Big news

Well, I've decided to make a change. I don't know if it will be a permanent one, and I don't know if I'll be successful, but I feel the need for a new challenge. I've created a new blog to chronicle my new endeavor; you can read about it here. I'll be making all new posts to that blog, so if you are interested please subscribe to the feed there. Thanks to everyone who's read my posts and offered support and encouragement.

Brief Race Report: FANS 17 Hour

Wait, 17 hour? Wasn't this a 24 hour race? Umm, yeah, it was supposed to be.

FANS was a Centurion race and has a walking division, so I was excited about this race. I was on track for first place and 105 miles (and a course record) when the wheels came off on lap 30 (about 12:30 am). I just lost all energy (and will) and slept in my car for a while, then decided I couldn't go on (I was chilled and had no energy at all). So I went to get some food and went to the hotel to sleep.

I was disappointed, but at the same time this is the second longest I've ever gone in my ultra career, and up to the point where I crashed I held a good pace (13:40 average). I was leading the entire race and was two laps ahead of the second place walker.

I reached 50 miles in 10:52:22, and I reached 100k in 13:50:38. If I had been registered in the 12 hour I would have won and I would have set a course record. If I had been racing in a 50 miler or 100k I would have been very happy. Unfortunately it was a 24 hour race, so I'm a little bummed. Oh well, nothing I can do about it now but figure out what to do next. Not sure what that will be, but once I recover physically and mentally I put together a plan for something.

This is a great race if you are looking for a fixed time event. Here are a bunch of pictures of the race from Julie Berg's blog:

http://julieberg.blogspot.com/

My only suggestion to improve the race would be to have a greater variety of food, and to have more hot food available at night. Other than that, a very well run and well supported race with a lot of great "crowd support" from the crews and families of other racers, plus the timers and event volunteers.

I'll post more later, and I'd like to mention the great performances by other walkers. But I've got to get to work and then fly out later today for a business trip, so my lengthier report will have to wait.

It's time to do it

Well, I leave for FANS in four hours. Up to Minneapolis and the pre-race pasta dinner, then hopefully a good night's sleep before the race starts at 8:00 AM tomorrow morning. My hotel is less than 15 minutes from the race, and I've found a Starbucks within a two minute drive of the hotel, so all the key logistics have been worked out.

It took me a while to pack all my gear. I have a full suitcase and a half full backpack. The scary thing is that the only "street" clothes in there are a T-shirt, socks and underwear; everything else is race gear. Here is what I remember packing:

• 2 short sleeve shirts
• 1 long sleeve shirt
• 1 sleeveless shirt
• 2 pairs of shorts
• 2 hats
• 2 bandanas
• 3 sweat bands
• 4 pairs of socks
• 3 water bottles
• 2 bottle packs (one single bottle pack, one double bottle pack)
• my usual medical kit (band aids, foot repair, sunscreen, bodyglide, extra shoe laces and zip ties and safety pins)
• sunglasses
• flashlight and headlamp (part of the course is not well lit at night)
• lightweight shell in case I get chilled at night
• 2 pairs of shoes

I think that is everything, but I'm probably leaving something out. Right now there is a chance of rain with temperatures in the 60s and 70s. Hopefully we won't get the rain, but the overcast weather would be wonderful. The worst thing would be lightning because they will suspend the race (for our safety - I won't argue with that) but any time that elapses during the suspension will be lost. So that could kill my 100 mile hopes. But I'm thinking positively right now. A little rain won't bother me, just keep the lightning away.

I'll post results as soon as I can. I'm out of here!