Lisa's Crossing

Lisa's crew van

Dr Lisa Bliss starts her Death Valley crossing from Badwater Basin finishing 146 miles on top of Mount Whitney on Monday July 25th 6am PT. Lisa is running solo, unsupported and self contained.

Check out her weblink here: http://www.voaspokane.org/LisaBliss

Good luck my friend.

I like this cartoon for some reason

Back to the Trails

Today I went back to the trails.

It's been one wet spring into summer in the Chicago area. The trails have been wet and therefore muddy and activity such as running and biking easily tears up the trails. Single track is the worst. I've missed the trails but it was for the best.

I did run the trails at McDowell in Naperville but that is mostly wider grass and dirt so dries out quickly. Not so the trails at Knoch Knolls in southern Naperville. The DuPage River runs on both sides of the park where two branches come together. The park easily floods.

Last time I was at Knoch Knolls was during the winter when the trails were covered in snow and ice. With screws in the bottom of some old trail shoes winter running is so easy there and very enjoyable. The trees are bare and nothing is overgrown as nothing has grown yet. You can easily see the forest through the trees and spot the deers staring back at you and the hawk perched high in on the tree branches. Now it is summer with temperatures in the 80s. Due to the rain the trees are very green as is the grass and the vegetation.

It was good to be back at Knoch Knolls.

KK as I like to call it is not the biggest trail system in the area, that would be Palos but it is local and has a good mix of grass trails, some limestone and plenty of single track. There is also a new paved bike trail. Luckily my route which I run most of the time only uses the paved section for around 300 meters.

Today I arrived early and was meet by 60 high school lads doing some cross country training around the sports field. They were moving fast in packs. My plan was to do two loops of my own KK route with the second one being a reverse of the first. Running trails in reverse is almost like running a new trail. The first part is wider grass followed by a nice single track section that runs along the north river branch. It wides around the trails and in the spring is covered in bluebells. Of course I missed those this year. This trail empties outback onto the wide trail before a turn to the left brings me to the prairie crossing which is totally exposed to the sun. Sadly there is also a power line running over head. After a half mile or so I make a right to follow some single track along the south branch river. This trail tends to get overgrown in the summer and that was the case this time. Often it is so bad I can't through so guess I lucked out today. This is also one section that floods easily so I was surprised it was relatively dry. After the small paved section I joined what to this park is a hill "climb" before hitting the longest section of single track which is really 3 tracks that I join together . I love this section as it winds it way through the center of the park but it is know for retaining water and therefore can be muddy which in parts it was. There are also lots of roots and rocks on these sections. Finally I arrive back at the parking area.

The high school runners are gone but I see others coming into the park on foot and bikes plus a few dogs. After fueling up and changing out my water bottles I head back to the trail and do it all again but in reverse. This was the only time I came across bikes on the single track guessing the others I saw all stayed on the paved trail. One lady was powering through the overgrown lower river trail and doing very well. I'd see her again later refueling by her car. The other biker was riding the north river trail which has many roots and of course he had no helmet on. Scary.

It was great to be back on the trails and covering some good distance. It total I ran 8.6 miles and the effort was good most of the way. Nearing the end the sun was getting hotter and I could feel it has I drank most of my water bottle. A fresh ice cold bottle was waiting for me back at the car along with a Clif bar.

I'll be back.

Soldier Field 10

First comment: What a great race.

Never having ran this race which was now in it's 8th year I wanted to do it. Thanks to Clif Bar I was signed up. For me it started on Tuesday when I went to Fleet Feet and picked up my race packet along with four friends. It was one of the smoothest well planned race packet pick ups I've attended in and out in minutes with 5 race bibs, 5 T shirts in varying sizes.

Race morning my friend Danielle picked me up just before 5am and we drove over to a meeting point to collect four Windrunner club members and was headed to Chicago by 5:15am. Easy drive in and smooth parking around 5:40. This is one race it is best to get there early for. Danielle had some race flyers for CARA, I had to go to Clif Bar booth to get a Clif Bar running cap to wear during the race and the others had race packets to get. Back to the car to get ready, no gear check required. Danielle introduced me to more friends, boy is she well known!! We walked over to our race corral. There was six (AA, A, B, C, Open 1, open 2). I had been assigned to A down with the fast guys. I think that was due to Clif Bar. I felt sort of strange at the front so once the gun went off I ran to the side of the road.

The race started on time. First we headed south on either Lake Shore Drive or the frontage roads along side it for almost five miles then back north on the bike and running path. It was a good course even with the marina construction around 31st St.

I am one of those slow runners. I had speed at one time but after getting burned out on running then some medical and injury issues I've not yet got any speed back, distance yes speed no. I thought I could go 2:10 at this race (said I am slow) but deep down wanted to hit 2:00.

Due to being in corral A I hit the first mile in around 9 minutes, too fast. As the course went by my miles got slower. First four averaged just over 10s and I knew I'd slow down. I did but not by that much. I was excited to make the turn around at the big Clif Bar structure and head for home. This is generally one of the best city views you can get and only gets better has you get closer. Not today though as the city was covered in low clouds or fog. It reminded me of of when I got married at Navy Pier 21 years and 2 days ago (May 26) when it was also foggy. Oh well. Around mile 7 my friend Sarah passed me. I coached her to her first marathon many years ago via CARA. Sarah still calls me Coach and did today, love it. Finally I hit McCormick Place at mile nine. Checked my watch. WOW (for me) could I break 1:50. Along the bike path and make the turn on to the start line road along side Soldier Field. We had to head north and into the stadium via the service entrance, through a players tunnel and out onto the field. Fans are in the stands cheering us on, a camera crew is showing us on the jumbtron (nay didn't see myself) and I head across the grass and over the finish line on the half way line. I was done and yes broke 1:50 with a posted finish off 1:49:15. I was pleased with that.

Get a bottle of water. Walk around to soak it in especially as the finish run had gone by so fast. Left the playing field and got a nice medal, food bag and a souvenir blanket.

Easily found Danielle and gang. I was the slowest of the six so they had to wait for me join them, thanks guys. We all had good races. Drive back to western burbs was full of race talk and where to go for breakfast. Hmmm those pancakes and coffee hit the spot.

Soldier Field 10 is a great event. Everything from race sign up to packet pick up to race day organization to the shirts, medals and blankets. Kudos to Fleet Feet.

A big thanks to Clif Bar for my race number and being a race sponsor.
Another big thanks to Danielle for driving us all to the race.

I'll be back but first I have to run some trails just like my blog name.

A Badwater Unsupported Solo

No not by me but by a friend of mine, read on.



Lisa and crew at Badwater Basin before 2007 race (photo by Ian Stevens)

You all know how much I like the Badwater ultramarathon. I've followed the race for years. First was just reading about it then along came the DVD "Running on the Sun" and then friends doing the race and yet more reading and checking results. Finally in 2007 my dream of being part of the race came true when my friend Scott from Downers Grove asked me to be on his crew team. The race blew my mind, unless it was the 125 degree July heat, maybe both. I had an amazing time at that race. In 2008 with no one friends to crew I found an Aussie, Kelvin needing a USA based crew so along with my friend Steve I crewed Badwater again. Kelvin then did the race again in 2009 so I crewed again. Sadly I could not attend in 2010 but followed the race on line and played all my DVDs (five in total), watched You Tube clips etc and even planned a noon time run at Springbrook with Cat.

One of my good friends is Lisa Bliss an ultrarunner from the Midwest currently living in Washington State. Lisa has been the Badwater head MD for years. Lisa as ran the race twice including in 2007 when she won. This year Lisa has decided to do a solo unsupported run from Badwater (282 feet below sea level) to the top of Mt Whitney (highest point in lower 48) in July. The race finishes at the Whitney portal trail head at nearly 9000 feet and after 135 miles. Lisa is going to around 14500 feet and 146 miles. (Race finishes lower due to current government rules). By solo unsupported she will have no support or crew, has to carry all her supplies (food, water, ice etc) in a cart that she'll need to pull or push and accept no help from anyone. Her boyfriend, Tim will be in the Valley for security and safety but that is it.

Here is Lisa's blog report:
http://lisabliss.blogspot.com/2011/05/so-back-to-that-looming-question.html

This will be one long hard run. Even before Lisa gets to Mt Whitney at mile 122 there is miles of straight never ending roads, two mountain passes both around 5,000 feet with long climbs and descents, heat, wind, traffic and did I mention no restocking. Then the climb up Mt Whitney begins. First it is a steady doable uphill until you hit the switchbacks when the grade gets steeper. Then the paved road runs out and Lisa will have to hike 11 miles up steep switchbacks with some sheer drops in possible unpredictable weather than can include wind, rain, ice, lightening, snow - yes in July. Mt Whitney creates its own weather.

If anyone can do it Lisa can. To the best of my knowledge (and what Lisa writes) only one person has ever done a solo unsupported run. Some others have tried but Marshall Ulrich is the only success. Lisa can be number two. www.badwater.com/stories/1999/99ulrichsolo.html

This July will be a busy month for me, first following the Badwater race then following any reports that might come through on my friend Lisa.

If any one can Lisa can.

10 days to go

I am less than 10 days away from my next race and only my second road/paved race in around 4 or 5 years. Looking forward to doing the Soldier Field 10. The race numbers and starting corrals where emailed to the near 15000 runners on Monday night. Packet pickup is next week at Fleet Feet store in Lincoln Park then race day is May 28th at 7.30am.

Although I am excited to do this race not looking forward to the numbers running but I'll just go out and enjoy myself, not everyday or even every month I get to run on the Chicago lakefront these days.

www.soldierfield10.com

Sad News

Media are reporting that Sammy Wanjiru has died from a fall (or jump) off a balcony at his home
http://racingnews.runnersworld.com/2011/05/sammy-wanjiru-dead-at-age-24.html

In 2009 I had the honour of picking Sammy and Richard Limo up at the O'Hare airport and driving them into Chicago for the marathon. I got to spend 2 hours with them, more with Sammy as we had to wait for Richard to get through customs and immigration. Race day Sammy broke the Chicago and North American marathon time by 1 second, worth $100,000. Both guys were so nice. I am in shock

Here's my report from 2009
http://denalifc.blogspot.com/2009/10/driving-olympic-gold-medalist.html