McNaughton Park 100 Mile Madness

Let me start off by saying...if you want mud and shitty weather, well just invite me to your race. It seems that's the one consistent thing that I can guarantee. McNaughton Park was that. Muddy......Rainy....at times snow, but it was fun.

Bob M. and I showed up at this race Friday for packet pick up and to watch the 150 milers start. It was humbling to stand there with fresh legs and watch the 150 milers, knowing that when we start our race they will have already been running for eighteen hours.

6am Saturday came around quickly and we were all off and running. There was 60 runners in the 150 miler. 60+ in the 100 miler and 90+ runners in the 50 miler. This is a single track 10 mile looped course with rolling hills and two stream crossings per loop. The rain was light and sporadic during the morning portion of the run, but got progressively heavier though out the day.

Miles 0 to 20 was easy and a lot of fun. I ran with several groups of people, the trail was in reasonably good condition considering the steady rain for the past few days. David Goggins (Navy Seal) and pacer passed me around mile 25. He said he was on 115 and still looking strong. David went on to win the 150 miler with a total time of 33:36.

Miles 30-40 did not come easy for me. The trail was pummeled by hundreds of feet. The mud was ankle deep in places and the rain stopped long enough for it to turn to snow. It was cooled! I remember standing on the side of a hill taking a gel and the ground just gave away. I was gliding down the hill unable to stop. The good news was, I could slide faster than I could run. The bad news was, what goes down must eventually go back up. One section of the course called (Golf Hill) had a rope to assist you up the hill. It was a vertical climb that required use of the rope.


At mile 45, I came up on (Heavens Gate) aid station and of one the volunteers was eating a grilled cheese sandwich, she could see the drewl from my mouth so she offered. Let me just say this, that was the BEST grilled cheese I've ever had in my life! Then she offered cheesy mashed potatoes and bacon. Kids.... I just ran into a buffet. They called it (Heavens Gate) because it sat on an old cemetery. I think they should call it Heavens Buffet and All Night Grill.
At mile 50 I found the difference between a water proof jacket.....and the difference between a water resistant jacket. A water resistant jacket is good for 0-30 miles in the rain and a water proof jacket is what I did not own. My body was soaked from head to toe. The sun was now down and the temperature dropped. The thought of doing 40 more miles in the dark didn't seem possible, and that's when my flashlight went out. Now what? Here I am out in the woods with an eight pound water filled jacket and a broken flashlight. Fortunately I did have a small backup penlight. Without that I'd probably still be out wandering around in the woods someplace in Illinois.
When I got back to the start/finish line I was shaking uncontrollably. I just couldn't get warmed up. I was spent, and without a light I was done.

It was a tough year for McNaughton Park. 13 runners completed the 150 mile race. 11 runners completed the 100 mile race and 69 runners completed the 50 mile race. It's also worth mentioning......Of the 60 people to start the 150 mile race 11 additional runners did complete 100 miles before stopping. Anyone who could endure 100 miles in those conditions has my respect.

Bob M. completed the 100 miler in 29:47 and placed 3rd overall and received the 100 mile buckle and 1st place award for his age group. I ran for 16:58 before dropping and place 19Th overall and 9Th place for my age group and received the 50 mile buckle.

Mud Fest 2008

Yes I was at the back of the pack on this race. Not a strong finish. The only thing that I can say in my defence there were 35 runners that dropped from the race because the trail conditions was so bad. Believe me, I thought about it at one point too, but my ride wasn't at the race so there wasn't anything else to do but wait, so I thought.....I might as well be running. The last lap was un-runnable, it was a wading pool of mud that added weight to my feet. Mile 25 (or so) the dash board lights turned on the the wheels feel off, and I was walking. But talk about fun. It was a blast.

The First Coeurd'Alen Challenge

Well I'm finding there are more challenges to completing an Iron Man than JUST physical challenges. Recently I've been displaced from my job. (Or as they would say south of the boarder). Juno....I lost my Yob Mang! So most likely that will effect my goal of attending the Iron Man in Coeurd'Alene and that SUCKS! I mean that sucks "BIGTIME" I'm only guessing my next employer will not be open to giving me a week and a half off in June, so I had to come to the realisation that I won't be able to make the trip to Idaho. For those who are signed up for an Iron Man this year.....think about that.....How hard would it be for YOU to back out at this point. We've all committed. We've all past the point of no return.







First there is the financial investment of $500 one year in advance. Hell I don't even know what what I'm going to eat for lunch today, and IM wants me to plan one year in advance to compete in their race then lay down five hundy.







Second I know we've all laced up our shoes and ventured out into the snow and shitty weather because "we had to". A run could wait for another nice day but you know if you don't bang out some serious miles you may not see the finish line. So we take an enjoyable thing like running and turn it into a chore. And that pool, face down in cold water ingesting chlorine for hours. It's not always the funnest thing to do.







Now that you are vested financially AND physically, then have to "bow out". For me, the toughest part was just saying it.....ok....."I'm out" I hesitated and Studdard but I did have to say it................I'm out..................Ouch!.







Now IM has my money and not likely to give it back, and maybe there is an outside chance that I can go. What if my new employer would say, wow Greg you are going to compete in the Iron Man, wow you can't pass that up. Just maybe the stars will Aline and allow me to go. (I know dream on). So what to do? Keep on running. I would hate to show up under prepared.







I guess the best approach is to enjoy what you are doing today. The race only lasts one day. Enjoy all the days that brought you there, and enjoy all the things that you take away from Iron Man. I'll be thinking about you June 22ND.








On the lighter side. The weather has been warmer. I finely got to run in shorts and tee for the first time in months. Why do I have to learn things the hard way?







Nipple Protection!







The question is? Why do my lil nipples seem to always take a beating when I wear just a tee shirt. It seems the ladies never have this problem. What is it? Are they made of Kevlar, and cast iron? Do men genetically have sensitive nipples?







I've had people say......Well Yeti why don't you just Duck Tape em. Well that poses another problem. Who's going to remove the tape when I'm done running? Not me. And I refuse to look like Steve Carell on the Forty Year Old Virgin. Bag-Balm doesn't cut it.







Maybe I'll just remove them. I don't use them. What good are they? Will HMO cover that? Maybe Snap-On will invent some removable Nipples.







Well that's all for now folks. Happy Training.

The Banwagon is Heading to the Blarney Stone

Monday March 17Th Aneta plans to kiss the Blarney Stone in her 2008 running debut. One of Omaha's local running stores is putting on a 5k St Patty's run.

You know ever sense I can remember I've been challenging Aneta to try running but there hasn't been much interest, but last month Blink came over for a few beers and conversation. Well the usual smack talk started and Blink challenged Aneta running in the Blarney Stone 5k.

I have to say Aneta's has been working hard and laying down some good miles. I know she will do well.
Who knew, the motivating factor would be....
#1 A challenge from Blink.
#2 Free Beer and pizza after the race

I can understand #2 that's enough motivation for me to run. But #1 REALLY a challenge from Blink? Who knew.

And here's the kicker. The above picture is a blatant violation and unauthorized use of Yeti's Man Cave.

Well I hope everyone's St. Patty's day is one to remember and I hope everyone gets to Kiss the Blarney Stone. Happy St. Patty's day!

Back From the PsychoWyco

Let me just start off by saying, have you ever had to ask yourself, why do you enjoy this sport? Let me skip forward for a moment to say, I just got back from the Psycho Wyco 50K trail run this week and absolutly had a blast. Probobly the funnest race I've been in. But on paper it looked like the worst. I was in the back of the pack and my time was 9:20 on a 50k trail run. When I got home, the question was asked, how did you do? After telling my story the, responses was.....Why did you go? Did you even go? What's the point if you arn't number one? and so on. So I caught myself dwelling on the question. Greg why do you do this? You know maybe they are right? I can remember back when I first started running the answer was simple. I wanted to look good naked! Not like a toad. Then you decide maybe I'll enter a race,then a few years later we try differant types of races, or we become more competitive. All of us have an different agenda and I almost forgot my reasons for a second. HAVE FUN. It's simple, but meaningfull to me. Have fun and enjoy this as long as the good Lord let's me. And when it's no longer fun, well do something else.



So let me tell you about the fun in KC. Aneta, Bob Murphy and myself roll into KC about 6pm on Friday. Went to Garry Gribbles running sports for packet pick up. Probobly one of the nicest running stores I've seen. We checked into the hotel then went to the Outback for some shrimp off the Barbie, then got a good night of sleep.



8:00am the following day the race starts with 900+ runners. The temperature was 25 and the ground was frozen and snow covered. The course is a 10 mile looped course, each loop had 5 stream crossings and 1800 foot acent/decent so dry warm feet and running on flat ground is not an option.



The temperature warmed up quickly to 35 by 9:30 and 40 by noon so with the snow melt plus 900 runners equealed a nasty messy crazy-ass run. The mud was anckle deep at times.


The first two laps were runable, but the last lap was reduced to a walk. Let's just say the mud was deep, the hills were steep and Greg's legs were cramping. Maybe that's why it was so much fun...It was a challenge. (5400ft total Acent 15 stream crossings)



Again, this is one of Bad Ben's races and he does a fantastic job. Plenty of aid. Hot food and drink. For Forty bones (entry) I got a cool shirt, event mug and bling. Ben puts on a great race, one you will likely never forget.













In short, we had a fantastic weekend. It's nice to go into the next season with a good base and look at what I need to work on with Coeur d'Alene only, 4 months way. One thing is for sure, my goals and agenda have not changed for 2008. HAVE FUN! My goal for Iron Man is to have an enjoyable Iron Man experiance and getting to know all of the Iron Man peeps.



Happy training kids.

Question: Every time I get out out of the pool my sinuses are so plugged up, and it's miserable. Does anyone have a good remedy for that?