Full Moon Frozen River Run (sans Full Moon)

Finally, after a year break, we are able to have the annual Full Moon Frozen River Run.  It's scheduled for this Friday night, February 1.

Here are the details:

Meet at Joel's house by 7:15pm.
10890 Pawnee Ave N
Stillwater, MN 55082
• we will carpool to the start, leaving a car and supplies at the halfway point.

The Course:
http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/169166300

The Plan: run about 15 miles, in the dark and cold.  Dress appropriately for river wind and temps around 7 F.  Bring your own hydration to carry (make certain it doesn't freeze!). Bring your own food if needed.  Bring lighting.

Lots more details to be determined.  Let me know if you want added to the email list: joelbutton@mac.com

When Trouble Sets In

Several years ago, I noticed a disturbing and encouraging pattern to my running: between 12 and 20 miles, I hit the wall.  This is regardless of the length of the run.  After coming to the realization, its reality set in, and I have found that every run comes with a built in "wall" between 12 and 20 miles.  The problem is not so much the wall, but the fact that it lasts from, well, mile 12 to mile 20.

I take electrolytes.  I consume them by the handful.  More precisely: 1 tablet every 15 minutes to begin. By hour 2: 1 tablet every 12 minutes. By hour 4: 2 tablets every 8 minutes.

Once I hit mile 20, things change. The cramps leave, strength is renewed, and it's like I just started running.  But getting to mile 20 is like ... well, it's bad.

So, if I could make any suggestion to race rules: could there be an allowance for a pacer between miles 12 and 20? Yes, I need another at mile 70.  But at least the last few runs/races, it's getting to mile 20 that's the hardest.

Garmin GPS watch Uses Expanded

See Eli and his new Garmin 310XT on Youtube. Or Here:

Full Moon

Tomorrow night is December's full moon.
It has not been cold enough for large sections of the St Croix to be frozen yet.
And, there is a Leeland Concert tomorrow night. So, the verdict is still out on whether I'll run tomorrow night.
In January, the full moon is on the 9th, a Monday.
In February, it's mid-week.
However, keep Feb 3 or 10th open as potential Full Moon River run nights.

It is time to Blog again

I am not the same person I was a year ago.
That is the best way to state it.
No, the best way would be to say that I have tasted the unmerited grace (and mercy) of a Father and it has left me profoundly undone. So undone, that only recently have I felt that it was time to begin blogging again.

Discs

In February of this year, my back began to bother me. It continued. About two months ago, it bothered me more. Some mornings, I couldn't get out of bed unless I shifted the direction of my head.
Since I haven't run much this year, I couldn't blame it on long runs. So, I blamed it on a lack of running.
I went to the doctor. She sent me to physical therapy. There was some relief. I went to the chiropractor. There was significant release for about 4 hours.
I returned to the doctor. I had an MRI.
I have a herniated disc between the C4 and C5 vertebrae.

I am not certain what this means for my running. Time will tell.

New Shoes

I have been running in Brooks Cascadias for nearly five years. I've burned through about 6 pairs. That's a lot for me. With only one exception, they have been incredible for trail running, snow running, ice running, road running and plain not running.

My good friend Pete does not run in Brooks. He has run in just about everything, pausing on Montrail for awhile. I love running with Pete, primarily because he never pushes anything on me. I hope that by now, he could say the same of me.

Several weeks ago, after running together at O'Brien, Pete let me try on his bright red Inov8s; I think they were the X talons: a minimalist trail running shoe. This means that it has very little heel cushion and very little midsole support.

They felt like nothing I've ever put on. So...... after finding a discount online store, and then adding my UMTR discount, I've temporarily taken a leave of absence from Brooks: