeu_XxA49bgDqWalXuxO9-2zQwmUa5zqRA9bwFpdXv6j2YhSmhyphenhyphenu1m8XYE4/s400/Backbone+-+lunch_1024x768.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724007743476571474" border="0" /></a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >A rolling lunch - pizza, apple sauce, cookies, strawberriescoke, bloks, gels and ginger sweets</span><br /></div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal">Right from the off it felt good – in the flow and just covering the miles without too much effort – so much so that I reached the first support point about 17 minutes ahead of schedule. This surprised<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>both of us; my schedule was really just a self produced thing based on Naismith factors but I had cross checked to the previous best East to West time of 15:07 and it seemed to work. Same story at the second support point 18 miles in – another 9 or so minutes up. After this though, the minutes gradually slipped away until I was back onto my 12 hour schedule so maybe I went off a little too fast or maybe my schedule just didn’t factor in enough “slow down when you are knackered” reality. </p> <p style="text-align: justify; font-family: trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal">At miles 25 a long climb begins, it is exposed to the sun and, sure enough, that was about when the sun came out. Still though, by local standards for late March it was a cool day and there was a great breeze. At about half way it still looked as though 11:?? was a possibility but then I started a bad patch around mile 40 on a section I had labelled as 5.5 miles but felt like 6.5. Recovery from that wasn’t too bad but once I left the final support point at mile 52 the wheels really fell off on the climb up to Sandstone Peak. This was where I had struggled in the Ray Miller 50 a few weeks earlier only worse – I just could not seem to get powering up the rock strewn path. Fortunately my body was still responding to gravity and the longest downhill section of the whole trail was just around the corner. For a while I had been worrying that my improvement over the previous best of 12:47 would be a mere few minutes but then, as I ascended the final hill onto the Ray Miller loop I now know well I calculated that a little over 12 hours should be possible if I could run the undulating fire road along the top and descend quickly to the finish.<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSXmFWio0FWxmB-AjFqVIkkaCqvROS5-XSMR8L4LzqFnhyW2g0s4zGgxBSMt3HAbgdEBIbfTtvh20KW8IX84GbVars__vxio_6E0qenrsBfINH2GMU1bBT7LnCb-IUBi3RE0PXYfge4uG5/s1600/Backbone+-+top+of+Ray+Miller_1024x361.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 141px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSXmFWio0FWxmB-AjFqVIkkaCqvROS5-XSMR8L4LzqFnhyW2g0s4zGgxBSMt3HAbgdEBIbfTtvh20KW8IX84GbVars__vxio_6E0qenrsBfINH2GMU1bBT7LnCb-IUBi3RE0PXYfge4uG5/s400/Backbone+-+top+of+Ray+Miller_1024x361.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724007792914532626" border="0" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center; font-family: trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">Sunset at the top of the final descent - Ray Miller</span><br /></p> <p style="text-align: justify; font-family: trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal">I bust an absolute gut to make sure the final time was 12:0? – in the scheme of things, what does it matter but in that moment I determined that I did not want it to be a second over 12:10. As I touched the trail sign at the finish I had 19:23 on my watch but the date/timestamp on the camera recorded at start and finish said 19:24 so an elapsed time of 12 hrs and 09 minutes is what I am claiming. 38 minutes ahead of the previous best. </p> <p style="text-align: justify; font-family: trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal">2 great weeks and 2 VERY tired legs today. Huge thanks to Lynn without whom I would have not been able to do this and to her great grilled cheese sandwiches. </p><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinJ9xmWAsBIDvklVnmrqCZAaina2DkxgLCWKrA5hv0a7S34r4VzR1u499Jq-fm_xUNIS-cab-m9isH_U0chhRO_wTF7XP1pi2ibxcpz20fNMLR6Wl9qeClPg4ukIZXr_ayoctq45fq7Ye8/s1600/Backbone+-+finished_976x768.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 315px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinJ9xmWAsBIDvklVnmrqCZAaina2DkxgLCWKrA5hv0a7S34r4VzR1u499Jq-fm_xUNIS-cab-m9isH_U0chhRO_wTF7XP1pi2ibxcpz20fNMLR6Wl9qeClPg4ukIZXr_ayoctq45fq7Ye8/s400/Backbone+-+finished_976x768.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724007608098881922" border="0" /></a></p> <p style="text-align: center; font-family: trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">Finished - 19:24 - just before dark!<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>Mark Hartellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01324572884043625052noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2860694452518468546.post-63266558811010383552012-03-13T18:19:00.005-07:002012-03-13T19:02:45.016-07:00Building Up<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Pleased to report no strains or injuries after the Ray Miller. Of course I felt worked, that's the idea of a race - to leave it all out on the course - but I have had much worse DOMS (Delayed onset muscle soreness) after 20 mile runs when I was less fit. Still a bit chastened by the winners time though - there is a site in the USA which records all your results and does some major number crunching to come up with %age performances. Hats off to Mark Gilligan - creeator of Ultrasignup.com because he now has the cool feature where entrants for any race are ranked according to their past performances. Well, it was a little frustrating to see my % actually go down after the Ray Miller race. In part this is because his algorithm takes no note of advancing years so my former glories at Hardrock et al still bump me up. Oh well, they say that there are damned lies and then there are statistics!</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLphYfOOlS3dQFP9-ktEKsjtf6sjD3p5bOumVNhuzsPFEyBA9fdOwKgBAf5YHQzSHAxYPAQtbSPN_ycqI3B-rMcflqZYBqnJYmo12YV1piLtkSleN0LCzUFciumpER7wdj9L4td5vh-uuD/s1600/from+the+outskirts+of+LA_1024x675.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 264px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLphYfOOlS3dQFP9-ktEKsjtf6sjD3p5bOumVNhuzsPFEyBA9fdOwKgBAf5YHQzSHAxYPAQtbSPN_ycqI3B-rMcflqZYBqnJYmo12YV1piLtkSleN0LCzUFciumpER7wdj9L4td5vh-uuD/s400/from+the+outskirts+of+LA_1024x675.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5719566546723090322" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >Backbone Trail - from the outskirts of LA<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">After an easy week the fun began again as we hosted friends from Sacramento and Salt Lake City for a few days of running on Santa Cruz Island and on the Backbone Trail.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The former we visited last October - it is one of the California Channel Islands that would make great venues for a Scottish Islands Peaks Race type of event if only races were allowed within the National Parks. This time we saw a grey whale on the boat journey over and enjoyed two hot dry days immediately followed by a 2 day stint on the 68 mile Backbone trails which runs from Santa Monica to the Ray Miller trail in Point Mugu state park.</span><br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho0GCJkEH1uwiltO-sx285Csgz1cymnXmMWTMncWgmVnu7YTMoPps2uXVlRpwG_0PkPCApMD783MYWYeWNVbvNcO2KcGkAo31ztCc7FQ_6-ech9UocTR6bTnFjIJowbr69LYbRE8ygrWeJ/s1600/to+Sandstone+Mountain_1024x545.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho0GCJkEH1uwiltO-sx285Csgz1cymnXmMWTMncWgmVnu7YTMoPps2uXVlRpwG_0PkPCApMD783MYWYeWNVbvNcO2KcGkAo31ztCc7FQ_6-ech9UocTR6bTnFjIJowbr69LYbRE8ygrWeJ/s400/to+Sandstone+Mountain_1024x545.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5719566620009460162" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >Backbone Trail - to Sandstone Mountain<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">108 miles in 4 days was a great bit of training that left me feeling tired by confident of my base fitness especisally since I had the energy to turn on the motors on the final 8 miles of the trail.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The runfurther series is now underway for it's 7th year and it is very pleasing that we have, once againn, managed to pull together a prize fund of over £10,000 retail value - even in the current economy we have some great sponsors who are willing to provide significant gear to support the series. Almost 50% is available as spot prizes and competitions (rather than just to the leaders) and we are redeveeloping the site to offer a lot more advice, training and community features so I am happy that we are doing our best to encourage people into the sport at all levels.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">So, why do we run? That was something I gave a little thought to this past week and penned the first of a series of articles for run247.com</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.run247.com/articles/article-2172-why-do-we-run%3F.html">Why do we run? </a></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">It is intended to be a thought provoking piece so I would really welcome all and any comments - have I missed the essence? are your reasons different?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">OK - was supposed to be racing in Seattle this weekend but flight prices got away from me before I booked. Over $500 just to travel there seems daft so it will be some more diligent training in the build up to the Sonoma 50 on 15th April and then the Fellsman on 28th April which I am so excited about!!</span><br /><br /><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> <w:lidthemeother>EN-GB</w:LidThemeOther> <w:lidthemeasian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:lidthemecomplexscript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:splitpgbreakandparamark/> <w:dontvertaligncellwithsp/> <w:dontbreakconstrainedforcedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> <w:word11kerningpairs/> <w:cachedcolbalance/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathpr> <m:mathfont val="Cambria Math"> <m:brkbin val="before"> <m:brkbinsub val="--"> <m:smallfrac val="off"> <m:dispdef/> <m:lmargin val="0"> <m:rmargin val="0"> <m:defjc val="centerGroup"> <m:wrapindent val="1440"> <m:intlim val="subSup"> <m:narylim val="undOvr"> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif][if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" defunhidewhenused="true" defsemihidden="true" defqformat="false" defpriority="99" latentstylecount="267"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="0" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Normal"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="heading 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 7"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 8"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 9"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 7"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 8"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 9"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="35" qformat="true" name="caption"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="10" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Title"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="1" name="Default Paragraph Font"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="11" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtitle"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="22" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Strong"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="20" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="59" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Table Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Placeholder Text"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="1" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="No Spacing"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Revision"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="34" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="List Paragraph"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="29" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Quote"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="30" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Quote"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="19" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtle Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="21" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="31" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtle Reference"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="32" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Reference"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="33" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Book Title"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="37" name="Bibliography"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" qformat="true" name="TOC Heading"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif][if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;} </style> <![endif]--></div> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="">Sat 25<span style="mso-tab-count:2"> </span>Ray Miller 50 mile/11000ft: 8:04:47 and 4<sup>th</sup> place</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;font-family:Calibri;" >Sun 26<span style="mso-tab-count:2"> </span>3mile – walk/jog on the beach</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;font-family:Calibri;" >Mon 27<span style="mso-tab-count:2"> </span>5<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>mile – Elings park</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;font-family:Calibri;" >Tue 28<span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>0 - rest</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;font-family:Calibri;" >Wed <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>29<span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>7 miles Inspiration plus 4 track session</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;font-family:Calibri;" >Thu <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>1<span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>0 - rest <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;font-family:Calibri;" >Fri <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>2<span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>7 miles – jesusita to inspiration pt. with Roch and Steve</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;font-family:Calibri;" > </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;font-family:Calibri;" >Total<span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>76 miles and 13500ft</span></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;font-family:Calibri;" >Sat 3 <span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>28 miles on Santa Cruz island 3500ft </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;font-family:Calibri;" >Sun 4<span style="mso-tab-count:2"> </span>10 miles on Santa Cruz to Smugglers via ridge– 2500ft</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;font-family:Calibri;" >Mon 5<span style="mso-tab-count:2"> </span>38 miles and 5300ft (backbone trail part 1)</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;font-family:Calibri;" >Tue<span style="mso-tab-count:2"> </span>30 miles and 3000ft (Backbone trail part 2)</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;font-family:Calibri;" >Wed<span style="mso-tab-count:2"> </span>7 miles on the shorefront with Steve and Deanna</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;font-family:Calibri;" >Thu <span style="mso-tab-count:1"> 0 - rest</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;font-family:Calibri;" >Fri<span style="mso-tab-count:2"> 0 - rest</span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </span> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;font-family:Calibri;" >Total 113 miles and 14,300ft</span></b></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span>Mark Hartellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01324572884043625052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2860694452518468546.post-33815455030269793762012-02-27T11:15:00.004-08:002012-02-27T11:27:56.988-08:00Ray Miller 50 Mile<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje7OCEbPr1a6LJOQeEoKEBO9C1Nkaswd1lkgkr5NXZLoKo1R05fuhHTWqt5NzCMOJvZFKCA_zAx2Zt2WdhZu_YvBK4D_Y8wR-mdOBB3kP-xPwLw9I_mI81Vrvv1aKwZ6JaLUT6yGVWf6Bh/s1600/DSC01820_1024x768.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje7OCEbPr1a6LJOQeEoKEBO9C1Nkaswd1lkgkr5NXZLoKo1R05fuhHTWqt5NzCMOJvZFKCA_zAx2Zt2WdhZu_YvBK4D_Y8wR-mdOBB3kP-xPwLw9I_mI81Vrvv1aKwZ6JaLUT6yGVWf6Bh/s400/DSC01820_1024x768.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713898752607104834" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:78%;" ><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Butt-crack rock - the place to absolve y our sins (apparently)</span><br style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; text-align: justify; font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;font-family:Calibri;" >My first big race of the year – the Ray Miler 50mile – named after the long time campground warden at Point Mugu State Park, this was the inaugural event.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The nature of the terrain suited me well with over 11,000ft ascent and nearly all on single-track (rather than fire/jeep roads). I wish I had more or better photos because it truly is a beautiful area, bordering the Pacific Ocean and dominated by the huge bulk of Sandstone Peak.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; text-align: justify; font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;font-family:Calibri;" >The 6am race start meant a very early alarm call at 03.50 for the 1 hour drive down there but, on arrival, everything was being handled very efficiently and they had even remembered to provide lighting in the portaloos so that saved a “shot in the dark”. It really wasn’t quite light enough at 6am so I carried a handheld torch (flashlight for US readers!) knowing I could ditch this at the first aid station at mile 6. The 50k event and 50 mile event started at the same time so I was forewarned not to attempt to run off with the 50k'ers but that was totally academic – I may be feeling relatively fit at the moment but there was no way I could have hung with the leading pack. I settled into somewhere around 15<sup>th</sup> place and just tried to relax into it. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; text-align: justify; font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;font-family:Calibri;" >For the first 3 hours low cloud kept the temperatures much lower than I had expected. The Guadeloupe loop was bike free at that time of the morning and the Coyote Trail had been trimmed of some of the more vigorous growth over the trail. Coming into the aid station at mile 19 was a little surreal as a flock of around 50 parrots screeched overhead. At this point I started to move up a little through the field – just now and again I would catch someone which feels so much better as the race progresses than being caught. At mile 21 the routes diverge with the 50 mile having a large out-and-back over the biggest climb of the day. I had run all of this in training but I had not run the top part of the out and back from the Yerba Buena aid station.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I knew it was supposed to be 6.2 miles for the round trip but it was one of those trails that twists and turns, loops back on itself and never really seems to be getting anywhere. Around this time, as my body ran out of the stored glycogen and switched to fat burning, I was fading. I knew I had two people within reach in front of me but I didn’t seem to be closing and then, when I turned around, I saw I had a whole host of people behind me including the top 4 or 5 women all within a few minutes. Back through Yerba Buena and it was time to make some changes, ditch the shirt, add some music, gag down some Perpetuum and accept that I would have to walk much of the climb back up. The figure in front seemed to be swaying a little and, sure enough, although I felt as if I was going slow, I overhauled him and saw another figure in front – Tom Nielsen who I first met at Hardrock back in 1997, he has been running as long as I have – every so often I caught glimpses but I wasn’t catching him. On ups I was a little stronger; on downs he pulled it back. Still, by this time I was recovering nicely (so I thought) and going at a decent pace. At least that’s what I thought until Amy Sproston kindly asked if she could squeeze by on the trail and proceeded to descend like Rob Jebb in a hurry. This galvanized me a little; I cranked up the descending speed, caught back up, started a conversation and, as so often happens in these long races, drew energy from the encounter so that when we slammed into the bottom of the next climb I was able to muster a steady jog all the way up. Half way, Tom hoved into view again and I also overhauled him before the top. Right, don’t look back, eat, drink then max effort all the way to the next aid station about 3 miles away. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; text-align: justify; font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;font-family:Calibri;" > </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" face="trebuchet ms" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB3smERKYBEj3Urw40eC1CgNJ6pE7uvFW1kauuhdIv4eqVZNNXqc-10m_xsDItsGo_LPO2uCPe3OICa5ZttGzErNGr1kIwtMb_ISi6_8cJOvaumi92rvCqaXmHQW7y1IwpJcUS3uih35y6/s1600/sandstone+mountain_1280x551.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 172px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB3smERKYBEj3Urw40eC1CgNJ6pE7uvFW1kauuhdIv4eqVZNNXqc-10m_xsDItsGo_LPO2uCPe3OICa5ZttGzErNGr1kIwtMb_ISi6_8cJOvaumi92rvCqaXmHQW7y1IwpJcUS3uih35y6/s400/sandstone+mountain_1280x551.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713898543573259778" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; text-align: center;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style=";font-family:Calibri;" ><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Up to the top of that was the biggest climb of the day</span></span><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; text-align: justify; font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;font-family:Calibri;" >It worked well and I knew the following section provided a great opportunity to check gaps as the trail climbs in a series of zig zags up the hillside. Run the lower climb and look back – anyone there? – yes, but it’s not Tom or Amy, it’s Jimmy Dean; running strongly on the uphill and clearly having a flying finish. OK, that means I have to run this entire climb except the final 100metres to the dirt road at the top and then all of the dirt road. Underworld makes this possible and thank goodness I was not wearing a heart rate monitor. OK, finally, top of Ray Miller Trail, its 2.2 miles to the finish from here and I am NOT going to let anyone pass me on this downhill. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; text-align: justify; font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;font-family:Calibri;" > </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; text-align: justify; font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;font-family:Calibri;" >Offical results now posted and I was 8:04 and 47 seconds for 4th place overall. My pre race target has been 8:15 based on an optimistic calculation from 2 training runs on the course so I am delighted with the time but a little humbled by how much faster the first 3 guys ran and how well Amy ran to finish only around 5 minutes down. All-in-all though a solid start to the season with steady pacing, good eating and drinking, no injuries and only a little stiffness today after a 3 mile beach walk to work out some of those toxins. </span></p>Mark Hartellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01324572884043625052noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2860694452518468546.post-10562169779333250312012-02-16T09:28:00.000-08:002012-02-16T09:38:46.513-08:00100 Miles<span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;font-family:Calibri;" >It’s a long time since I ran 100 miles. In fact it was January 2008 when I last completed 100 miles in a single push and the fact that I have not managed to complete the distance since at either Hardrock or San Diego is easily explained by the other fact which is that I am pretty certain I have not completed that distance in a single training week since early 2008 either. </span></span> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style=";font-family:Calibri;" >Essentially it was foolish arrogance that made me think I could toe the line on those events and compete in a meaningful way. So, i’ve been learning, again, the hard way that endurance is sufficiently tough to acquire that only the most determined will get there. I doesn’t matter if the alarm clock goes off at 5.30 on a Saturday morning and I don’t think it even matters if someone is paying you to do it (I don’t know but I am pretty sure that someone like Killian would confirm this) you have to love it and want it and that is all that matters.<br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; text-align: justify; font-family:trebuchet ms;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMfGvik7i7b0xZqGKprYbhEvHZxKlFR_6ZwCYREc3Zg2zBERewdtQ0wKyq_7Y3GF70TQ2C2H-4up5iciVktz0XLNM46IDFYMdJ5Y7VpHu_9AgXB1siit0-jIlzDVLEsQlxl37yGaht_VaR/s1600/sandstone+mountain_1280x551.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 172px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMfGvik7i7b0xZqGKprYbhEvHZxKlFR_6ZwCYREc3Zg2zBERewdtQ0wKyq_7Y3GF70TQ2C2H-4up5iciVktz0XLNM46IDFYMdJ5Y7VpHu_9AgXB1siit0-jIlzDVLEsQlxl37yGaht_VaR/s400/sandstone+mountain_1280x551.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709787504543744434" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; text-align: justify; font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;font-family:Calibri;" > </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; text-align: center;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style=";font-family:Calibri;" ><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >Sandstone mountain beckons at around mile 22 of the Ray Miller 50 mile</span><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; text-align: justify; font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;font-family:Calibri;" >Now I am doubly delighted to report that both my soul and my body decided that a 100 mile week was due. The two longer runs on the Ray Miller 50 course were fun and gave me the opportunity to see new trails, the 15 miler in the East Bay of San Francisco was certainly a grind towards the end and I fully enjoyed lying inverted for 30 mins or so with my feet in the air at the end but, yes, it was worth it and it makes me feel very positive for my first real race of the year – the Ray Miller 50 miler in 2 weeks time. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>What is even better is that after 26 on Thursday and the grinding 16 on Friday I tackled the return half of the Sonoma 50 on Saturday (25 miles). A cooler day plus just the right amount of mud, stream crossings and rocks to make an Englishman feel at home and encouraged me to push a little harder especially in the last hour or so. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; text-align: justify; font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;font-family:Calibri;" > </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; text-align: justify; font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;font-family:Calibri;" >OK – off to a track session in an hour or so and then the tough(ish) 16 miles and 4700ft out and back from the local trailhead tomorrow or Friday.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Fingers crossed that things continue to go well as I have an entry in for the Fellsman now – the 50<sup>th</sup> year and, above all, a chance for me to<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>make sure that my Fellsman history does not start and end with a DNF. Having dropped out at mile 38 in my teens I really do not want last year’s drop at mile 11 to be the end of it. </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; text-align: justify; font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;font-family:Calibri;" > </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; text-align: justify; font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;font-family:Calibri;" >Good luck to all those running in the HPM, in a slightly warped way I am jealous of missing the mini adventure that event offers each year and I also have a feeling that this is going to be a year of fast times, maybe even record times!!</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; text-align: justify; font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;font-family:Calibri;" > </span></span></p> <ul><li><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style=";font-family:Calibri;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sat 28</span><span style="mso-tab-count:2"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span> </span>18.5 miles and 3000ft (group run at Figueroa – 2 steady)</span></span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;font-family:Calibri;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sun 29</span><span style="mso-tab-count:2"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span> </span>9.5 miles and 1500ft (Jesusita to Pools – 3)</span></span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;font-family:Calibri;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mon</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">30</span> <span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>0</span></span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;font-family:Calibri;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tue </span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">31</span><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>16 miles and 4700ft +6 track (both harder -4)</span></span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;font-family:Calibri;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">Wed </span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">1</span><span style="mso-tab-count:1"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span> </span>0</span></span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;font-family:Calibri;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">Thu </span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">2</span><span style="mso-tab-count:1"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span> </span>6 miles and 1000ft Elings (steady 3)</span></span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;font-family:Calibri;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">Fri </span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">3</span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span> </span>0</span></span></li></ul> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; text-align: justify; font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;font-family:Calibri;" > </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; text-align: justify; font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;font-family:Calibri;" >Total<span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>58 miles and around 10200ft</span></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; text-align: justify; font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;font-family:Calibri;" > </span></span></p> <ul><li><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;font-family:Calibri;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sat 4</span><span style="mso-tab-count:1"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span> </span>31 and 5000ft – Ray 50 course (steady 3) then 9 hash (slow 2)</span></span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;font-family:Calibri;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sun</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> 5</span><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>Rest</span></span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;font-family:Calibri;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mon </span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">6</span><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>9 and 2000 Jesusita to Pools (fast 4)</span></span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;font-family:Calibri;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tue </span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">7</span><span style="mso-tab-count:1"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span> </span>10 miles road with Robert (steady 2)</span></span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;font-family:Calibri;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">Wed </span><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">8 </span> <span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>0</span></span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;font-family:Calibri;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">Thu </span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">9 </span> <span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>26<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>and 5500ft Backbone trail part of Ray 50 (3)</span></span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;font-family:Calibri;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">Fri </span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">10 </span> <span style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </span>15 and 2500ft Steam Trains to Wildcap loop (2-3)</span></span></li></ul> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; text-align: justify; font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;font-family:Calibri;" > </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" face="trebuchet ms" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; text-align: justify; "><span style="font-size:100%;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;font-family:Calibri;" >Total <span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>100 miles and around 15000ft</span></b></span></p>Mark Hartellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01324572884043625052noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2860694452518468546.post-71225422985971683962012-01-29T21:15:00.000-08:002012-01-29T21:24:41.890-08:00Having FUN!<span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;font-family:Calibri;" >Pleased to say that some reasonable training is continuing and that I am having fun doing it. In fact more than fun – I ran a race, climbed a mountain, did some speed work and a long heat training session as well as firming up my race calendar for the first half of the year, deciding to offer coaching and discussing a film project. Read on for details of that little lot. </span></span> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;font-family:Calibri;" > </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;font-family:Calibri;" >So, the race to start with. Two loops of our local park – lots of short little ups and downs, in fact its literally less than 10 mins walk from the front door and it’s where I sometimes do hill reps. A fairly low key local race but billed as the Santa Barbara cross country championships. Previously they have had a 3 and 6 mile event. This year they added the 2-loop 12 mile version as well for all of us distance aficionados. Long time since I raced 12 miles; a veritable sprint that reminded me all too clearly of the Trig Points race I used to run on the first weekend of the year. That was 15 miles with about 1500 ft of ascent this was 12 miles and those with the technology reported it at nearly 2500ft of ascent. I was pretty happy to pull up from about 5<sup>th</sup> at halfway to 2<sup>nd</sup> overall although I think one person ahead of me got lost and the speed, although very hard work, felt good. Slightly nauseous afterwards and very stiff the next day – racing like the old times!!</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;font-family:Calibri;" > </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style=";font-family:Calibri;" >Actually the next day did not provide complete respite because we were in Palm Springs for a little vacation and yours truly had spotted a little trail called Cactus to Clouds that the online forums debate as having possibly the most vertical of any single trail in the USA. The start is at 400ft and the top, the summit of San Jacinto is at 10,800 odd. Lynn was game for the 6am start and so we plodded and sweated our way up. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>We reached snow at about 8000ft and the top of the aerial tramway a short time later. This accesses the upland part of the mountain which are like a rolling plateau. Up there it was bitterly cold. Not too much snow but icy and with a stiff 30mph plus wind so we reached the notch at just under 10,000ft and decided to head back to the tram for a swift descent that saved much knee pounding. It was a great day with amazing views, over 9000ft of vertical to add to the log and sowed seeds of an idea related to the fastest known time from desert to summit and back – this would be a 32 mile outing with 10,400 ft vertical up and down. Winter usually makes the top a challenge and summer certainly makes the lower elevations a challenge as Palm Springs in the summer is an oven.<br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqfWcXssap49vZ55cwnww5S7I75jLF7Ulmthie-RKHeZ6XA-7d-ir11EkLJPa04aa8vEs0iI9KEMd9520AbpAm07biNlLkg-Ozw_OSY0OuG1dL-iI2ayck5gVTReSh9gKDhX7VBle2jKCI/s1600/DSC01794_800x600.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqfWcXssap49vZ55cwnww5S7I75jLF7Ulmthie-RKHeZ6XA-7d-ir11EkLJPa04aa8vEs0iI9KEMd9520AbpAm07biNlLkg-Ozw_OSY0OuG1dL-iI2ayck5gVTReSh9gKDhX7VBle2jKCI/s400/DSC01794_800x600.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703290020234907986" border="0" /></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Climbing from the desert</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUbNWIuomr8_uv3-dvoK1ZQooRqBq1RRJZsuFYdFqLkjznW4F6QjaXIitg6BMzv1WiOck9jUS8EQrE2QFz89x9b553yx5oQcxwucV7QTl7uRIMr3-PXqsWllS3AXU5jUj02LYvfr90n9oN/s1600/DSC01802_800x600.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUbNWIuomr8_uv3-dvoK1ZQooRqBq1RRJZsuFYdFqLkjznW4F6QjaXIitg6BMzv1WiOck9jUS8EQrE2QFz89x9b553yx5oQcxwucV7QTl7uRIMr3-PXqsWllS3AXU5jUj02LYvfr90n9oN/s400/DSC01802_800x600.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703290082865540434" border="0" /></a></span></p><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">To a very different climate at 10,000ft</span><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;font-family:Calibri;" > </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style=";font-family:Calibri;" >The heat training came this week when, having stashed a gallon of water, I decided to tackle the route of the 35 mile/10,500ft 9-Trails again. This time the thermometer reached 80, I drank all my water and had to work hard to keep the momentum but a hell of a good days training and, once again, I felt reasonably OK the next day. A good tired feeling but no injuries and no DOMS<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>(delayed onset muscle soreness) that happens when you are untrained.<br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZChYAOcUPlxFMjDwmW2cbFTIPGSOPPgrPPFIS5NbYw9Sf_lQR2xVe6j5Dw-E1mnmxIMTqPLGs6dFuE82gOR5xEpoYqirUjTWCunmDW1czfxv3jS5wR7zScWZyz1lkKbOkly42UZo5e0CM/s1600/9-Trails+Map_800x520.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 260px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZChYAOcUPlxFMjDwmW2cbFTIPGSOPPgrPPFIS5NbYw9Sf_lQR2xVe6j5Dw-E1mnmxIMTqPLGs6dFuE82gOR5xEpoYqirUjTWCunmDW1czfxv3jS5wR7zScWZyz1lkKbOkly42UZo5e0CM/s400/9-Trails+Map_800x520.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703289891784633554" border="0" /></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;font-family:Calibri;" ><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">The 9-Trails route: 35 miles, 10,500ft and 80 degrees</span></span><br /></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;font-family:Calibri;" > </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;font-family:Calibri;" >Entries now confirmed for all my spring races – Ray Miller 50 mile, Chukanut 50k, Somona 50 mile, Miwok 100km and the San Diego 100 mile so that’s great and I also have the possibility to do the Fellsman. I may never win that wonderful event again but I really do not want to go out on a DNF which is what happened last year after I tore my hamstring so I would be excited to toe the start line on the 50<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the event. A 50 mile 2 weeks before and a 100km the weekend after will be a challenge but, if I get through that lot then surely I will be in good shape for San Diego. </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;font-family:Calibri;" > </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;font-family:Calibri;" >...and finally, I have decided to offer Endurance Coaching. It may take a week or two to pull together the website and so on but I figure that 23 years of hard won experience in running Ultras, racing around the world and tackling some big challenges does give me a lot of knowledge and a wealth of opportunity to help others avoid some of the dafter mistakes I have made over the years. Intention is to offer assistance to anyone who wants to run long and to do this mostly as a telephone and online service covering goal setting, creation of a training plan and all those other things – hydration, nutrition, race strategy, kit and so on that go into Ultra-running. </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;font-family:Calibri;" > </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style=";font-family:Calibri;" >In case you think that all sounds a bit too much then have a look at this and laugh!<br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style=";font-family:Calibri;" >http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nq8lJEJr3xk<br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style=";font-family:Calibri;" >Other than that, get out there and enjoy your running.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;font-family:Calibri;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">Training Log:</span><br /></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;"><span style="mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;font-family:Calibri;" >Sat<span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>14<span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>Jan<span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>6 miles Elings Park </span></span></p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;"> </span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;font-family:Calibri;" >Sun<span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>15<span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>Jan<span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>12 mile race Elings Park. 2<sup>nd</sup> place. 1hr 24 mins</span></span></p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;"> </span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;font-family:Calibri;" >Mon<span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>16<span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>Jan<span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>18 miles and 9,000ft. Cactus to Clouds – Mt. San Jacinto</span></span></p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;"> </span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;font-family:Calibri;" >Tue<span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>17<span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>Jan<span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>Speed session – 6.5 miles (hill reps plus 3 miles at 6:10 pace)</span></span></p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;"> </span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;font-family:Calibri;" >Wed<span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>18<span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>Jan<span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>Rest Day</span></span></p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;"> </span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;font-family:Calibri;" >Thu<span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>19<span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>Jan<span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>16 miles Jesusita to Gibraltar</span></span></p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;"> </span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;font-family:Calibri;" >Fri<span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>20<span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>Jan<span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>6 miles Elings</span></span></p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;"> </span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;font-family:Calibri;" >Week:<span style="mso-tab-count:2"> </span>64.5 miles, around 16,500ft</span></b></span></p><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;font-family:Calibri;" >Sat<span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>21<span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>Jan<span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>7 miles Inspiration plus 3 miles hash </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;font-family:Calibri;" >Sun<span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>22<span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>Jan<span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>21 miles (romero, Blue Canyon, Forbush,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Camiono, Romero)</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;font-family:Calibri;" >Mon<span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>23<span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>Jan<span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>6 miles fast (beach)</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;font-family:Calibri;" >Tue<span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>24<span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>Jan<span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>Rest Day</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;font-family:Calibri;" >Wed<span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>25<span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>Jan<span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>Rest Day</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;font-family:Calibri;" >Thu<span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>26<span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>Jan<span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>35 miles – 9 trails</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;font-family:Calibri;" >Fri<span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>27<span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>Jan<span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>Rest Day </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;font-family:Calibri;" > </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="mso-bidi- mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;font-family:Calibri;" >Week: <span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>72 miles, around 16,000ft</span></b></span></p>Mark Hartellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01324572884043625052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2860694452518468546.post-71111688070726824082012-01-18T21:38:00.000-08:002012-01-18T21:57:18.143-08:00Fortnightly running log<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> <w:lidthemeother>EN-GB</w:LidThemeOther> <w:lidthemeasian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:lidthemecomplexscript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:splitpgbreakandparamark/> <w:dontvertaligncellwithsp/> <w:dontbreakconstrainedforcedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> <w:word11kerningpairs/> <w:cachedcolbalance/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathpr> <m:mathfont val="Cambria Math"> <m:brkbin val="before"> <m:brkbinsub val="--"> <m:smallfrac val="off"> <m:dispdef/> <m:lmargin val="0"> <m:rmargin val="0"> <m:defjc val="centerGroup"> <m:wrapindent val="1440"> <m:intlim val="subSup"> <m:narylim val="undOvr"> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" defunhidewhenused="true" defsemihidden="true" defqformat="false" defpriority="99" latentstylecount="267"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="0" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Normal"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="heading 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 7"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 8"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 9"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 7"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 8"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 9"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="35" qformat="true" name="caption"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="10" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Title"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="1" name="Default Paragraph Font"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="11" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtitle"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="22" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Strong"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="20" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="59" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Table Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Placeholder Text"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="1" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="No Spacing"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Revision"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="34" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="List Paragraph"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="29" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Quote"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="30" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Quote"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="19" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtle Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="21" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="31" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtle Reference"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="32" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Reference"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="33" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Book Title"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="37" name="Bibliography"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" qformat="true" name="TOC Heading"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} table.MsoTableGrid {mso-style-name:"Table Grid"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-priority:59; mso-style-unhide:no; border:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-border-insideh:.5pt solid windowtext; mso-border-insidev:.5pt solid windowtext; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"">I plan to post my running log here every 2 weeks - not to show off or invite ridicule (depending on how it's going) but mainly to keep myself honest and to motivate myself. </span><span style="font-size:10.0pt; line-height:115%"><br face="trebuchet ms"> <br face="trebuchet ms"> </span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"">I've never been too fussed about keeping training logs but I notice that most of the people I run with these days seem to know where they are, how fast they are climbing, what minutes per mile they are covering, how far they have been, how many calories they have used and whether their chakras are aligned. They also frequently post pictures of the runs we have been on before I can even get home and log onto the computer. </span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height: 115%"><br face="trebuchet ms"> <br face="trebuchet ms"> </span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"">On that basis, simply recording what I did shouldn't be too onerous...So, here goes:</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin"></span></b></p> <table class="MsoTableGrid" style="width:459.85pt;border-collapse:collapse;border:none;mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt;mso-yfti-tbllook:1184;mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt" border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="613"> <tbody><tr style="mso-yfti-irow:0;mso-yfti-firstrow:yes"> <td style="width:44.05pt;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt" valign="top" width="59"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Sat</span></p> </td> <td style="width:29.5pt;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left:none;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt" valign="top" width="39"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">31</span></p> </td> <td style="width:35.65pt;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left:none;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt" valign="top" width="48"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Dec</span></p> </td> <td style="width:59.25pt;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left:none;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt" valign="top" width="79"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">44m</span></p> </td> <td style="width:291.4pt;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left:none;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt" valign="top" width="389"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Pt. Mugu State Park. Ray Miller Trail </span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow:1"> <td style="width:44.05pt;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt" valign="top" width="59"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Sun</span></p> </td> <td style="width:29.5pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt" valign="top" width="39"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">1 </span></p> </td> <td style="width:35.65pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt" valign="top" width="48"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Jan</span></p> </td> <td style="width:59.25pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt" valign="top" width="79"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">7m</span></p> </td> <td style="width:291.4pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt" valign="top" width="389"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Pt Mugu State Park. Ray Miller Trail</span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow:2"> <td style="width:44.05pt;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt" valign="top" width="59"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Mon</span></p> </td> <td style="width:29.5pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt" valign="top" width="39"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">2</span></p> </td> <td style="width:35.65pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt" valign="top" width="48"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Jan</span></p> </td> <td style="width:59.25pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt" valign="top" width="79"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Rest</span></p> </td> <td style="width:291.4pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt" valign="top" width="389"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Rest Day</span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow:3"> <td style="width:44.05pt;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt" valign="top" width="59"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Tue</span></p> </td> <td style="width:29.5pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt" valign="top" width="39"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">3</span></p> </td> <td style="width:35.65pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt" valign="top" width="48"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Jan</span></p> </td> <td style="width:59.25pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt" valign="top" width="79"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">16m</span></p> </td> <td style="width:291.4pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt" valign="top" width="389"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Jesusita to Gibraltar Road and back</span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow:4"> <td style="width:44.05pt;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt" valign="top" width="59"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Wed</span></p> </td> <td style="width:29.5pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt" valign="top" width="39"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">4</span></p> </td> <td style="width:35.65pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt" valign="top" width="48"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Jan</span></p> </td> <td style="width:59.25pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt" valign="top" width="79"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">7m</span></p> </td> <td style="width:291.4pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt" valign="top" width="389"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Inspiration Point</span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow:5"> <td style="width:44.05pt;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt" valign="top" width="59"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Thu</span></p> </td> <td style="width:29.5pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt" valign="top" width="39"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">5</span></p> </td> <td style="width:35.65pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt" valign="top" width="48"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Jan</span></p> </td> <td style="width:59.25pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt" valign="top" width="79"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">5m</span></p> </td> <td style="width:291.4pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt" valign="top" width="389"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Elings Park</span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow:6"> <td style="width:44.05pt;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt" valign="top" width="59"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Fri</span></p> </td> <td style="width:29.5pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt" valign="top" width="39"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">6</span></p> </td> <td style="width:35.65pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt" valign="top" width="48"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Jan</span></p> </td> <td style="width:59.25pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt" valign="top" width="79"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">15m</span></p> </td> <td style="width:291.4pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt" valign="top" width="389"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">East Bay. Steam<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Trains to<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Wildcat loop</span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow:7;mso-yfti-lastrow:yes"> <td colspan="2" style="width:73.55pt;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt" valign="top" width="98"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Total</span></b></p> </td> <td colspan="3" style="width:386.3pt;border-top:none; border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt" valign="top" width="515"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">93 miles, around 15,000ft</span></b></p> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin"> </span></b></p> <table class="MsoTableGrid" style="width:459.85pt;border-collapse:collapse;border:none;mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt;mso-yfti-tbllook:1184;mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt" border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="613"> <tbody><tr style="mso-yfti-irow:0;mso-yfti-firstrow:yes"> <td style="width:44.0pt;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt" valign="top" width="59"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Sat</span></p> </td> <td style="width:29.5pt;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left:none;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt" valign="top" width="39"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">7</span></p> </td> <td style="width:35.65pt;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left:none;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt" valign="top" width="48"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Jan</span></p> </td> <td style="width:59.25pt;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left:none;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt" valign="top" width="79"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">87m bike</span></p> </td> <td style="width:291.45pt;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left:none;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt" valign="top" width="389"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Cycle San Francisco to Pt. Reyes and back <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow:1"> <td style="width:44.0pt;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt" valign="top" width="59"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Sun</span></p> </td> <td style="width:29.5pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt" valign="top" width="39"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">8 </span></p> </td> <td style="width:35.65pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt" valign="top" width="48"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Jan</span></p> </td> <td style="width:59.25pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt" valign="top" width="79"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">9m</span></p> </td> <td style="width:291.45pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt" valign="top" width="389"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Marin Headlands</span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow:2"> <td style="width:44.0pt;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt" valign="top" width="59"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Mon</span></p> </td> <td style="width:29.5pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt" valign="top" width="39"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">9</span></p> </td> <td style="width:35.65pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt" valign="top" width="48"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Jan</span></p> </td> <td style="width:59.25pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt" valign="top" width="79"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Rest</span></p> </td> <td style="width:291.45pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt" valign="top" width="389"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Rest Day</span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow:3"> <td style="width:44.0pt;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt" valign="top" width="59"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Tue</span></p> </td> <td style="width:29.5pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt" valign="top" width="39"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">10</span></p> </td> <td style="width:35.65pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt" valign="top" width="48"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Jan</span></p> </td> <td style="width:59.25pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt" valign="top" width="79"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">4m</span></p> </td> <td style="width:291.45pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt" valign="top" width="389"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Track session (stair repeats and 800metres) 6 sets</span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow:4"> <td style="width:44.0pt;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt" valign="top" width="59"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Wed</span></p> </td> <td style="width:29.5pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt" valign="top" width="39"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">11</span></p> </td> <td style="width:35.65pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt" valign="top" width="48"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Jan</span></p> </td> <td style="width:59.25pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt" valign="top" width="79"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">35m</span></p> </td> <td style="width:291.45pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt" valign="top" width="389"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Santa Barbara 9 trails course </span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow:5"> <td style="width:44.0pt;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt" valign="top" width="59"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Thu</span></p> </td> <td style="width:29.5pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt" valign="top" width="39"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">12</span></p> </td> <td style="width:35.65pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt" valign="top" width="48"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Jan</span></p> </td> <td style="width:59.25pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt" valign="top" width="79"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">8m</span></p> </td> <td style="width:291.45pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt" valign="top" width="389"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Romero Canyon night run </span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow:6"> <td style="width:44.0pt;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt" valign="top" width="59"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Fri</span></p> </td> <td style="width:29.5pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt" valign="top" width="39"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">13</span></p> </td> <td style="width:35.65pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt" valign="top" width="48"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Jan</span></p> </td> <td style="width:59.25pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt" valign="top" width="79"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Rest</span></p> </td> <td style="width:291.45pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt" valign="top" width="389"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Rest Day</span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow:7;mso-yfti-lastrow:yes"> <td colspan="2" style="width:73.5pt;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt" valign="top" width="98"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Total</span></b></p> </td> <td colspan="3" style="width:386.35pt;border-top:none; border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt" valign="top" width="515"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">56 miles, around 13,000ft and 87 bike miles </span></b></p> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin"> </span></p>Mark Hartellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01324572884043625052noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2860694452518468546.post-88225507571170556232012-01-18T15:02:00.000-08:002012-01-18T15:12:49.708-08:00The runningman returns<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"></span> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: trebuchet ms;">Well, it's been a long time since <span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">I updated this blog. All the more surprising and unjustified given that I am currently “at leisure”. Partly, I suppose, it’s because 2011 really did not turn out as hoped with much of my running so what was there to report and talk about</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: trebuchet ms;">Since we are only 3 weeks into the New Year so it still feels OK to make updating this thing regularly part of my resolutions and to start off with a resume of 2011 and an outline of plans for 2012. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: trebuchet ms;">In the spring of 2011 I felt fit, recorded my fastest time to date on the High Peak Marathon and was really motivated for the Fellsman.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Over the years I have been very fortunate to avoid injury – actually I have been very fortunate to have good natural biomechanics and a natural running style which has kept me away from most injury and overuse problems. I can claim no active credit for any of that since I rarely stretched, often recovered with a nice pint and frequently pushed my luck in terms of sudden mileage increases and running with niggles. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: trebuchet ms;">Advancing years have meant that those niggles are more frequent and, to my intense frustration, they boiled over just before the Fellsman into a hamstring injury which “hamstrung” me about 10 miles into the actual race back in May. Now, I am not saying I could have hung with Jez all the way round but we were running and chatting together and have never really raced head to head so it would be been a blast and maybe having someone to push him for at least the first half of the course would have enabled Jez to post the mythical sub 10 hour time that must be out there. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: trebuchet ms;">A month or so later and my second major disappointment of the year – a DNF at the 100 mile San Diego race. It’s actually about 2 hours away in the Anza Borrego area – hilly, semi-desert country at around 6-7000ft and is a cracking course. Looking back a few months on it’s clear as day that I simply had not put in enough long days to sustain a 100 mile completion -<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>partly because of cancelled races and pulling out at Fellsman, partly because I simply did not get out there, all weathers, and lay it on the line. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: trebuchet ms;">One of the great things about our sport is that you cannot fake it. You can’t drop a few thousand pounds or dollars on carbon and titanium to buy an improvement in outcomes. So, through the summer and autumn, I haven’t really been racing and haven’t really been pushing it – until October or so – and then I started to get a bit more structured and a bit more motivated. With the Quad Dipsea looming for late November I finally realised I needed to start motivating rather more!!</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: trebuchet ms;">Of course one of the other great truths is that running becomes a virtuous circle. Run and you feel more inclined to run more. Run more and you start to see things that “reward” you for your efforts – a sunset, a hawk hunting, a bobcat, a chance meeting on the trail with someone really interesting – good things happen. Upshot of some half decent training was 8<sup>th</sup> place from 233 finishers with no strollers or grandfathers in front of me. With passive cramps setting in around 3 miles from the end I knew I had given it all and I was also delighted to pick up places from around 14<sup>th</sup> at half way.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: trebuchet ms;">So, a 2012 race schedule is emerging based on new found motivation and, hopefully, injury free running. The main events for now are listed below and a current listing should appear on the right hand side of this blog through the year. </p> <ul style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><li><span style="font-family:Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-"><span style="mso-list:Ignore"><span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>Feb 25<span style="mso-tab-count:2"> </span>Ray Miller 50 mile</li><li><span style="font-family:Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-"><span style="mso-list:Ignore"><span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>Mar 17<span style="mso-tab-count:2"> </span>Chuckanut 50k</li><li><span style="font-family:Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-"><span style="mso-list:Ignore"><span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>Apr 15<span style="mso-tab-count:2"> </span>Lake Sonoma 50 mile</li><li><span style="font-family:Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-"><span style="mso-list:Ignore"><span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>Apr 28<span style="mso-tab-count:2"> </span>Fellsman? 61 mile</li><li><span style="font-family:Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-"><span style="mso-list:Ignore"><span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>May 05<span style="mso-tab-count:2"> </span>Miwok 100km</li><li><span style="font-family:Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-"><span style="mso-list:Ignore"><span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>Jun 09<span style="mso-tab-count:2"> </span>San Diego 100 mile </li><li> and then.....?</li></ul> <span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"> </span> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: trebuchet ms;">If all the above makes it sound as though I have not been enjoying the outdoors then I need to redress the balance a little. I have not been racing and training in a structured way but we have been lucky enough to run in some great places such as: </p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-indent: -18pt; text-align: center; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-family:Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>Santa Cruz Island, Channel Islands, California</p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-indent: -18pt; text-align: center; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc9idlYCtgWtMbxPeJsAcwFVjLOiSGK9JbQQaP1WMPxF8oYKhsMnTsBp_hIjE-1uXZcevSSQ2f3xntfPh8LJZY3aFa1l339W9L2iOpmzNx7M9XY0AAJCTFADXGA-2Rxbe4NNMxlkxPkhQX/s1600/IMG_9691_800x533.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc9idlYCtgWtMbxPeJsAcwFVjLOiSGK9JbQQaP1WMPxF8oYKhsMnTsBp_hIjE-1uXZcevSSQ2f3xntfPh8LJZY3aFa1l339W9L2iOpmzNx7M9XY0AAJCTFADXGA-2Rxbe4NNMxlkxPkhQX/s400/IMG_9691_800x533.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699112746526065074" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -18pt; text-align: center; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm9IvMpVyYColHYezS7eS8EjMlUEKkQArwgIJytvJP5wp978r8CCxeydUa2ifwCa8IurmYdAN5WfFht94pKDkLS395CiLaH_KtNhuHYsy2dTbA31CncSreu70VG8QJ1oD0CHIEefqqI3jx/s1600/IMG_9752_800x533.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm9IvMpVyYColHYezS7eS8EjMlUEKkQArwgIJytvJP5wp978r8CCxeydUa2ifwCa8IurmYdAN5WfFht94pKDkLS395CiLaH_KtNhuHYsy2dTbA31CncSreu70VG8QJ1oD0CHIEefqqI3jx/s400/IMG_9752_800x533.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699112830081424562" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -18pt; text-align: center; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-family:Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-"><span style="mso-list:Ignore"><span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""></span></span></span>- Sespe Wilderness, Los Padres Forest, California</p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -18pt; text-align: center; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAR5duClEia4qwBpqDA2cXZA01bmPp_tJlHmgqSgzzvTMCM0LxrjW-9QdDNf_Fvqtsj18X4GGNVohQG8Q2I-B90_5jeTE6gLEm36VYyHhi7jFTRt1gT3Cik3l6N04Ffh1xDQd-dFIWTIn-/s1600/topa+summit_800x384.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 192px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAR5duClEia4qwBpqDA2cXZA01bmPp_tJlHmgqSgzzvTMCM0LxrjW-9QdDNf_Fvqtsj18X4GGNVohQG8Q2I-B90_5jeTE6gLEm36VYyHhi7jFTRt1gT3Cik3l6N04Ffh1xDQd-dFIWTIn-/s400/topa+summit_800x384.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699112893219227858" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -18pt; text-align: center; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-family:Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>Red Rocks Canyon, Las Vegas, Nevada</p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="text-indent: -18pt; text-align: center; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-family:Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>Gunung Agung, Bali, Indonesia<span style=""><br /></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -18pt; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: trebuchet ms;">and, of course, my now local hills here in Santa Barbara where the sun, mostly, shines!!</p>Mark Hartellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13471980321639374338noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2860694452518468546.post-19782033786033244462011-07-06T16:44:00.000-07:002011-07-06T16:59:18.551-07:00Mt Pinos and Other Adventures<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0z0PuhVg-OiZ9JeuDh5IHhHHiuCt43BE7cFYZb6IttHu8hvd1dx8QOmyf9QzXKtzP4Y7APbjAym8BSya_cgqvVoaO9zmtW84LjHuqKO6Jtxx4Cv-CjtuExgFCNPUqSdl69gSy4vGc1leK/s1600/blog+-+forest+floor_1280x711.jpg"><br /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigu9BW1YvT2d_t5XEyj8lPNm1vkdSxPab3X7vKkwo4S9OgvLAEJWaugqAjW46ELbg9MIR0QSAeW4DyjAVRsBqV52jpJEz8CZlBiFykDtDOGtZZ_mCOMP6xevaf_-UnHDctVOXUfHmojZEF/s1600/blog+-+paintbrush_1200x800.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigu9BW1YvT2d_t5XEyj8lPNm1vkdSxPab3X7vKkwo4S9OgvLAEJWaugqAjW46ELbg9MIR0QSAeW4DyjAVRsBqV52jpJEz8CZlBiFykDtDOGtZZ_mCOMP6xevaf_-UnHDctVOXUfHmojZEF/s400/blog+-+paintbrush_1200x800.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626389899314916018" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;font-size:78%;" ><span style="font-size:85%;">a "sea" of indian paintbrush</span><br /></span><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> <w:lidthemeother>EN-GB</w:LidThemeOther> <w:lidthemeasian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:lidthemecomplexscript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:splitpgbreakandparamark/> <w:dontvertaligncellwithsp/> <w:dontbreakconstrainedforcedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> <w:word11kerningpairs/> <w:cachedcolbalance/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathpr> <m:mathfont val="Cambria Math"> <m:brkbin val="before"> <m:brkbinsub val="--"> <m:smallfrac val="off"> <m:dispdef/> <m:lmargin val="0"> <m:rmargin val="0"> <m:defjc val="centerGroup"> <m:wrapindent val="1440"> <m:intlim val="subSup"> <m:narylim val="undOvr"> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" defunhidewhenused="true" defsemihidden="true" defqformat="false" defpriority="99" latentstylecount="267"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="0" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Normal"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="heading 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 7"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 8"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 9"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 7"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 8"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 9"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="35" qformat="true" name="caption"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="10" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Title"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="1" name="Default Paragraph Font"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="11" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtitle"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="22" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Strong"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="20" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="59" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Table Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Placeholder Text"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="1" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="No Spacing"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Revision"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="34" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="List Paragraph"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="29" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Quote"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="30" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Quote"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="19" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtle Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="21" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="31" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtle Reference"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="32" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Reference"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="33" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Book Title"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="37" name="Bibliography"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" qformat="true" name="TOC Heading"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--> </div><p style="font-family: trebuchet ms; text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Last weekend was July 4<sup>th</sup> – a big deal over here in the USA . As in the UK this means a long weekend but also loads of crowds and traffic so the trick is to get away but avoid the melee. </p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: trebuchet ms; text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Realising that the more accessible part of the Sierra would be packed and with Lynn not keen on a 5 hour each way drive, I was excited to discover that the Wilderness and National Forest areas inland from us reach heights of almost 9000ft. A short trip down the coastal freeway and then a longer twisty, hilly road inland would take us to the Mt Pinos/Mt Abel area which hosts x-country skiing in the winter and offers an opportunity to get up into Pine forest ecosystem in the summer. This is what I was looking for as the sagebrush/chaparral environment is ever present here in Santa Barbara. </p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: trebuchet ms; text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">After a great breakfast in Ojai we were at the trailhead at the crack of 11.30am – just as the temperatures were really cranking up. I had somewhat underestimated just how hot it gets inland and we were probably hiking in 100 degrees – it certainly felt that way on a mostly uphill trail anyway. </p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: trebuchet ms; text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">The principal attractions of this area are the flowers – Indian Paintbrush, Lupines, Iris, Snow plants and many many more – in fact, as you can see below – their profusion paints the mountainside. </p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: trebuchet ms; text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnIyIXXWrsSnrgQeznSNzqGXrYHLVXVbM2I9iCmMm9Utt3x7_tcyjrH_2ZFbAdFkK36erAh4yj-y7rSw9pdEdjPFPAOeI-mDuMQB4gFuD63LKJjepmzfVBTUIjfCpX2RPYq-fI6tbSFmTB/s1600/blog+-+thistle_1280x768.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnIyIXXWrsSnrgQeznSNzqGXrYHLVXVbM2I9iCmMm9Utt3x7_tcyjrH_2ZFbAdFkK36erAh4yj-y7rSw9pdEdjPFPAOeI-mDuMQB4gFuD63LKJjepmzfVBTUIjfCpX2RPYq-fI6tbSFmTB/s400/blog+-+thistle_1280x768.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626390506870362642" border="0" /></a></p><p style="font-family: trebuchet ms; text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="font-family: trebuchet ms; text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-QBZEjGLIwSNo_6pj9-W1i2CmK2XSn15M8VhuLrxDGYt-r7c3UcHK6zCPy2v3q-UKNK2f7m4R1y19G8fA4AUd6ZALwynhLPH3q81IfIUnwr1PsKRb-WOdWn2qhlnIMiUAK7gmFEHgD5S6/s1600/blog+-+snowplant_1280x769.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-QBZEjGLIwSNo_6pj9-W1i2CmK2XSn15M8VhuLrxDGYt-r7c3UcHK6zCPy2v3q-UKNK2f7m4R1y19G8fA4AUd6ZALwynhLPH3q81IfIUnwr1PsKRb-WOdWn2qhlnIMiUAK7gmFEHgD5S6/s400/blog+-+snowplant_1280x769.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626390413385471362" border="0" /></a></p><p style="font-family: trebuchet ms; text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="font-family: trebuchet ms; text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvy1IlslU8k_1WGAJT9nql3Km_4IpuucRlm5czjLLhkvKZrePODWiqqtHbvgNNZ7HBcpsDsVZinYDWvUsDzxBu8_9ehWOBxVeVs-pTP8s1AR3nJJRDVSPRC-mW1AaAqzEzp-WhfYNUe69Y/s1600/blog+-+pink+flowers_1280x769.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvy1IlslU8k_1WGAJT9nql3Km_4IpuucRlm5czjLLhkvKZrePODWiqqtHbvgNNZ7HBcpsDsVZinYDWvUsDzxBu8_9ehWOBxVeVs-pTP8s1AR3nJJRDVSPRC-mW1AaAqzEzp-WhfYNUe69Y/s400/blog+-+pink+flowers_1280x769.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626390305574345570" border="0" /></a></p><p style="font-family: trebuchet ms; text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="font-family: trebuchet ms; text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUH3Fa3jrVfcJ5mYRT4RB7Tni0GUvPpmm0T-zEmg53D3K3jOVZFd5Zzp9ym3CIMzPnESWCbiG1JJOshBDBjOVSQ_mFuaVlCGGSn51dmRrWG9cGUPjZsVoNf5rSD_KhCJpKMEtk4-mhZu32/s1600/blog+-+chinese+lantern+flower_1280x767.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUH3Fa3jrVfcJ5mYRT4RB7Tni0GUvPpmm0T-zEmg53D3K3jOVZFd5Zzp9ym3CIMzPnESWCbiG1JJOshBDBjOVSQ_mFuaVlCGGSn51dmRrWG9cGUPjZsVoNf5rSD_KhCJpKMEtk4-mhZu32/s400/blog+-+chinese+lantern+flower_1280x767.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626390239611097426" border="0" /></a></p><p style="font-family: trebuchet ms; text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="font-family: trebuchet ms; text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixjk-Z5yk-UT4Zv4eP4m_p9H4OicMC0ClY8j9wYxPyLNSgZeWJmo4lXzFCos69QQh5bDQ_GXi5oN5wauSq2F8PPVbSwGcqn3l1vJCU6jilZHiYnguBC_7Vuxy4j-xmUcd3YM0AaH7-A1oH/s1600/blog+-+orange+flower_1280x774.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 242px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixjk-Z5yk-UT4Zv4eP4m_p9H4OicMC0ClY8j9wYxPyLNSgZeWJmo4lXzFCos69QQh5bDQ_GXi5oN5wauSq2F8PPVbSwGcqn3l1vJCU6jilZHiYnguBC_7Vuxy4j-xmUcd3YM0AaH7-A1oH/s400/blog+-+orange+flower_1280x774.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626390126405944578" border="0" /></a></p><p style="font-family: trebuchet ms; text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Overall, it was a pretty chilled weekend apart from an exciting couple of minutes encountering one of my slithery friends. Whilst Lynn took a nap I hiked up to the top of Sawtooth Mountain on the Saturday afternoon – just a few steps before the summit cairn I heard that cricket/cicada/rattling sound that a dimply recognised as a rattlesnakes warning. I saw it move at the same time – just off to the left of the trail, under a small rock ledge. I moved away quickly!! Seeing he was a pretty large specimen I was keen to get a picture but even from 10ft away he was rattling, coiled and poised to strike. I don’t know their strike range but am not keen to find out first hand so let him be. </p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: trebuchet ms; text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Prior to last weekend I have had a couple of challenges. The first of these was an extended run into the backcountry locally – setting off up my usual, the Jesusita trail, I continued down to the bottom of Tunnel trail and the ascent all the way to the ridge. Expecting fog (and therefore low temps) all the way to the ridge I was surprised to break through into sun almost immediately. So – the brief record of the day goes something like this – trail uphill for 3000ft – hot – dusty – reach ridge – half of water already gone – getting hotter – decide to shorten planned route – progress along ridge road overtaken by 3 guys on long boards ripping it up – arrive at trailhead for Arroyo Burro trail, no trail in evidence – temporary panic as if I can’t find a trail here I have some unpalatable alternatives – eventually find trail/trod and proceed down – head high thistles – see (yet another) snake – a “racer” this time – trail fades in and out – entering dram/nightmare world of dehydration, heatstroke and lost world landscape – trail at times completely overgrown – start renascent and into dryer more arid terrain – now means overgrown and prickly – birds of prey overhead – they seem to be circling over me – am I lunch. Of course, with hindsight, it was a great mini-adventure and a few people I have spoken to since (but didn’t think to ask before) have all said “Oh yes, the Arroyo Burro trail is pretty sketchy”.<br /></p><p style="font-family: trebuchet ms; text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT6qt4KkSUPi1vFRLvEe0-_EXcjMkC_HW2yhYcrvLqNfTP05zBtQGD8ml2d_ovha9M27lbdIJSY4wU16eyjKxkbyjCBnNeKMO3LZGoLGzpo4lWlEA73DpG07lwgRUrKxZylB0hyphenhyphenov9c_VU/s1600/blog+-+top+of+pinos_479x800.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT6qt4KkSUPi1vFRLvEe0-_EXcjMkC_HW2yhYcrvLqNfTP05zBtQGD8ml2d_ovha9M27lbdIJSY4wU16eyjKxkbyjCBnNeKMO3LZGoLGzpo4lWlEA73DpG07lwgRUrKxZylB0hyphenhyphenov9c_VU/s400/blog+-+top+of+pinos_479x800.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626390593969681282" border="0" /></a></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: trebuchet ms; text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">Descending the summit of Mt Pinos in the cool evening</span><br /></p><p style="font-family: trebuchet ms; text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">The other challenge is the one of hanging onto the Santa Barbara cycling group who head out Tuesdays and Thursdays on a 35 mile loop from downtown. It all starts innocently enough – steady pace – turns at front – me learning to pack ride – and then at some invisible signal it goes mental and the pack accelerates. Tuesday I hung on – helped by a couple of 60-70 year olds. Thursday they were at Bingo and I was dropped like a dog. I am assured it was nothing personal – not my lack of bike riding skills, not the impertinence of having Campagnolo kit on a bike in the USA – just that these SB guys like to hammer it. </p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: trebuchet ms; text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Oh, and then yesterday. I had made a passing comment about times for Gibraltar Road so found out that there is a time trial race up it in February and that the record time is around 49 minutes with 1hr 10 being regarded as half decent for a training ride and showing potential to beat the hour in the race. Well, you know me. That meant I had to go for a little ride – just to see. Well, I think I know why they hold it in February – I boiled my head, scorched my lungs, broke down all the muscle fibres in my legs and damn near threw up at the top. Suffice to say – the hour looks possible for the race but 49 minutes might require some serious EPO type “vitamins” or some contaminated meat :)</p><p style="font-family: trebuchet ms; text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0z0PuhVg-OiZ9JeuDh5IHhHHiuCt43BE7cFYZb6IttHu8hvd1dx8QOmyf9QzXKtzP4Y7APbjAym8BSya_cgqvVoaO9zmtW84LjHuqKO6Jtxx4Cv-CjtuExgFCNPUqSdl69gSy4vGc1leK/s1600/blog+-+forest+floor_1280x711.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 222px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0z0PuhVg-OiZ9JeuDh5IHhHHiuCt43BE7cFYZb6IttHu8hvd1dx8QOmyf9QzXKtzP4Y7APbjAym8BSya_cgqvVoaO9zmtW84LjHuqKO6Jtxx4Cv-CjtuExgFCNPUqSdl69gSy4vGc1leK/s400/blog+-+forest+floor_1280x711.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626390669133375314" border="0" /></a></p> <p style="font-family: trebuchet ms; text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">Lupins carpet the forest floor</span><br /></p><p style="font-family: trebuchet ms; text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0z0PuhVg-OiZ9JeuDh5IHhHHiuCt43BE7cFYZb6IttHu8hvd1dx8QOmyf9QzXKtzP4Y7APbjAym8BSya_cgqvVoaO9zmtW84LjHuqKO6Jtxx4Cv-CjtuExgFCNPUqSdl69gSy4vGc1leK/s1600/blog+-+forest+floor_1280x711.jpg"><br /></a></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: trebuchet ms; text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"> </p>Mark Hartellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13471980321639374338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2860694452518468546.post-79574263718919663442011-06-14T10:32:00.000-07:002011-06-14T10:37:52.770-07:00Training!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> <w:lidthemeother>EN-GB</w:LidThemeOther> <w:lidthemeasian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:lidthemecomplexscript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:splitpgbreakandparamark/> <w:dontvertaligncellwithsp/> <w:dontbreakconstrainedforcedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> <w:word11kerningpairs/> <w:cachedcolbalance/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathpr> <m:mathfont val="Cambria Math"> <m:brkbin val="before"> <m:brkbinsub val="--"> <m:smallfrac val="off"> <m:dispdef/> <m:lmargin val="0"> <m:rmargin val="0"> <m:defjc val="centerGroup"> <m:wrapindent val="1440"> <m:intlim val="subSup"> <m:narylim val="undOvr"> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" defunhidewhenused="true" defsemihidden="true" defqformat="false" defpriority="99" latentstylecount="267"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="0" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Normal"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="heading 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 7"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 8"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 9"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 7"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 8"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 9"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="35" qformat="true" name="caption"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="10" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Title"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="1" name="Default Paragraph Font"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="11" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtitle"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="22" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Strong"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="20" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="59" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Table Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Placeholder Text"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="1" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="No Spacing"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Revision"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="34" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="List Paragraph"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="29" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Quote"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="30" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Quote"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="19" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtle Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="21" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="31" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtle Reference"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="32" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Reference"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="33" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Book Title"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="37" name="Bibliography"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" qformat="true" name="TOC Heading"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; font-family: trebuchet ms;">As my good friend and experienced ultra-runner said to me at mile 59, “training, it’s a good idea to do some”</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; font-family: trebuchet ms;">That pretty much sums up the weekend – you can’t fake being fit enough to run 100 miles so Saturday exposed that fact that I was 50 mile or 60 mile fit but not 100 mile fit. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; font-family: trebuchet ms;"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; font-family: trebuchet ms;">How was that? A combination of factors – the Lake Sonoma 50 mile got cancelled, I had a chest infection that affected my training in the 3 weeks up to Fellsman, withdrew from that race after 12 miles with a torn hamstring and thus did no more than about 25 miles per week over the past 4 weeks. So more rested than trained then!!</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; font-family: trebuchet ms;"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; font-family: trebuchet ms;">On the day there were some schoolboy errors too – I dimly registered that the race would be up at 6000ft but dismissed it.<span style=""> </span>In truth the altitude was not significant although you do just about fee it uphill.<span style=""> </span>More significant is that a semi desert environment at altitude has some important characteristics the runner needs to prepare for – very low humidity, high day-time temperatures, low night-time temperatures and a stronger exposure to the sun.<span style=""> </span>These were the main factors that caused the “drop” as I only covered 65 of the 100 miles. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; font-family: trebuchet ms;"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; font-family: trebuchet ms;">In essence, I got a little dehydrated early on although I did pull this back and was good by the early evening, I got fried by the sun<span style=""> </span>during the day and should have worn a hat or visor and, once the sun set, I simply could not keep warm. As others powered into the night in vest and shorts I was wearing long sleeved top, windproof, hat, gloves and buff and still shivering whilst climbing uphill. These are the circumstances when it makes sense to avoid becoming a liability and so, around 1 mile after leaving the mile 64 aid station I turned around and headed back down the hill. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; font-family: trebuchet ms;"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; font-family: trebuchet ms;">You may think that I would be really down about yet another DNF but strangely not. I need to reflect a little longer on the reasons it bugs me less and on what actions I will take as a result but the experience of the weekend was overwhelmingly positive for a number of reasons: </p> <ul style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><li><span style=""><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span>The course and scenery were amazing and well exceeded my mental picture of what it would be like. Nearly all singletrack, sometimes technical, trail through mature open forest with shallow lakes giving way to rocky sometimes barren open ridges with expansive views down several thousand feet to the Anza Borrego desert</li><li><span style=""><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span>Wonderful support and crewing from Lynn who kept me going, persuasively countered my whinging and was all set to get up at 3am to pace me the final 13 miles</li><li><span style=""><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span>The community of Ultra and catching up with some great people who I haven’t seen for a while</li><li><span style=""><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span>Sustained effort and concentration with a single purpose. Our lives are so fractured, dissected and distracted that its almost a luxury to thing “today I will be mostly running” and nothing else.</li></ul> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; font-family: trebuchet ms;">The aftermath has been exquisite stiffness but no injuries and, on the journey back from San Diego, the purchase of my US wheels – a VW Passat Estate/Wagon – the 4wheel drive version all ready for the mountains and the ski season. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; font-family: trebuchet ms;"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; font-family: trebuchet ms;">Enough for now – gotta run!! </p> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> <w:lidthemeother>EN-GB</w:LidThemeOther> <w:lidthemeasian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:lidthemecomplexscript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:splitpgbreakandparamark/> <w:dontvertaligncellwithsp/> <w:dontbreakconstrainedforcedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> <w:word11kerningpairs/> <w:cachedcolbalance/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathpr> <m:mathfont val="Cambria Math"> <m:brkbin val="before"> <m:brkbinsub val="--"> <m:smallfrac val="off"> <m:dispdef/> <m:lmargin val="0"> <m:rmargin val="0"> <m:defjc val="centerGroup"> <m:wrapindent val="1440"> <m:intlim val="subSup"> <m:narylim val="undOvr"> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" defunhidewhenused="true" defsemihidden="true" defqformat="false" defpriority="99" latentstylecount="267"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="0" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Normal"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="heading 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 7"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 8"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 9"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 7"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 8"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 9"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="35" qformat="true" name="caption"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="10" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Title"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="1" name="Default Paragraph Font"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="11" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtitle"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="22" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Strong"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="20" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="59" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Table Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Placeholder Text"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="1" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="No Spacing"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Revision"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="34" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="List Paragraph"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="29" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Quote"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="30" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Quote"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="19" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtle Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="21" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="31" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtle Reference"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="32" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Reference"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="33" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Book Title"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="37" name="Bibliography"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" qformat="true" name="TOC Heading"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;} </style> <![endif]-->Mark Hartellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13471980321639374338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2860694452518468546.post-6274696216429701602011-06-07T14:29:00.000-07:002011-06-07T14:43:43.821-07:00Plan B takes shape<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Well, today's little 5 mile run out to the local park and along the beach confirmed that the offending Hamstring is now feeling fine. The rest of the body feels wrecked but that's another matter. </span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">So, Plan B will be put into effect - that is to say that this Saturday I will try to run a 100 mile race in San Diego. Those who know me may recall that I officially gave up running 100 mile races about 3 years ago so I fear this may turn into yet another one of those multiple "retirements" from a sport where the comebacks are gradually less memorable!!</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Anyway - first thing is that it is actually 100.1 miles (and that's before I add any detours and navigation errors). The second thing is that I don't intend to race this one. Several people have instructions to trip me up or knock me to the ground if I am remotely near the front of the race. </span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">It seems unlikely but I actually want to take this one pretty slow, soak up a course and a part of the world I have never visited before and see if I can finish feeling good.</span></span> <span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">You see, behind the Plan B there is a Plan C lurking in the wings and whilst it would be too early to "open my kimono" about that; suffice to say that finishing a 100 feeling like you could tackle another one is pretty important. </span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">So, Saturday 7am in the Al Bahr campground, Laguna - inland from San Diego - should see me having fun for all of Saturday and a reasonable bit of Sunday.</span></span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqxDNPp0MZD5Cs3rgDSuhJ7hR8PVxj0YA5Ap_kw8nSNUzkj1gOivPtRFXVrDlzt91RejNSwkK3HY146AY72Q7LsQHo5A1sY93ejZYKdXlFwqWcraLLOcsegoBSRWPg2Z3RP5t-AEyjllWC/s1600/Veronica+Springs+Wildlife.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 405px; height: 160px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqxDNPp0MZD5Cs3rgDSuhJ7hR8PVxj0YA5Ap_kw8nSNUzkj1gOivPtRFXVrDlzt91RejNSwkK3HY146AY72Q7LsQHo5A1sY93ejZYKdXlFwqWcraLLOcsegoBSRWPg2Z3RP5t-AEyjllWC/s400/Veronica+Springs+Wildlife.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615595853008532178" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >Heron and Bobcat visit the back yard</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Meantime, I am keen to rave about the wildlife we have in our back yard here in Santa Barbara - lizards we like, snakes we don't, Coyotes we have seen but yesterday we were blessed with a double. In the morning a Blue Heron and in the evening twilight a young Bobcat. Check the pictures. </span></span> <span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">More will follow on Monday. 'till then - happy trails!</span></span><br /></div>Mark Hartellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13471980321639374338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2860694452518468546.post-35835104062284160642011-05-16T02:51:00.001-07:002011-05-16T06:40:49.324-07:00Disappointment<div style="text-align: justify; font-family: trebuchet ms;">Disappointment - yes, frustration - yes!! I pulled out of the Fellsman on Saturday at mile 12 with a hamstring tear.<br /><br />It had been tight coming off Ingleborough but quite suddenly "went" on the steep part of the descent off Whernside. Whilst it is only twinging today it cut my pace in half at the time and was clearly not going to appreciate another 50 miles of use.<br /><br />There is the obvious disappointment that we all feel when getting injured and having to pull out of a race but there is also the fact that I felt great on the day and was massively looking forward to a right good battle with Jez. Going back a couple of months it looked as though Duncan Harris would be with us too and that would have been epic but he got sidelined with a stress fracture. Now, I am not saying I could have beaten Jez - he is a very classy performer - but I am saying I wanted to really push it and take it to the wire. It's the terrain I would choose for a friendly showdown and having a couple of people pushing each other is the way to get best performances.<br /><br />It also puts a big question mark on my other plans for the summer.<br /><br />After a days reflection (and moping around) here's my thinking...Looking positively, it was the Fellsman that motivated my training for the past 3 months. The cancellation of Sonoma 50 and the drop on Saturday mean that the fitness has not really been tested but everything else tells me that it's good and that I am in better shape than for the past few years.<br /><br />Of course I now need patience, I need to address the root cause of the injury (my posture) rather than the symptoms and I need to retain the focus to do whatever I can whilst it heals so that the damage won't be too bad. Finally, each day that I can't run I need to commit to memory the re-discovered enjoyment I found this spring from being able and motivated to run so that I get right back into it when I can.<br /><br />I need a few days to see how the recovery is and figure out a Plan B. Meanwhile I must congratulate both Jez Braggs and Nicky Spinks - both ran wonderful, well paced races to set new course records. In Nicky's case she knocked over 40 minutes off her own best time and Jez, without the diversions around Middle Tongue would surely have posted the mythical sub-10 hour time. Well done both!!<br /></div>Mark Hartellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13471980321639374338noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2860694452518468546.post-68161681748806354972011-05-08T22:42:00.000-07:002011-05-08T23:01:59.378-07:00A road to the sky and Miwok Indians<div style="text-align: justify; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;">OK, so the ride of the Camino Cielo went great. The climb up from the town is about 3500ft in 6 to 7 miles along the Gibraltar Road. For the most part it was well graded and an “in saddle” job rather than standing on the pedals. I didn’t take a time for just the climb but that might be a good thing because I have since discover</span><span style="font-size:100%;">ed that Lance Armstrong and the Discovery team used to train on this climb and also that its part of a century ride in which the leading riders complete the ascent in around 40 minutes. I think I was a little more pedestrian than that!! </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;"><br />The reward – a ride along the rolling ridge for several miles was sweet and the descent of “Painted Cave” road was steep and, in parts, a bit rough but nothing worse than I am used to on Staffordshire lanes so I was surprised to read that the</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;"> Painted Cave descent is a bit notorious for being dangerous. Maybe that’s true if you h</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;">ave confidence – I just took it all at snail’s pace.<br /><br />That was at the beginning of the week since when my explorations of the local area have continued a little, my collection of poison oak itches </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;">and scratches has grown a little and my cough has slowly improved. I’ll admit to a great degree of frustration – training this spring has gone rea</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;">lly well and I was looking forward to really pushing for a good time at Fellsman next Saturday. Of course I will be there but I really feel that the chest infection of the past 2 weeks has scuppered my chances of doing the kind of time I was looking for. Still, it is what it is and I just need to keep the focus and make the most of t</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;">he </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;">fitness I hope I have developed. </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZVZZgbohQDlI1Pqszlm56v-3NiZ4t3IhyphenhyphenZy98wFM0BN-cHPxI7umsyaM7zwLF6Jewy8CxDmx7ufhnIRg95V3m6OmRqych12Zc0pU-okIRBAZm3GkcsvUjQnAlh0qu5H6LZcn-ayOsIUN8/s1600/540am+start_1024x349.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 136px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZVZZgbohQDlI1Pqszlm56v-3NiZ4t3IhyphenhyphenZy98wFM0BN-cHPxI7umsyaM7zwLF6Jewy8CxDmx7ufhnIRg95V3m6OmRqych12Zc0pU-okIRBAZm3GkcsvUjQnAlh0qu5H6LZcn-ayOsIUN8/s400/540am+start_1024x349.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604591526837389042" border="0" /></a></span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:78%;">5:40am beach start for the 400+ Miwok 100km runners</span></span><br /><br /></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;">This weekend was fun – pacing Krissy Moehl at the 100km Miwok race in the Marin Headlands just north of San Francisco. I did this race in 2009 and it was truly, awfully wet and cold. Wasn’t supposed to be, in fact I had been warned it might be really hot but, on the day, mild hypothermia was the result and a finish in just under 10</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;"> hours. Almost identical, in fact, to the time Krissy posted yesterday. She had high h</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;">opes of a win and maybe a course record but nausea decided to have a say in the matter and it seemed that the course changes had made things harder as neither the men or the women approached record times.<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8BJCsTduz4ABc0h_vEw1z2S9sDWREwhdH0ZH6FHpgtXbua2eFj_LGUkyjQ0cyYwjmRAOC8iEn-oZQS-hvcyn8L9WOuPGWnlVJ1J6i27izUEOz0vF0dx5TGT0i_F0YQvNNO8rIv9L_66IQ/s1600/Mile+41+-+leaders+together_539x768.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 281px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8BJCsTduz4ABc0h_vEw1z2S9sDWREwhdH0ZH6FHpgtXbua2eFj_LGUkyjQ0cyYwjmRAOC8iEn-oZQS-hvcyn8L9WOuPGWnlVJ1J6i27izUEOz0vF0dx5TGT0i_F0YQvNNO8rIv9L_66IQ/s400/Mile+41+-+leaders+together_539x768.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604592296934188946" border="0" /></a></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:78%;">Race leaders still packed together at mile 41</span></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;">Still, super fun to see the racing, great to spend some time with Krissy and watch the single minded determination that has seen her win UTMB and many other races and good to catch up with Topher, Kim and other running friends over here.</span><br /></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSxeOP1eMN9JpIicN59VpbgqHr90Ijsnwncfbp6aedZdBCcFdMF3rAbViniQIH14HE30-g29Mo6EW4oRgjk6si43WcAXS92FNfwmvJkJcEYnpqdEnzvlbLzh9TtU82fowvCNQzlYHpbO3i/s1600/Elvis+runs+100s_628x768.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 327px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSxeOP1eMN9JpIicN59VpbgqHr90Ijsnwncfbp6aedZdBCcFdMF3rAbViniQIH14HE30-g29Mo6EW4oRgjk6si43WcAXS92FNfwmvJkJcEYnpqdEnzvlbLzh9TtU82fowvCNQzlYHpbO3i/s400/Elvis+runs+100s_628x768.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604591600338960690" border="0" /></a></span></span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:78%;">Ian Sharman - fastest 100 miler on US soil (12hrs 44mins!) scores a top 10 spot as Elvis</span><br /><br /></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;"> So, next Saturday is the Fellsman. I was going to suggest some odds for leading men and women but since the start list is not available I will just state the blindingly obvious which is that Jez has to be favourite in the men – part of his build up for Western States in about 6 weeks and Nicky Spinks is looking pretty invincible for the ladies. I believe that Duncan Harris is unfortunately side-lined with injury and yours truly is certainly making excuses about the recent illness but will probably still push for a time that starts with 10 somthing to improve on last year’s 11.30 Let’s see – as I understand it the conditions are pretty dry underfoot so if it’s not too hot, it could be a fast one. </span></div><p style=" text-align: justify;font-family:trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>Mark Hartellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13471980321639374338noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2860694452518468546.post-30018379444241835692011-05-02T09:48:00.000-07:002011-05-02T10:03:47.309-07:00First Steps<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDsv68OACRIXERN4OiYUnT6CX11zZaNXPxGKPzwhWvulMNeoZQlU195BIO1JXuC8ypkexpfEdbaO77Ic50qlNn-NfTgeq9FNS5vv83SgwWEobm211jE9N89PJXcgbDXO2kFOvw8ouJ3_Ly/s1600/DSC01293_1024x768.JPG"><br /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8sMTpv5R8_-z9vuPs-_6UTHMn-43JIQ3hijFGQTDplfxbAvSm-p9wt8TNJdQ_8EINITBMG-QzoDWo_vfb3BJfnQBDU60Nf6qtKLO4Sp9bTdWexWEysr6CPRAbMuS4WnMM6MFAerMag4ZL/s1600/Moving+truck_800x552.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 276px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8sMTpv5R8_-z9vuPs-_6UTHMn-43JIQ3hijFGQTDplfxbAvSm-p9wt8TNJdQ_8EINITBMG-QzoDWo_vfb3BJfnQBDU60Nf6qtKLO4Sp9bTdWexWEysr6CPRAbMuS4WnMM6MFAerMag4ZL/s400/Moving+truck_800x552.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602163520027594754" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >The big move - Truckin' USA<br /></span><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> <w:lidthemeother>EN-GB</w:LidThemeOther> <w:lidthemeasian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:lidthemecomplexscript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:splitpgbreakandparamark/> <w:dontvertaligncellwithsp/> <w:dontbreakconstrainedforcedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> <w:word11kerningpairs/> <w:cachedcolbalance/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> <m:mathpr> <m:mathfont val="Cambria Math"> <m:brkbin val="before"> <m:brkbinsub val="--"> <m:smallfrac val="off"> <m:dispdef/> <m:lmargin val="0"> <m:rmargin val="0"> <m:defjc val="centerGroup"> <m:wrapindent val="1440"> <m:intlim val="subSup"> <m:narylim val="undOvr"> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" defunhidewhenused="true" defsemihidden="true" defqformat="false" defpriority="99" latentstylecount="267"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="0" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Normal"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="heading 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 7"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 8"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 9"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 7"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 8"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 9"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="35" qformat="true" name="caption"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="10" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Title"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="1" name="Default Paragraph Font"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="11" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtitle"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="22" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Strong"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="20" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="59" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Table Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Placeholder Text"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="1" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="No Spacing"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Revision"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="34" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="List Paragraph"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="29" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Quote"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="30" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Quote"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="19" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtle Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="21" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="31" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtle Reference"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="32" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Reference"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="33" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Book Title"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="37" name="Bibliography"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" qformat="true" name="TOC Heading"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">So, the big news is that I will be spending some time in Santa Barbara, California. Lynn found work down here and it’s a great place to get fit and pursue my business ideas. </span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">The past 10 days have been a little crazy. We got about 4 days notice of the job start so rushed to find accommodation, rent a truck, pack everything up in the Bay Area and head down here.</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">On top of the all-nighter I regularly pull before going away and an extended flight over here as the original one was cancelled due to the storms in the east of the USA, this was the ideal recipe for getting sick. It’s very frustrating because I have been fine all winter and looking after myself but is seems as though I will never learn. Getting overtired before taking long plane journeys really is a recipe for picking up infections. </span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">The bike ride I wrote about last time really helped the infection set-in and so the past week has been characterised by my spluttering and hacking, useless cough. Doubly frustrating because all the hard training leading to Fellsman seems like it’s going to waste and also because there is a wonderful range of hills/mountains on my doorstep and I can hardly get out there to do them justice. </span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGimwYyKjBhTXwDkivUi1mT58aaqa-LnATaIlQly2x9NmB-fb-XXtxN35teUDfs3D0eGiHn4WYGZe2QKSrM_P6evGCe87yc-NlecLFPn7Ddbw9eQUzLppUqPhOCK-Ox3MZ_dkfdH_IVylO/s1600/DSC01290_1024x768.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGimwYyKjBhTXwDkivUi1mT58aaqa-LnATaIlQly2x9NmB-fb-XXtxN35teUDfs3D0eGiHn4WYGZe2QKSrM_P6evGCe87yc-NlecLFPn7Ddbw9eQUzLppUqPhOCK-Ox3MZ_dkfdH_IVylO/s400/DSC01290_1024x768.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602164324650738226" border="0" /></a></span><p style="text-align: center;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >My new back garden - trailhead 2 miles from house</span><br /></p><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Things improving, however, and I made my first steps into the Front Country – as it is called. This is a range of hills going up to about 4,000ft from sea level. Plenty of trails, some a little overgrown, mostly well graded, some quite rocky.The terrain is pretty rugged with lots of sandstone outcroppings. Reminiscent of the high chaparral - imagine native american indians behind every bluff with bow and arrow. Much of the area I have run in so far was burned by the big Jesusita fire two years ago - it took out about 300 houses and, believe it or not, we met someone yesterday who managed to take out insurance AFTER the fire started and 8 hours before his house got burned!!<br /></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDsv68OACRIXERN4OiYUnT6CX11zZaNXPxGKPzwhWvulMNeoZQlU195BIO1JXuC8ypkexpfEdbaO77Ic50qlNn-NfTgeq9FNS5vv83SgwWEobm211jE9N89PJXcgbDXO2kFOvw8ouJ3_Ly/s1600/DSC01293_1024x768.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDsv68OACRIXERN4OiYUnT6CX11zZaNXPxGKPzwhWvulMNeoZQlU195BIO1JXuC8ypkexpfEdbaO77Ic50qlNn-NfTgeq9FNS5vv83SgwWEobm211jE9N89PJXcgbDXO2kFOvw8ouJ3_Ly/s400/DSC01293_1024x768.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602164409893993938" border="0" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >Inspiration point - 1750' up from the coast</span><br /></p><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Much more exploring to do but today is a bike day (with no bees hopefully) to climb from the sea to the Camino Cielo road that runs along the first ridge inland at about 3,500ft. Given the clear blue sky that greets every day and the midday temps of around 80-85F, I expect a roasting!!</p>Mark Hartellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13471980321639374338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2860694452518468546.post-26398135529765974702011-04-17T14:52:00.000-07:002011-04-17T14:54:43.774-07:00The blog is back!<div style="text-align: justify;font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-family: arial;font-size:100%;" >Well finally, after a huge break, the blog is back.<br /><br />...and with it comes a new commitment to regular updates from both the UK and the US as well as, just fer giggles, I am going to start running some odds for a few of the UK races and racers just so we can see how wrong I can be.<br /><br />First though, a very quick update on the past few months. I really wasn’t very fit or motivated in 2010. After scraping a 2nd place in the Fellsman and a win (although we were not the fastest runners) in the Scottish Islands Peaks race my fitness fell away dramatically. Why? – a cold/bug in June, lots of travel to London as part of my contract and soon I was out of the habit of training much.<br /><br />This culminated in late November with me getting a pretty nasty neck problem – something along the lines of a herniated disc in my neck but that’s not confirmed and not on my medical records so it didn’t happen right! What did happen was that I got massive shoulder and right arm pains, couldn’t sleep more than 1 hour for a week and ended up with some codeine painkillers.<br /><br />The great news is that less than 6 weeks later I was running again, feeling good and starting to get motivated – all thanks to my talented Physical Therapist (and wife) Lynn.<br /><br />Well, the thing about fitness and motivation is that its possible to develop a virtuous circle. It’s like the vicious one only friendlier – a bit of training produces positive feelings which encourages a bit more training which produces.... and so it goes on.<br /><br />An early Feb outing over some of the boggiest bits of the High Peak Marathon route went badly and one of my good friends confidently pronounced me “over the hill” but then, in the actual event, we recorded our fastest time – also the 2nd fastest ever; amazing to think that some 20 years on from my first HPM I would be recording a PB.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;font-size:100%;" ><br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDzKEwA3vSEDNeqK0dS-nI7oj_QFyXGBCIScHMUZPAjhFS1ld0kIM-QXauD-hyoDajxTgyCduM1YygpQEnMa-bO1Rys3ZlJhi2ubeCvFN6vYf3x5F44etx5__rjX_OQlFBJK5wy6djQuM/s1600/marin+training+weekend.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDzKEwA3vSEDNeqK0dS-nI7oj_QFyXGBCIScHMUZPAjhFS1ld0kIM-QXauD-hyoDajxTgyCduM1YygpQEnMa-bO1Rys3ZlJhi2ubeCvFN6vYf3x5F44etx5__rjX_OQlFBJK5wy6djQuM/s400/marin+training+weekend.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596672112262942082" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-family: arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">The Marin Crew - Topher, Krissy, Nate, Amy, Jason and Kim - Devon resting out of picture! </span></span></span><span style="font-family: arial;font-size:100%;" ><br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;font-size:100%;" ><br />The good vibe has continued and I am now building up to Fellsman. Looks like this year could be a humdinger with Jez Bragg scheduled to run. I was hoping Duncan (last year’s winner) would also be there but seems he has picked up a stress fracture. Anyway, I am psyched to get the chance to run against Jez and see what the gap is.<br />Most recently I was slated to run a 50 mile race (actually I thought it was 50km when I entered it) in Northern California but, in contrast to our rather dry winter, they have had some record rains so the course was flooded and the organiser was not prepared to turn it into a run-swim-run duathlon so the event was cancelled. The resulting training weekend was probably tougher than the race with some very high class company as you might recognise from this picture.<br /><br />OK – off to the hills for a couple of days to get some good miles in then I will update on plans for the next few months and a bit of an announcement! – yes, the old dog is going to attempt something audacious. Check back to find out what soon!!</span><br /></div>Mark Hartellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13471980321639374338noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2860694452518468546.post-6441927243046143452010-09-22T13:16:00.000-07:002010-09-22T13:21:56.217-07:00Today I lost a running friend...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhofRSPRnGqSIynoozhztzEgpO19BorpYO7zm_Z8PIAsvKehHY-NGSlmIei41pGJLLrJWj50eX8Iq-8Aae3kfu-ALn6kLOSR99haFJcW7MNylfT5bmy8qxhABbVIZGuQN1VWBjjgF_yDtqX/s1600/islay_1024x701.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 274px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhofRSPRnGqSIynoozhztzEgpO19BorpYO7zm_Z8PIAsvKehHY-NGSlmIei41pGJLLrJWj50eX8Iq-8Aae3kfu-ALn6kLOSR99haFJcW7MNylfT5bmy8qxhABbVIZGuQN1VWBjjgF_yDtqX/s400/islay_1024x701.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519835027058910242" border="0" /></a><br /><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> <w:lidthemeother>EN-GB</w:LidThemeOther> <w:lidthemeasian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:lidthemecomplexscript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:splitpgbreakandparamark/> <w:dontvertaligncellwithsp/> <w:dontbreakconstrainedforcedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> <w:word11kerningpairs/> <w:cachedcolbalance/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathpr> <m:mathfont val="Cambria Math"> <m:brkbin val="before"> <m:brkbinsub val="--"> <m:smallfrac val="off"> <m:dispdef/> <m:lmargin val="0"> <m:rmargin val="0"> <m:defjc val="centerGroup"> <m:wrapindent val="1440"> <m:intlim val="subSup"> <m:narylim val="undOvr"> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" defunhidewhenused="true" defsemihidden="true" defqformat="false" defpriority="99" latentstylecount="267"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="0" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Normal"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="heading 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 7"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 8"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 9"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 7"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 8"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 9"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="35" qformat="true" name="caption"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="10" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Title"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="1" name="Default Paragraph Font"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="11" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtitle"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="22" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Strong"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="20" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="59" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Table Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Placeholder Text"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="1" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="No Spacing"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Revision"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="34" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="List Paragraph"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="29" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Quote"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="30" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Quote"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="19" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtle Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="21" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="31" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtle Reference"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="32" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Reference"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="33" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Book Title"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="37" name="Bibliography"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" qformat="true" name="TOC Heading"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Cambria Math"; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-536870145 1107305727 0 0 415 0;} @font-face {font-family:Calibri; panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:swiss; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-520092929 1073786111 9 0 415 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; margin-top:0cm; margin-right:0cm; margin-bottom:10.0pt; margin-left:0cm; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;} .MsoPapDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; margin-bottom:10.0pt; line-height:115%;} @page WordSection1 {size:612.0pt 792.0pt; margin:72.0pt 72.0pt 72.0pt 72.0pt; mso-header-margin:36.0pt; mso-footer-margin:36.0pt; mso-paper-source:0;} div.WordSection1 {page:WordSection1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:";" >My beloved collie, Islay, reached the end of her race of life today. A few days shy of her 16<sup>th</sup> birthday she needed a major operation that there was little chance she would recover from and so, with a little help from modern medicine, the lights went out. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:";" >Back in 1994 we selected one of a litter of six from a VHS video and then drove all the way up to Kirkcaldy in Fife to pick-up our little bundle of fur.<span style=""> </span>That bundle of fur grew rapidly into a spindly youth, sustained mostly it seemed by chewing everything around her – thank goodness the furniture was mostly hand me downs or acquired from local newspaper adverts. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:";" >With hindsight – she started her running career a little too young and a little too adventurously – but that’s no surprise really considering the passion and training miles I clocked up in those days. As a 5 month old – she struggled in the deep heather and snow one January day around Moel Famau but she gradually developed the economical slightly crabbing gait and prodigious endurance of a true collie. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:";" >By the time she was 2 she was comfortable completing races like the Edale Skyline and keeping me company on days out in Wales and the Lakes. At the end of the run I would usually have to endure a 2-3 hour drive in the car and arrive home ready for a lie down and a cup of tea. She would sleep the whole journey through and arrive home ready for more!!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:";" >Islay was named from a Scottish Island and on a windswept but beautiful beach in the outer Hebrides she discovered “bunched up running” – unique to Islay and a comical – tail between the legs – back legs ahead of front legs style only used for occasions of extreme joy. On a snowy Coniston Old Man in the Lake District she discovered tobogganing- stick the nose in the snow and plough forwards with the back legs - creating a bow wave of snow. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:";" >Mostly Islay was trouble free – the occasional escape to explore the local countryside provided a few worries but visits to the Vet were rare –<span style=""> </span>except , that is, for the 6 month period when she managed to get rolled over under the front of a car (miraculous escape), stung by a bee inside her nose (expensive New Years eve vet visit) knocked out by a horse (bloody nose and a few seconds unconscious but no harm done) and swallowed a Duplo people duvet – worried examination of “output” to ensure it had passed through the system. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:";" >Dogs are sensitive to fear and emotions in others and Islay was a silent but knowing companion in tough times. She also knew the meaning of bravado – her furious, yelping, spitting indignation of cats quickly turned into a hasty retreat if they stood their ground. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:";" >Collies are also highly intelligent and she learnt to pace herself – me and no pack meant a run of less than 90 minutes, a pack meant it could be a good run out and the presence of Craig usually meant an adventure.<span style=""> </span>She knew these things. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:";" >Islay and I shared some great running miles and a few mishaps – once we were running with a small group of Harriers alongside a frozen canal with a sprinkling of snow on. At least I recognised it was a frozen canal but maybe she didn’t – at a recess in the path she confidently jumped down onto the “road” only to disappear through the thin ice for what was probably less than a second but felt like an age. Her eyes were so wide as I hauled her out. Another time, towards the end of a Peris Horseshoe round with my mate Craig it became obvious that her pads, unused to the rigours of scree and rock, had worn down and blistered painfully. She sat down and whimpered so I got to carry her over my shoulders all the way down Snowdon on a busy summer’s afternoon. The fur ruff on a hot day wasn’t too bad but the incessant licks of gratitude made me rather sticky.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:";" >Islay – you bought joy to many lives and you will be missed<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:";" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Mark Hartellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13471980321639374338noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2860694452518468546.post-66372832081718207622010-05-24T14:20:00.001-07:002010-05-26T15:37:33.889-07:00Scottish Island Peaks - race report<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC_Dn4LTCCpwFFQHytaLG-1uvW-ZNBImXR0VA7dwbI_njkQcz11g6zHspFW193c4Ny9MeMRsxYrLHDTG5kpjpGE9wtsnRnF_ZFVVyEJtIJ_b_Q95xjPvzRruAowSplq5GmrMZfsMRbd4Va/s1600/DSC00063_800x600.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC_Dn4LTCCpwFFQHytaLG-1uvW-ZNBImXR0VA7dwbI_njkQcz11g6zHspFW193c4Ny9MeMRsxYrLHDTG5kpjpGE9wtsnRnF_ZFVVyEJtIJ_b_Q95xjPvzRruAowSplq5GmrMZfsMRbd4Va/s400/DSC00063_800x600.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474952768479918114" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">The story of the 2010 race - hot and calm - sunburn and rowing</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div> <span style="font-family:arial;"><br />Commenting that I would be back in the office Monday morning – wind permitting – was intended to be light-hearted. Whilst it’s obvious you cannot sail without wind, none of us could imagine the hours and hours of rowing that would be required to win this year’s Scottish Island Peaks Race (SIPR).</span><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal">The SIPR brings together runners and sailors to compete over some of the finest parts of Western Scotland.<span style=""> </span>Starting in Oban at noon on the Friday it takes in mountains on Mull, Jura and Arran before finishing over on the mainland at Troon. The 60 miles of running include some of the roughest terrain around on Jura and a total of around 12,000ft of climbing. The circa 160 nautical miles of sailing include some of the most challenging waters in the world with <span style=""> </span>tidal gates, numerous wrecks, hidden dangers and the famous Correyvrekan whirlpool; 3<sup>rd</sup> largest in the world with currents up to 8.5 knots. </p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPMWr1AAM_3xhgFjUzVcXhjAHuoB0furA1ynH4YXPaMP5SwuWVDkw3YyiQ5TKKB5FChyMYlRVSJwWfRzk6azWO0B8Njz1pvZzpTucVzOfzM5XELYzBCm17V90_fLj2AnvOR-X8DZlNKURd/s1600/DSC00043_800x600.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPMWr1AAM_3xhgFjUzVcXhjAHuoB0furA1ynH4YXPaMP5SwuWVDkw3YyiQ5TKKB5FChyMYlRVSJwWfRzk6azWO0B8Njz1pvZzpTucVzOfzM5XELYzBCm17V90_fLj2AnvOR-X8DZlNKURd/s400/DSC00043_800x600.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474951766016636594" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Chimera - F31R - our home for the weekend</span></span><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal">It was 6 or 7 years since I had enjoyed this mini adventure and, in the words of Jake Elwood from the Blues Brothers movie, we were getting the team back together. Alex Johnson – fellow runner, Ian Loffhagen – skipper and 3 times previous winner and Spencer Harrison – powerhouse, oarsman and crew from our successful campaign in 2004. Graham Goff was the new team member but already had 2 SIPR victories to his name, has made sails for a living and was involved with the infamous Team Phillips boat that spectacularly failed in the North Atlantic (but not his fault!) </p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p face="arial" style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Getting 50 boats out of Oban harbor at about the time the CalMac ferry steams in could be a nightmare so the organizers invoked a “le mans” style start a few years ago meaning that us runners get a 4.5 mile run up the local hill and surrounding countryside to split up the field. The Oban Slip trophy is huge and is sometimes hotly contested by the youth teams whilst the more senior runners save their energies for the mountains that will soon follow. This year, however, Scottish Internationalists Don Naylor and Dan Gay were first to don lifejackets and leap into their team dinghy for the quick transfer to their boat. Alex and I were about 6<sup>th</sup> or 7<sup>th</sup> team back and soon the bay was alive with boats sailing out of the harbor. Actually, that’s not quite true, the bay was filled with boats being frantically rowed where possible and generally bobbing around at the huge CalMac ferry approached at around 20 knots. Like the parting of the red sea they all managed to get to the edges of the bay and carnage was avoided</p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p face="arial" style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Within minutes our boat, Chimera, was nudging to the front of the fleet and before too long we were picking up some intermittent breezes. By Salen on Mull, the team had given us a comfortable lead and so Alex and I were able to transfer to shore and submit to the compulsory kit check without hassle or pressure. Mull is a 23 mile run up and down Ben More – a full Munro from sea level but with around half the route on roads. Back in 2004 Alex had suffered a little on the road back to Salen but I had no idea how much this had etched on his memory until he detoured to pass on his respects to the phone box where both legs had locked solid with cramp back then. This time it was me who faded a little over the final mile or two back to the jetty – the heat of the day getting to me as my water bottle had run dry over 30 minutes earlier. Quickly back aboard the sailing team confirmed we had started with a lead of 1 hour 20 mins and we hoped we would have preserved at least an hour of this. For a short while we were whooshing along at 8-10 knots but within an hour, as dusk settled, it was flat calm. </p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p face="arial" style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">This set the tone for that first night…and the second!!<span style=""> </span>By midnight we had finally entered the sound of Jura and, in the early hours, the team made a decision to head West of Jura. “Which way to Jura?” is the biggest route choice of the race – avoiding 5knot foul tides but taking a route almost 11 miles longer is the Western option and one we had never taken before. Of course, once committed it’s impossible to change course and for hour after hour we toiled away on the oars wondering if we might possibly hove into Craighouse bay and see much of the rest of the fleet already moored up with runners on the hill. <span style=""> </span>We did see other boats and we even saw boats leaving but they were youth teams whose boats had motored. In the overall stakes we were still in top spot and, by 4pm, Alex and I were running along the Jura shoreline - past families dining al fresco Mediterranean style in the afternoon heat – headed for the Paps. The Paps of Jura are world renowned for their roughness. Comprised of tottering heaps of quartzite scree they present a few small paths and trods and acres of ankle breaking boulder fields. Back in 04 we had scorched this route but today the heat once again took its toll and scorched us - we even stopped for a few pics before trucking along the road back from the 3 arch bridge with Alex working hard; one all in the fiercely competitive internal and unspoken battle we were having - both on the same team but massively competitive with each other!!</p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p face="arial" style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6u15uNUntKa1StlBDqmm9BRAyj78Yzxqo1B4r3PFQv-wvnj-UmnQC0ZUuDPpODdW3VibM9KsYcGrnrYbp5mKPvPa34EXbq6uvz6w4HHZ7_poyrnnAuRWIcCML_ieID2RIyk9EmmbFtjsf/s1600/DSC00078_800x600.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6u15uNUntKa1StlBDqmm9BRAyj78Yzxqo1B4r3PFQv-wvnj-UmnQC0ZUuDPpODdW3VibM9KsYcGrnrYbp5mKPvPa34EXbq6uvz6w4HHZ7_poyrnnAuRWIcCML_ieID2RIyk9EmmbFtjsf/s400/DSC00078_800x600.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474952969330330290" border="0" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Alex climbing the first pap on Jura</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnqcuozKkl4Kaz0wgTDoJ1WXMKNrkvspeRq-Pc5Z93rn0nbdhWPb_uhddMQNZ4OP4hmZ8HsZGooZrkFwwLg-AfHaXfiGa2k7Azau5HypWJg6ej8hYbCMkk3XHiz4zD2zSPTDTN8ERhyphenhyphen1ci/s1600/DSC00076_800x600.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnqcuozKkl4Kaz0wgTDoJ1WXMKNrkvspeRq-Pc5Z93rn0nbdhWPb_uhddMQNZ4OP4hmZ8HsZGooZrkFwwLg-AfHaXfiGa2k7Azau5HypWJg6ej8hYbCMkk3XHiz4zD2zSPTDTN8ERhyphenhyphen1ci/s400/DSC00076_800x600.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474952859473780514" border="0" /></a></p><p face="arial" style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">One of the teams who motored to Jura - taking a little time out!</span></span><br /></p><p face="arial" style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">With glass calm seas, Graham at the helm coaxed almost 5 knots out of nowhere and we slipped away from Jura in the late evening as much of the fleet struggled to get past the small isles and into the bay. </p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal">By midnight, though, we were back to the oars and taking turns to fight sleep, row, make tea, helm and simply be mesmerized by the luminescence in the water.<span style=""> </span>The nighttime hours pass in a blur – at one point Ian and Graham put the boat on autohelm and rowed for 2 hours solid, at one point it rained, at some point there was a squall and the boat fizzed along at 10 knots for an hour or so.<br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyIRp1q8JUIarYkOidFMWouAR1jdA6S3Le0KAF28grgVDBpht5kxa7f2oRliwJ9ltuxZ3qNFCUB33XgzCJBIQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Dodging rocks on the Mull of Kintyre</span></span><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAxWbIxlLXJRK_vCZQ4a5u_YOuCNzEsYnVWG37kDUDd5fE5GMFyypCFOqXjW_aBpQmb2Cr_GaoGRWnkdrsayj5DD8xd6vEYCb1suCE335Qdx8kRVAgIKlXUtZKZiMH5orDcX9he1FbTslj/s1600/DSC00093_800x600.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAxWbIxlLXJRK_vCZQ4a5u_YOuCNzEsYnVWG37kDUDd5fE5GMFyypCFOqXjW_aBpQmb2Cr_GaoGRWnkdrsayj5DD8xd6vEYCb1suCE335Qdx8kRVAgIKlXUtZKZiMH5orDcX9he1FbTslj/s400/DSC00093_800x600.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474951974305414546" border="0" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Tense times as we navigate the rocks off the Mull of Kintyre</span></span><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal">Sunday morning – in previous years we have finished by this point but this time we are rounding the Mull of Kintyre – adverse tides of<span style=""> </span>2-3 knots are going to see us heading backwards so Ian bravely takes the decision to go right inshore where the current is weaker and continue rowing; anything to make forward progress at all times. For hours on end we are all occupied, one at the helm, 2 rowing, one lookout for rocks and one on the “exercise bike” human propeller or tidying up or making tea etc. </p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal">Nothing is more fickle than the wind. One minute Ian is calling his wife, Liz, to confirm we will not be at Troon before Monday morning, less than an hour later we are skimming the waves at 16 knots and a 10pm finish looks possible.<br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzEn2CNghPUsyU2wofF5VOrBvokQ5qRVnYYdPWG-9g4FVkgcg_o5-bXR8uFhH2O2Ax7PAyCT-jtjc0uRWZ9_Q' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><p face="arial" style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Heaven - skimming the waves at Ferry speed</span></span><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal">We pull into Lamlash at around 16.20 and Alex and I set off for Goatfell. I knew that the competitive Alex was in charge from the off and he set a furious pace, running all the first climb over to Brodick and all the way up beyond the forest edge on Goat Fell. The pace didn’t lessen on the descent either and by the time we climbed Prospect hill on the return I knew beyond doubt that the internal competition was a 2:1 result to youth. Running back along the bay into Lamlash I was blowing, huffing, puffing and groaning all to stop him dropping me completely but the time of 3 hrs 24 was good – around 40 minutes faster than we had managed in 2004 and ensuring a faster time for the three runs overall.<br /></p><a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTg57MiD6UVloHuGLuEIG1JWdN6ZshIf6mXNwr1dhR5e0qJ8o0SUu9US7rqARPq6ClbjlKlXeShuCzChzys0rwHoGT3T4GHKgh72tPgKnpUKsy6pvM-kDD-GkUPB6Y7GpWy9ItwDF-a1ms/s1600/DSC00101_800x600.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTg57MiD6UVloHuGLuEIG1JWdN6ZshIf6mXNwr1dhR5e0qJ8o0SUu9US7rqARPq6ClbjlKlXeShuCzChzys0rwHoGT3T4GHKgh72tPgKnpUKsy6pvM-kDD-GkUPB6Y7GpWy9ItwDF-a1ms/s400/DSC00101_800x600.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474953048824761298" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p style="text-align: center; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">Goatfell summit - Arran</span></p><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal">So, an epic. Truly. Curious seals, wild mountain goats, phosphorescence, unprecedented heat, porpoise and a palm full of blisters all added to the list of experiences that the SIPR has catalogued in my mind. For Ian, a record 4 victories and I have been privileged enough to accompany him on all four – with 3 different boats and 2 different runners. The secret – I think it’s simple – 5 people sharing a common goal, making all decisions based on achievement of that goal and working ceaselessly, night and day, to pursue that goal. Put simply – I think Ian is more prepared than any other skipper, the crew is hugely talented and the team as a whole is prepared to work harder than any other – first on the oars, thinking ahead, making decisions.<br /></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz8m8JL9iks4lOT9Z-bSmyb0UGYnhCuU6wBuXuSQW8SsK2Xh-376mTbFBwzNzT7gNnuhrSQ5XGs3kmdTC8elepDSfI16iS4UjCNe63MSSxCok4BBSm5MHWFh38Spfxqyaikgxi7MAAInwR/s1600/Spencer+at+the+finish_450x600.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz8m8JL9iks4lOT9Z-bSmyb0UGYnhCuU6wBuXuSQW8SsK2Xh-376mTbFBwzNzT7gNnuhrSQ5XGs3kmdTC8elepDSfI16iS4UjCNe63MSSxCok4BBSm5MHWFh38Spfxqyaikgxi7MAAInwR/s400/Spencer+at+the+finish_450x600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474958133286154482" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Bliss - after 59 hours, Spencer checks in to confirm the victory!</span><br /></span></div>Mark Hartellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13471980321639374338noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2860694452518468546.post-51367207859753484092010-05-19T12:36:00.001-07:002010-05-19T12:48:53.170-07:00Scottish Islands Peaks raceThe month of May always used to be crazy. Its when I would get into trouble; booking myself up for races every weekend and neglecting my commitments. It's my favourite month of the year as new life explodes all around and the evenings draw out. It's my daughters middle name. The blossom, new leaves, nesting birds, lambs and warm sun bring forth in abundance the possibility and potential that the buds of early spring hinted at. <br /><br />To me, the Fellsman and Scottish Islands Peaks race epitomise the best of this month. The Fellsman - a glorious day long romp across a great swathe of Yorshire's finest and then the SIPR - a weeks worth of runing, sailing and adventure packed into about 40-48 hours.<br /><br />After a break of 7 years I will be returning to the delights of the SIPR again this weekend and am full of anticipation.<br /><ul><li>eagles on Mull</li><li>dolphins and Otters</li><li>rowing against the 5knot tidal current to avoid being pulled back into Correyveckan</li><li>waking up to the sound of the hull buzzing as our boat skimmed across the water in the early dawn at 20 knots</li><li>descending the first of the Paps of Jura in the night and watching the sparks fly as we crashed down the scree</li><li>rowing from 2nd place into the lead</li><li>beach start with a 28ft trimaran off Aran.<br /></li></ul><br />These are the kind of memories that the SIPR can give. <br /><br />I have a little trepidation too - Alex, my running partner is much younger and, although Fellsman was 2 weeks ago, I wonder whether I have fully recovered.<br /><br />Still, get started and deal with what arises is the way so........i'll try to update on Sunday, assuming we are not still on the water!!!Mark Hartellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13471980321639374338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2860694452518468546.post-39625006615437559872010-05-11T14:37:00.001-07:002010-05-19T12:35:36.715-07:00Fellsman - again!!<a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEy1lVEn5YYWllo03NRhQsmN1Ex8gE4nwv2XR6I-4Cr9_PshlG3vza2QQxCtf2A0D4j80NUPMSAVGPW6SJlkc0DvCUcmPSkGnBxTI_L62u9vphTkwxV77Axm4-GzRkDKRnv6QI1hZJNKAh/s1600/Into+redshaw_800x533.jpg"><br /></a><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqVkxzLTjNEtFmzSuinDrmOinxo4GsvkXj0YCbdeSlxY9a61tjXjTMBpBbA92WSu4yzaxsGNiQX5ZnYsECB0pj0fllRYilJ-82YGBKEtxDAex-Wtivnl1_mralyOCw_NMQvqllpXjimvb5/s1600/Steve+and+Mark+off+Ingleborough.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 178px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqVkxzLTjNEtFmzSuinDrmOinxo4GsvkXj0YCbdeSlxY9a61tjXjTMBpBbA92WSu4yzaxsGNiQX5ZnYsECB0pj0fllRYilJ-82YGBKEtxDAex-Wtivnl1_mralyOCw_NMQvqllpXjimvb5/s400/Steve+and+Mark+off+Ingleborough.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473064944972712162" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">There are many phrases and euphemisms to describe it – a glass half full, one door opens another closes, a curates egg – since time immemorial it has been an immutable fact of life that we get our opportunities and challenges in broadly equal measure; what we do with them is down to us and us alone.</span><br /><br />First off, let me say I think its great that someone can run Fellsman in around 14 hours and then come back the next year and win the event. I didn’t get the chance to really understand how well prepared Duncan Harris was this time around but I do sense he had his lines right and was well trained and motivated for the performance. I also sympathise with Steve Birkinshaw – he was clearly so much fitter than me and will know that he is unlikely to see a repeat of the stomach problems that bedeviled him around Middle Tongue – nevertheless, its one more thing he has to deal with and rationalise in the run up to his Lakes 24 hour record round. </div><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal">As for me – if you had told me 2 months ago I would get 2<sup>nd</sup> place I would have laughed. I was running 15 miles/week or less and didn’t have an entry in. By the weekend before, that over inflated sense of self ability that propelled me to many a challenge had returned and I was even thinking of the win. But I know how dangerous that bravado can be – it took me to 3<sup>rd</sup> place at mile 80 of 100 in one of the world’s elite races only to crash and burn to 28<sup>th</sup> spot by the finish line. </p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1cKPQp9h7fHGDSzwTq801xbH7F30tcbRJcU2X5Vmh22XvRXsf1F_5b6hd0_fxLOf8DpDR0lKs7Gib5BRzYWaePpyXGzRGLOpo2FoYCkV-u13Q_0FNB6vIvABImanz2UhpZUT1_YYgaacB/s1600/stile+hopping_400x600.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1cKPQp9h7fHGDSzwTq801xbH7F30tcbRJcU2X5Vmh22XvRXsf1F_5b6hd0_fxLOf8DpDR0lKs7Gib5BRzYWaePpyXGzRGLOpo2FoYCkV-u13Q_0FNB6vIvABImanz2UhpZUT1_YYgaacB/s400/stile+hopping_400x600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473065325413034530" border="0" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal">What last weekend gave me was some discouragement as I toiled up climbs I know I have run in races gone by – the long drag up Blea Moor, the stony track out of Stonehouse – no way could I float up these last weekend. It gave me some discouragement as I slipped from 2<sup>nd</sup> to 4<sup>th</sup> to 6<sup>th</sup> and realized I was somehow missing the vistas, the birdsong, the ever changing pattern of sun and clouds dappling the hillsides. And it gave me discouragement as I was reacquainted with one of the age old dilemmas of distance running – food is fuel, eating is a struggle and nausea is a persistent companion you carry with you.<span style=""> </span>Then, without warning, it gave me quiet satisfaction as a better line brought me back to 4<sup>th</sup> spot and a bit of determined running consolidated that, it gave me encouragement as Simon vocally demonstrated that he was feeling as nauseous as me and I ran a solid section over to Middle tongue back into 3<sup>rd</sup> and it gave me amazement as I first passed Steve over to Hells Gap and then held off repeated challenges over the remaining 15 miles. My god – I ran up much of Great Whernside and felt like some of those last 20 miles were covered as quickly as I have ever covered them. </p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEy1lVEn5YYWllo03NRhQsmN1Ex8gE4nwv2XR6I-4Cr9_PshlG3vza2QQxCtf2A0D4j80NUPMSAVGPW6SJlkc0DvCUcmPSkGnBxTI_L62u9vphTkwxV77Axm4-GzRkDKRnv6QI1hZJNKAh/s1600/Into+redshaw_800x533.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEy1lVEn5YYWllo03NRhQsmN1Ex8gE4nwv2XR6I-4Cr9_PshlG3vza2QQxCtf2A0D4j80NUPMSAVGPW6SJlkc0DvCUcmPSkGnBxTI_L62u9vphTkwxV77Axm4-GzRkDKRnv6QI1hZJNKAh/s400/Into+redshaw_800x533.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473065405706480482" border="0" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:78%;">Coming into Redshaw </span><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal">So, what to make of all this? A comeback or a fluke? Where do we go from here. There has always been a part of me that wanted to set an emphatic record on this race and I was arrogant enough to believe I could go under 10 hours but it never happened. Is it impossible now? This is balanced by the desire to see Fellsman as the Grand Prix of UK distance running – the Western States of the UK – with top UK and overseas runners racing head to head to set that sub 10 hour time. I would be a bystander for such a contest – presumably? …and actually I have always loved the solitude on that race…running alone for hours on familiar terrain, mentally and physically ticking off each section, monitoring the internal systems, taking in the environment; not pressured by anyone else but putting the ultimate pressure on myself – the race of truth. </p><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal">So, many questions but, at this moment, precious few answers. There are two things I am very clear about though:<br /></p><ul style="font-family: arial;"><li>the race takes more out of me as I get older, I felt trashed on Monday :)</li><li>running long has beauty, power and grace - it cleanses the soul - it matters everything and nothing. If you aren't alraedy doing it you should start - life will change.<br /></li></ul><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="text-indent: -18pt; text-align: justify; font-family: arial;">So</p>Mark Hartellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13471980321639374338noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2860694452518468546.post-15587987077156359282010-04-16T12:06:00.000-07:002010-04-16T12:13:28.217-07:00An ultra-runner - again!<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;font-size:130%;" >Calderdale Hike</span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisRU2nCRSzimw7Cj5f41wHqm_5QGhmime37rc4xiWnyBwldiRNz6hhw-pA7rcl_BkDZ_wRfTEMwIE2TlTE43Z2_RFpRoGDriSzBTwrxCG3NflbgcR2P0jox_rhqqhIeBTg6Nf8pQ2KPwtz/s1600/Calderdale+pic+1.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisRU2nCRSzimw7Cj5f41wHqm_5QGhmime37rc4xiWnyBwldiRNz6hhw-pA7rcl_BkDZ_wRfTEMwIE2TlTE43Z2_RFpRoGDriSzBTwrxCG3NflbgcR2P0jox_rhqqhIeBTg6Nf8pQ2KPwtz/s400/Calderdale+pic+1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460814786389762706" border="0" /></a></p> <p style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal">It’s been quiet on here for a while. Mainly that’s because it’s been quiet on the running front for me.<span style=""> </span>Constant pain from the knees acts as a powerful disincentive for training. Couple it with the dark winter weather and the feeling every time I ran that I had been hit by a truck and you get a picture of a more sedentary life.<span style=""> </span>Besides which, Lynn has been feeling mellower about running and racing. As I said to a few people – the fire used to burn bright from within, now it is a glowing log on the grate – something to warm my toes in front of and toast the odd marshmallow. </p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal">Four weeks ago I took the runfurther banners to Wuthering and spent a little time snapping some pictures.<span style=""> </span>It was a bitterly cold day but the enjoyment on everyone’s faces was evident and I got the chance to reminisce a little about some classics like the Fellsman and the Scottish Islands Peaks race. </p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal">The day left me chomping at the bit to run a little myself so early on the Sunday morning I decided to head out of the door and trot around the Macclesfield Harriers club handicap route. Hallelujah – the knees didn’t hurt, I heard skylarks, found 20p on the trail and generally felt more alive than I had done for weeks. <span style=""> </span>Somehow I had forgotten how life affirming running over the hills can be. </p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal">With all my layers of excuses peeled away it seemed only reasonable to run again on the Monday – lunchtime – and once again it was great. Well, carpe diem has long been my motto so before the day was out, entries for the Calderdale (36 miles) and Fellsman (61 miles) were in the post. In fact my entry for the Fellsman was well timed as the event has filled for the first time in many years and the organizers have had to turn dozens away. </p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal">Serendipity so often plays a part in proceedings and so it was an unexpected but delightful surprise when, the very next day, I received an email from Ian Loffhagen explaining that we wanted to put<span style=""> </span>team in for the Scottish Islands race once more and asking if I would run. Wow!! This is a real honour, whilst I expect that sailors don’t <span style=""> </span>slow much with age I am sure runners do but Ian seemed content that I find a suitable partner and there is no better man than Alex – “Woo Ha Ram It” team cyclist extraordinaire and my running partner from our last successful entry into this race back in 2004. I love it when a plan comes together!!</p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal">So, with the training upped from around 10 miles/week (I’m serious) to 50-55miles/week what could I do with the Calderdale? A week before the race I gave myself a stiff talking to and set off from home in sleet to drive to Sowerby and run the course. I was lucky, it stayed dry whilst I was out and I persevered to do the whole course. It took over 7 hours though and felt hard. Maybe 6 hours would be a good target for race day. Saturday went well; despite being aware of the dangers of setting off too fast (based on running memory rather than running capability) I hung with the leading group and was in 4<sup>th</sup> at halfway. It seemed obvious that Jon Morgan was running well within himself – able to catch up to the lead at will and looking relaxed. Simon Bourne was breathing hard as he passed me though and I sensed that Martin Beale was working hard to open a lead from the front in the hope that he could then use his superior route knowledge to slip away.<span style=""> </span>Maybe 22 years of racing and running long has given me a keen eye for the weak deer in the pack because, sure enough, I reeled Simon in on the climb up to Thieveley Pike and then overhauled Martin on the short rough section skirting below Trough Edge End on Inchfield Moor where the heat of the day was making itself felt more than a little.<br /></p><a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZfxN9yjqNQ75AWBGew0Pau49b_knC6clwLJ1apZwbZl2ibA-DHFBQNCCAjLQJSLBGXS2r7pV4DYtBJazaCBSQSBvF7iym0CvRIzFltSuWa40ZXJfLCm0wpcp1WTdn8nv9m7Pw0-Izg3bV/s1600/Calderdale+pic+2.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZfxN9yjqNQ75AWBGew0Pau49b_knC6clwLJ1apZwbZl2ibA-DHFBQNCCAjLQJSLBGXS2r7pV4DYtBJazaCBSQSBvF7iym0CvRIzFltSuWa40ZXJfLCm0wpcp1WTdn8nv9m7Pw0-Izg3bV/s400/Calderdale+pic+2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460815062107955266" border="0" /></a><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal">Jon was always going to be way too strong for me but I was delighted and surprised with 2<sup>nd</sup> place and with a finish time of 5 hours 31. Of course a few things hurt afterwards but<span style=""> </span>it’s a massive motivator and I am now 100% certain to overcook it at Fellsman.<span style=""> </span>Keep checking back for more progress updates to the big blow-up on May 8<sup>th</sup>!! </p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>Mark Hartellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13471980321639374338noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2860694452518468546.post-9755200102728392882010-02-01T07:27:00.000-08:002010-02-01T07:46:23.118-08:00Welsh Wanderings<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHNCIy2vr11H1zWnkSudvA4nINV-MCqA8k4Qw6iR-83JRxpIclE23ZQjd8RGLTXP1iGpIAdcegXM4PFTTmdS0PJGCkp-BVa1CrtWtigmkmQYeeQ6AU7QFHMCUxI72fnbcQLDwG0TVrUz6g/s1600-h/blog+moel+cynghorion.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 581px; height: 101px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHNCIy2vr11H1zWnkSudvA4nINV-MCqA8k4Qw6iR-83JRxpIclE23ZQjd8RGLTXP1iGpIAdcegXM4PFTTmdS0PJGCkp-BVa1CrtWtigmkmQYeeQ6AU7QFHMCUxI72fnbcQLDwG0TVrUz6g/s400/blog+moel+cynghorion.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433298422791619490" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family:arial;">After missing the worst/best winter weather for many years I was hankering after a mini-adventure and the weekly forecast seemed to be promising some clear skies and cold temperatures for last weekend so plans started to form. </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">The 15 mountains over 3000ft in Wales (the Welsh 3000s) are arrayed in 3 compact groups around Snowdon, the Glyders and the Carneddau. Steve Watts, Ross Litherland and I had enjoyed a run around them at about the same time last year and having covered the route 4 or 5 times over the years I knew it to be a good day out – especially for this time of year where there will certainly be some darkness hours to heighten the experience. So, the objective was set but what about fellow conspirators. Well, one person who can be relied upon for some potentially foolhardy fun in the hills is Steve Watts so, with Ross on the other side of the world, it was going to be a 2-up this time around. </span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibss12Mm4lSUYeHZvzAEt5RLLKtJufpdJJq3RrasxYt6wfUrqv3mpnW942aECKw_PpFwlwacRcBf47CxqSPkM1cI85I3FDSK8AkVpvfPy_PZKTjdarHnsZpG-h_42Y61wuGWYE0aFhMdpR/s1600-h/blog+crib+goch.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 252px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibss12Mm4lSUYeHZvzAEt5RLLKtJufpdJJq3RrasxYt6wfUrqv3mpnW942aECKw_PpFwlwacRcBf47CxqSPkM1cI85I3FDSK8AkVpvfPy_PZKTjdarHnsZpG-h_42Y61wuGWYE0aFhMdpR/s400/blog+crib+goch.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433298753598831970" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; font-family: arial;font-size:85%;" >The start of an adventure</span><br /></div><span style="font-family:arial;">The 5am alarm after a full working week was pretty unwelcome but you do what you have to do and I was soon on autopilot with the soothing sounds of Farming Today whisking me along the A55. By 8am we had a car placed at the finish point in Aber and were at the starting point of Pen-y-pass to see a clear dawn freshened by a biting north-westerly. As we ascended the shoulder of Crib Goch we started to encounter increasing amounts of verglas with some patches of old and very firm neve. Our “weapons of choice” for the day were Kahtoola flexible crampons – designed to be worn over running shoes – and set to be indispensible as the freeze/thaw action of the previous 2 weeks had turned the old snow into solid boilerplate. Of course putting crampons on early would be a great idea but we put it off and put it off until, teetering on the edge of friction, we finally bowed to the inevitable having made the job 10 times harder by waiting. </span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdilnjBaE6n3gO7EMNqroyGldyTYxxetxhyphenhyphennwKHVJfMcc6gM1KfDYbAP6OLx0s6L1rL-8LZW21SR3drbNhGZDDXnrn5b5Ovsxux55cLTzV8fd3iXn_im09IDivIIIZxKHrOF7FKPxl9-1y/s1600-h/blog+-+getting+to+grips_652x800.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 326px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdilnjBaE6n3gO7EMNqroyGldyTYxxetxhyphenhyphennwKHVJfMcc6gM1KfDYbAP6OLx0s6L1rL-8LZW21SR3drbNhGZDDXnrn5b5Ovsxux55cLTzV8fd3iXn_im09IDivIIIZxKHrOF7FKPxl9-1y/s400/blog+-+getting+to+grips_652x800.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433299692500392802" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:arial;" >Getting to grips with the Crib Goch ridge</span></span> </div><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Once suitably shod, the rest of the NW ridge presented no difficulties and we were soon stepping out onto the famed Crib Goch ridge with just one set of fresh prints ahead of us. It was clear that this was going to be a classic day – clear skies, some challenging snow conditions and up before the crowds. We shared Snowdon summit with only one other person (try coming up here in June and doing that!!) and were soon trotting down the line of the summer railway to search out the steep descent to Nant Peris. </span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYvtnXaMIYMcreXf29TjjmBpJbghxFIJECkyDj9-f4GdIsu_KkmNpiM6KQpLFTOmBNhyphenhyphenOvYdnfy1EHAGawvYYzRH5I2D1g5owE4iqNQTaVbQdNhmvfizALoMhs4h_-8NH42zSd_BQ-mJxF/s1600-h/blog+-+under+a+clear+blue+sky_1280x497.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 155px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYvtnXaMIYMcreXf29TjjmBpJbghxFIJECkyDj9-f4GdIsu_KkmNpiM6KQpLFTOmBNhyphenhyphenOvYdnfy1EHAGawvYYzRH5I2D1g5owE4iqNQTaVbQdNhmvfizALoMhs4h_-8NH42zSd_BQ-mJxF/s400/blog+-+under+a+clear+blue+sky_1280x497.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433300206753660402" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-family:arial;" >Across the Glyders</span> </span></div><span style="font-family:arial;">The Welsh mountains have fine character but they are arrayed in discrete groups and are close to the sea so, the near 3000ft descent to the first main valley took a lot out of the knees and raised temperatures by about 10 degrees. In fact it was to be one of those days where constant adjustments are needed to keep the temperature balance. With the first bag of hot cross buns dispatched we toil up the slopes of Elidir Fawr and re-enter the winter wonderland. The crampons are needed again half way up Y Garn and as we descend to Llyn y Cwn we see the big yellow bird. No, not something from Sesame Street but the RAF Sea King helicopter. It seems that its not just the usual practice exercise but an airlift of someone who tried to descend from Glyder Fawr without crampons and found a very quick way down. Indeed there are a few people trying this and we overhear one pass on sage advice to his girlfriend – “don’t hit the rocks too hard” – a wise man!</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI0PtQiq2xQycFZan7FvJuFNQI-SDgfQWVZpDsezbNVVciQP8w3-nbeVAVgEqFordfX6goFPD2TiBDIuEp5_nUWQyJ4c-C5ktjSYj8fYrIoRHwfiEMn-ILdYgzdV0pWfXjwWldbDGaXkdI/s1600-h/blog+chopper_1066x800.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI0PtQiq2xQycFZan7FvJuFNQI-SDgfQWVZpDsezbNVVciQP8w3-nbeVAVgEqFordfX6goFPD2TiBDIuEp5_nUWQyJ4c-C5ktjSYj8fYrIoRHwfiEMn-ILdYgzdV0pWfXjwWldbDGaXkdI/s400/blog+chopper_1066x800.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433300304851632050" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-family:arial;" >No crampons = consequences. Thanks Kahtoola!</span></span><br /></div><span style="font-family:arial;"><br />This whole section is wonderful – wind behind us, wonderful ice rime and neve, a dusting of new snow, sun in the sky. Soon we are descending the gully down to Bwlch Tryfan and, guess what, the helicopter makes a second appearance to airlift another unfortunate soul who took the fast way down. The clatter and throb of the helicopter is amazing as he hovers 100ft above us. Whilst its reassuring to know that they are “to hand” should we need them it certainly makes us want to hurry along and get out of their way. The descent of the West gully from Tryfan demands care and attention but should be the last of the technical difficulties and we hasten on to a much anticipated cup of tea at Ogwen. </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Sitting on the wall at Ogwen brings back vivid memories of the year before. Everyone else is coming off the hill, looking forward to a shower, a bath, an evening in the warmth with a beer in hand. And us? We are setting off into the Carneddau – the biggest upland area in Snowdonia. We know that it will be dark in an hour and we will be above 3000ft for quite a few miles. It is excitement and apprehension mixed but you have to live outside the comfort zone now and again. You have to taste a little fear to appreciate security, you have to hurt a little to enjoy simple comforts and, in any case, nature will have some experiences for us – experiences that we simply won’t get by bobbling around for a couple of hours in the sunshine – she doesn’t disappoint. Over the ensuing 4 hours we get snowed on, we get into the cloud so that distances and judgement of terrain go haywire, we get to see the street lights 3000ft below – so tantalizingly close but yet miles and miles away – and we get to see the majestic full moon peeking through billowing clouds and casting its cold light on the snowy slopes.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">If its bling you want then look around – ice crystals falling from a clear sky, rocks encrusted with diamond rime ice, the moon like a huge opal hanging in the sky. </span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizsDp-2I0x6cgkyzyPpCm46qT4nDQVbR9ytq_cgkSkGiBztqunwWPNE87qUXoox-bJl0dyZkJH7h_SNn7Ss-qCcUBRoPNJMEQDrKRdGPkmNaW9AKohG2EWijXIbHrgN30Nveqvj3u-CXqt/s1600-h/blog+sunset_1280x485.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 520px; height: 197px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizsDp-2I0x6cgkyzyPpCm46qT4nDQVbR9ytq_cgkSkGiBztqunwWPNE87qUXoox-bJl0dyZkJH7h_SNn7Ss-qCcUBRoPNJMEQDrKRdGPkmNaW9AKohG2EWijXIbHrgN30Nveqvj3u-CXqt/s400/blog+sunset_1280x485.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433300413410160834" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:arial;">Bring on the night!</span></span><br /></div><span style="font-family:arial;">Well, time passes, legs get weary, tops are ticked off and, before we know it, it’s time to descend to the valley. Car to car is 13 hours this time – about an hour slower than last year but conditions account for some of that and I am really quite unfit! So, the Welsh 3’s – a great mini-adventure, especially for the winter if you are OK with the conditions and navigation. Of course, it’s really quite foolhardy in some ways so I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone except those who want to live a little!</span> </div>Mark Hartellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13471980321639374338noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2860694452518468546.post-3942266078912445072009-08-07T13:30:00.000-07:002009-08-07T13:41:29.500-07:00The John Muir Trail<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_eapuzJREBqwEF-_bZrtlAS8gaKczvqxcqV9rh0Nh0oLa9ge1-f5pvroZH9yyROJ-GCyxzAfViHihtr2H7tyb39jh8NVOAwvgCmZOc-KJcpHCfOZNdqH0y5H8bFR_EgFe0LU8ObpGIP8d/s1600-h/blog+-+mt+garnet_800x600.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_eapuzJREBqwEF-_bZrtlAS8gaKczvqxcqV9rh0Nh0oLa9ge1-f5pvroZH9yyROJ-GCyxzAfViHihtr2H7tyb39jh8NVOAwvgCmZOc-KJcpHCfOZNdqH0y5H8bFR_EgFe0LU8ObpGIP8d/s400/blog+-+mt+garnet_800x600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367322669557860018" border="0" /></a><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> <w:lidthemeother>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:lidthemeasian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:lidthemecomplexscript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:splitpgbreakandparamark/> <w:dontvertaligncellwithsp/> <w:dontbreakconstrainedforcedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> <w:word11kerningpairs/> <w:cachedcolbalance/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathpr> <m:mathfont val="Cambria Math"> <m:brkbin val="before"> <m:brkbinsub val="--"> <m:smallfrac val="off"> <m:dispdef/> <m:lmargin val="0"> <m:rmargin val="0"> <m:defjc val="centerGroup"> <m:wrapindent val="1440"> <m:intlim val="subSup"> <m:narylim val="undOvr"> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" defunhidewhenused="true" defsemihidden="true" defqformat="false" defpriority="99" latentstylecount="267"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="0" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Normal"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="heading 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 7"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 8"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 9"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 7"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 8"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 9"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="35" qformat="true" name="caption"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="10" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Title"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="1" name="Default Paragraph Font"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="11" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtitle"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="22" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Strong"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="20" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="59" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Table Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Placeholder Text"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="1" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="No Spacing"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Revision"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="34" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="List Paragraph"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="29" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Quote"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="30" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Quote"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="19" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtle Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="21" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="31" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtle Reference"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="32" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Reference"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="33" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Book Title"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="37" name="Bibliography"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" qformat="true" name="TOC Heading"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Cambria Math"; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:1; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-format:other; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:0 0 0 0 0 0;} @font-face {font-family:Calibri; panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:swiss; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-1610611985 1073750139 0 0 159 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; margin-top:0cm; margin-right:0cm; margin-bottom:10.0pt; margin-left:0cm; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} .MsoPapDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; margin-bottom:10.0pt; line-height:115%;} @page Section1 {size:612.0pt 792.0pt; margin:72.0pt 72.0pt 72.0pt 72.0pt; mso-header-margin:35.4pt; mso-footer-margin:35.4pt; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--> <p style="text-align: center;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Garnet Peak - highlight of day 3 </span></span><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Incredible, Exhausting, Inspiring. It is difficult to avoid superlatives when talking about the John Muir Trail. The clarity of light, the intensity of the vast night-time skies, the diversity of flora and fauna – all combine with the rarefied atmosphere to take your breath away day after day as you wend through valleys and climb a succession of higher and more rugged passes. </span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">In true Hartell fashion, one or two key elements of the escapade were done on a wing and a prayer. Having travelled to Yosemite a day early in order to obtain “walk-up” permits I made sure to be at the rangers office by 6am – fully 90 minutes before they opened. Expecting to be 1<sup>st</sup> or 2<sup>nd</sup> in the queue I was dismayed to find a gaggle of people already there – some since one or two am!!<span style=""> </span>The effort was just enough, however, as I bagged the final two permits to start the next morning. A chilled day followed with a great bear sighting in the evening – just when I didn’t have my camera with me – doh! </span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">So, at the crack of 8.15am, a good couple of hours after most others, we hit the trail from Happy Isles and the beginning of an ascent that would eventually take us to nearly 10,000ft from the valley floor at 4,000. We were travelling lighter than almost everyone else we saw but 5 days food for two people inevitably feels heavy.<br /></span></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAtmQsqyZrOogZzqrBszwtuOtpwUAb1x9ULCsazabNF8oDY6KfoYGT1TRSB2Ggw3Cw5creyqAE6ANeDHcDZjM4cpIU-57l4uaO3BXGQaefNHm0_ReLrerwESAGKaYeDt7akAdHEa0ERd1F/s1600-h/blog+-+indian+paintbrush_800x466.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 233px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAtmQsqyZrOogZzqrBszwtuOtpwUAb1x9ULCsazabNF8oDY6KfoYGT1TRSB2Ggw3Cw5creyqAE6ANeDHcDZjM4cpIU-57l4uaO3BXGQaefNHm0_ReLrerwESAGKaYeDt7akAdHEa0ERd1F/s400/blog+-+indian+paintbrush_800x466.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367322824874423010" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Indian Paintbrush - the flowers are amazing</span></span><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">A longish first day saw us reach the backpacker area at Tuolomne campground to keep on a 10day or so schedule. Day 2 takes you up the beautiful Lyell Canyon with crystal clear rivers rushing over smooth granite slabs and up to the first pass over 10,000ft. By the end of day 2 we started to pull ahead, ever so slightly, of times I did back in 2005. This set the tone for the rest of the trip as, each day, we would arrive at the “2005” point slightly earlier and forge a few more miles. Some days this was fine, other either Lynn or I crashed mid-afternoon and had to be coaxed back into life. Despite our food being calorifically adequate, it’s volume is smaller than we are used to so hunger seems to be an unavoidable part of the first few days. </span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcjkKNVvzYCl5pcKtnNO0v2HdfY_di9ObsLMuOSuDRPwszdf6xDSB1DOgCFYVpv5dg1juOnvj29zQvMeBQ5IZQnlFyO506WPXd9QPbe7dGYWUT5E4weJJP9Cfd5fFee5yjcVSriOm-_ANr/s1600-h/blog+-+enlightenment+on+the+JMT_800x389.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 194px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcjkKNVvzYCl5pcKtnNO0v2HdfY_di9ObsLMuOSuDRPwszdf6xDSB1DOgCFYVpv5dg1juOnvj29zQvMeBQ5IZQnlFyO506WPXd9QPbe7dGYWUT5E4weJJP9Cfd5fFee5yjcVSriOm-_ANr/s400/blog+-+enlightenment+on+the+JMT_800x389.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367322754258566706" border="0" /></a><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Enlightenment on Pinchot Pass</span></span><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Anyone who has undertaken a wilderness trip of more than a couple of days will understand the changes that occur – the camp routine becomes established, lunchtime or simply the chance to sit on a rock for 5 minutes are cherished, the mind frees up – firstly flooding the brain with random thoughts and plans for tomorrow, next week, the rest of your life and then<span style=""> </span>calming, stilling and accepting its freedom. </span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Whilst thoughts of fresh bread, ground coffee and various culinary delights pop up now and again, you also learn to appreciate simple, free things like a cool breeze, a comfy rock slab to lie on in the sun, the scent of the trailside flowers,<span style=""> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNne1e6y-Xru6x_RP_GrDGBW-c6uQJN97p_qxvkr-3ren9xL5nJhWKy9KdEVKR5INLmfHzWyfCGytF071Ejtvb4Ovc3peT6ZZvQH9Z3TkzMgRwmENal25Bw22TtbvevsahAgmZvEN7_swm/s1600-h/blog+-+this+is+hard+work_800x519.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 260px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNne1e6y-Xru6x_RP_GrDGBW-c6uQJN97p_qxvkr-3ren9xL5nJhWKy9KdEVKR5INLmfHzWyfCGytF071Ejtvb4Ovc3peT6ZZvQH9Z3TkzMgRwmENal25Bw22TtbvevsahAgmZvEN7_swm/s400/blog+-+this+is+hard+work_800x519.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367323445803613698" border="0" /></a><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">This JMT is jolly hard work!</span></span><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">At breakfast time on the 6<sup>th</sup> day we reached Muir Trail Ranch and received our food re-supply. The rucksacs were heavy once more but we had the remaining 5 days food to see us to Whitney Portal. Higher now, the trail is mostly above the tree line in the amazing Alpine upper valleys with chains of lakes and water gurgling everywhere.<span style=""> </span>On our 10<sup>th</sup> day we approached Mt Whitney and decided to reward ourselves for the 5.30am starts and 6.30pm finishes that had become our routine. Rather than continue over the summit to complete on the Saturday late evening we would take a full afternoon rest and enjoy the finale in the morning. Blissfull! – a clear lake, no mosquitoes, warm sun and a whole afternoon to eat all remaining food, wash and clean and prepare for an early start.<span style=""> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji4d1PgXi6KxjTXHVmu2ou824oxxKSWmoAGBfzjM1_VBcP168_d3AJ4WfBCbwzQ1Oc1TrjyCP-Tyis1fcpRKNkH45Mjq5_m0IHho4i3hCOfmtbQbWIBLvmbC0VAtouthCye_mmMqIdrQZ6/s1600-h/blog+-+rugged+muir+pass_800x600.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji4d1PgXi6KxjTXHVmu2ou824oxxKSWmoAGBfzjM1_VBcP168_d3AJ4WfBCbwzQ1Oc1TrjyCP-Tyis1fcpRKNkH45Mjq5_m0IHho4i3hCOfmtbQbWIBLvmbC0VAtouthCye_mmMqIdrQZ6/s400/blog+-+rugged+muir+pass_800x600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367323354656632498" border="0" /></a><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Rugged Muir Pass</span></span><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Return to life as we know it was not easy – the lift generously given to us by a kindly Taiwanese took us from a world of mountains, lakes and rivers where we saw fewer than 50 people each day and heard only birds, water and thunderstorms to a world of 6 lane freeways, airport security and mass transit systems. At 4.30 that morning we had woken at 12,000ft on the back side of Mount Whitney, by 11.30 that night we were at home in San Francisco east bay – dazed, bewildered, tanned, clean, exhausted and happy.<br /></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQAdqv44_ytZmMbShS-Sx5vsje04sUdmVr0SjOPuXvU_X1W2HXGxnAMIbr9NQU3DWJzZmsLK3L9mnvbaY4M6pHR6YKBP-vFxOAULzkbqWb0I2RGGzqrtyc01MxEQ_VojNWmAd61j__jiqd/s1600-h/blog+-+near+mather+pass_800x600.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQAdqv44_ytZmMbShS-Sx5vsje04sUdmVr0SjOPuXvU_X1W2HXGxnAMIbr9NQU3DWJzZmsLK3L9mnvbaY4M6pHR6YKBP-vFxOAULzkbqWb0I2RGGzqrtyc01MxEQ_VojNWmAd61j__jiqd/s400/blog+-+near+mather+pass_800x600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367322935457541186" border="0" /></a></p><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><span style=""> </span></span></p>Mark Hartellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13471980321639374338noreply@blogger.com0