Team Endorphins placed 6th in Masters category and 17th overall out of 52 teams:
http://www.greenwayrace.org/races/ogar-2009/final/
Here are our split times:
http://www.greenwayrace.org/races/ogar-2009/teams/endorphins/
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Ozark Greenways Adventure (Mud) Race 2009
An adventure it was. This year on the day before
the race they scrapped the canoe section and had to go to plan B. Rivers were just too high to be safe. Although the week before would have been even more exciting - see graph of river stages.
It rained the night before the race, and was raining early on the course. Made for a wet day, although it was nice and cool all day.
The mud on the MTB sections got to border on ridiculous. It was like riding in a stream all day... Our bodies and bike were covered in mud. See photo of the bike. With leadership from captain Ben Craig, and support from other team members Frank Zanaboni and Sherri Shaughnessy, we finished in a respectable 8 hours 30 minutes +, and in (unofficial) 6th place in Masters (old geezer) division and 17th overall out of 55 teams +/-.
As always, a well supported race, with awesome volunteers and a great cause. And it always reminds me I am human....
Sunday, February 8, 2009
White Rock Classic 2009
The race that almost did not happen... Ice storm damage in NW Arkansas was a factor in the RD decision to keep the race on.
On Wednesday the 4th, the website proclaimed "After getting the latest reports from authorities in the area, the White Rock Classic is indeed ON for February 7th. The forest roads used by the course are open, but be prepared to see a lot of devastation from the recent ice." The damage at the top of WRM was extensive, but crews have been working to clear the roads and restore power. As of this writing power had not been restored to the house, cabins and lodge.
I drove up Friday afternoon after assessing ice storm damage at my folks house in Tecumseh, MO. It was in the 60's when I got to White Rock, very uncommon for this time of year. Since there were only 5 of us staying, we took Cabin C which has a fireplace and enough beds for 5 guys. The 09 group included thirteen year old Jackson Eiken, and his dad Donnie; James Silverstone from Hot Springs; my adventure racing team mate, Larry Vernon and myself.
There was (as usual) a gorgeous sunset Friday evening.
I drove in 'the back way' but everyone else came up WRM Road - all three of them missed a turn because of the way the signs were facing.
All except Larry made it in time for a romantic dinner by the fire - remember, no power. Larry got in about 11, and got last pick of beds. Sorry Larry...
Next morning we drove down top the start and began the process of 'what do I wear, what do I take. I chose to wear a long sleeve under armour and a wind vest and shorts. I took a windbreaker but never did pull it out.
At Turners Bend store we found this Ale (Ail) and bought a 6 pack ($13.26 - it was so expensive because they burned witches to create the fire to brew the ail, the store clerk said)
The rest of the run for me was all about nursing my ankle with naproxin sodium (aleve) and pacing myself on the climbs. I ran into Jack about 5 miles from the finish who ended up with digestion problems. He DNF'd but is ready to try again next year. Larry finished the 25K fun run in 2:55, and I limped in at 4:11 (a new slowest PR for me). James turned around at the 10.2 mile aid station to get in a 20 mile day. White Rock is always about the friendship and camaraderie more than the race anyway. We had a great time, and I booked the lodge again for Feb 5 and 6 2010.
On Wednesday the 4th, the website proclaimed "After getting the latest reports from authorities in the area, the White Rock Classic is indeed ON for February 7th. The forest roads used by the course are open, but be prepared to see a lot of devastation from the recent ice." The damage at the top of WRM was extensive, but crews have been working to clear the roads and restore power. As of this writing power had not been restored to the house, cabins and lodge.
I drove up Friday afternoon after assessing ice storm damage at my folks house in Tecumseh, MO. It was in the 60's when I got to White Rock, very uncommon for this time of year. Since there were only 5 of us staying, we took Cabin C which has a fireplace and enough beds for 5 guys. The 09 group included thirteen year old Jackson Eiken, and his dad Donnie; James Silverstone from Hot Springs; my adventure racing team mate, Larry Vernon and myself.
There was (as usual) a gorgeous sunset Friday evening.I drove in 'the back way' but everyone else came up WRM Road - all three of them missed a turn because of the way the signs were facing.
All except Larry made it in time for a romantic dinner by the fire - remember, no power. Larry got in about 11, and got last pick of beds. Sorry Larry...
Next morning we drove down top the start and began the process of 'what do I wear, what do I take. I chose to wear a long sleeve under armour and a wind vest and shorts. I took a windbreaker but never did pull it out.
At Turners Bend store we found this Ale (Ail) and bought a 6 pack ($13.26 - it was so expensive because they burned witches to create the fire to brew the ail, the store clerk said)
Here are the 4 of us - Jack (looking confident) James, (not sure yet if he is doing the 25K, or doing 10 and coming back for 20) me (thinking I'm not ready for this...) and Larry (how do I use this Garmin Forerunner anyway?)
And in a blur, we were off like a herd of turtles. Headed straight up the first climb - for me this is always the toughest part, getting into a rhythm. It took me a couple of miles to get settled in. (Larry, James, Jack and I)
The rest of the run for me was all about nursing my ankle with naproxin sodium (aleve) and pacing myself on the climbs. I ran into Jack about 5 miles from the finish who ended up with digestion problems. He DNF'd but is ready to try again next year. Larry finished the 25K fun run in 2:55, and I limped in at 4:11 (a new slowest PR for me). James turned around at the 10.2 mile aid station to get in a 20 mile day. White Rock is always about the friendship and camaraderie more than the race anyway. We had a great time, and I booked the lodge again for Feb 5 and 6 2010.
I saw the strangest thing on the way home. See this picture and see what you think. 5 dead 
armadillos... It was a bit bizarre and surreal.
armadillos... It was a bit bizarre and surreal. Monday, December 8, 2008
Always time for a trail...
Just before my trip to Phoenix I contracted a cold, then as the conference approached I felt better, but lost my voice. Between meetings, receptions, and dinner parties, my partner Doug Jackson and I found a couple of hours to ride the trails around Verrado - his neighborhood in the West Valley at the base of the White Tank Mountains.
Weather was sunny, in the 60's with a light wind. Uphill sections were warm, with a little chill on the downhill. (that's why I wore the fleece vest).
Thursday, October 30, 2008
About Daylight Savings...
I once heard an american indian say 'Only a white man would think that he could cut 6 inches from one end of the blanket, sew it to the other end, and think he has a longer blanket."
Last Daylight
On the last week before we change time, I'm squeezing in some daylight runs and rides before getting the lights out. I was able to get in a one hour MTB ride yesterday, and the forst was absolutely gorgeous at last light. The west sky was glowing, and simply 'lit up' the little maple tree in the woods.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Dogwood 25K / 50K - Day 2
Next morning came fast. I got up at 5, and was at the start area by 5:30 with my notes to announce to the race participants, and to take in a relaxing 25K run in sweep position. Then as the crowd started gathering and registration was going on, something changed the whole day. We were informed that nobody had seen Dean all night, or this morning. Panic struck us all, not only for Dean's safety, but he was a lynch pin in the morning logistics for volunteers and aid stations. We all sprung into action. Chad went searching for Dean on the trail. Mike and I started figuring out what needed to take place to get aid stations set up and volunteers on the course. Barney Fife started (yes, Barney was there...) started making announcements on the bullhorn.
It was very soon that we found out Dean found the same hole we did with the jeep, with no radio on hand, and no cell service, he simply slept (sort of) in the jeep, in the creek, all night. We were all thankful he was OK, but had to keep moving to get this race on the trail.
One of my announcements (among others) was that the course would cross the state line into Arkansas. And not to worry, because even though there was no 'line' on the ground denoting the state line. that the racers would know they are in Arkansas. Amber had hired a couple of bonafide Silver Dollar City hillbillies to sit in the woods at the state line....
With the bang of Barney's single bullet, the race was off. I hung back to make sure the rest of the race logistics were in place, then started walking. As I hit the woods, I started a slow jog, and within 50 yards of leaving the pavement came the first of many creek crossings.
I was less than 3 miles into the race when I saw a blur of three guys going past me the other way. This was the elite runners, who had already completed 9 miles at a blistering pace (the averaged a 7:23 pace on the 50K)
I yelled at them, to no avail, that they were headed the wrong way. Later I find out that Aid Station 1 had set up their table right in front of the signs we placed out the day before... Lesson #1 (of many) don't leave the set up of the tables to volunteers.
The route had multiple stream crossings (one of which had a jeep right in the way) and 8 major clims on the 25K course. The 50 K was a reverse of the 25K and thus had 16 major climbs. Over 9000 feet of elevation gain on the 50K course.
The rest of the day went well. I chatted with people, cheered some of them on, and walked with Monty, who taught me the art of picking up trash, which became a twist of fate for me. I had twisted my ankle, and was hobbling a bit, when I saw a Ziploc baggie on the ground. I picked it up to keep the course clean, and voila - inside were 4 Advil. Just what I needed when i needed them. I spent time talking to each aid station, and checking in on race radio to help coordinate last runners on the course, bag drop off pickup, and aid station supplies.
In the end I finished the 25K in about 3:20 moving time, 4:45 elapsed time. When finished I ate a bison burger (mm mm) and then took a load of boy scouts to one of the aid stations to begin packing up. On my way back to base I noticed the engine sputtering. Funny, it feels like it's out of gas, but the gauge reads 'Full'. So I eased it back to the aid station and called Chad up on the radio. 'Sounds like my jeep is out of gas, but the gage reads Full'. Chad replies 'It always reads 'Full'. Nick, lets take him a gas can...'
That's how my day ended, waiting on a can of gas so I could make my last trip on the course back to the Start / Finish line. It was a gorgeous day. Mid 60's a nice crisp breeze, leaves of every color on the trees, and sunlight through the forest. That's how I'll remember the first race that I help set up, and also participated in. I'm already thinking about what we can do to make next year better!
It was very soon that we found out Dean found the same hole we did with the jeep, with no radio on hand, and no cell service, he simply slept (sort of) in the jeep, in the creek, all night. We were all thankful he was OK, but had to keep moving to get this race on the trail.
One of my announcements (among others) was that the course would cross the state line into Arkansas. And not to worry, because even though there was no 'line' on the ground denoting the state line. that the racers would know they are in Arkansas. Amber had hired a couple of bonafide Silver Dollar City hillbillies to sit in the woods at the state line....
With the bang of Barney's single bullet, the race was off. I hung back to make sure the rest of the race logistics were in place, then started walking. As I hit the woods, I started a slow jog, and within 50 yards of leaving the pavement came the first of many creek crossings.
I was less than 3 miles into the race when I saw a blur of three guys going past me the other way. This was the elite runners, who had already completed 9 miles at a blistering pace (the averaged a 7:23 pace on the 50K)
I yelled at them, to no avail, that they were headed the wrong way. Later I find out that Aid Station 1 had set up their table right in front of the signs we placed out the day before... Lesson #1 (of many) don't leave the set up of the tables to volunteers.
The route had multiple stream crossings (one of which had a jeep right in the way) and 8 major clims on the 25K course. The 50 K was a reverse of the 25K and thus had 16 major climbs. Over 9000 feet of elevation gain on the 50K course.
The rest of the day went well. I chatted with people, cheered some of them on, and walked with Monty, who taught me the art of picking up trash, which became a twist of fate for me. I had twisted my ankle, and was hobbling a bit, when I saw a Ziploc baggie on the ground. I picked it up to keep the course clean, and voila - inside were 4 Advil. Just what I needed when i needed them. I spent time talking to each aid station, and checking in on race radio to help coordinate last runners on the course, bag drop off pickup, and aid station supplies.
In the end I finished the 25K in about 3:20 moving time, 4:45 elapsed time. When finished I ate a bison burger (mm mm) and then took a load of boy scouts to one of the aid stations to begin packing up. On my way back to base I noticed the engine sputtering. Funny, it feels like it's out of gas, but the gauge reads 'Full'. So I eased it back to the aid station and called Chad up on the radio. 'Sounds like my jeep is out of gas, but the gage reads Full'. Chad replies 'It always reads 'Full'. Nick, lets take him a gas can...'
That's how my day ended, waiting on a can of gas so I could make my last trip on the course back to the Start / Finish line. It was a gorgeous day. Mid 60's a nice crisp breeze, leaves of every color on the trees, and sunlight through the forest. That's how I'll remember the first race that I help set up, and also participated in. I'm already thinking about what we can do to make next year better!
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