Donald Buraglio and Michael Dove's Blog, page 9
May 7, 2012
CLIF Bar "Gary's Panforte" 20th Anniversary Giveaway!
Considering
that the CLIF Bar company stepped up so significantly to aid my ultrarunning
exploits last year, I guess it shouldn't have surprised me too much when an
unexpected box arrived on my doorstep a few weekends ago.
What surprised
me, however, was the goodies inside - because they were something I had never
seen before:
I was fortunate
enough to receive a pre-release sampling of a special bar to commemorate CLIF
Bar's 20th anniversary. It's now
available in limited quantities, similar to what the company does with its
holiday flavors - in other words, once they're gone, they're gone. But a few lucky readers will get a chance to
try them without having to search; that's right, we're doing a giveaway!
(Also, I'm
including a little bit of CLIF trail running mojo for everybody at the end of
the post - that way, everybody wins a little.
I aim to please.)
The anniversary
bar is called Gary's Panforte, and harkens back to the days of the company's
origins. Or, as founder Gary Erickson explains
on the wrapper: It was cycling that ultimately led me to create CLIF Bar. Now, it's 20 years later and I'd like to
share with you a wonderful new limited edition CLIF Bar inspired by my earliest
cycling adventure up and over the Passo di Govia in Northern Italy.
Apparently on
one of Erickson's early cycling treks through the Italian Alps, some locals
introduced him to an old-world dessert called panforte, which is primarily made
from fruit and nuts. Fast forward 20 years, and Erickson challenged his chefs
to recreate the taste in CLIF format - which doesn't just mean bar shaped, but has
to consist of only organic and all-natural ingredients - to recreate the treat he enjoyed back in the
old days.
The resulting 260-calorie
bar resembles a fruitcake in both appearance and taste - which makes sense, I
guess, seeing as how the most literal translation of the Italian word panforte is
"fruitcake." The nuts and
fruit are chunky and prominent, and there's an essence of cloves and ginger
that, in our family at least, triggered thoughts of the holidays as much as the
Alps. As my youngest daughter described
it, "They taste like Christmas."
That can't be such a bad thing,
right?
However, unlike
a holiday fruitcake, these bars won't be regifted too often. My family's supply vanished
quickly, and I anticipate you'll want to keep yours for yourself, too. The bars are available in stores now until
supplies are gone - and who knows, it might be another 20 years before we see
them again. I hope not, because they're
a truly distinctive taste among energy bars, and a very cool tribute to the
spirit of adventure that the CLIF company was founded on.
With that,
let's get to the giveaway: three winners selected randomly from the comments
section below will receive the exact same 4-pack sampler of Gary's Panforte
that I tested. One entry per reader, and
the winners will be announced this Saturday night, May 12. Obviously a very special thanks go to the
CLIF Bar company for including us in their anniversary celebration.
*
As for your ultra
mojo: the latest installment of CLIF's "Stories From Team CLIF Bar"
features Scott Jurek, the Tarahumaras of the Copper Canyons, and interview footage
of the late Caballo Blanco. If there's a
video out there that better captures the true spirit of ultrarunning, I haven't
seen it.
"Stories
From Team CLIF Bar: Scott Jurek" (click to play):
*Products
provided by CLIF Bar and Company
**If you have a
product you'd like reviewed, contact me at info@runningandrambling.com.
Get updates as soon as they're posted! Click here to subscribe to Running and Rambling.
Check out the Running Life book for a collection of our most popular columns.
May 5, 2012
Random Shots of Beauty
A shot from the Marin Headlands, as seen at mile 41 of today's Miwok 100K:
(Click to enlarge)
Good golly, was Miwok epic this year. Even epicer than usual. Yes, I just made that word up - trust me, it's appropriate.
Full race report to come later this week, I hope.
Get updates as soon as they're posted! Click here to subscribe to Running and Rambling.
Check out the Running Life book for a collection of our most popular columns.
(Click to enlarge)
Good golly, was Miwok epic this year. Even epicer than usual. Yes, I just made that word up - trust me, it's appropriate.
Full race report to come later this week, I hope.
Get updates as soon as they're posted! Click here to subscribe to Running and Rambling.
Check out the Running Life book for a collection of our most popular columns.
May 3, 2012
A Wish Come True*
*Or, Why It's Great to Be Friends With Elves.
One of the strangest things about being on Team Soft Star is
this: I have to be careful what I write, because I never know when an elf may
be reading.
I'm reminded of this every now and then when an unexpected
package shows up on my doorstep, as happened again this week. But before I explain what was in it, here's a
quick back story:
A few weeks ago when I posted my Luna Leadville sandal review, I posted this picture:
And included this comment: The
outsole features one of the most aggressive tread patterns I've seen on
minimalist footwear - I wish my RunAmocs used this.
This week, a new pair of RunAmocs
arrived at my house - but they weren't the customary trail models I'm
accustomed to. When I looked closely,
there was something about the outsole that seemed vaguely familiar ...
RunAmoc on top, Leadville on bottom
... because it's the exact
same Vibram tread used on the Luna Leadvilles!
Inside the box, there was a note from the Soft Star Elves that included
the following:
This is a test pair to see
how you like the Vibram Newflex. You wrote
on your Luna Sandal review that you wished your RunAmocs used this - your wish
is our command!
I mean ... how cool is
that? I have Elves who tend to my every
wish. Remember when I said I'd rather be
sponsored by Soft Star than Montrail or The North Face? I was 100% serious about that.
What's more, from a
minimalist standpoint the Soft Star version of this particular outsole is even
better than the one I tested on my Luna Sandals, because it's significantly
thinner. Soft Star's Newflex outsole is
5mm thick, which is the same as their standard RunAmoc trail outsole, but half
as thick as the Luna Leadville. The Elves
not only answered my wish - they actually managed to improve it.
To be truthful, this wasn't exactly
a magic wand situation, as Soft Star has been considering alternate tread
patterns to their trail running outsoles for a little while now, and this
particular pattern was one they happened to have in the workshop at the time I
wrote about it. The timing works
perfectly, because I have sort of a big run scheduled for this Saturday. I'll give the outsoles a pretty good beating
there, and provide updates as to their availability as a RunAmoc option if that
becomes a reality at some point.
And finally, just to dispel
any absurd notions, one more note on this weekend's race: there's absolutely ZERO chance that Team Soft Star is going to win. I'm back to my ordinary self this time around
- running just to make myself happy, and hopefully to make the Elves proud.
Get updates as soon as they're posted! Click here to subscribe to Running and Rambling.
Check out the Running Life book for a collection of our most popular columns.
One of the strangest things about being on Team Soft Star is
this: I have to be careful what I write, because I never know when an elf may
be reading.
I'm reminded of this every now and then when an unexpected
package shows up on my doorstep, as happened again this week. But before I explain what was in it, here's a
quick back story:
A few weeks ago when I posted my Luna Leadville sandal review, I posted this picture:
And included this comment: The
outsole features one of the most aggressive tread patterns I've seen on
minimalist footwear - I wish my RunAmocs used this.
This week, a new pair of RunAmocs
arrived at my house - but they weren't the customary trail models I'm
accustomed to. When I looked closely,
there was something about the outsole that seemed vaguely familiar ...
RunAmoc on top, Leadville on bottom
... because it's the exact
same Vibram tread used on the Luna Leadvilles!
Inside the box, there was a note from the Soft Star Elves that included
the following:
This is a test pair to see
how you like the Vibram Newflex. You wrote
on your Luna Sandal review that you wished your RunAmocs used this - your wish
is our command!
I mean ... how cool is
that? I have Elves who tend to my every
wish. Remember when I said I'd rather be
sponsored by Soft Star than Montrail or The North Face? I was 100% serious about that.
What's more, from a
minimalist standpoint the Soft Star version of this particular outsole is even
better than the one I tested on my Luna Sandals, because it's significantly
thinner. Soft Star's Newflex outsole is
5mm thick, which is the same as their standard RunAmoc trail outsole, but half
as thick as the Luna Leadville. The Elves
not only answered my wish - they actually managed to improve it.
To be truthful, this wasn't exactly
a magic wand situation, as Soft Star has been considering alternate tread
patterns to their trail running outsoles for a little while now, and this
particular pattern was one they happened to have in the workshop at the time I
wrote about it. The timing works
perfectly, because I have sort of a big run scheduled for this Saturday. I'll give the outsoles a pretty good beating
there, and provide updates as to their availability as a RunAmoc option if that
becomes a reality at some point.
And finally, just to dispel
any absurd notions, one more note on this weekend's race: there's absolutely ZERO chance that Team Soft Star is going to win. I'm back to my ordinary self this time around
- running just to make myself happy, and hopefully to make the Elves proud.
Get updates as soon as they're posted! Click here to subscribe to Running and Rambling.
Check out the Running Life book for a collection of our most popular columns.
May 1, 2012
Sanuk Hemp Shoe Review
"Herb the gift from the earth -
And what's from the earth is of the
greatest worth -
So before you knock it try it first -
You'll see it's a blessing and it's
not a curse
If you don't like my fire then don't come around -
'Cause I'm gonna burn one down -
Yes I'm gonna burn one down."
-
Ben Harper, "Burn One Down" (video after post)
Before
I carved this little niche for myself in minimalist footwear, I dabbled in
reviewing footwear that was environmentally friendly. Today's product is something of a hybrid of
those two genres, featuring a shoe that offers many biomechanical benefits of natural
footwear, while using eco-friendly material for its upper construction.
Sanuk Hemp shoe
The
only downside is that the material in question isn't exactly legal to grow in
the United States - although that's a larger discussion for another time (but
if you want a synopsis, I'll have a short discussion here momentarily.) However, when you have a finished product
like Sanuk's Hemp shoe, it's tough to see a rational objection to using hemp
for industrial purposes. If you think of
the plant as a gift from the Earth, think of the Hemp shoe as a gift to your
feet, providing a great combination of high comfort and high fashion - and like
the plant, it's well-suited for a variety of uses.
Here's
the quick rundown of using hemp, a low-THC (the stuff that gets you high) strain
of the notorious Cannabis plant that is among the earliest farmed plants known
to man: It's one of the fastest-growing crops in the world, and can be used for
food, fuel, paper products, textiles, furnishings, and multiple other applications. It requires almost no pesticides or herbicides to thrive, and is responsibly farmed in multiple countries around the world.
It
also comprises the entire upper of Sanuk's Hemp shoe, a 100% vegan option that is
probably one of the most versatile styles in the company's lineup. The shoe is nice looking enough to wear in a
casual work or social setting, but it's got enough of a laid-back vibe -
especially thanks to the frayed edge seam detail - to fit right in with a tank
top and cutoff shorts.
Wearing
them sockless is no problem, thanks to a liner made in the classic beach poncho
style. Between the liner and the soft
molded EVA midsole, your feet have mellow comfort no matter what environment
you use them in.
In
previous Sanuk reviews I've described the construction specs that make their
footwear fairly friendly for barefoot or natural shoe fans. They're not perfect - primarily because at
15mm they're a little too high off the ground ...
...
but there's no question that your feet maintain full flexibility and natural
biomechanics when wearing the Hemp shoe. You can roll it ... you just can't smoke it.
Another
recurring construction point with Sanuk shoes is the outsoles, which provide
very little traction at all. On the Hemp
shoe, the regular Happy U pattern is overlain with a sheer, very thin fabric of
some sort, which actually makes them even less grippy. I'm not sure what Sanuk is doing here, but
it's the one clear drawback of the company's shoes.
Otherwise,
the Hemp is a crazy-comfortable, highly versatile sidewalk sandal that
demonstrates an effective and responsible use of the plant in question - even
if the DEA won't hear of it. Sanuk's
Hemp shoe retails for $50 from Amazon.com.
*
Quite
fitting with a simple and remarkably effective plant is this Ben Harper gem,
featuring one of the simplest and most remarkably effective riffs in his entire
catalog.
Ben
Harper, "Burn One Down" (click to play):
*Product
provided by Sanuk. Affiliate sales support Running and Rambling.
**If
you have a product you'd like reviewed, contact me at
info@runningandrambling.com.
Get updates as soon as they're posted! Click here to subscribe to Running and Rambling.
Check out the Running Life book for a collection of our most popular columns.
And what's from the earth is of the
greatest worth -
So before you knock it try it first -
You'll see it's a blessing and it's
not a curse
If you don't like my fire then don't come around -
'Cause I'm gonna burn one down -
Yes I'm gonna burn one down."
-
Ben Harper, "Burn One Down" (video after post)
Before
I carved this little niche for myself in minimalist footwear, I dabbled in
reviewing footwear that was environmentally friendly. Today's product is something of a hybrid of
those two genres, featuring a shoe that offers many biomechanical benefits of natural
footwear, while using eco-friendly material for its upper construction.
Sanuk Hemp shoe
The
only downside is that the material in question isn't exactly legal to grow in
the United States - although that's a larger discussion for another time (but
if you want a synopsis, I'll have a short discussion here momentarily.) However, when you have a finished product
like Sanuk's Hemp shoe, it's tough to see a rational objection to using hemp
for industrial purposes. If you think of
the plant as a gift from the Earth, think of the Hemp shoe as a gift to your
feet, providing a great combination of high comfort and high fashion - and like
the plant, it's well-suited for a variety of uses.
Here's
the quick rundown of using hemp, a low-THC (the stuff that gets you high) strain
of the notorious Cannabis plant that is among the earliest farmed plants known
to man: It's one of the fastest-growing crops in the world, and can be used for
food, fuel, paper products, textiles, furnishings, and multiple other applications. It requires almost no pesticides or herbicides to thrive, and is responsibly farmed in multiple countries around the world.
It
also comprises the entire upper of Sanuk's Hemp shoe, a 100% vegan option that is
probably one of the most versatile styles in the company's lineup. The shoe is nice looking enough to wear in a
casual work or social setting, but it's got enough of a laid-back vibe -
especially thanks to the frayed edge seam detail - to fit right in with a tank
top and cutoff shorts.
Wearing
them sockless is no problem, thanks to a liner made in the classic beach poncho
style. Between the liner and the soft
molded EVA midsole, your feet have mellow comfort no matter what environment
you use them in.
In
previous Sanuk reviews I've described the construction specs that make their
footwear fairly friendly for barefoot or natural shoe fans. They're not perfect - primarily because at
15mm they're a little too high off the ground ...
...
but there's no question that your feet maintain full flexibility and natural
biomechanics when wearing the Hemp shoe. You can roll it ... you just can't smoke it.
Another
recurring construction point with Sanuk shoes is the outsoles, which provide
very little traction at all. On the Hemp
shoe, the regular Happy U pattern is overlain with a sheer, very thin fabric of
some sort, which actually makes them even less grippy. I'm not sure what Sanuk is doing here, but
it's the one clear drawback of the company's shoes.
Otherwise,
the Hemp is a crazy-comfortable, highly versatile sidewalk sandal that
demonstrates an effective and responsible use of the plant in question - even
if the DEA won't hear of it. Sanuk's
Hemp shoe retails for $50 from Amazon.com.
*
Quite
fitting with a simple and remarkably effective plant is this Ben Harper gem,
featuring one of the simplest and most remarkably effective riffs in his entire
catalog.
Ben
Harper, "Burn One Down" (click to play):
*Product
provided by Sanuk. Affiliate sales support Running and Rambling.
**If
you have a product you'd like reviewed, contact me at
info@runningandrambling.com.
Get updates as soon as they're posted! Click here to subscribe to Running and Rambling.
Check out the Running Life book for a collection of our most popular columns.
April 28, 2012
Spirit of Big Sur; Random Shots of Beauty
Going back to the old days for this weekend's topic, in honor of Big Sur Marathon weekend on the Monterey Peninsula this Sunday. Big Sur used to be the end-all, be-all race for me ... but then triathlons and ultramarathons came along, and nowadays it seems like just another race.
However, it doesn't take much for me to recall just how amazing the race experience can be, and just how incomparable the Big Sur coastline is as a backdrop for a race. It was these kind of recollections that formed the topic of our Monterey Herald column this week, which follows below.
And we may as well stick with the theme for our Random Shot of Beauty:
Bixby Bridge at mile 13 of the Big Sur Marathon course, as photographed for my 2009 race report.
To anyone who is running this Sunday: be sure to savor the experience, because it's truly one of the best you'll ever have. And to anyone who hasn't run Big Sur yet: be sure to put it on your list someday. You can thank me later.
**
Running
Life 04/28/12 “Spirit
of Big Sur”
Can a
race be a religious experience? The question often comes up when we
talk to Big Sur neophytes, because we're reminded of the awe and wonder of the
marathon experience through unfamiliar eyes.
We often
have opportunities to support friends who have taken on the challenge of
running the Big Sur Marathon. This year a relatively talented newcomer
named John has joined us for several training runs, and has been
enthusiastically following our advice.
After
John’s last long training run he invited us to his house for a beer, and
started asking questions about his taper. (Which should have started with,
"Why are we drinking beer?") When Mike headed to the
refrigerator for another Anchor Steam, he noticed large “John 3:16” signs
displayed prominently on the door.
When Mike
returned he commented, “I didn’t know you were religious.”
John
replied, “I’m not particularly religious - why do you ask?”
Mike
said, “Because you have John 3:16 signs on the fridge.”
John
remarked, “Oh, that’s funny - I didn’t even think of that. You guys told me to
motivate myself by putting my goal marathon time where I could see it, so I
picked the fridge. I think I can run 7 minutes and 30 seconds a
mile, which works out to 3 hours and 16 minutes.”
The
exchange triggered an interesting discussion of running and religion - or
perhaps running AS religion. Along the way we touched upon some
great pieces advice for anyone running the Big Sur Marathon, regardless of
their ability level.
The most
important point is this: whether you are running Big Sur for the first time or
the 27th; whether your goal is breaking 3 hours, setting a personal
best time, or just reaching Carmel before they tear down the finish line;
whether or not you are religious, you have to realize that on Sunday, you will
be doing something absolutely magical.
This race
and this place are special. The magnificence of the shoreline, the
crashing of the surf, and the tranquility of pastoral hillsides - regardless of
whether you believe God created them, can be used to enrich your journey
up the coast. Beautiful music will provide a soundtrack to the
splendor at multiple locations along the way. Be sure to savor all
of it on race day, and don't let yourself just stare at the white line on the
road
Channel
the excited energy of the doves released at the start as they fly in serpentine
patterns, framed by hills and redwoods on their journey home. Feel
the camaraderie of 6,000 feet echoing through the redwood groves of Big
Sur. Greet the breeze that awaits you at Molera State Park with a smile;
it's here that you'll see your first glimpse of the beautiful Pacific Ocean.
Be
envigorated and challenged by the two-mile climb up to Hurricane Point, and
capture a memory for a lifetime as you cross Bixby Bridge and hear Michael
Martinez on the Grand Piano.
In the
"lonely miles” from 16 to 21, when the spectators disappear, ponder what a
gift it is to be able to run a marathon. Yes, you'll be
uncomfortable - but that's part of the experience. Keep taking step
after step to prove how strong you are in both body and spirit.
After you
finish (and we KNOW you will), keep your finisher’s medal as a constant
reminder of the magic of the Big Sur Marathon and its power, like a religious
revival, to uplift your very soul.
Get updates as soon as they're posted! Click here to subscribe to Running and Rambling.
Check out the Running Life book for a collection of our most popular columns.
However, it doesn't take much for me to recall just how amazing the race experience can be, and just how incomparable the Big Sur coastline is as a backdrop for a race. It was these kind of recollections that formed the topic of our Monterey Herald column this week, which follows below.
And we may as well stick with the theme for our Random Shot of Beauty:
Bixby Bridge at mile 13 of the Big Sur Marathon course, as photographed for my 2009 race report.
To anyone who is running this Sunday: be sure to savor the experience, because it's truly one of the best you'll ever have. And to anyone who hasn't run Big Sur yet: be sure to put it on your list someday. You can thank me later.
**
Running
Life 04/28/12 “Spirit
of Big Sur”
Can a
race be a religious experience? The question often comes up when we
talk to Big Sur neophytes, because we're reminded of the awe and wonder of the
marathon experience through unfamiliar eyes.
We often
have opportunities to support friends who have taken on the challenge of
running the Big Sur Marathon. This year a relatively talented newcomer
named John has joined us for several training runs, and has been
enthusiastically following our advice.
After
John’s last long training run he invited us to his house for a beer, and
started asking questions about his taper. (Which should have started with,
"Why are we drinking beer?") When Mike headed to the
refrigerator for another Anchor Steam, he noticed large “John 3:16” signs
displayed prominently on the door.
When Mike
returned he commented, “I didn’t know you were religious.”
John
replied, “I’m not particularly religious - why do you ask?”
Mike
said, “Because you have John 3:16 signs on the fridge.”
John
remarked, “Oh, that’s funny - I didn’t even think of that. You guys told me to
motivate myself by putting my goal marathon time where I could see it, so I
picked the fridge. I think I can run 7 minutes and 30 seconds a
mile, which works out to 3 hours and 16 minutes.”
The
exchange triggered an interesting discussion of running and religion - or
perhaps running AS religion. Along the way we touched upon some
great pieces advice for anyone running the Big Sur Marathon, regardless of
their ability level.
The most
important point is this: whether you are running Big Sur for the first time or
the 27th; whether your goal is breaking 3 hours, setting a personal
best time, or just reaching Carmel before they tear down the finish line;
whether or not you are religious, you have to realize that on Sunday, you will
be doing something absolutely magical.
This race
and this place are special. The magnificence of the shoreline, the
crashing of the surf, and the tranquility of pastoral hillsides - regardless of
whether you believe God created them, can be used to enrich your journey
up the coast. Beautiful music will provide a soundtrack to the
splendor at multiple locations along the way. Be sure to savor all
of it on race day, and don't let yourself just stare at the white line on the
road
Channel
the excited energy of the doves released at the start as they fly in serpentine
patterns, framed by hills and redwoods on their journey home. Feel
the camaraderie of 6,000 feet echoing through the redwood groves of Big
Sur. Greet the breeze that awaits you at Molera State Park with a smile;
it's here that you'll see your first glimpse of the beautiful Pacific Ocean.
Be
envigorated and challenged by the two-mile climb up to Hurricane Point, and
capture a memory for a lifetime as you cross Bixby Bridge and hear Michael
Martinez on the Grand Piano.
In the
"lonely miles” from 16 to 21, when the spectators disappear, ponder what a
gift it is to be able to run a marathon. Yes, you'll be
uncomfortable - but that's part of the experience. Keep taking step
after step to prove how strong you are in both body and spirit.
After you
finish (and we KNOW you will), keep your finisher’s medal as a constant
reminder of the magic of the Big Sur Marathon and its power, like a religious
revival, to uplift your very soul.
Get updates as soon as they're posted! Click here to subscribe to Running and Rambling.
Check out the Running Life book for a collection of our most popular columns.
Spirit of Bug Sur; Random Shots of Beauty
Going back to the old days for this weekend's topic, in honor of Big Sur Marathon weekend on the Monterey Peninsula this Sunday. Big Sur used to be the end-all, be-all race for me ... but then triathlons and ultramarathons came along, and nowadays it seems like just another race.
However, it doesn't take much for me to recall just how amazing the race experience can be, and just how incomparable the Big Sur coastline is as a backdrop for a race. It was these kind of recollections that formed the topic of our Monterey Herald column this week, which follows below.
And we may as well stick with the theme for our Random Shot of Beauty:
Bixby Bridge at mile 13 of the Big Sur Marathon course, as photographed for my 2009 race report.
To anyone who is running this Sunday: be sure to savor the experience, because it's truly one of the best you'll ever have. And to anyone who hasn't run Big Sur yet: be sure to put it on your list someday. You can thank me later.
**
Running
Life 04/28/12 “Spirit
of Big Sur”
Can a
race be a religious experience? The question often comes up when we
talk to Big Sur neophytes, because we're reminded of the awe and wonder of the
marathon experience through unfamiliar eyes.
We often
have opportunities to support friends who have taken on the challenge of
running the Big Sur Marathon. This year a relatively talented newcomer
named John has joined us for several training runs, and has been
enthusiastically following our advice.
After
John’s last long training run he invited us to his house for a beer, and
started asking questions about his taper. (Which should have started with,
"Why are we drinking beer?") When Mike headed to the
refrigerator for another Anchor Steam, he noticed large “John 3:16” signs
displayed prominently on the door.
When Mike
returned he commented, “I didn’t know you were religious.”
John
replied, “I’m not particularly religious - why do you ask?”
Mike
said, “Because you have John 3:16 signs on the fridge.”
John
remarked, “Oh, that’s funny - I didn’t even think of that. You guys told me to
motivate myself by putting my goal marathon time where I could see it, so I
picked the fridge. I think I can run 7 minutes and 30 seconds a
mile, which works out to 3 hours and 16 minutes.”
The
exchange triggered an interesting discussion of running and religion - or
perhaps running AS religion. Along the way we touched upon some
great pieces advice for anyone running the Big Sur Marathon, regardless of
their ability level.
The most
important point is this: whether you are running Big Sur for the first time or
the 27th; whether your goal is breaking 3 hours, setting a personal
best time, or just reaching Carmel before they tear down the finish line;
whether or not you are religious, you have to realize that on Sunday, you will
be doing something absolutely magical.
This race
and this place are special. The magnificence of the shoreline, the
crashing of the surf, and the tranquility of pastoral hillsides - regardless of
whether you believe God created them, can be used to enrich your journey
up the coast. Beautiful music will provide a soundtrack to the
splendor at multiple locations along the way. Be sure to savor all
of it on race day, and don't let yourself just stare at the white line on the
road
Channel
the excited energy of the doves released at the start as they fly in serpentine
patterns, framed by hills and redwoods on their journey home. Feel
the camaraderie of 6,000 feet echoing through the redwood groves of Big
Sur. Greet the breeze that awaits you at Molera State Park with a smile;
it's here that you'll see your first glimpse of the beautiful Pacific Ocean.
Be
envigorated and challenged by the two-mile climb up to Hurricane Point, and
capture a memory for a lifetime as you cross Bixby Bridge and hear Michael
Martinez on the Grand Piano.
In the
"lonely miles” from 16 to 21, when the spectators disappear, ponder what a
gift it is to be able to run a marathon. Yes, you'll be
uncomfortable - but that's part of the experience. Keep taking step
after step to prove how strong you are in both body and spirit.
After you
finish (and we KNOW you will), keep your finisher’s medal as a constant
reminder of the magic of the Big Sur Marathon and its power, like a religious
revival, to uplift your very soul.
Get updates as soon as they're posted! Click here to subscribe to Running and Rambling.
Check out the Running Life book for a collection of our most popular columns.
However, it doesn't take much for me to recall just how amazing the race experience can be, and just how incomparable the Big Sur coastline is as a backdrop for a race. It was these kind of recollections that formed the topic of our Monterey Herald column this week, which follows below.
And we may as well stick with the theme for our Random Shot of Beauty:
Bixby Bridge at mile 13 of the Big Sur Marathon course, as photographed for my 2009 race report.
To anyone who is running this Sunday: be sure to savor the experience, because it's truly one of the best you'll ever have. And to anyone who hasn't run Big Sur yet: be sure to put it on your list someday. You can thank me later.
**
Running
Life 04/28/12 “Spirit
of Big Sur”
Can a
race be a religious experience? The question often comes up when we
talk to Big Sur neophytes, because we're reminded of the awe and wonder of the
marathon experience through unfamiliar eyes.
We often
have opportunities to support friends who have taken on the challenge of
running the Big Sur Marathon. This year a relatively talented newcomer
named John has joined us for several training runs, and has been
enthusiastically following our advice.
After
John’s last long training run he invited us to his house for a beer, and
started asking questions about his taper. (Which should have started with,
"Why are we drinking beer?") When Mike headed to the
refrigerator for another Anchor Steam, he noticed large “John 3:16” signs
displayed prominently on the door.
When Mike
returned he commented, “I didn’t know you were religious.”
John
replied, “I’m not particularly religious - why do you ask?”
Mike
said, “Because you have John 3:16 signs on the fridge.”
John
remarked, “Oh, that’s funny - I didn’t even think of that. You guys told me to
motivate myself by putting my goal marathon time where I could see it, so I
picked the fridge. I think I can run 7 minutes and 30 seconds a
mile, which works out to 3 hours and 16 minutes.”
The
exchange triggered an interesting discussion of running and religion - or
perhaps running AS religion. Along the way we touched upon some
great pieces advice for anyone running the Big Sur Marathon, regardless of
their ability level.
The most
important point is this: whether you are running Big Sur for the first time or
the 27th; whether your goal is breaking 3 hours, setting a personal
best time, or just reaching Carmel before they tear down the finish line;
whether or not you are religious, you have to realize that on Sunday, you will
be doing something absolutely magical.
This race
and this place are special. The magnificence of the shoreline, the
crashing of the surf, and the tranquility of pastoral hillsides - regardless of
whether you believe God created them, can be used to enrich your journey
up the coast. Beautiful music will provide a soundtrack to the
splendor at multiple locations along the way. Be sure to savor all
of it on race day, and don't let yourself just stare at the white line on the
road
Channel
the excited energy of the doves released at the start as they fly in serpentine
patterns, framed by hills and redwoods on their journey home. Feel
the camaraderie of 6,000 feet echoing through the redwood groves of Big
Sur. Greet the breeze that awaits you at Molera State Park with a smile;
it's here that you'll see your first glimpse of the beautiful Pacific Ocean.
Be
envigorated and challenged by the two-mile climb up to Hurricane Point, and
capture a memory for a lifetime as you cross Bixby Bridge and hear Michael
Martinez on the Grand Piano.
In the
"lonely miles” from 16 to 21, when the spectators disappear, ponder what a
gift it is to be able to run a marathon. Yes, you'll be
uncomfortable - but that's part of the experience. Keep taking step
after step to prove how strong you are in both body and spirit.
After you
finish (and we KNOW you will), keep your finisher’s medal as a constant
reminder of the magic of the Big Sur Marathon and its power, like a religious
revival, to uplift your very soul.
Get updates as soon as they're posted! Click here to subscribe to Running and Rambling.
Check out the Running Life book for a collection of our most popular columns.
April 25, 2012
Once in a Lifetime: Mokelumne River 50-Mile Race Report
"You may ask yourself, 'Well, how did I get
here?'"
- Talking Heads, "Once in a Lifetime" (video after
post)
Even though I plan things out ahead of time, sometimes I
have no idea how I get myself into these race situations. A great example is last weekend's Mokelumne River 50-Miler, where I found myself in one of the most unpredictable places I
could ever imagine: crossing the finish line first in an official race.
But before you start throwing me in the conversation with
Roes, Krupicka, or Jornet, allow me to fill you in on some details. The most important one is this: it was a very
small race.
How small, you ask?
Well, this was a shot of the entire race field about 2 minutes before
the start. The group above includes
marathoners and 50K runners in addition to 50-mile entrants. Although it isn't a new race, I suspect
turnout for the Mokelumne events may have been low for a couple of reasons: 1)
race day temps were forecast in the mid-90s, and 2) Maybe people don't like to
sign up for a race they can't pronounce.
(For the record, it's Mo - KELL - um - knee, but I had a lot
of trouble with it at first too. To make
things easier, you can just do what the locals do and call it the "Moke
50".)
The more legitimate, not to mention tragic, reason this race
flew under the radar is that it wasn't officially on the race calendar until a
couple of months ago. The Moke 50 was
formerly part of the Ultrarunner.net series operated by Robert and Linda
Mathis, the husband and wife co-race directors who were struck by a car and killed last New Year's Eve. Many
Northern California ultrarunners who enjoyed their races experienced profound
sadness through the winter ... and then as spring approached, suddenly realized
there weren't nearly as many races on their calendar anymore.
Into that void stepped Jimmy Gabany, owner of Nevada-based
Elemental Running, who took over the vast majority of the Ultrarunner.net
series. Unfortunately, the permit
process for the Moke 50 wasn't finalized until just a handful of weeks before race
day, which is a fairly short period of time to spread the word - and results in
a fairly small crowd lining up on the start line.
It's really kind of a shame, because the Moke 50 course is
downright brutal - and it's just the kind of thing hardcore ultrarunners would
love. The trails are rough but beautiful,
there's an insane amount of climbing (although there's no official measurement,
Jimmy estimates 13K to 15K of climbing), and the heat was relentless. It's also a little bit long - 51.4 miles according
to the pre-race e-mail - which is just the kind of poke in the eye that
ultrarunners find endearing.
And with that, let's continue the report - as usual, you can click any photo to enlarge ...
The vast majority of the course is an out and back route along the Mokelumne Coast
to Crest Trail, an incomplete network that will eventually connect the high
Sierras to the San Francisco Bay. The sections around Mokelumne are mostly fire road, which allows plenty of space for the *huge* crowds of runners
to thin out. (Incidentally, this shot was less
than a mile into the race; jostling for position wasn't exactly a problem out
there.)
The hills start right away as well, which helped to keep
everybody honest about setting out too quickly - that, plus the air temperature
was already in the 70s at 6:30AM.
About four miles into the race is one of the prettiest
sections of the whole course, as fire roads give way to singletrack ...
... and views of Camanche Reservoir in the distance add a
nice touch of scenery. I was with a
small pack of runners at this point, and it was early enough in the race (and
we were all mellow enough) to stop and pose for some photos.
The trail soon enters a pastoral setting with cows in the
distance; a few miles further down the trail, our group was stopped by a couple of
cowboys on horseback who asked if we saw their cattle ...
... um, yup, we saw them - about a mile earlier. They had
even caused a roadblock before we eventually scared them away. By the way, what you can't see in this photo
are two girls who are scared of cows hiding in the bushes to the left. Ultrarunners: we're tough as hell, but not
always the bravest folks around.
This is the Wildermuth House, which dates from the 1860s and
used to be situated between two heavily used mining areas; today, it's the only
house for miles around, and is also the approximate turnaround point for the
marathon runners, where we lost a few of our already small pace group.
A few miles later, we'd lose the 50K runners to another
turnaround point, which made the long descent down to Pardee Reservoir seem
even lonier. At this point, I had no
idea how many runners were in front of me, but I figured that since I started
near the back of the group, any 50-milers would still be well ahead somewhere.
The trails around the reservoir were very lush, which is
nice from the standpoint of having something pretty to look at, but often
challenging in terms of actually being able to follow the trail. A lot of this section was spent just
following a pair of footprints in the tall grass and hoping they belonged not
just to a runner, but to a runner who wasn't lost.
A handful of tiny little creek crossings like this one may
not look significant, but they provided great opportunities to rub of the sweat
from your face and hands on the outbound trip - and on the return, they would
prove to be invaluable.
Remember my rule? If
there are cows on the course, they're going in the report. These cows weren't particularly happy about
being giving up the trail - but at mile 21 and 95 degrees, I wasn't exactly
thrilled to deal with them either.
This is a place called Patti's Point, which is the summit of
an absolutely brutal climb between two low gulches. This climb would be a turning point later in
the race - but on the outbound leg, it just seemed like a nice spot to rest and
take some timer photos.
On the descent from Patti's Point lies a signpost indicating
"The Longest Mile", which is a very steep, technical descent down
stone and wooden stairs ...
... before bottoming out at a bridge at Spanish Gulch and
going up an equally tough climb on the other side. This also was near the end of a nearly 8-mile
stretch between aid stations, which in the mid-day heat on the hardest part of
the course seemed completely diabolical.
As I mentioned, I believed almost all of the 50-mile runners
were behind me at this point - so when I rolled into the Gwen Mine Road aid
station at mile 23 and was told there was only one runner in front of me, I figured that
some people must have gotten lost ...
... which wasn't too far-fetched, as I went off course a
number of times myself, either because turns weren't clearly marked in the high
grass, or because I was starting to get dizzy from the heat. Probably a combination of both. Regardless, I never saw the leader come back
from the turnaround point, possibly because I wandered away somewhere near this
bridge on my way there.
At the turnaround aid station, I asked about the lead
runner, and they said, "She just left about 10 minutes ago!"
This was when the competitive juices percolated a bit, because in the
world of ultrarunning, making up 10 minutes over 25 miles is really nothing.
Did I say over 25 miles?
Make that over four miles. I
finally got my first glimpse of the leader back at the Gwen Mine aid station (3
miles from the turnaround), as she left while I was checking in. Approximately one mile later, I caught her on
the climb to Patti's Point, and I found myself in the lead.
I slowed down to talk to her for a few minutes, and she was
very friendly and gracious, despite having some clear distress in the heat of
the day. And in case you're wondering:
no, I didn't take her picture. I figured
the last thing she wanted was some idiot posting a photo of her struggling in
an ultra while being passed by a dude in moccasins. A short time later, however, I did take a
self-photo that kind of summed up my reaction to being in first place:
This is my Oh my gosh, I'm in first place in an ultra! Dear Lord please don't let me screw this up - there are a ton of things that can go wrong during the last 20 miles on
a hot day face. I don't get to use
it very often.
As soon as I overtook the lead, there was only one thought in
my mind: I want to win this thing. It's
worth mentioning that despite racing for more than 20 years, I've never won any
race outright. And it didn't take a
genius to realize that I'd probably never get another opportunity to do so;
this was a once in a lifetime chance that I really didn't want to screw up.
So when I got back to the top of Patti's Point, there was no
time to pose for pictures, because I didn't want to give up too much of my
lead, and I knew I still needed to set aside some time for a key strategic
move:
Cooling myself in every possible creek I could find. On the return trip, these stops weren't the
"splash your hands and face" variety - they were the "lay as
flat as possible and completely soak your body and clothes" kind that gave
me some measure of relief from the heat, which by now was probably well over
100 degrees in the canyons.
At the mile 35 aid station, I filled two water bottles full
of ice (and sports drink) and took off running.
And with the race finish finally seeming manageable, I became more and
more paranoid about how far back the second place runner was. The ice in my waist bottle was making a
clunking noise, which I kept thinking sounded like footsteps ... but whenever I
had a chance to look over my shoulder for a long backward glance, I couldn't
see anybody. That didn't stop me from
imagining I was being reeled in ...
... but it did allow me enough peace of mind to keep dunking
myself in every little puddle I could find - such as this one after I got all
soaked up and ready to take on the last 13 miles.
With about 12 miles to go the course returns to the pretty
single track I enjoyed so much on the way out.
Whether it was the single track, the prospect of winning, or the fact
that I just left another aid station, I really got a second wind through this
section ...
... and even paused for a couple more photo ops along the
way. What - you're not supposed to pose for
timer photos when you're in the lead of an ultra? Obviously I'm not familiar with the protocol
for this sort of thing.
The only downside of the single track was that I couldn't
see very far behind me, so of course I kept imagining that someone was gaining.
Reaching the last aid station, I knew there were
approximately 4 miles to go, and I felt like I had enough in the tank to move
steadily toward the finish line ...
... but just to be sure, I loaded up with a healthy supply
of Pepsi and ice to bring me home.
The final miles were hilly, but at least they finally
afforded some shade - which was nice, because the temperature was still 90
degrees at 6PM. Truth be told, I was
completely cooked by this point, and it was all I could do to keep a steady
pace ...
... until finally - almost 12 hours after I started - I saw the finish area in the distance,
took one last look over my shoulder, and staggered across the line to collapse onto a bench for a long-awaited rest. I made it all of about 30 seconds before
trying to confirm what I wanted to know, though - so almost as soon as I sat
down I asked the RD, "Have any other 50-milers finished already?"
Nobody had - and that's how I got my once in a lifetime first
place award. Don't worry, though - I
don't have any false pretense about my ability relative to anybody else out
there. As soon as I lace up my moccasins
again, my place in the grand pecking order will go back to being the same as it
ever was, but I have to admit that it was cool to think of myself as a winner
for a few hours out there. And anytime
you can feel cool in blazing hot conditions on a brutal ultra course, that goes
down as a very good day.
**
When it comes to all-time most iconic music videos, this one
has to be on anyone's top 5 list, right?
It's also a nice song to have in
your head when rolling through the final miles of a long race. And a reminder for next time: same as it ever was.
Talking Heads, "Once in a Lifetime" (click to
play):
*See other race reports under tab at top of page
Get updates as soon as they're posted! Click here to subscribe to Running and Rambling.
Check out the Running Life book for a collection of our most popular columns.
here?'"
- Talking Heads, "Once in a Lifetime" (video after
post)
Even though I plan things out ahead of time, sometimes I
have no idea how I get myself into these race situations. A great example is last weekend's Mokelumne River 50-Miler, where I found myself in one of the most unpredictable places I
could ever imagine: crossing the finish line first in an official race.
But before you start throwing me in the conversation with
Roes, Krupicka, or Jornet, allow me to fill you in on some details. The most important one is this: it was a very
small race.
How small, you ask?
Well, this was a shot of the entire race field about 2 minutes before
the start. The group above includes
marathoners and 50K runners in addition to 50-mile entrants. Although it isn't a new race, I suspect
turnout for the Mokelumne events may have been low for a couple of reasons: 1)
race day temps were forecast in the mid-90s, and 2) Maybe people don't like to
sign up for a race they can't pronounce.
(For the record, it's Mo - KELL - um - knee, but I had a lot
of trouble with it at first too. To make
things easier, you can just do what the locals do and call it the "Moke
50".)
The more legitimate, not to mention tragic, reason this race
flew under the radar is that it wasn't officially on the race calendar until a
couple of months ago. The Moke 50 was
formerly part of the Ultrarunner.net series operated by Robert and Linda
Mathis, the husband and wife co-race directors who were struck by a car and killed last New Year's Eve. Many
Northern California ultrarunners who enjoyed their races experienced profound
sadness through the winter ... and then as spring approached, suddenly realized
there weren't nearly as many races on their calendar anymore.
Into that void stepped Jimmy Gabany, owner of Nevada-based
Elemental Running, who took over the vast majority of the Ultrarunner.net
series. Unfortunately, the permit
process for the Moke 50 wasn't finalized until just a handful of weeks before race
day, which is a fairly short period of time to spread the word - and results in
a fairly small crowd lining up on the start line.
It's really kind of a shame, because the Moke 50 course is
downright brutal - and it's just the kind of thing hardcore ultrarunners would
love. The trails are rough but beautiful,
there's an insane amount of climbing (although there's no official measurement,
Jimmy estimates 13K to 15K of climbing), and the heat was relentless. It's also a little bit long - 51.4 miles according
to the pre-race e-mail - which is just the kind of poke in the eye that
ultrarunners find endearing.
And with that, let's continue the report - as usual, you can click any photo to enlarge ...
The vast majority of the course is an out and back route along the Mokelumne Coast
to Crest Trail, an incomplete network that will eventually connect the high
Sierras to the San Francisco Bay. The sections around Mokelumne are mostly fire road, which allows plenty of space for the *huge* crowds of runners
to thin out. (Incidentally, this shot was less
than a mile into the race; jostling for position wasn't exactly a problem out
there.)
The hills start right away as well, which helped to keep
everybody honest about setting out too quickly - that, plus the air temperature
was already in the 70s at 6:30AM.
About four miles into the race is one of the prettiest
sections of the whole course, as fire roads give way to singletrack ...
... and views of Camanche Reservoir in the distance add a
nice touch of scenery. I was with a
small pack of runners at this point, and it was early enough in the race (and
we were all mellow enough) to stop and pose for some photos.
The trail soon enters a pastoral setting with cows in the
distance; a few miles further down the trail, our group was stopped by a couple of
cowboys on horseback who asked if we saw their cattle ...
... um, yup, we saw them - about a mile earlier. They had
even caused a roadblock before we eventually scared them away. By the way, what you can't see in this photo
are two girls who are scared of cows hiding in the bushes to the left. Ultrarunners: we're tough as hell, but not
always the bravest folks around.
This is the Wildermuth House, which dates from the 1860s and
used to be situated between two heavily used mining areas; today, it's the only
house for miles around, and is also the approximate turnaround point for the
marathon runners, where we lost a few of our already small pace group.
A few miles later, we'd lose the 50K runners to another
turnaround point, which made the long descent down to Pardee Reservoir seem
even lonier. At this point, I had no
idea how many runners were in front of me, but I figured that since I started
near the back of the group, any 50-milers would still be well ahead somewhere.
The trails around the reservoir were very lush, which is
nice from the standpoint of having something pretty to look at, but often
challenging in terms of actually being able to follow the trail. A lot of this section was spent just
following a pair of footprints in the tall grass and hoping they belonged not
just to a runner, but to a runner who wasn't lost.
A handful of tiny little creek crossings like this one may
not look significant, but they provided great opportunities to rub of the sweat
from your face and hands on the outbound trip - and on the return, they would
prove to be invaluable.
Remember my rule? If
there are cows on the course, they're going in the report. These cows weren't particularly happy about
being giving up the trail - but at mile 21 and 95 degrees, I wasn't exactly
thrilled to deal with them either.
This is a place called Patti's Point, which is the summit of
an absolutely brutal climb between two low gulches. This climb would be a turning point later in
the race - but on the outbound leg, it just seemed like a nice spot to rest and
take some timer photos.
On the descent from Patti's Point lies a signpost indicating
"The Longest Mile", which is a very steep, technical descent down
stone and wooden stairs ...
... before bottoming out at a bridge at Spanish Gulch and
going up an equally tough climb on the other side. This also was near the end of a nearly 8-mile
stretch between aid stations, which in the mid-day heat on the hardest part of
the course seemed completely diabolical.
As I mentioned, I believed almost all of the 50-mile runners
were behind me at this point - so when I rolled into the Gwen Mine Road aid
station at mile 23 and was told there was only one runner in front of me, I figured that
some people must have gotten lost ...
... which wasn't too far-fetched, as I went off course a
number of times myself, either because turns weren't clearly marked in the high
grass, or because I was starting to get dizzy from the heat. Probably a combination of both. Regardless, I never saw the leader come back
from the turnaround point, possibly because I wandered away somewhere near this
bridge on my way there.
At the turnaround aid station, I asked about the lead
runner, and they said, "She just left about 10 minutes ago!"
This was when the competitive juices percolated a bit, because in the
world of ultrarunning, making up 10 minutes over 25 miles is really nothing.
Did I say over 25 miles?
Make that over four miles. I
finally got my first glimpse of the leader back at the Gwen Mine aid station (3
miles from the turnaround), as she left while I was checking in. Approximately one mile later, I caught her on
the climb to Patti's Point, and I found myself in the lead.
I slowed down to talk to her for a few minutes, and she was
very friendly and gracious, despite having some clear distress in the heat of
the day. And in case you're wondering:
no, I didn't take her picture. I figured
the last thing she wanted was some idiot posting a photo of her struggling in
an ultra while being passed by a dude in moccasins. A short time later, however, I did take a
self-photo that kind of summed up my reaction to being in first place:
This is my Oh my gosh, I'm in first place in an ultra! Dear Lord please don't let me screw this up - there are a ton of things that can go wrong during the last 20 miles on
a hot day face. I don't get to use
it very often.
As soon as I overtook the lead, there was only one thought in
my mind: I want to win this thing. It's
worth mentioning that despite racing for more than 20 years, I've never won any
race outright. And it didn't take a
genius to realize that I'd probably never get another opportunity to do so;
this was a once in a lifetime chance that I really didn't want to screw up.
So when I got back to the top of Patti's Point, there was no
time to pose for pictures, because I didn't want to give up too much of my
lead, and I knew I still needed to set aside some time for a key strategic
move:
Cooling myself in every possible creek I could find. On the return trip, these stops weren't the
"splash your hands and face" variety - they were the "lay as
flat as possible and completely soak your body and clothes" kind that gave
me some measure of relief from the heat, which by now was probably well over
100 degrees in the canyons.
At the mile 35 aid station, I filled two water bottles full
of ice (and sports drink) and took off running.
And with the race finish finally seeming manageable, I became more and
more paranoid about how far back the second place runner was. The ice in my waist bottle was making a
clunking noise, which I kept thinking sounded like footsteps ... but whenever I
had a chance to look over my shoulder for a long backward glance, I couldn't
see anybody. That didn't stop me from
imagining I was being reeled in ...
... but it did allow me enough peace of mind to keep dunking
myself in every little puddle I could find - such as this one after I got all
soaked up and ready to take on the last 13 miles.
With about 12 miles to go the course returns to the pretty
single track I enjoyed so much on the way out.
Whether it was the single track, the prospect of winning, or the fact
that I just left another aid station, I really got a second wind through this
section ...
... and even paused for a couple more photo ops along the
way. What - you're not supposed to pose for
timer photos when you're in the lead of an ultra? Obviously I'm not familiar with the protocol
for this sort of thing.
The only downside of the single track was that I couldn't
see very far behind me, so of course I kept imagining that someone was gaining.
Reaching the last aid station, I knew there were
approximately 4 miles to go, and I felt like I had enough in the tank to move
steadily toward the finish line ...
... but just to be sure, I loaded up with a healthy supply
of Pepsi and ice to bring me home.
The final miles were hilly, but at least they finally
afforded some shade - which was nice, because the temperature was still 90
degrees at 6PM. Truth be told, I was
completely cooked by this point, and it was all I could do to keep a steady
pace ...
... until finally - almost 12 hours after I started - I saw the finish area in the distance,
took one last look over my shoulder, and staggered across the line to collapse onto a bench for a long-awaited rest. I made it all of about 30 seconds before
trying to confirm what I wanted to know, though - so almost as soon as I sat
down I asked the RD, "Have any other 50-milers finished already?"
Nobody had - and that's how I got my once in a lifetime first
place award. Don't worry, though - I
don't have any false pretense about my ability relative to anybody else out
there. As soon as I lace up my moccasins
again, my place in the grand pecking order will go back to being the same as it
ever was, but I have to admit that it was cool to think of myself as a winner
for a few hours out there. And anytime
you can feel cool in blazing hot conditions on a brutal ultra course, that goes
down as a very good day.
**
When it comes to all-time most iconic music videos, this one
has to be on anyone's top 5 list, right?
It's also a nice song to have in
your head when rolling through the final miles of a long race. And a reminder for next time: same as it ever was.
Talking Heads, "Once in a Lifetime" (click to
play):
*See other race reports under tab at top of page
Get updates as soon as they're posted! Click here to subscribe to Running and Rambling.
Check out the Running Life book for a collection of our most popular columns.
April 23, 2012
Luna Leadville Sandal Review
Among all of the minimalist shoe companies
out there, perhaps none has a more impressive pedigree than Luna Sandals.
The company is the brainchild of Barefoot Ted McDonald, one of the most experienced and accomplished barefoot runners in
the word, who the vast majority of minimalist fans first met via Christopher McDougall's
landmark Born to Run. McDonald helped
fuel Vibram's meteoric rise to success, introducing FiveFingers to the road
running world at the 2006 Boston Marathon, and to the ultrarunning community a
few years later (with KSO Treks this time) at the Leadville 100.
Barefoot Ted and Manuel Luna; photo by Luis Escobar, taken from Luna website
One interesting side note to the
now-legendary pilgrimage described in Born to Run is that while in the Copper
Canyons, Barefoot Ted spent a great deal of time with a Tarahumara elder named
Manuel Luna, who taught him the art of making huarache sandals. Upon his return to the United States,
McDonald experimented combining Luna's old world design and craftsmanship with modern
day materials - and the result was his own brand of footwear, named after his
Tarahumara mentor.
I was initially somewhat hesitant to
review a Luna product, because I've never really preferred running in huaraches
over more conventionally styled minimalist footwear. However, all it took to change my mind was
one single word: Leadville.
Luna Leadville sandals
Leadville, as in the place where the
Tarahumara showed up and provided the inspiration for the modern-day minimalist
renaissance. Leadville, as in the race where
Barefoot Ted debuted his first pair of Luna sandals in 2010, and where no fewer
than five members of the Luna team - who refer to themselves as "Luna
Monkeys" - wore their huaraches during the event in 2011. Leadville ... as in the 100-miler I'm going to
attempt later this summer. (I still get
shivers whenever I type that, in case you're wondering.)
So when I learned that one of Luna's 2012
models was called the Leadville, and that the website describes it as a
"rugged sandal designed for hardcore trails," I figured I pretty much
had to give them a test run. At the very
least, I was running out of rational reasons to avoid them.
A short description of the Luna Leadville
is that it's a modern-day huarache with just enough protection underfoot to use
in rough trail conditions. With a 10mm Vibram neoprene rubber platform, it
actually has a higher stack height than FiveFingers, as well as the Soft StarRunAmocs I typically use for ultras.
There's more than enough thickness to take the sting out of sharp rocks,
but enough flexibility to maintain outstanding ground feel. You can also order an optional suede layer (as
pictured on mine) that adds approximately 1 extra millimeter of height along with a
significant amount of comfort.
The outsole features one of the most
aggressive tread patterns I've seen on minimalist footwear (I wish my RunAmocs used this), and holds my foot
in position quite well on most types of terrain. This is a particularly critical point with
huaraches, because ...
... for obvious reasons, there's not much
structure on top to keep your foot from moving around. I'd suspect that most huarache users will tell you the biggest challenge with any pair is getting the fit just
right: making them tight enough to hold your foot in place, but not so
constricting that they are uncomfortable.
There's a lot of customization in adjusting the tension over the top of
the foot or the back of the heel, and it takes a lot of trial and error that
can often times become frustrating.
To help address this, Luna sandals can be
ordered with three different lace styles: traditional leather straps like the
Tarahumara use, elasticized laces that are easy to slip on and off after you
get the right positions dialed in, or the company's new ATS (all terrain
strapping) lacing system, which is a hybrid of elastic and nylon.
My Leadville sandals came with the ATS
system, and I initially had a lot of difficulty getting the heel tension just
right; the strap kept sliding down off my heel, and when I tightened it enough
to stay in place, my toes were pushed too far forward on the footbed. One of the Luna Monkeys gave me some tips to
try, and I eventually figured out a setting where the straps are comfortable
and stay in place well - but if you'll notice on the picture above, I had to
move the elasticized portions of the heel strap pretty far out of their
standard neutral alignment to find the right balance.
I have my lace system dialed in well
enough that there's very little separation of the footbed from the underside of
my foot while running. One of my pet
peeves about running in sandals is when small pebbles get between your foot and
the footbed, but once I figured out the best lacing system, this wasn't a big
issue for me with my Leadvilles. They
also give me much better lateral stability than I've experienced with other
huaraches, so that was a nice surprise.
Toes creeping over the front edge
The fit issue did come into play again
when running on downhills, where my toes slide forward on the footbed, at times
to the point of contacting the ground. I
suspect this might be an inherent issue with any huaraches, but I'm still
tinkering with mine a bit to see if I can improve the situation. I'm also told that the footbed contours to
your foot after extended use, but I haven't logged enough miles in my pair to attest
to that.
One other point on the fit is that Luna
sandals can be selected from "off the shelf" last sizes (although
each pair is still hand-cut), or custom ordered based on your specific foot
measurements. I tried a standard last
that is closest to my US shoe size, and it's a pretty accurate fit - I
don't think I could have done any better by custom ordering. However, since fit is such a crucial issue
with huaraches, if you have any sort of size irregularities, you're probably
better off doing a custom order.
While I'm not entirely converted to using
huaraches for my long-distance training, I have to say that I'm very impressed
with the Luna Leadville. They are more
comfortable and protective than I anticipated, and they inspire a similar kind
of primal feel that I love so much about my moccasins. They would be a great option for someone like
me who is considering building up to more frequent huarache use, as well as for
experienced users seeking to push the limits of distance and terrain.
Luna's Leadville sandals retail for $85 from the company website.
*Product provided by Luna
**If you have a product you'd like
reviewed, contact me at info@runningandrambling.com.
Get updates as soon as they're posted! Click here to subscribe to Running and Rambling.
Check out the Running Life book for a collection of our most popular columns.
out there, perhaps none has a more impressive pedigree than Luna Sandals.
The company is the brainchild of Barefoot Ted McDonald, one of the most experienced and accomplished barefoot runners in
the word, who the vast majority of minimalist fans first met via Christopher McDougall's
landmark Born to Run. McDonald helped
fuel Vibram's meteoric rise to success, introducing FiveFingers to the road
running world at the 2006 Boston Marathon, and to the ultrarunning community a
few years later (with KSO Treks this time) at the Leadville 100.
Barefoot Ted and Manuel Luna; photo by Luis Escobar, taken from Luna website
One interesting side note to the
now-legendary pilgrimage described in Born to Run is that while in the Copper
Canyons, Barefoot Ted spent a great deal of time with a Tarahumara elder named
Manuel Luna, who taught him the art of making huarache sandals. Upon his return to the United States,
McDonald experimented combining Luna's old world design and craftsmanship with modern
day materials - and the result was his own brand of footwear, named after his
Tarahumara mentor.
I was initially somewhat hesitant to
review a Luna product, because I've never really preferred running in huaraches
over more conventionally styled minimalist footwear. However, all it took to change my mind was
one single word: Leadville.
Luna Leadville sandals
Leadville, as in the place where the
Tarahumara showed up and provided the inspiration for the modern-day minimalist
renaissance. Leadville, as in the race where
Barefoot Ted debuted his first pair of Luna sandals in 2010, and where no fewer
than five members of the Luna team - who refer to themselves as "Luna
Monkeys" - wore their huaraches during the event in 2011. Leadville ... as in the 100-miler I'm going to
attempt later this summer. (I still get
shivers whenever I type that, in case you're wondering.)
So when I learned that one of Luna's 2012
models was called the Leadville, and that the website describes it as a
"rugged sandal designed for hardcore trails," I figured I pretty much
had to give them a test run. At the very
least, I was running out of rational reasons to avoid them.
A short description of the Luna Leadville
is that it's a modern-day huarache with just enough protection underfoot to use
in rough trail conditions. With a 10mm Vibram neoprene rubber platform, it
actually has a higher stack height than FiveFingers, as well as the Soft StarRunAmocs I typically use for ultras.
There's more than enough thickness to take the sting out of sharp rocks,
but enough flexibility to maintain outstanding ground feel. You can also order an optional suede layer (as
pictured on mine) that adds approximately 1 extra millimeter of height along with a
significant amount of comfort.
The outsole features one of the most
aggressive tread patterns I've seen on minimalist footwear (I wish my RunAmocs used this), and holds my foot
in position quite well on most types of terrain. This is a particularly critical point with
huaraches, because ...
... for obvious reasons, there's not much
structure on top to keep your foot from moving around. I'd suspect that most huarache users will tell you the biggest challenge with any pair is getting the fit just
right: making them tight enough to hold your foot in place, but not so
constricting that they are uncomfortable.
There's a lot of customization in adjusting the tension over the top of
the foot or the back of the heel, and it takes a lot of trial and error that
can often times become frustrating.
To help address this, Luna sandals can be
ordered with three different lace styles: traditional leather straps like the
Tarahumara use, elasticized laces that are easy to slip on and off after you
get the right positions dialed in, or the company's new ATS (all terrain
strapping) lacing system, which is a hybrid of elastic and nylon.
My Leadville sandals came with the ATS
system, and I initially had a lot of difficulty getting the heel tension just
right; the strap kept sliding down off my heel, and when I tightened it enough
to stay in place, my toes were pushed too far forward on the footbed. One of the Luna Monkeys gave me some tips to
try, and I eventually figured out a setting where the straps are comfortable
and stay in place well - but if you'll notice on the picture above, I had to
move the elasticized portions of the heel strap pretty far out of their
standard neutral alignment to find the right balance.
I have my lace system dialed in well
enough that there's very little separation of the footbed from the underside of
my foot while running. One of my pet
peeves about running in sandals is when small pebbles get between your foot and
the footbed, but once I figured out the best lacing system, this wasn't a big
issue for me with my Leadvilles. They
also give me much better lateral stability than I've experienced with other
huaraches, so that was a nice surprise.
Toes creeping over the front edge
The fit issue did come into play again
when running on downhills, where my toes slide forward on the footbed, at times
to the point of contacting the ground. I
suspect this might be an inherent issue with any huaraches, but I'm still
tinkering with mine a bit to see if I can improve the situation. I'm also told that the footbed contours to
your foot after extended use, but I haven't logged enough miles in my pair to attest
to that.
One other point on the fit is that Luna
sandals can be selected from "off the shelf" last sizes (although
each pair is still hand-cut), or custom ordered based on your specific foot
measurements. I tried a standard last
that is closest to my US shoe size, and it's a pretty accurate fit - I
don't think I could have done any better by custom ordering. However, since fit is such a crucial issue
with huaraches, if you have any sort of size irregularities, you're probably
better off doing a custom order.
While I'm not entirely converted to using
huaraches for my long-distance training, I have to say that I'm very impressed
with the Luna Leadville. They are more
comfortable and protective than I anticipated, and they inspire a similar kind
of primal feel that I love so much about my moccasins. They would be a great option for someone like
me who is considering building up to more frequent huarache use, as well as for
experienced users seeking to push the limits of distance and terrain.
Luna's Leadville sandals retail for $85 from the company website.
*Product provided by Luna
**If you have a product you'd like
reviewed, contact me at info@runningandrambling.com.
Get updates as soon as they're posted! Click here to subscribe to Running and Rambling.
Check out the Running Life book for a collection of our most popular columns.
April 21, 2012
New Balance Minimus Zero Trail Winners; GU Sampler Pack Winners; Random Shots of Beauty
Getting right to the point since I'm completely cooked from a long day on the trail ...
New Balance Minimus Zero Trail winners: Keith Gates and Louisa
GU Energy Performance Sampler Pack winners: Jacob and Pre Lives On.
To the winners: e-mail me your contact info and shoe size if necessary. To everyone else: thanks very much for your participation!
**
Our Random Shot of Beauty comes from the aforementioned long day on the trail:
Pardee Reservoir in Calaveras County, as seen during the Mokelumne 50-Mile Ultra. Full race report to follow this week.
One more photo from the day: we'll call this a Random Shot of "How the Heck Did This Happen?":
Team Soft Star gets the win! That would be me, holding my first place award. Just don't ask how many people were actually in the race. Seriously ... Just. Don't.
Hopefully the race report will clear things up - assuming, that is, that I can make sense of it myself.
Get updates as soon as they're posted! Click here to subscribe to Running and Rambling.
Check out the Running Life book for a collection of our most popular columns.
New Balance Minimus Zero Trail winners: Keith Gates and Louisa
GU Energy Performance Sampler Pack winners: Jacob and Pre Lives On.
To the winners: e-mail me your contact info and shoe size if necessary. To everyone else: thanks very much for your participation!
**
Our Random Shot of Beauty comes from the aforementioned long day on the trail:
Pardee Reservoir in Calaveras County, as seen during the Mokelumne 50-Mile Ultra. Full race report to follow this week.
One more photo from the day: we'll call this a Random Shot of "How the Heck Did This Happen?":
Team Soft Star gets the win! That would be me, holding my first place award. Just don't ask how many people were actually in the race. Seriously ... Just. Don't.
Hopefully the race report will clear things up - assuming, that is, that I can make sense of it myself.
Get updates as soon as they're posted! Click here to subscribe to Running and Rambling.
Check out the Running Life book for a collection of our most popular columns.
April 19, 2012
Team Soft Star Heads to the Hills
Admin note: if you haven’t done so already, be sure to enter the two giveaway contests currently underway, for the New Balance Minimus Zero Trail, and the GU Energy sampler packs. Winners of both contests will be announced Saturday night, but not until late, because …
**
It’s race season! Somewhere in the midst of all those training miles, winter turned to spring – and spring brings with it the first major tests of the year. I have two of them coming up in short succession, beginning with a 50-miler on Saturday in the Sierra foothills.
That’s why I was excited to see the following box arrive last week:
Team Soft Star gear! Actually, the brown slippers aren’t part of my sponsorship deal – they’re a replacement pair of insanely comfortable Roo slippers that my wife forced me to buy, because apparently after nearly three years of wearing a pair almost every single day (usually without socks) they start to develop an odor. Or something like that.
As for the swag: the gray piece on the right is the first-of-its kind Team Soft Star jacket! Last year I did two ultras in pouring rain, so I didn’t get to “flash the logo” nearly as often as I wanted to – so the company responded by springing for a jacket I can wear in similar race conditions this year. Predictably, the weather for tomorrow’s race is supposed to be in the 90s, so I suspect the jacket may wait for another day.
The other item, of course, is a race-ready pair of original RunAmoc Lites, which will most likely be my gear of choice for big events throughout the racing season. There’s nothing like the smell of new leather and the feel of a freshly knobbed outsole to get me excited about trail running.
And if you’re wondering about the paper in the background:
Here’s what distinguishes companies like Soft Star and guys like me from the big-name players in ultrarunning. Real athletes are sponsored by companies like Montrail and The North Face, and have shoes named after them or glossy ad campaigns built around them. I get a handwritten good luck card from a workshop of Elves – and honestly, I wouldn’t trade it for the world.
Get updates as soon as they're posted! Click here to subscribe to Running and Rambling.
Check out the Running Life book for a collection of our most popular columns.
**
It’s race season! Somewhere in the midst of all those training miles, winter turned to spring – and spring brings with it the first major tests of the year. I have two of them coming up in short succession, beginning with a 50-miler on Saturday in the Sierra foothills.
That’s why I was excited to see the following box arrive last week:
Team Soft Star gear! Actually, the brown slippers aren’t part of my sponsorship deal – they’re a replacement pair of insanely comfortable Roo slippers that my wife forced me to buy, because apparently after nearly three years of wearing a pair almost every single day (usually without socks) they start to develop an odor. Or something like that.
As for the swag: the gray piece on the right is the first-of-its kind Team Soft Star jacket! Last year I did two ultras in pouring rain, so I didn’t get to “flash the logo” nearly as often as I wanted to – so the company responded by springing for a jacket I can wear in similar race conditions this year. Predictably, the weather for tomorrow’s race is supposed to be in the 90s, so I suspect the jacket may wait for another day.
The other item, of course, is a race-ready pair of original RunAmoc Lites, which will most likely be my gear of choice for big events throughout the racing season. There’s nothing like the smell of new leather and the feel of a freshly knobbed outsole to get me excited about trail running.
And if you’re wondering about the paper in the background:
Here’s what distinguishes companies like Soft Star and guys like me from the big-name players in ultrarunning. Real athletes are sponsored by companies like Montrail and The North Face, and have shoes named after them or glossy ad campaigns built around them. I get a handwritten good luck card from a workshop of Elves – and honestly, I wouldn’t trade it for the world.
Get updates as soon as they're posted! Click here to subscribe to Running and Rambling.
Check out the Running Life book for a collection of our most popular columns.
