Runners and Travelers Blog

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2011-05-03T08:28:00.001-07:00

Rocky Raccoon 100 mile race

2011-02-13T20:04:00.000-08:00

8 months of training, a snow storm, and freezing weather dominated on this particular race. for the previous 8 months, I had been running twice a day, with a long 20-26 mile runs on saturdays, running hills, lifting weights, cross training, core training, riding bicycles, stairmaster training, and otherwise spending a record amount of training for the Rocky Raccoon 100 mile race. The week of the race, we were hit with a major snow and ice storm, which made traveling next to impossible. At first, I was just depressed, thinking that all of that training was going to go by the wayside, as I sat and stared out the window at a foot of snow. Traveling was nothing less than harrowing, but there remained a small window of opportunity, as David McCgharen, Gary Garson and I worked out the logistics for trying to get to Huntsville, Texas to the race.

By Friday morning, it was still snowing, but only lightly. We put our heads together, and decided that the Interstate was all but closed, and totally too dangerous to attempt. So, we decided to go south, hitting Highway 36, hoping that the snow and ice would lessen as we moved toward the race site. It took us 2 hours to travel to Cross Plains, which is a little over 30 miles from Abilene. Depressing. However, as we kept going, the roads eventually cleared, and it was clear sailing into Huntsville.

Once we got to Huntsville, we drove to Sam Houston State University, where we picked up our packets and saw some of the best 100 mile runners in the country. Anthony Krupicka was there, Hal Koerner, Scott Jurek, and several other world class 100 milers. We were in awe just seeing them in person. We went to dinner with Deborah Sexton and several other North Texas Trail Runner Club members, of which David and I are members. Then it was off to bed, and I barely slept, unable to contain my enthusiasm for the race the next morning.

It was a 6:00 a.m. start for the 100 mile, 20 degrees, with very little wind, and I made it to the starting line just as they were counting down....and everyone let out a cheer as we took off in the darkness. Along the way, spectators were yelling at us that were "crazy, and insane, and stupid." Maybe we were.

The 100 mile race consisted of five 20 mile loops through the Hunstsville State park. I had completed a 50 mile race on the same course the year before, and I was familiar with the course, although, I would make a major mistake later in this race, that would not reflect my knowledge of the course.

I felt good the first twenty miles, but had to be careful, as the bridges on the course were covered in a layer of ice, and I saw a lady fall on the first bridge, breaking her leg. I took it easy, and came into the start/finish after the first 20 miles, and changed from my cold weather running clothes into shorts...I took off my stocking cap, sweat bottoms, and changed my socks, trying desperately to ward off blister problems that had cut my 24 hour run short in October. I started out on the 40 mile loop, feeling refreshed and ready to go. I kept up a fairly steady pace, eating little, but drinking adequately. I finished the 40 mile loop in virtually the same amount of time: approximately five hours each. We had multiple opportunities to see the world class runners along the route, and it was exciting to see them battling it out.

I took off on my 60 mile loop, feeling frightfully strong and confident. I had to change back into cold weather clothes (sweats, stocking cap, gloves, etc...) because it was getting very cold and dark. I was running strong, walking some of the roughest rooty spots, taking care not to fall, although unsuccesfully. I fell a couple of times, but was not hurt. Suddenly, I saw a runner coming toward me in an unsteady manner, and he fell. I stopped to check on him, and he collapsed unconscious on the ground, and was not moving. I tore off to the next aid station to get help for him, and when I entered the aid station, instead of going around it and continuing on, I made a horrible mistake, and turned around and ventured the same way I had come. I guess I was still thinking about the downed runner. I did not realize my mistake until I was almost almost to the next aid station. I was crushed mentally, although, physically, I was fine. Oh, don't get me wrong, I was hurting, as anyone would be by the 56 mile mark, but mentally, I was not ready to go back in the darkness and try to retrace my steps. I ran the last four miles and called it quits. So, I ended up with 60 good miles...feeling a little embarrassed for making such a silly mistake, and coming away with the knowledge that in a 100 mile race, almost anything can bring you down, despite all the hard training, and mental preparation.

On a lighter note, Gary and David both finished well in their 50 mile race. It was a good time overall, and having good friends there was incredible.

I can't wait to try it again, though. Call me insane, or stupid, or even foolish for taking the wrong turn, but I would do it again, and will.

Remembering Vietnam: 8-Hour Run From the Ducks

2010-10-17T09:48:00.000-07:00

by Jerry Hollingsworth on Sunday, October 10, 2010 at 7:50pm

This was a race I wanted to run last year, but could not make it. All proceeds from the race went toward the construction of the Vietnam War Memorial Museum in Mineral Wells, Texas. It was a timed event, 8 hours, and it was conducted on a "near one-mile" track through the Clark Botanical Gardens. What a beautiful place for a race! I had trained hard for this race, although I considered it a practice run for my 24-hour run that was scheduled one month later.

I went with David McCaghren, Andy Blessing, and Gary Garson, and as we were leaving Abilene, the rain began to fall, and it fell for hours. The lightning caused a one-hour delay, but once the lightning moved off, we began, despite the heavy downpour. It actually rained hard on us for over 4 hours before letting up a little. It remained cloudy and cool for the remainder of the run. Of course, the trails turned into a quagmire, a muddy mess which took a lot of leg power to either dodge the muddiest parts, or to slug right on through it, along with the deep water that was collecting all through the course.

One section was so wet that the tree branches became heavy and water-laden that they hung down over the trail for a good long section that became difficult to maneuver through. We had to run while ducking, and each time we would raise up, we would get hit in the face with another wet branch.

I had a lot of fun on this race. David and I ran for about 20 miles together, and I dropped back a little to keep my pace in line with my strategy for the 24 hour run, but felt strong the whole way. I managed to run 33.3 miles, and finished 12th overall. David ran ahead of me and finished with about 35 miles, and Andy came in second with 46 miles. Gary finished with 30 miles.

The race brought in over $2,000 for the museum. It was crazy, but it was fun, and I cant wait to do it again next year!

Pedernales Falls Trail Run

2010-08-26T08:27:00.000-07:00

This was a run that was a last minute decision for me. I wanted to do a long run on Saturday, and Gary Garson was running the 60k trail run, so David McCaghron and I decided to go and support Gary. Preparation was not a problem, as I was already in 50k condition, having just run the El Scorcho 50k July 25th in pretty hot weather. However, I may have miscaluculated the difficulty of this 30k race.

The temperature at the start of the race was hovering around 100 degrees, and we started at 7:00 p.m. We started out, and I was doing well, as my pace was feeling strong at the start. Then, the single track trail took a nosedive down toward the river, and we began a winding up and down section of rocks, and that's where my first mishap began. I fell down once, but it didn't bother me too much. I recovered well, picked the pace back up and then fell again. This time, I landed much harder than I did before, and it just seemed to zap me. Mentally, I was washed up at 2 miles out. The sun was bearing down on me, my energy level decreased, and I began walking. I smashed two of my energy gel packs in the fall, and I had a gooey mess all over my shorts and the back of my leg.

The second fall also made my back start hurting, so that was an added bonus to this run. I started thinking about quitting, as I was not feeling well at all, and the temperatures were relentless. I walked for almost two miles, contemplating quitting. I finally made it to the first aid station and one girl was complaining about the heat and she was trying to talk me into walking back to the starting line with her, but I just couldn't quit. I was tired, hot, thirsty, and my back was killing me, and I didn't know if I could go on, but something inside me would not let me walk off that course. I drank some water, poured some cold water on my head and cooled down a little. I put some ice water in my hand carried water bottle and continued on. I saw Gary, and I told him I didn't think I could make it, and he said that if I could make it to the next aid station, they could probably drive me back to the starting line, but I began running again, and soon, the sun went down. I pulled my headlamp out of my pocket and began the night running segment. I actually started feeling better when the sun went down, so I kept going. I finally got my rhythm back and before long, I was sailing along.

As I approached the second aid station, I was doing well. I was somewhat spooked, as I had been running along on those dark single track trails for the past several miles without seeing anyone. Of course, my mind starting playing tricks on me, and I began to think I may have strayed off course, but just as Joe Prusaitis always does in his races, I found the ribbons on the trees, and I knew I was on the right path. However, I could hear Coyotes off in the distance, and I passed a couple of areas where "Grand Daddy Long Leg" spiders were running across the trail. Moths kept flying into my face, attracted by my headlamp, and along the way, large scorpions were running across the trail in droves.

I caught up with Gary and another runner, and we all began to run together. It was like finding an oasis in the middle of the night. They were running strong and steady, but not too fast, and it was a perfect pace for me and my ailing back.

Disaster struck at the 12 mile aid station, though. As we approached the aid station, my bottle was already empty, and the guy in charge of the station says, "no water, no ice, and no drinks at all." He had some warm coke, but that was nasty. The girl that was running with us, though, remembered that she had stashed a small bottle of water and some Powerade in her drop bag. She shared the contents with about five other people, and we were all grateful, but it was not enough to last the last 6 or so miles. I began to dehydrate. I got dizzy and wobbly. I was lightheaded, but I kept following in their footsteps, just moving forward. As we got about 3 miles from the finish line, someone had placed a container of water on the side of the trail, and we took a short drink and it was enough to get me back to the finish line.

I have to say that after reading David Johnson's writeup of his emergency room visit the week before, I was worried about the same thing happening to me. I knew I was dehydrated, and on the verge of heat exhaustion, but something kept me moving forward. The trails were certainly interesting, and not all that difficult, but the heat made everything difficult, and I barely made it in.

It was a race that I will remember for a long time, and one that I will learn from: One: take two bottles, instead of one when it is that hot. You can't always trust the aid stations will help you. Two: never give up. You are tougher than you think. Sometimes, things just don't work out the way you want, but if you keep moving forward, you will get there.

We had a great time at Denny's the next morning, after we met Gary at the finish line as he completed his first 60k race. Congratulations to Gary, and it was good to be with good friends.

El Scorcho Quatro: 50k Race; July 24th, 2010

2010-07-29T10:00:00.000-07:00

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El Scorcho was one of those races that I had been wanting to run for several years, but always had some sort of conflict in my schedule. Two years ago, I was in Africa and missed it, and last year, I had signed up for it and was training hard and injured my knee and missed it. So, this year, I was determined to do more than give my entry fee to charity. Although, my training was not without its conflicts. I spent time at the Navajo Reservation with students, but managed to hike some major mountain trails, as well as doing some running in the mountains and the altitude that was over 5,000 ft. Then, I went to China, and didn't know if I would be able to continue my training while there, either. However, I trained a lot while there, just not a lot of long distance runs. But, I more than made up for it with all the hiking through the mountains, all the walking, and twice-a-day training runs when I could. I also had the luxury of some of the students who wanted to run. So, I had some company on most mornings.

Otherwise, I trained hard for this event, knowing that a 50k (31.2 miles) race in the middle of Texas in July was not going to be a comfortable run. Most of my races are on trails in the middle of the woods, or on rocky trails and slopes. This race course was flat, but the obstacle was going to be the heat. At midday on raceday, the temperature had soared to over 95 degrees. I was hoping that by the midnight start, we would be looking at the low 80's but it was not to be. It was still hovering right around the 90 degree mark at racetime, but it soon began to cool into the 80's.

I also had my goals for this race. I wanted to set a new personal record. Having run a 6:14 in Fort Worth for my very first 50k, I was ready to dip under the 6 hour mark for the first time. My training was good, and I felt like I had the endurance to do it, but it was not to be. I had the endurance, but not enough to maintain my early pace.

I started out fine, but by the time I had completed the first two laps (roughly 3 miles each), I was hot, and sweating. I didn't know if I was going to make it or not, and those remaining 8 laps loomed large in my mind. At the end of the 6 mile mark, I began pouring cold water on my head, and it revived me, and my pace felt strong again. I kept doing that at each aid station and I continued running strong. Rather than concentrate on the mileage, it was more convenient mentally to concentrate on the number of laps, which was ten to complete the 50k distance.

Some parts of the trail were pretty dark, and I needed my headlamp, but in other places, it was lit fairly well. There was a full moon, so that helped. There were times when I just wanted to look up at that glorious moon. It was beautiful. I did see some wildlife...I saw the largest Raccoon I had ever seen. That thing was huge. Otherwise, it was lap after lap, after lap, after lap......!

I enjoyed this run more than most I have done. I was not too disappointed with my time, as I ran my second fastest time for a 50k in 6 hours and 42 minutes. The heat was just too much to run that hard...but I ran steady and with a nice rhythm. It was nice to run with so many Abilene runners. It's always nice to have such support.

One of the best races I have run. Oh, and I experimented with a new Gel, called Roctane. It was great. Although more expensive than others, I found it to be quite helpful in keeping me going.

I must say that after all this time, El Scorcho was worth the wait.

Jerry Hollingsworth

Running in China

2010-07-05T16:45:00.000-07:00

Running in China was one of the most interesting experiences I have ever had. I might add, that I have run in Europe, South Korea, Mexico, Peru, Africa, and a host of other places. But, China afforded a unique environment that I haven't experienced before.

For one thing, it gets light at 4:30 in the morning, and my eyes popped open right along with the sunlight...although, there was not a lot of sunshine, as there was this perpetual gray, smog I figured, that blotted out the sun's rays.

Running in Beijing was interesting, as the sidewalks were broad and smooth; very well taken care of. At five in the morning, the streets are already "abuzz." People are out on their bicycles and scooters, electric bikes, and motorcycles, making their way to work. They are also out in droves, practicing Tai Chi, meditation, and clapping exercises. Street vendors are setting up their stands, cooking dumplings, and little pancake-looking items. A particular smell fills the air, a unique smell that I can't pinpoint. It is certainly different from my running routes in Abilene, where I can smell donuts, bacon, and biscuits cooking in people's homes and restauraunts.

Nanjing was our home while there, at least for a week. We stayed in a nice hotel there, although the airconditioning was out for most of the time we were there. It was also very humid. Again, as the light appears in the morning sky, around 4:15 to 4:30 a.m., I found myself out and about, running with some of our students...Matt, who was a football player and former track runner. I also ran with Amanda, who was on the cross country team, and Katie, who is going to coach on the cross country team. They added a nice touch to my morning runs.

Nanjing, around the area we were staying, was right in the heart of the city, but the many bike lanes, and sidewalks allowed for easy running. Again, people were already out, making food, riding their bikes to work, and walking along, exercising, doing Yoga, meditating, and doing early morning Tai Chi Quan. Along one street I ran on, it was lined with many bird cages. Each cage contained one bird...anything from Finches to birds I could not identify.

I ran twice a day there, most of the time, and the humidity was always high. By the time I got out of the shower, I was already sweating again. We marked our time during the day by long hikes and walks around the Ming City Wall, or hiking through the square where I saw an ancient Confucian Temple. During the evening, we were carousing around the alley, trying new foods and experimenting with different kinds of Chinese dishes.

Guillen was a different place, entirely. Located in Southern China, we were in the middle of the mountains. Running in the morning was beautiful, as we ran through the mountains alongside the main road. We were staying in a country club, golf course, and recreational area, and the grounds were gorgeous. We saw a demonstration of Tai Chi, and actually got to participate in a class, where they taught us the basic moves. It was beautiful.

While there, we had the opportunity to take a ride on a boat down a river, through some incredible limestone mountains. It was one of the most beautiful sights I have ever seen. We capped that off with a hike up the side of a mountain, through rice paddies, up to a small mountain village school. We talked to children there, and then hiked back down. The views were incredible. After we finished the climb, we went White Water Rafting. It was a majestic ride down the Li River, on what must have been level four rapids in places. Adrenaline rush!!!

Then, it was back to Beijing, where I got my last run in before we headed out to the Great Wall. Hiking the Great Wall was magnificent, yet, very taxing. I had just ran 5 miles before we hiked the wall, so I was warmed up, but I can't imagine running a 26 mile marathon on that wall....that would be one tough run to say the least.

Running in China was one of the most interesting experiences of my life, as I saw so many things you wouldn't see if you were just touring around. Waking up early, going out to run, seeing the people start their day...was the way to see a country. Magnificent!

Hells Hills 50k: The Heat is on!

2010-04-05T08:26:00.000-07:00

Hells Hills 50k: The Heat is on!Share
Today at 10:24am | Edit Note | Delete
Hell's Hills is a race I have been wanting to run since last year when David McCaghran and I went to Smithville to run it, but after 11 inches of rain in 3 short hours, and a lightning storm that canceled the race, we took our tent down, got soaked in the driving rain, and left. This year, I was determined to make the race after not being able to go to the makeup race in June.

This race occurs just outside of Smithville, Texas, which is a short drive from Austin, Texas. It is near Bueshe State Park, and located in the heart of the "Hill Country" of Texas. There are rolling hills, a Piney Woods, creeks, and tons of wildflowers in that part of Texas. It's a beautiful area to hold a trail race. The race itself is held at Rocky Hill Ranch, and we started the 50k race at 6:00 and it was still dark. I ran for about an hour with my small handheld flashlight, which wasn't very powerful, but good enough to light up the trail in the early morning hours.

The trail consists of three, almost distinct, phases. The first five miles are rolling hills that steadily climb toward the top of the hills nestled deep into the woods. There are a lot of steep uphills, and short ups and downs, with some roller coaster hills and a few creek crossings. There was water in most of the creeks, which required a giant leap, or a gentle crossing of the water. We ran most of this section in the dark, which was tricky in some places, with the roots, and the drop offs. The first aid station was at the 5 mile mark, and I had an orange slice, some water, and topped off my bottle that I was carrying in my waist pack. I drank mostly water on the first loop, which was a 15.5 mile loop that we would run twice for the 50k distance.

The second section was absolutely phenonmenal. The woods were deep and thick, and you had to duck a few times away from low hanging branches and trees. It was a narrow, winding single track most of the way, with a variety of terrain. There were some rolling hills, and some very flat, runnable spots, as well, and the smell in the air, mixed with the smell of the Pines was extraordinary. I watched the sun coming up over the hills, and I felt so "alive." Running was easy during this section, and the trail was covered in Pine needles in some places, leaves in other places, and it was soft and sandy, as well. In a couple of sections, the trails and trees opened up, revealing rolling meadows, covered in Bluebonnets. It was amazing to see such beauty. There were some rocks, too, but they weren't too bad. You do still have to watch out for roots and stumps. The second aid station was at ten miles and some change, and I topped off my water bottle, drank some Gatorade, and ate a few Sport Beans.

The third section was more difficult, with some long climbs, more rolling hills, and lots of rocks and roots. One section somewhere around the 13 or 14 mile marker, there was a section called "The Wall," and it was a steep cliff that was difficult to climb, and if it had been muddy, I deemed it would have been next to impossible to ascend. But, after several long and winding climbs, the trails empty into a field with a really narrow single track trail back to the starting line. That was the third aid station. I dumped what little water I had left, and filled my 20 oz. bottle with Gatorade, as the sun was getting rather hot, and the temperatures began to rise. It eventually reached about 85 degrees, and that sun was relentless by the time I reached the 20 mile marker. My shoes were full of rocks and debris (I didn't wear my Gaiters, or my hat, both of which I would soon regret) so I sat down and emptied the contents. At that point, I was beginning to think I would not make it...but I remembered from past experience that we have bad zones and good zones. I was definitely in a bad one. The folks at the aid station were great, though, and they helped me get cooled down and I ate some orange slices. Other runners came in in the same condition, all hot, tired, and depressed...but the aid station volunteers pepped everybody up, and we all took off again.

I was soon relieved to find myself in that second section of the course that I loved, and the trees afforded some nice shade from the relentless sun. I quickly found my pace again, and was soon moving strongly. I definitely got my second wind, and hit the second aid station 30 minutes faster than the last five miles. By then, I just wanted to see the finish line, so I kept running, and when I hit that "Wall climb" the second time, which I faced this time at about mile 28, it was not easy, and my calves started cramping. I kept taking electrolytes, and munching on those jelly beans, and despite the cramps, I sailed on in. I hit the 31.2 mile marker in around 7 hours, which wasn't too bad, considering the heat.

I have to say that this was one of the most enjoyable 50k's I have ever run. It offered almost everything you would want in a trail racing challenge. Hills, roots, rocks, sand, mud, water crossings, heat, and above all.....a challenge where a person can test themselves against the elements.

Taking it down a notch...for a little while!

2010-03-14T18:41:00.000-07:00

After finishing my first 50 mile race at Rocky Raccoon, I was left with one of those feelings that I can only describe as "now what?" I remember feeling that way after my PhD was completed. I was left with this feeling that I had accomplished something very big in my life, and now, it was time to figure out what to do next. As for my PhD...I filled in the holes by doing research and traveling around the world, writing books, and publishing articles. But after finishing my first 50 miler, I was left in a rut. I even signed up for a number of races, but I still didn't feel like running any of them, and my training even slipped for awhile, while I was recovering. It was hard to get going again after such an accomplishment.

TAKING IT DOWN A NOTCH

After doing some thinking, I decided that I needed to work on a few things, and with the warm weather approaching, I decided to step down from Ultras and work on some faster, shorter events, and mostly because my natural pace had slowed quite a bit because of those long, long distance runs. It's time to add some variety to my routine. So here is the change:

Shorter faster workouts
Weight Training
Hill repeats
Tempo runs
Fartlek training
Medium long runs instead of "long, long" runs.

SCHEDULE

for the rest of the spring and summer, here is my racing and events schedule:

March 27th: Steamboat Mountain Half Marathon, Abilene, Texas.

April 24th: Outlaw 10k run, Commanche, Texas.

May 8th: Wounded Warrior 5k

For the rest of May and June, I will be traveling to the Navajo Reservation, and then to China. Then, as the weather begins to cool a little, and we approach Fall and Winter, I will switch back to Ultras, with the goal of running my first 100 miler. I will switch back to the Ultra running workout schedule at the end of June, when I return from China. Here is a partial schedule for the Fall and Winter:

July 24th: El Scorcho 50K, Fort Worth, Texas

September 25th: 8-Hour Run From the Ducks, Mineral Wells, Texas

October 24th: 24-The-Hard-Way, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

November 13th: Rockledge Rumble 50k, Grapevine, Texas.

In the meantime, I'm hoping that I will be faster, stronger, and more refreshed to attempt my first 100 miler and the 24-hour run in Oklahoma.

Rocky Raccoon 50 mile Endurance Run: A Long Day in the Park

2010-02-08T06:09:00.000-08:00

Today at 8:01am | Edit Note | Delete
The Rocky Raccoon Endurance run is a 100 mile and 50 mile trail run that winds through the Huntsville State Park. The trails are rooty, somewhat sandy in spots, and there are a few rolling hills that looked worse after the first couple of loops. The 50 mile race consisted of three 16 and 2/3 mile loops. I had been training for this race for the past 6 months. In preparation, I ran two very difficult 50k races: The Louisiana Trails 50k in Shreveport, and Bandera 50k race in the Hill Country. I felt like I was in good condition, but was a little unsure of the distance. Another concern was the rain. It had been raining for several days, and there was concern that the trails were going to be a muddy mess.

On race day, it was 39 degrees at the start and practically no wind. To me, it was a perfect day for a 50 mile run. The high would only get to around 53 according to the weather reports. I ran with a long sleeve technical shirt, trail shorts and a hat and I was comfortable.

I started off fairly conservatively, running easy behind David McCaghran who went with me to the race. I ran the first 16 2/3 mile loop in around 3 hours and 40 minutes and was feeling great. The trails were in pretty good shape considering how much rain they had. There were a few spots that were flooded and pretty sloppy...but otherwise, the trails were runnable. I ran the second loop and was still feeling fine. I came around and started the third loop, stopped and got my light, as the last section of the third loop would be in the dark.

Somewhere around mile 40, it dawned on me that I was weak, tired, and my legs and feet were killing me. My back was sore and getting worse. I had hot spots that I was sure were going to turn into full-blown blisters. I went into the Dam Road Aid Station feeling down. I ate some hot soup there, drank some water, took a few more electrolyte tablets and started off again. Mentally, my game was shot, and I still had 10 miles to go. To make it worse, it was getting cold again. I was shivering, running somewhat alone down the backstretch of Dam road was intense. I could see things moving in the woods. I'm pretty sure it was just a raccoon, but just the thought that alligators are in the park kept me alert. I don't think anybody has ever seen one on a trail race day...but the thought is somewhere deep inside you somewhere.

I forced myself to keep moving, and it was getting dark. I fixed my light, got it just right, stepped into a few mud puddles because I couldn't see to go around. I reached the last Aid Station feeling like I had been hit by a truck. But, I only had 4 and half miles left to go, and somewhere, I reached down and grabbed something from deep within myself and ran pretty well the last few miles. When I reached the wooden footbridges by the lake, I could hear frogs, crickets, and birds and it was like listening to a symphony of nature....and I knew I could not trip on the boards, so I just kept going, willing my legs to finish this race. I finished the race in 13 hours and some change, and crossing the finish line never felt so good.

Afterward, David and I were so tired, and it was getting late, so we ordered a pizza, had a couple of cold Sam Adams, and sacked out.

It was a long day in the park, and today, as I sit here writing this, the pain doesn't seem as bad. You have to possess a short memory to run events like this, because if you remembered the pain exactly as you experienced it during the run, you might not ever run another one. I'm putting this run into the memory banks as I remember it this monday morning....just a long day in the park!

Bandera 50k Trail Run: A "winter" blast!

2010-01-10T17:54:00.000-08:00

I had been looking forward to this run for a long time, and had been one of the very first to register, but the closer this event came to becoming a reality, the more nervous I was getting. It is known as one of the top 50k races in the country, and definitely one of the hardest Texas runs around.

I have been training for months for this race, trying to build up to running the massive hills I knew would be represented at Bandera. I ran in the cold, I ran hill repeats, I ran hill cycles, and I averaged over 50 miles a week, and capped it off with a 60 mile week three weeks out from the race date. I trained in San Angelo on the trails at San Angelo State Park. I trained on rocky trails, dirt trails, muddy trails, and tried to emulate every condition I could think of. I have not worked this hard for an event for a very long time.

Then, just a week or so before the event, an Arctic blast of cold air came down out of Canada, ensuring that if the conditions weren't already going to be tough enough, let's get some single digit temps out there to test our fortitude. Sure enough, race day condition: it was 9 degrees at race time.

As I approached the starting line, the race director informed me that the race had already started, so I could "take off" anytime. I took off, glad to be doing anything but standing still in that cold morning, but the trail immediately began with a steep incline on a monstrous hill called Cairns Climb. It was one of the most difficult climbs I have ever been on, and that was the first mile or so...then the real hills hit. Boyles Bump, Ice Cream Hill, and one they called the "Big Nasty," and the title was accurate. We climbed hills for the first ten miles, and my feet were already scraped raw and blistered from the rocky terrain. Those downhills were the worst. I stopped at the 15 mile aid station, put some bandaids on what I thought was a blister on one of my toes, and the guy at the aid station said, "that's not a blister, the flesh is just gone." I put a bandaid on it and kept trucking. A little vaseline for the other toes, and I moved on.

The hills were more like mountains, and no sooner did we reach the top of one, than we were climbing another. I had to admit, I was running slow, but strong. I had been in the weight room a lot in my training, and lifting weights definitely helped me up those monster hills. I had stopped at one of the last aid stations, and the guys told me there was only 4.75 miles left, so I envisioned running the last few miles at a good clip and finishing somewhere around my time goal of 7 hours, but he failed to mention the rest of the hills that remained. They were some of the most torturous, and at one point, as I stood looking up at one of those hills, I really didn't know if I could go on, but somehow, I managed to keep putting one leg in front of the other. Eventually, I reached the last aid station, and they told me I only had a half mile left to the finish line. I gritted my teeth and hustled in, and crossed that finish line with my legs trashed, my calves throbbing, and every muscle in my body aching, but I did it, and as I crossed over, I saw my friend Laurie standing there, and we talked for awhile about how "humbling" this run was. I think in the grander scheme of things, we never really know what we are capable of until we do something that tries our character.

This race has it all: monstrous hills, cactus, biting plants, horse shit all over the trails, rocky terrain,torturous downhills that invited sliding down on your butt at times. Rocks and boulders, and climbing, climbing, climbing!

I do have to pay big compliments to the aid stations and the volunteers. In all the races I have run, there has never been better aid stations and volunteers than at Bandera. They are experienced trail and ultra runners, and just plain nice, caring, helpful people. They had everything that an ultra runner needs to complete such a journey. Without them, I'm not sure I would have made it.

I also met some of the nicest people on this run, and the cameraderie in these types of races is incredible. I made some new friends, and had a wonderfully, crazy, torturous time!

I'm looking forward to doing something really fun next, like the 50 mile race at Rocky Raccoon in Huntsville. It's flat, so what could go wrong there? Okay, so I have a short memory of the pain of these kinds of events......!!!!!!

Trail running versus Road Running

2009-11-23T20:05:00.000-08:00

I was talking to a friend of mine the other day who had just run the San Antonio marathon, and he kept referring to the scenery, which of course, he was talking about the city itself...the buildings, the landscape, etc...and I had just returned from running the Louisiana Trails 50k in Shreveport, Louisiana. My run was held strictly within a pristine Louisiana forest, which was reminiscent of the Piney Woods region of Texas.

I am always amazed at what people call "a good view." I can say the same thing about myself, as I have stood at the top of the Sears Tower building in Chicago, amazed at the view, and it was cool seeing Wrigley Field and other great sites. But I have always thought that "a good view" was one that contained mountains, trees, rivers, lakes, flowers, birds, and deer. Running around city streets, seeing buildings, cars, people, parking lots, with signs everywhere, smelling exhaust fumes always seemed so alien to me.

Running on roads at some large events around the country have their appeal, though. I love the energy that is represented at some of the larger marathons, such as Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth, and others. People are in a spirit unlike any other event, and moving together with thousands of other runners is a sociological phenomenon like no other!

However, trail runs are much more low key, with no starting pistols, no flyovers, no bands, and no crowds cheering you on toward the finish. And usually, by the time you finish one of those long 50k's or 50 mile races, most of the people are gone, and you are left to cross the finish line on your own with no fanfare. But the rewards are such that no one can explain except through experience. The forest is alive with energy, the trails are inviting, the leaves cover the forest floor, and during the fall season, the leaves are changing colors. Most trail runs are conducted in such environments, and its a no-no to leave trash on the trail...in road races, the roads are littered with paper cups, energy gel packets and empty water bottles. In a trail race, you can be disqualified for littering.

There are also hazards in a trail race you won't face on the roads. For example, the roots will reach out and grab you, especially as you tire after running 20 or more miles. Rocks will tear your feet to shreds. The downhills can be treacherous, and if you fall, you could break something, or twist an ankle fairly easily. On the other hand, in a road race, you still may have to contend with vehicles that don't want to wait for runners to cross a road. Exhaust fumes may overwhelm you. People that line up alongside the road to gawk at runners may say stupid things. During one road marathon in Houston, I passed by some people that were making fun of runners who were slower, and looked "funny" to them. I overheard one spectator say out loud, "they all look so bizzare!" She was looking at us as if we were odd spectacles from another planet.

I often wondered, too, if people really needed those crowds to cheer for them. Running is an individual sport, and running alone is sometimes a great time for introspection. Do people really need rock bands scattered every mile in order to be so distracted that they don't realize that running a marathon is difficult? On the other hand, I enjoyed hearing the many bands I have heard along the way.

Trail runners seem to be different sorts of animals, too. They are often older than the average road runners. They are kinder, it seems. More laid back. I watched two runners nearing the end of their 50k race (31.2 miles) turn around and run two miles backward to find aid for a fallen runner once. When runners fall, others stop what they are doing to check on you to see if you are ok.

Back to the "view," I still don't see city buildings as scenic, but I will admit that both types of races are still exciting, and I find interesting things about both, but trail running, without the accolades, big money, cheering crowds, and pristine forests is quite alluring. Everyone should try it...or not! Trail runs are starting to get crowded. For some of the largest races, it is almost impossible to get registered for a race. Waiting lists are common, now, and when registration opens, most interesting trail runs can close quickly.

I am happy to have discovered trail runs, and I long for the next one, although, by the time I have run 30 or so miles through those pristine forests, I am more than ready for a good "view" of a city, a steak, and a cold beer!

Louisiana Trails 50k

2009-11-17T06:35:00.000-08:00

The Louisiana Trails 50k was located in Shreveport, Louisiana in Eddie Jones Park. It is listed as 98% single track trails that winds around a Chimpanzee Haven, a facility where Chimpanzees have been rescued, and are living out the remainder of their lives.

The event also hosted a full marathon and half marathon. The course was a loop of 13.1 miles, so the 50k'ers ran two loops and a special loop at the end to complete the 50k distance.

I attended the event with David McCaghren and Gary Garson. We stayed in Bossier City the night before, and ate in a great place called Notini's. If you are ever in that area, this is a restaurant that is highly recommended. I stuffed myself with Spaghetti and meat sauce...if I had it all to do over again, I would order the smaller plate, because the meal they brought out to me would have fed an entire African village.

The park was about 30 miles away from our hotel, so we left about six to get to the race. When we arrived, the energy was already in the air. We jogged around, got loose, received our instructions and I love the way the race started. There was no firing of a gun, just the race directer shouting out: Go! Off we went.

David and I stayed together for the first 13.1 mile loop. We were passing people along the route, and I was really enjoying the nice pace, and the rollercoaster hills. There were a lot of roots on this trail, especially since the recent rains washed away a lot of the topsoil, exposing even more roots than normal. At one point, while struggling with my water bottle, and trying to open a Hammer Gel pack, I hit a low lying tree branch, missed the beginning of a small downhill, and tumbled head over heels. I did a nice roll, though, and was back up on my feet quickly enough.

We aproached the end of the first loop in 2:30, and I was quite pleased with my effort at this point. I had to make a pitstop at a restroom before I started the second loop, while David continued on. As I began my second loop, I turned the wrong way and spent about 20 minutes trying to find my way...not to mention trying to negotiate a hill that was pretty steep while I was trying to figure out where I was supposed to go. That's when I met an ER doctor, who had turned the wrong way, as well. Three or four other runners came down the hill and we all were lost for awhile, until we retraced our steps and found the original trail again.

The second 13.1 mile loop was not as kind as the first, as I decided to run much more conservatively. The roots seemed to be more evident, and I tripped and fell at least three times, each time I hit the ground, my calves would cramp up a bit more than the time before. The doctor I was running with was ready to quit, but I talked him into staying with it. We began to walk the uphill sections and run the downhills and the more runnable areas. This was a pretty hilly course, with a lot of rollercoaster hills, and some sizeable ups and downs.

As I finished the second loop, I realized I was not going to break 7 hours because of the 20 minutes I lost while trying to find my way at the beginning of the second loop. But, I ate a bag of jellybeans, drank some more Cytomax and finished the last 5 miles pretty strong, despite running the last 11 miles with major cramps in my feet and calves. I finished in 7:18.

All in all, I loved this event. It was a hard course, but I love a good challenge, and I'm hoping it was a good workout for Bandera in January, as I am running the 50k there, next.

My friend Gary came in somewhere around 7:42, and David had a great run on that course, for a finishing time of 6:30, which was pretty good for such a tough course. I highly recommend this trail race...it was well organized, and the money went to finance missions work in Central America. Good times!

Jerry Hollingsworth

Knee Injury, Missing Races, and the Five Stages of Grief

2009-09-10T19:21:00.000-07:00

Having a knee injury is one of the most disappointing injuries one can have. It's one of those injuries that could sideline you for a while, and well, if you have already fronted money out for registration fees and made hotel reservations, and made plans with friends to some races you were looking forward to, then life just seems to "suck."

I trained harder for El Scorcho 50k summer ultra run, than I did for the 50 miler at Sunmart, and was determined to run well in the heat. I had undergone extensive heat acclimation workouts, took long runs in the country, performed core training, mountain training, running at altitude, and a strength and weight training program, as well as two-a-day workouts,and was looking forward to the race with gusto!

Then, it happened...the knee injury. It happened on the very first day of my two-a-day workouts. I had run an easy 4 miler in the morning, and in the afternoon, I did a long tempo speed workout, and it felt great. Later, while walking through the grocery store, my knee froze up and I thought I was going to faint dead away. I struggled through a few more workouts before realizing it was not going to go away. All I could think about was not being able to run the Summer Solstice run at Redbud...and in my own perverted thinking, I figured I would be fine for El Scorcho, but it was not to be.

Finally, after I realized things were not going to heal in a few days, I started going through the five stages of grief: Denial was first, as I kept trying to work out on it...icing it down every two hours, massaging it, wearing protective braces, etc...but finally, I began to: Be angry! I was really mad that I was missing my races, and then, to make matters worse, I started feeling alienated, as I couldn't workout on Saturday mornings with my friends. Then along came Bargaining...making deals with God, promising to be a better person if only he would heal my injury, but...it kept hurting.

Then depression set in...I refused to show up at the Summer solstice run because I was depressed, and I couldn't stand to watch all my friends run the race I wanted to run...and I knew I was not going to run El Scorcho. I was wallowing in my pity.

Then, after some time passed, I entered the acceptance phase. I finally realized my goals were cancelled for some time, and the only thing that was going to help me was time off. So, I started working on a recovery and rehab program, and I pulled out my schedule book.

I designed a workout program
I started swimming at the McMurry pool every day, and I was feeling much better about myself. Eventually, I began to workout on the Elliptical trainer. It was a great workout that simulated running without putting pressure on my knee. And strength training was available, so I began to lift weights every other day, and before I knew it, 6 weeks had gone by, and I was desperate to try the knee out. I knew that I would not be able to return to all out running, so it was almost like starting all over again. I began walking and then walk/running, and before I knew it, I was back into running two and three miles.

Saturday, I went out to Steamboat Mountain with friends, and was able to run the half marathon course out there. So, I'm back, now, and I even think the rest and break from running was a good thing. In fact, next summer, instead of running so many miles, I am planning to cut back, run shorter races, and conserve my strength for the next big push.

I think I learned the hard way about injuries, but it was a long hard pull to get back to full strength. I am running the Crossroads Half Marathon in October, and I can't wait.

Bar-H Boondoggle 6-Hour Trail Race

2009-05-11T07:44:00.000-07:00

This is a really laid back race, and one that reminds me of what the people say trail running "used" to be like. One aid station was stuck right in the middle of a figure eight loop, and you had to run by the campfire every time you finished one section of the figure 8 to check your name off. No chips, no spotters, and no fuss. It was a 6.4 mile complete loop.

The first half of the loop ran uphill for quite a ways to start off, and then the hills started! They were steep and technical, and the downhills were rocky and treacherous. The trails were single track almost the entire distance. The second half of the figure eight was flatter, and the trail at the beginning was hard to find, as grass was high along the rather narrow single track trail, but soon, the trail appeared to be no more than a ridge cut out of the sandy bottom grasslands we were running through. There was mud, mixed in with a lot of cow dung that you had to watch out for, but soon, we entered the wooded section of that loop, and it was the most gorgeous area to run through that I have seen in a while. It almost reminded me of portions of the Sunmart course at that point. Of course, the roots were prevalent there, and some of the downhills were difficult. Not as much climbing on this side, but soon, it was time to hit the next section, which was pretty much all hills.

It started getting dark in the middle of the hill section on my third loop, so I used my new PrinceTec headlamp, and it worked ok, but I never figured out how to make it tilt the right way to make use of the light on the trail, so I found myself running with my head down. The downhills in the dark were scary, and one slip could have been disastrous, so I slowed down at this point, and right as I was finishing up the hilly section, the Whipporwhils began calling in the distance. I don't think I have ever heard one, but they sound awesome, if not a little lonesome, and on that part of the trail, I was all alone, and the sounds of those birds was incredible.

I checked in at the aid station, took some salt tablets, a little gatorade, and when the lady at the desk told me I had slowed down quite a bit, I just smiled and said, "I know." The dark definitely changes how you run on trails that technical. One bad step and it would be all over. They might not find your body for awhile. Even if they did find you, I'm not sure how they would get you out of that countryside without a helicopter.

The back side of the trail, which had been markedly easier than the front side, became even more difficult after dark. It was hard to follow the narrow trails, and in places, the trail seemed to disappear. If not for the flour they poured along the way on parts of the trail, I might have gotten really lost...it's amazing how flourescent just ordinary flour can be. It helped me stay on track. All along the back side of the loop, I could hear Coyotes in the distance, howling and barking. I could smell random campfires of people camping all along the countryside, but for the most part, it was just me and the trail, all alone with my little headlamp. It was a little spooky at times to say the least, but good experience for running trails at night. At one point, I shined my headlight into the woods, and I saw eyeballs reflecting my light. Not sure what it was, and I really didn't want to know. It did make the hair stand up on the back of my neck. some of the people I met at the race, said that someone had stopped them on the trail and told them there was a mountain lion running around in the hilly section of the loop. That was never confirmed, but it put a chill down our spines.

I learned a lot on this trail, and I actually think I can now call myself a trail runner. I finally feel like I really learned how to run trails on this course.

When I got to the aid station after completing three complete loops, (approximately 19.4 miles, according to the official race documentation), I was prepared to tackle the front side of the figure eight one last time, and then I had planned to quit after that, which would have given me around 22 or 23 miles, I think, but when I got to the Aid station, my two friends were there, and they were ready to go home, and it didn't take much for me to agree with them. I packed it in, and felt good about what I had done.

All in all, it was a great run, and a great experience. I highly recommend this trail to anyone who really wants to learn to run technical trails. It was a fabulous place to get some good training in. For me, I was only trying to get a good workout in, and I did that.....!

Prickly Pear 50k Race report

2009-04-29T10:00:00.001-07:00

I was very excited to run this race, as I had wanted to run it for awhile. The trail conditions there were dry, as there had been no rain in the area in some time. In fact, the weather was approaching the mid-eighties as race day approached, so I knew my time was going to be a little slower.

I had met a friend of mine from Idaho, and my wife and I had dinner at Olive Garden the night before with Jenny and one of her friends. It was a great dinner, with good conversation and good pasta. I was so ready to run...my excitement was building. I could barely sleep that night as I thought about the race.

The next morning, Jenny, her friend, and I, all loaded up and headed for McCallister Park. It is an interesting place, as you don't expect to see such a large acreage of trails, trees, cliffs, and wild country sitting in the middle of San Antonio, Texas. We received our race briefing, along with the discussion about leaving the Rattlesnakes alone if we saw any...which I had planned on anyway....common sense, right? As they said, "go," we all took off and entered the first part of the trail, which was a single track through low hanging tree branches and a dried, hard-packed ground. The 50k was held in conjunction with a 10 mile event, which they would run one time, but we would run 3 10.3 mile loops.

as we proceeded to the top of a dam, the wind hit me full in the face...it was so strong, I thought it was going to blow my bib right off my shirt. We headed into this 40 mph wind for about a mile before the trail went downhill into a nice Live Oak forest, where the wind was negligible. Soon after that, we found the hardest part of the trail...a cliff you could barely walk down..it was very steep and was better "climbed" than ran. The rest of the trail consisted of single track trails through Live Oaks, and then meandered behind some houses, out past some soccer fields, and then back into the woods for the final three or four miles. The hills were manageable, but I walked a few of them nonetheless.

I ran the first loop in a little over 2 hours, and was doing fine. I came around for the second loop a little slower, but at the 22 mile mark, I started getting cramps in my left hamstring. It tightened up on me, forcing me to slow down and walk more than I would have liked that last 10 mile loop. The heat was unbearable in some spots, but there was a nice cloud cover that kept it from getting out of hand.

I finished in 7 hours, and was a little disappointed in my time, as I wanted to break 6 hours, but the temperatures ensured a PR was not going to happen. All in all, it was a great trail run. I struggled the last 8 miles, but it made the run all the more memorable. Great race, good friends, and I celebrated with a Sam Adams beer and a nice t-bone steak!

El Scorcho Tres 50k

2009-04-28T08:53:00.000-07:00

My next race is the El Scorcho 50k race at Trinity Park in Fort Worth. I have wanted to run this race for the past two years, but was in Africa during the last one, and in Peru the year before. This summer I am running it for the first time. It is truly a unique race.

Description of the Race: it is held at midnight during the hottest time of the year, July 20th. The temperatures will be high, and the race will consist of 10 3.1 mile loops around Trinity Park, which includes a mix of crushed limestone, asphalt, the occasional concrete sidewalk, a couple of foot-bridges, and a basketball court. About half the course is lit at night by streetlamps, but according to the race directors, they never seem to work, so it will be dark, and the entire race will require a flashlight or headlamp to find your way.

Training: I have been training hard for this race, including running in the heat of the day as much as possible to acclimate to running in a high temperature environment. I have also been running on a loop course to get used to the repetitiveness of the course. I have been running hill repeats once a week, and including some long runs on saturdays, as well. As the race gets closer, I will run back-to-back long runs to prepare for the distance involved. I will bump my long run up to about 26 miles, with a 13 mile run the day before so I can get used to running on tired legs. We will also be running a practice run in the Running club to simulate night running conditions.

I love races that are unique, and El Scorcho seems to offer that, and I can't wait for it to get here.

updated racing schedule

2009-04-27T07:24:00.000-07:00

Well, the McNaughton 100 trail was was canceled and moved to Vermont, and I was going to move up my 100 mile race to February, but I think that is a bad move. I am going to stay with my plans to run the 50 mile race in February at Rocky Raccoon. I wanted to run all 50k's this year, and I think that is still a good plan. I want to improve my speed, my strength, and my endurance, as well as my hill running capabilities before taking on the 100 mile race.

So, in light of this fact, here is what I think will be the final schedule for me this year, finishing up with two races in 2010, the 60k as a warmup and training run at Bandera in January to get me ready for the Rocky Raccoon 50 miler in February.

March: Prickly Pear 50k (completed)
July: El Scorcho 50k
August: Dark Side Series, 60k
November: Louisiana Trails 50k
January, 2010: Bandera 50k
February, 2010: Rocky Raccoon 50 mile race.

While the 100 mile race is a goal, I will try and run a couple of 50 milers first. So, 2010 will be a year to run nothing but 50 milers.

Going for it!

2009-04-22T06:20:00.000-07:00

Ok, this blog is about to change in scope and intensity. I have finally decided to attempt the 100 mile trail race. That is not the most unusual scenario for me, as I have had that as a goal since I started running ultras. But after my first failed attempt at 50 miles (missed cutoff time at 37.5 miles), I was worried that I might not be capable of completing a 50 mile race, nevertheless, a distance twice that far.

However, I have set up a series of races that I will be running to help train myself for the 100 miler. I am running a series of 50k races, and another 50 mile race with no cutoff times, and will be using those races as confidence builders to train for the 100. Here is the racing schedule I have chosen to set myself up for the 100 mile race:

Prickly Pear 50k (March 6, 2009): completed @7 hours in the heat.
El Scorcho 50k (July 20th): Midnight run in the heat
Traverse Trails; Capt. Karl's Dark Side Series 60k (all run in the dark)
Louisiana Trails 50k (Shreveport, Louisiana) November 14th
Bandera 50k race, January 9th
Rocky Raccoon 50 mile race, Hunstville, Texas, February 6, 2010.
McNaughton 100 mile race; Pekin, Illinois, April 9, 2010

McNaughton Park 150/100 mile race

The McNaughton Park Trail Runs are firmly established as a premier ultra event ... the 2008 run had in excess of 200 entries from all over the United States and Europe.

"Easier than Barkley.Cooler than Badwater.Lower altitude than Leadville.Warmer than Yukon Artic Ultras."

Here is the description of the course from the website: "How about the view? One of our 2005 participants described it this way: “It’s one of the most scenic courses I know: Mostly singletrack, forest with some meadows, hills with beautiful valleys in between. Lots of flowers and wildlife. At dawn, when I came to the 3rd creek crossing, thousands of birds were singing, frogs were ‘talking’ everywhere, wild geese above me were chatting, and several Whitetail Deer crossing the trail.”

However, here is another quote from the website: "Do you think Illinois is all flat cornfields? Wise ultra-runners will get some serious hill training in before coming to McNaughton Park! We don’t have mountains in Illinois ... just a few rolling hills with elevator shaft downhills guaranteed to warm your quads on a chilly April evening. Here’s how one satisfied customer described the terrain: ‘I now know why Illinois is so flat. They took all the hills that are supposed to be there and put them ALL into one spot in Pekin, IL ... and called it ‘McNaughton Park’.”

I am not fooling myself into thinking that this course will be an easy one, but it will be scenic and challenging. However, from what I can tell, it shouldn't be any more difficult than Bandera out in the Texas Hill Country, so I am training for that environment...the hills and the rocks of Bandera should be good training for McNaughton.

On this blog, I will be continuously updating my training on a week by week basis on the way toward the McNaughton 100. I will report on the races I have scheduled, and my crazy emotional feelings as I go through this endeavor. Incidentally, my wife has given me the green light and has decided to even accompany me on this trip. Pretty cool.

Jerry

All Ultras all the time...

2009-04-21T10:25:00.000-07:00

This year, I am concentrating on running all ultras. I'm stepping up the intensity level of my running in general, with the idea of running a 100 mile race sometime early next year. I am gearing up to run a 100 mile race. I have already run the Prickly Pear 50k in March, but here's a list of the rest of the races I am going to complete this year:

2009

El Scorcho 50k--Fort Worth, Texas (July 20th)
Capt. Karl's Dark side Series 60k--Inks Lake State Park, Texas (August 29th)
Louisiana Trails 50k--Shreveport, Louisiana (November 14th)
Bandera 50k--Bandera, Texas (January 9th)

2010

Rocky Raccoon 50 mile race, Huntsville, Texas (Feb. 6th)
Grasslands 50 mile race, Decatur, Texas (March)
100 mile race (?)

Back to Blogging

2009-04-20T06:46:00.000-07:00

Well, it's been a while since I last wrote anything, and things have been going pretty well. My running is definitely such a big part of my life, now, with Ultra marathons becoming central to it all. Since my last blog, I attempted a 50 mile race, but missed the cutoff at 8:40 of running. I missed the cutoff by 10 lousy minutes. My feet were like hamburger, though, and since then, I have made some drastic improvements that I feel will help my long distance running. First, I finally got some trail shoes, along with some gaiters. At Sunmart, my feet were like hamburger, because of the dirt and the rocks that ended up in my shoes and even in my socks. I think that will help a great deal. I know the trail shoes have helped with my propensity to fall, as well, and that is a big deal.

Since my last posting, I have run several races for fun, like the San Angelo series trail run. But my favorite trail race has been the Prickly Pear 50k, which I ran in March. That was a blast, despite the heat and the humidity, and the dry conditions of the course, itself. I ran it in 7 hours, which is not that fast, but it was a great run and I enjoyed the company of others, the trails, and the weekend.

I am preparing now for El Scorcho 50k, which will be held in July 17th, at midnight. I am putting in some good hill training, tempo runs, and longer runs, which I am hoping will keep me at least competitive. Looking forward to that race, as well as others I have scheduled. So far, my schedule is as follows:

El Scorcho 50k in July
Louisiana Trails 50k in September
Rocky Racoon 50 mile race in February.

Looking foward to the training and the races!

Sunmart 50 fast approaching

2008-10-28T10:41:00.000-07:00

Well, I only have a few weeks of training left before my first 50 mile race...or should I say...run! I doubt I will be racing. I did have a great week of running this past week, though, culminating in a long, comfortable 23 mile run on saturday at Redbud. It was feeling pretty easy, and I am feeling better and better about my first attempt at 50 miles.

This weekend, David and I are going to run Steamboat Mountain again. It's an excellent workout, and we are going to run it, and then turn around and run it the other way...so it will be a 26 mile run with some pretty good hills!

Running the Mineral Wells Trailway

2008-10-16T07:21:00.000-07:00

This has been an interesting week of running. I started out on Monday wanting to run the trails and cross country course over at Sherrod Park at ACU, however, it had rained the night before, and I didn't want to run in the mud. So, I went to Redbud and ran an easy five miles. Tuesday, I went back to Sherrod Park and ran my hill circuit. It turns out to be a pretty tough run as I made a loop out of the Cross Country course, the trails there, and back out onto the pavement for a run down to Washington street, all the way to Highway 80 and back. It's about 6 miles of nothing but intermittent hills. Wednesday was a rest day.

Thursday was an interesting day, as I ran another 6 mile run down Industrial boulevard, all the way out past the airport and back to my home. Friday, I did a recovery run of four miles, just taking it easy.

Saturday, I got up at 5:00 a.m. and drove to Weatherford, Texas to run the Mineral Wells Trailway, a trail that used to be the railroad tracks from Weatherford to Mineral Wells. It's a 20 mile trail. I ran a 10-mile out and back, and the trail was beautiful and peaceful. I took a 20 oz. bottle of gatorade with me, and it started getting warm right about the midpoint in the run. I ran out of fluids around mile 13, which was not good. I made it back alright, but was thoroughy dehydrated when I was done.

It was a good week, leading up to the Palo Duro Canyon 20k this weekend. I'm looking forward to this run...it should be an adventure.

Heading for Palo Duro Trail Run

2008-10-07T08:04:00.000-07:00

Well, my running the last two weeks has been intense. I have been training mostly in the hills and trails around here. Trust me, if you look in the right places, there are some good training hills. I have made a nice training loop out near ACU. Sharrod Park has some trails...they are not very long, but really interesting to run through. I run the established cross country course that ACU uses, go through the trails, and then move out onto the streets like North 11th Street, I believe it is...which brings you to another pretty good hill or two. Then, if you go farther on, you can hit Washington Street which is also a good course for some hills. You can get about 10 miles of rolling hills that are fairly challanging if you do it just right.

Nothing can top Steamboat Mountain, though, and the run we all did out there a few weeks back was great. I have been going out to the State Park and running through those trails and hills, and then running down the highway toward Lake Abilene where there are a number of good hills that I combined with some long distance work. That whole area offers some nice surprises as far as training goes....if you don't mind the occasional "road kill" on the side of the highway.

This week, I will go out toward Coronado's Camp and run through the hills out there, including a 20 miler that should be pretty interesting. There are some tough hills, especially out there where all the windmills are sitting.

Another run David and I were talking about to get prepared for the 50 mile race in December at Sunmart, is to go out to Steamboat Mountain, and run the 13.2 mile course, and then turn around and run it the other way. I may actually attempt that before the Sunmart 50.

I have gotten hooked on running ultras, but am looking forward to the spring, where I am going to try to really "up my speed," by running some 5 and 10k's, as I would like to get my marathon time back down close enough to qualify for Boston.

The 10k at the Balloonfest was a really cool, well done race that I enjoyed. I was just using it as a speed workout, mostly, and wasn't prepared to enjoy it as much as I did. Next up for me, is the Palo Duro 20k Trail race in Canyon. I'm really looking forward to that. I have heard it is a tough run...but I love trails more than anything. AFter that, the Sunmart 50 is getting closer and closer. Only 9 weeks left! I'm doing a 20 miler this week, then after the Palo Duro run, I will be upping the mileage on the long runs...and will begin training on the trailways between Mineral Wells and Weatherford. It's a 20 mile trail, one way, which allows for some really long, trail runs, with no traffic, no dogs, and practically no people.

Pushing on with abandon! 11 more weeks till Sunmart 50 Mile race!

2008-09-24T18:50:00.000-07:00

These past two weeks have been incredible running experiences. One of the best workouts over these past two weeks was the Steamboat Mountain run. It was a great workout, and the hill was tough as nails, as usual, but I want to go back and train out there before my ultra...I think it would give me a great deal of confidence. Since that run, I have concentrated on one-mile repeats, and runs between 6 and 10 miles each over hills and trails, not counting the long runs of 12-14 miles.

I am running the Balloonfest 10k this weekend as a speed workout. Plus, it will be a nice change of pace to end the week with. Because next week, I start my real long workouts for the ultra. I am running the Palo Duro Canyon run in Amarillo in October as a prelude to the 50 mile race at Sunmart. But, my training starting monday will emphasize longer runs, hills, speed workouts (one mile and one-and-half-mile repeats) and back-to-back long runs on the weekends to teach myself to run on tired legs.

I am also thinking of adding in more weight lifting, and some power walking to my routine.

Hill workouts and the cyclists

2008-09-05T06:53:00.000-07:00

Well, yesterday, I celebrated my "back-into-the-swing-of-things" workout with a nice run at the State park. I decided to invent a combination workout. It consists of an hour run through a hilly section of the area, which includes a couple of fairly long hills right in the middle of the course. I ran for 15 minutes as a warmup and then ran 3 of those hill intervals, with a one minute rest in between. Afterward, I continued on with the rest of the run and headed for the trails to complete the one hour run. It was a great run that combined a steady run over a rolling hills course, hill intervals, and trail running that was a perfect training run for Palo Duro. I left there inspired and enthused again.

At one point, I was about to attack one of the hill intervals when a group of cyclists appeared over the hill and began to ascend the hill I was about to run up. I started out at least 50 yards behind them and caught them halfway up the hill, passed them and then outran them to the bottom of the hill. It was great watching them struggle up the hill as I passed them on foot. They must have thought I was insane!

I know that life is full of ups and downs, but I always feel better when I face it head on and conquer my worst enemy....me!

Marching toward the Ultra with Gusto

2008-09-04T10:47:00.000-07:00

Well, now that I have had my one break down, I am ready to get back into the swing of things. I took a day off and my attitude shifted back to my running mode. Running can definitely get tough when you are training hard. My body is fine, but I think ultra training is more mental than physical. I can handle the tough runs once I get out there, but sometimes, I have to make myself go. The temperature definitely has had something to do with my attitude, as well.

I am going to complete this 50 mile race if it's the last thing I ever do....and who knows...it might be! Ha....!

Getting burned out?

2008-09-03T06:42:00.000-07:00

I think maybe I am getting burned completely out on running. As much as I love it, I am thinking of quitting. I am so tired of fighting the weather, worrying if it is too hot, or too cold, or too windy...waking up sore every morning, thinking and planning the next run, or the next rest day, or worrying about missing a running day, or not completing the proper mileage that day and then feeling guilty. I am right in the middle of one of the most grueling races I have ever faced, and I'm not near enough ready for the 50 mile event! I am ready to throw in the towel, literally.

I am thinking that joining a good gym and just staying in good shape would make more sense. Why do I do this to myself?

After all the negative talk, though, I know I will rest today and come back tomorrow with a new attitude. When it gets right down to it, sometimes when it gets really tough, I tend to want to quit! That's how I felt this morning, just quit and be normal like everybody else.

Or...I could just cut down on all the super miles, and the plans to run 50 miles, and say to heck with it...just find some cute little 5k's and have fun with running, not taking it so seriously, but something inside me won't let me do that. I have to keep challenging myself. So, what happens when I finish the 50 mile race? Will I not be happy with that? Will I have to do a 100 mile race? Lord knows...I don't even know. But, somehow, I know that I will keep on going, and tomorrow, I will be out on the roads again!

Step back week, and the next big push toward Palo Duro Canyon race

2008-09-01T14:48:00.000-07:00

Last week was a step back week. I had an intense week as I have added my one-mile Intervals and hill workouts in...however, it was a step back week, so my long run was shorter, but I ended the week feeling strong and ready for the next big push. This week, I have begun running twice a day...I am entering into the next big 4-week push, which will see my long runs going up from 13-20 miles over the next successive weeks. I have about 6 weeks left before Palo Duro, and I need to get some serious hill workouts in, so thursday, I am going out to Buffalo Gap and run the "big hill."

Preparing for Palo Duro Canyon

2008-08-23T12:48:00.000-07:00

This week, I had another great running week. Monday, I did my usual 5 mile run in the morning, and then lifted weights in the afternoon. Tuesday, I did 6 miles in the morning. Wednesday was a rest day, and my first day back to work, so I rested my legs for the thursday, friday, and saturday workouts.

Thursday, I came back with another 5 mile run in the morning, and lifted weights in the afternoon, using supersets, which really work your endurance, as well as your strength. Friday, another 5 miles, and then saturday morning, I ran 11 miles.

Next week, I will incorporate hill training in the afternoon, as I prepare for my first trail run that will be held at Palo Duro Canyon. It's a 20k run through the canyon, and it will be a tough, tough run, but a good training run for the 50 mile race in December. Total miles this week, 32 miles, an increase of 2 miles over last week.

Training is going well, so far, and will start increasing miles gradually, with longer and longer training runs on saturday.

Quest for the 50 mile race

2008-08-12T09:48:00.000-07:00

This past week was a great start toward my 50 mile race at the Huntsville State Park, near Houston. I only logged in 27 miles for the week, but got lots of weight lifting and cross-training in there, as well.

Monday, I ran 4 miles in the morning, and lifted weights for upper body in the afternoon.

Tuesday, I did another 5 miles in the morning, and did lower body weight training in the afternoon.

Wednesday, I did cross training. I got in a great aerobic workout on the elliptical trainer for 25 minutes. It was a great, hard workout, and I rested as far as running goes. Seems like I should add in another 3 mile of running to my week after that...the elliptical was pretty intense!

Thursday, I came back and did another 5 miles at Redbud Park.

Friday, another 5 mile run in the afternoon, and did some walking in the afternoon.

Saturday, I was up at 6:00 a.m, and did an 8 mile run. It was a great run...I saw three deer and two jackrabbits as I ran down an old country road near my house.

Sunday is a day of rest. So, not a bad week of running and cross training. Next week will be an increase in mileage, especially on my long run.

A great start toward my march to the 50 mile race in December.

Training for the Sunmart 50 mile race

2008-08-03T20:16:00.000-07:00

Well, I am officially entered in the Sunmart 50, and I have booked my room in Houston. Now, I'm hooked in...too expensive to pull out, now. This is a great challenge, the biggest running challenge of my running career. The 50k was quite a challenge, but this is 19 miles farther. Some people are encouraging me in this adventure, but others just say I'm crazy...I am just looking forward to the challenge.

The running adventure in Africa was really good for me. I was running twice a day, and I could feel my enthusiasm for running returning. Now, I have added some strength work to my routine, and running more in the morning, which is good because of the heat. That makes the afternoon a great time to do weight training, or finish off some mileage on a treadmill.

I'm excited because Bob Kennedy is the speaker for the Sunmart race. He is a former Olympian, and I have heard he is an excellent speaker. I am also excited because the race is the World 50 mile championships, so there will be some major players there...and the course is an incredible tree-lined trail that I can't wait to run on. I love running trails, and this one is one of the most beautiful trails around.

The training is somewhat different, but not all that different from marathon training. I'm doing more strength training, and longer weekend runs...possibly in the neighborhood of 35 miles for my longest.

I am pumped up right now...let's hope it lasts....!

Jerry

Running in Africa...what a trip!

2008-07-29T10:35:00.000-07:00

Well, Africa certainly threw some surprises at me as far as my training there. I met a girl who is a cross country runner at Alma College, and she was running twice a day, so she convinced me to keep her company on this training style I haven't used since 1972. Of course, back then, I ran a 2:30 marathon, too, so maybe this will be good for me.

Of course, I am staying in the bush outside of Accra, Ghana, and it is humid, and the infrastructure of the area is very challenging. There are no paved roads, and the only roads are dirt, with huge ruts and bumps, so running here is like running trails, or cross country! Then, there is a little matter of the large goats that stand in the road looking at us, not to mention the chickens and the roosters that dart out from the side of the road at us as we trudge along in the 95% humidity, which saps me from the beginning.

But, it has been a challenge, one that I rose to the occasion on...and there are the locals who yell "obruni," (white people) as we run by. Sometimes children will come along and jump into our arms as we approach them. The children are such a joy, and they run along beside us for awhile, laughing at us, and giving us big hugs.

The orphans are not into running as I hoped they would be...they are more into soccer (go figure), but I donated the shoes and the shirts, and they were grateful, not to the running part, but to having shoes! To having clothes! Now, all they need is food.

Jerry

Last Post before Africa

2008-07-01T13:03:00.000-07:00

Well, here it is only a few days away from my African adventure. My running has been off and on. I was in Dallas and Fort Worth for the past several days, watching the Texas Rangers play the Phillies...spending some time with family before leaving. It was great. On the way back, I got to stop in Weatherford and run the "Mineral Wells Trailway," a twenty-mile trail in the woods that terminates in Mineral Wells. There are mileage markers every mile, and there are no cars allowed, and they can't even get on the trail, thankfully. Bikers like to ride the trail, though, but they are nice and just sailed right around me. I did a nice, smooth 6-mile run, and drove home to Abilene. It was humid, but cloudy, which made the run so much better.

I am convinced that the weather is just too hot to do any serious running. My hat goes off to all those people who can run in this heat and get any good training in. When I was younger, I preferred the heat, but these days, it is rough on my old body.

I did run today out in the heat, and it was kind of fun, but I slowed way down, and just took it easy.

I am looking forward to going to Africa...it will be humid there, and hot, so I just hope I can keep up my mileage while there, and I will return and begin to prepare for a brand new running season.

I have a 2:30 flight to Dallas (DFW), then I will spend the night at a hotel near the airport. Thankfully, they have a shuttle that will take me to the airport the next morning, as my plane leaves DFW at 7:50 a.m., and I will land in New York at 12:00. I will have another five hours at JFK, then my plane leaves for Accra, Ghana at 5:00, arriving at 8:00 the next morning. I have a bunch of books, so I will get a lot of reading done while waiting in airports and hotel rooms...not to mention that long flight across the Atlantic.

I am taking malaria prevention medication, which made me have some really weird dreams last night, so I hope it is worth it. I have a mosquito net, and will take my own can of mosquito repellant. I have been vaccinated untill I feel like a pin cushion, including a yellow fever shot, which is required for a visa. I actually already have a visa, so going through customs shouldn't be too bad.

I am excited, but I will miss everybody, and will look forward to getting back and starting a new year.

I will try and post while I am in Africa, and will take lots of pictures.

Jerry Hollingsworth

Taking a break

2008-06-20T08:07:00.000-07:00

Well, for runners to say they are going to take a break from running, that is like saying they are going to stop breathing for awhile. It has taken every ounce of energy I have not to go out and hit the roads and trails. But, I need this break, mentally and physically. I have been lifting weights every other day, and I am sore as I can be. I think I let my strength training lag, and now is a good time to build.

It's time to re-focus my running goals, and schedule my running adventures. I have several new adventures and running experiences planned for this year after my return from Africa:

(1) Palo Duro Canyon Trail run: I am running the Palo Duro trail run in early October. Can't wait for that. I have been wanting to run this event for three years, and it's finally going to happen. I am already signed up and have my hotel room booked.

(2) The MyoMed Ragnar 196-mile relay: I am hoping a team will make for this, as this will be an exciting adventure. I am excited about the possibilities. We need six more runners to make a team, it seems.

(3) The Sunmart 50 Mile: Huntsville, Texas. This will be my flagship race...the one that I shoot for that will underlie all my other running this year. I am already registered, and hotel is booked. This is a lifetime goal and achievement for me.

I may add some other runs to this schedule, but these are the ones I have already penciled in. I am refocusing my energies, my goals, and my training to have a great year.

Jerry

What a crazy week!

2008-06-06T18:29:00.000-07:00

Well, my Internet service has been down since I last posted, so I have not been able to report anything since Monday's trail run at the State Park. However, I have had a good week of running. I have not done as much speed work as I had planned, due to the winds...sometimes, you have to be inventive when living in this part of Texas. So, today, I did short high speed 30 second intervals on the treadmill. It worked out better than I thought it would. I ran a total of 4 miles, and I did 8 of those short intervals, all at top speed, resting for two minutes in between.

The rest of the week was pretty good, despite the wind. I am looking forward to a good 6-8 mile run on saturday morning, though, and hopefully, that will go smoothly, if I can get out of bed on time.

Hills, Trails, and the Deer

2008-06-02T13:39:00.000-07:00

Today, I woke up early, wanting to get a good run in since I abandoned my long run this past saturday. Mentally, I was not into it on Saturday, and ran a short distance before realizing I just didn't have it. I decided to rest saturday and sunday, and just take it easy, and it was great. I had a great re-bound this morning, and went to the State Park to run hills and trails. That place always lifts my spirits, especially when I see the deer standing in the road as I run by. I did a good 6 mile run in both directions, twice, incorporating the longer hills in each pass, so it was a great workout, and I feel much better.

Good run.

Tempo run

2008-05-29T21:19:00.000-07:00

Today, I decided to do that ever important tempo run, and it was great. I went farther than normal at my race pace, which was the goal. I need to do more of these, and increase as much as I can each week, but am now running out of time...I needed to be doing these several weeks ago, and did not do as many as I had planned.

I was hoping that running at altitude last week would help me....maybe it did....ha! The workout was great.

800's on the track

2008-05-28T07:51:00.000-07:00

After doing a mile warmup, I did several 800's at race pace. It was an interesting workout. My speed doesn't seem to be improving any, but I did these 800's easily enough. I think I need to do more tempo runs, as they may help my speed issues a little more. Right now, I am doing well just to complete my workouts as they come up. I am a little tired, and I want to run well in the Dr. Pepper 10k, but I am not improving on my speed, and it's been so hot, I have not had good workouts to speak of.

Maybe next year, I will not compete at all during the summer months, and just run early and keep some basic mileage up.

Running with the wind at Canyon De Shelley, Arizona

2008-05-25T22:15:00.000-07:00

Well, I finally returned from the Navajo Reservation, and I have to admit, it was one of the most inspirational trips of my life. It was full of good conversation, service work to the Navajos, a lot of great road trips, eating Navajo tacos, and just enjoying life. I got to do some real trail running for a change...not the San Angelo State park, or the short, and not very challenging trails out at Abilene State park. I was actually able to run at Canyon De Shelley, and with that, one of my dreams came true. I have always wanted to do that, but let me tell you, the trail we ran was intensive and one of the hardest runs I have ever done. The trail was mostly rock and hard packed gravel and some soft sand in places. To make it even more interesting, it started raining midway down, which made the rocks slippery. The friends I was running with were younger, stronger, and faster, but I stayed with them, even though I thought the pace was a dangerous one considering the conditions. However, the payoff was at the bottom of the canyon, and once we hit the bottom of the canyon, we came across an ancient Pueblo (Anasasi) ruin that was at least a thousand years old. We stopped and took some time to look, transfixed with what lay before us! Then, we had to run out of the canyon, and that was no easy chore, but it was exhilerating.

We also got to do a lot of hiking in such places at Mesa Verde, Colorado, and climbed rocks at Shiprock, New Mexico, and Chaco Canyon in New mexico. It was an unforgettable trip, and we finally arrived last night, and as we approached Sweetwater, we encountered the most intense rain storm I have ever driven through. What a way to end a trip!

Jerry

Heading to the Mountains

2008-05-16T18:18:00.000-07:00

Well, today is my last day in Abilene this week, so I wanted to get a good workout in. I went to Redbud and it was sort of cool, but humid. The clouds came up and there was a nice breeze. I got in a good 10-mile run, and was able to stop and hydrate every 2.5 miles. That helped a lot. I just kept a smooth easy pace, and it felt good to get a few miles in. I will be traveling all day tomorrow, going to Shiprock, New Mexico, and will soon be running in the mountains. Looking forward to it all.

Running with the Navajo

2008-05-14T11:24:00.001-07:00

Well, this has been an interesting week. I have concentrated on doing more speedwork, even in the heat, and all is well. I did some one-mile intervals the other day, and tomorrow, I am trying something new: 2-mile intervals. I will take a small rest break in between, but will run them at race pace, just like the one-mile intervals. It should be a tough, but good workout. Then, on friday, I plan on doing a ten mile run out at the state park, running the hills and trails in the early afternoon before heading to the Navajo Reservation. Saturday, I will head toward Shiprock, New Mexico and will spend the week out there working with the Navajo, and I will be taking 20 McMurry students with me, so it should be interesting. There are several other runners that will be going with us, so I should have some company to run in Navajo land....I am looking forward to that. It will be my easy week, or cut-back in mileage week, so I won't have to run that many miles, but it will all be at 5,000' and above, with lots of hills and mountains, and desert heat.

One-Mile Intervals

2008-05-12T16:53:00.000-07:00

Today, I wanted to keep up my speed work, so I decided to do some more One-Mile Intervals. Of course, every time I do speed work, the wind is blowing like crazy, so nothing has changed in that regard. However, I was determined to complete my workout, so I ran one mile as a warmup and continued running my intervals at race pace. It turned out to be a great workout, and I completed all my intervals with only a three minute recovery period in between each, and ended the workout with a nice one mile cool down.

It always feels good to do what you set out to do, but even better when it is succesful. Last time I attempted this workout, I quit in the middle of my workout...so it was good.

A Great Run

2008-05-09T19:13:00.000-07:00

Today, I was still a little sore from my strength and conditioning workout yesterday, and I decided to just go out and run and see how I felt. I started out with a nice pace and the farther I ran, the better I felt, so it was a nice workout, and pretty fast for running through all those hills out by my house. I guess my hill training is finally paying off.

It was nice to have a good workout and it felt great to run faster.

Cross Training Day

2008-05-08T18:34:00.000-07:00

Today was one of those days where I just wanted to do something different, so I ran a fast three miles on the treadmill and then switched to lifting weights. I did what I call a circuit training set, by running three miles, and then starting right in with bench presses, dumbell flyes, dumbell rows, dumbell presses, upright rows, triceps extensions, and dumbell curls...then finished the whole workout with crunches and stretches...all with no rest between sets. It's really a tough workout, even with light weights. Next time, I will do two sets, and that will be one tough workout for sure.

It is good for a change of pace.

A Terrible afternoon in the wind

2008-05-07T20:43:00.000-07:00

Well, I guess I have had too many good workouts in a row, so I was due a bad one. Actually, it wasn't too bad...I did a tempo run today, and I met my speed goal, but the wind was so bad, it took a lot out of me, and I finished a mile short of my mileage goal. However, I made up for it, I think by doing some fartlek at the end of my run, even though I stopped short of my mileage goal.

Sometimes, I get too caught up in mileage. I should just be satisfied that I met my pace goal for my tempo run, but I know I am really hard on myself at times. I pout inwardly when I don't complete my workout goals.

Plus, I have to attend graduation this weekend, and we start our first graduation at 10:00, so I will have to postpone my 15 mile run until sunday morning. I am also a stickler for my usual workout schedule. I have been doing long runs on saturdays every morning for quite a while, and I am becoming obsessive about it, I think.

Running in the Rain

2008-05-06T17:44:00.001-07:00

My monday run was my hills/trails workout day, so instead of going out to ACU, I ran out at the State Park. I like the long hills that are out there, as well as the "lack of crazed motorists" that sometimes like to do us all in. At any rate, the trails are a nice diversion from the roads and Redbud. I go back and forth in one route out there that takes in the roads and trails, and I charged up all the hills, and raced down the hills for striding and speed training.

It was also raining, and I loved the smell of the rain as it dampened the ground, the trees, and the plants. At one point, a deer was standing in the road looking at me, and she was so beautiful.

A great five mile run and a good speed workout.

Running with the Coyotes!

2008-05-04T17:21:00.000-07:00

Saturday morning was a very interesting run. At the University of Texas of the Permian Basin, the biological department has created a natural habitat for the animals that inhabit the prairie, and that includes such things as Burrowing Owls, Prairie Dogs, various birds, lizards, snakes, and of course, Coyotes.

At the entrance to the nature trail, there is a sign posted that says: "Coyotes in Area, Pets are at Risk." So, being a nature lover myself, I enjoy these challenges, and these opportunities to engage in a run with the animals.

It was a cool morning, windy, of course, but otherwise a good day for a long run. I sat out about 6:00 in the morning, and got to see the sun rise over the city of Odessa. There is a trail that loops around the University and measures about 3 miles all together, but there is a trail that goes right down the middle of the habitat.

I was on mile 14 of a 15 mile run, and I zipped down that trail through a Mesquite tree forest, basically. They were pretty good sized trees. Suddenly, I look up and there is the biggest Coyote I have ever seen, sitting on the trail right in front of me. I decided to keep running, and about the time I got fairly close, he turned and ran off into the mesquite trees. It didn't really scare me, as I knew that Coyotes would not really attack humans, but I guess you never know. As someone pointed out, I was on his turf, and you never know how they will react if frightened, or God forbid, rabid!

It was a nice adventure, though, and I did see other animals out there. The Prairie Dogs were huge, and made all kinds of noises as I sauntered on by. There were rabbits everywhere that sat on the edges of the trail, watching me run by.

All in all, it was a cool run. It was nice for a change of pace, as well. Odessa is certainly not my favorite place to be, but while there, I got vaccinated for tetanus, yellow fever, and hepatitis for my trip to Africa. So, it was productive, and as a runner, I am always looking for a cool place to run, and this was a cool one!

Jerry

Wind, heat, and Speed Work

2008-05-02T07:00:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was hot, (90 degrees),and windy, (20-25 mph), and looming ahead of me was my second weekly speed workout. I was wondering if I would have time to get out there, as I had a late meeting with a student, and was pushing it timewise before having to pick up my better half from work.

I quickly changed clothes and ran a mile for a warmup, although sometimes it seems better not to warm up too much on a hot day, but when I got out there at Redbud, I saw the clouds coming up, and the breeze was fairly nice, even if it was blowing too hard. So, I began my 800 meter intervals, and felt so strong that I was way under my planned pace on all of my splits. I was, of course, 10-14 seconds slower going against the wind, as I was going the other direction. The stiff breeze did come up and keep me cooler than I realized, and the workout was a great success. I did a one mile cool down and sprinted for the car and arrived about 10 minutes early to pick up Beth. I was pleased with the workout, and I think I am getting faster, which is key this training period.

Today, I am going to do some light work on the treadmill, and lift weights for upper body. I am leaving this afternoon for Odessa to get a Yellow Fever vaccination for my Visa to Africa, so I will spend the night there and run on the trails outside of town. It is a great place to run long runs...I will do a 14 mile run in the morning. The last time I ran that trail, I saw about 5 Coyotes running along the path I was on. They didn't bother me, and I certainly didn't try to bother them, but it was an interesting experience. Hopefully, I will have a great long run in the morning.

Jerry

Going with the Ultra

2008-04-30T06:09:00.000-07:00

After much review and introspection, I have decided to keep training for ultras. I am definitely going to run the Sunmart 50 mile race in Huntsville, Texas in December. My plan is to mix ultras, trails, and road races. After all, this is 2008 and, as runners, we can have it all these days.

Right now, the plan is to race ultras in the winter, trails in the spring, and 10k's and half-marathons in the spring and summer. The 10k's will allow me to keep up my speed, as well, and I will be able to mix a variety of training elements into my schedule...extra long runs in the winter for endurance, and speedwork in the spring.

So, right now, I am definitely training for the Dublin 10k. I like that race, although it is always hot there, and I had a horrible time there last year. I didn't prepare very well, and plan to make up for that this year!

This year, I am training in the heat of the day to prepare for the hot conditions there; I'm doing more speed training, mixed with longer runs on saturdays, and incorporating more hills into my workouts.

Jerry

Jerry

Trail running or Road Running...that is the question!!!

2008-04-28T10:14:00.000-07:00

I am at a serious crossroads in my running career. I am trying to decide what my real goals are as a runner. I have been running road races for a good long time, and have recently branched out into trail running and ultras. I just don't feel as excited about running road marathons, or other races since I have tried trail running.

There is something exciting about being out on the trail, immersed in the mountains, or the trees, running on dirt, and jumping over roots, rocks, and snowdrifts. Recently, while in Santa Fe, New Mexico, I ran a trail that led 8,500 feet into the mountains that surrounded Santa Fe. Once I got to the top of the trail, I could see Santa Fe, and way beyond. The feeling left me breathless, and that was just a training run.

I have also recently experienced running my first ultra. I ran a 50k, and really felt the same excitement. It enhanced my training, and kept my running life exciting and challenging. On one hand, I felt at ease to just take off and run...no real time lurking out there, or a certain pace, just the freedom of running. On the other hand, I knew my training had to be on another level, or I would never be able to finish the race, and I didn't want to DNF.

Just thinking about running my next trail fills me with youthful enthusiasm, and I have given much thought to running the Sunmart 50 mile race in December. The challenge of training for a 50 mile race is exciting, and it fills me with a new purpose, a whole new level of training beyond where I have ever been.

I have been weighing this decision against running the Dallas White Rock Marathon this year, but the more I think about it, the less exciting the road marathon seems to be.

Am I crazy, or does it seem like I am really leaning toward running the sunmart 50 mile race?

After I return from Africa, I will only have 4 months left to train for the 50 miler. That's a little less time than I would have liked, but it should be sufficient. If I can keep my mileage up in Africa, I think I could use the next four months to get ready for a 50 mile race.

Meanwhile, I am training for a 10k race in Dublin...and I don't think I would leave road racing behind forever, but right now.......?

Jerry

A saturday run in the dark

2008-04-26T18:50:00.000-07:00

I wanted to do a nice, easy 13 mile run this morning, but didn't feel like doing the usual routes. So, yesterday, I measured off a new course near my home and was really looking forward to doing something different. I strapped my running belt on, took 8 ounces of gatorade, and 8 ounces of water, clipped them to my running belt and took off at 5:00 this morning.

I started off down Oldham Lane and ran north toward the loop, and on to South 11th street. But, let me tell you, I wouldn't suggest doing it the way I did. It was pitch dark, and there are no street lights until you start getting closer to S. 11th area. There are stretches of road there that are so dark, you can't see your hand in front of your face. At one point, just past that 7-11 store, I saw something large and black go running across the road just in front of me. I am guessing it was a dog on his way home from an all night outing. If it wasn't a dog, I don't want to know what it was!

I came back the same way and then turned East down Industrial boulevard and ran out toward the airport, but by then, the sun was starting to come up. I saw a ton of rabbits as they skitted out in front of me, a crane that came flying up over the creek down by the golf course, and a couple of armadillos that took their time crossing the road.

At one point, I came around the airport and saw an ambulance racing down one of the runways, and then a firetruck. I was hoping that there was not a plane that was going to crash land somewhere out there.

I finally made my turn and came back down Industrial, back to my quiet little street, glad that I had done my run, and I was filled with that little satisfied feeling we all get when we complete what we set out to do.

I got inside the house, made a stack of pancakes and gave into the wagging tails of my dogs, (yes, I gave them a pancake, too!), and sank into my chair, happy to be a runner!

Jerry

Running "Out of Africa"

2008-04-22T08:56:00.000-07:00

As a sociologist, and social worker, I have worked in some interesting places. Two years ago, I lived and worked in Peru, cataloguing life for children living in Shantytowns. Shantytowns are urban slums, created by homeless people, and made from almost anything that can be scavenged from the environment.

Living and working in Peru gave me the opportunity to run in the Andes Mountains. It was one of the most incredible experiences of my life. I will never forget the sunrises from Cusco, Peru, and the sight of Macchu Pichu in the morning sunlight. Running in Peru was an unforgettable experience.

This summer, I am going to Ghana, in Sub-Saharan West Africa. For one month, I will be working at the Mercy Orphanage, in Accra. This orphanage exists because the AIDS epidemic has claimed the children's parents. I will be there studying their cognitive and social development. I will also get to visit Bonsaasa, a Millenium Village inside Ghana. The United Nations has developed a program to assist this rural, poverty-stricken village with the goal of eradicating poverty there. I will be observing the children of the village, and the schools, which have been granted their first school lunch programs. It should be interesting.

However, one of the projects I will be working on, is starting a running program for the children of the orphanage. This is a project that I hope will live on well after I leave Africa, and I am hoping that teaching these children to run, will influence their lives and give them some direction, as well as helping them to gain valuable self-esteem and help them develop goals in life.

It will be an amazing experience, and one that will allow me to run through Africa, another of my own passions. I will also blog those experiences through this website, so that others can see how the program goes.

Ultra Marathon in Fort Worth (Cowtown 50k)

2008-04-22T07:56:00.000-07:00

My first ultra (50k) was a success. I wasn't too sure about what pace to keep, so I ran very conservatively, which turned out well. I just took my time and ran for fun. The course was fantastic, and the volunteers were great. At mile 23, we veered off the marathon course and ran through a set of trails at Trinity Park, and that was great. The change of pace was good, and I really enjoyed the run down by the river.

I began to hurt around mile 27, and my thighs were hurting. My feet at mile 28 felt like they were on fire, and the hills began to make their presence known, especially between mile 28 and 29 as we were coming back into Fort Worth.

At mile 30, a Highway Patrolman was stopping traffic for the finish of the marathon, and he was trying to be jovial. He said, "only a mile to go, now...you have it made." If only he knew. That last mile felt like it was three or four miles away.

What made my day, though, was when I got close to the finish line, and my son and his friends were standing there cheering me on. It felt great, and crossing the finish line was a great joy. I knew I had accomplished my goal, and 6 months of hard training was not in vain.

It was a great event, and I think I will consider running more ultras in the future. Perhaps the Sunmart 50 mile run will be my next ultra. We will see.

Jerry

Ultra Marathons

2008-02-07T09:26:00.000-08:00

I have been wanting to run an ultra for quite a while, so 6 months ago, I decided to train for a 50k race that was being held in Fort Worth, Texas, as part of the Cowtown Marathon. I began a six month training program, averaging 40-50 miles per week. I have always been curious as to what it takes in order to complete an ultra. So, this has been an experiment of sorts. I have run marathons before, but never beyond, so it is going to be an interesting adventure. The race is being held on February 23, 2008. I am now in my final tapering phase. I have survived thus far, and have made the following observations:

(1) Training for a 50k (31 miles) is not too unlike training for a 26 mile marathon.

(2) It was more mental than physical. Toward the end of my training program, I lost my motivation and focus, and almost quit running altogether. I attributed this to needing a few more rest days in my schedule. I took a couple of days off and my enthusiam returned.

(3) I feel good. I feel tired, and am in need of much rest before the big day, so I am hoping the taper will eliminate these aches and pains I have accumulated during my training period.

(4) I believe that I can finish!

(5) Finally...I can say for sure, that a 50 mile ultra would take much more effort, more training time, higher mileage, and a whole lot of mental grit.

This has been an interesting experience, and I am hoping to finish under six hours. That is my goal. However, I will be satisfied just to finish!

Jerry Hollingsworth