Running Errands

So a part of my training will be running vs driving whenever possible, today I got a 9 mile run in just doing some shopping and stuff. I saved some gas and got some good training miles. Another advantage of "running" errands is you get to see things from a different perspective, I discovered new stores, an outdoor ice skating ring (with real ice) in Santa Monica. We miss so much driving around. Go ahead and "run" some errands or run to work.

Back for more

Since my last post I've moved to Santa Monica, run a few more ultras, the usual 50ks and 50milers and my big one was UTMB (Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc) a 166km (103mi) that I finished in just over 43hrs. I just ran Javelina Jundred a few weeks ago and finished in 23:50 for my first sub 24hr 100.

So whats next, well thanks to Facebook my friend Chihping Fu posted a link to Tor Des Geants it looks like an amazing event that runs past some of Europe's highest peaks through the Italian Dolumites. Only problem is its sounds really challenging with a distance of 336km (109mi) and 24,000m (79,000ft) of elevation gain and has 150hr time limit. After talking to my friend Beat Jegerlehner, a great ultra runner who has finished some of the toughest ultras including Hardrock, Hurt and Plain we decided to sign up, it also falls on my birthday.

Now you have the update, how am I going to train for this... well I've done some research on the course, it follows two famous trails called Alta Via No 1 and Alta Via No 2, they recommend anything from 9 to 13 days each, so thats around a 20+ day hike, we get less than 6 days. I looked around to see if anyone had attempted a speed record on these trail and couldn't find anything other than some fast packers doing Alta Vai 1 in 5 days. After my research I'm getting a little concerned, this may be even tougher than I thought. Oh well its going to be "Epic" and I can't wait to start training that starts tomorrow with the PCTR Santa Monica Mountains 50K

I forgot about my blog, much overdue update

Well, 2 years later still running ultras. I finished WS 100 in 26hr:13min in 2007, last 20 miles being very slow but I was hooked. I went on to do Headland Hundred in San Francisco a few weeks later but stopped after 75 miles. I then did San Francisco One day, a fixed time 24 hour event finishing 108mi, Bear 100, a mountain in Idaho, Javelina Jundred in Arizona, and ended he year with Across the Years 72hr in Arizona where I racked up 204 miles.

2008 I focused on mountain 100s, I did a Coyote Two Moons 100, then Hardrock 100. Finshing Hardrock tested me more than any other 100, at mile 27 I felt I was done, but when on to finished after a long 44h:39m. I went back and did Bear 100, this time a new course starting in Utah and finishing in Idaho. Its been a great 2 years, and hope to do may more ultras.

I've made many great friend in the ultra running community

Happy Holidays

Craig

My First Post

Ok.. lets get this started, On December 2nd 2006 I was sitting at in Placer High school cafeteria at the Western States 100M lottery, waiting to see if I got in. It was a good day.. my name was called. Now the training has started, it actually started the next day when I ran CIM to celebrate.

I finished off the year with 2 more 50k's and a few long runs in the trails. Including 12 miles on the WS trail.

CIM was my 16th marathon since I started running 5 years ago, this year I started Ultras and completed 2 50Milers, a 64K, 3 50Ks.

My offical training started yesterday, Doing the Cal Loop New Years Day run with a few good trail running friends. This was another 15miles on the WS Trail, and 3 mile jog hike back up the hill for breakfast. It was a great day, perfect weather, good friends and a breakfast that made it all worthwile.

Just for fun I deciced to end and start the year running, Starting a little before midnight on new years eve I ran 6k, about 2 miles before midnight and 1.7 miles after midnight.

So my total milage for 2007 is now 19.7 mi.