Break-Time

Well I suppose it was inevitable. I am officially burned out on running!
I knew it about 15 miles into my last Ultra. A 50k in Hunstville. I made the first lap in 2:40 and had no motivation from the get go on the second lap. I forced myself to run, however, but didn't put any thought behind my running. I wasn't eating, and I wasn't drinking nearly enough. To say the least I finished at 6 hrs and some change. I finished, got my medal, congratulated my brother on a 3rd place finish in 4:05 and quietly asked myself if I would pick training back up and head to Leadville like I had planned. The answer to that so far has been "No". Its been a month and a week. To fill the free time I started cycling. I have yet to even put on my running shoes. I can't say that I miss it. So for now I changed the title to the blog to Elwell's Ultra Adventures, as I am planning on some 100+mile rides, maybe a few 24 hour rides, or I have even been eyeballing this 1200k.
We'll see.
It does make me think back, however, to my first few months as an "Ultra" runner. I wondered why runners ever stopped training. I couldn't understand why they had off-season and training season season and race season. It was quite simply too much for my simple mind to understand why people wouldn't want to stay in "race" shape at all times. Well I guess I have my answer! You get burned out. Life gets in the way. For me work is in the way. I started going back to school. A new relationship. I do however understand why there is an off-season. Luckily I thin k for me is that it is becoming summer in Texas, and that's as good a time as any for an off-season. I'll keep my lungs fresh by riding all summer than maybe by mid winter I'll be ready to kick some more Ultra Marathon ass. If not I'd bet I'll be competing in some cycling events. I've already got my eyes on a few!
So with that happy running(and cycling)
-Jeremy-

To Help a friend clear her name:

Recently a friend from BatWorld sanctuaries(the charity I ran 105miles in 30hours to support) has ungone an ordeal with a woman trying to slander her name and her organization. After several attempts to stop her and a court order, it still occurs.
In attempt to help Amanda fight this I agreed to post a link to a site to help her save face.
Please help her in any way possible.
Thanks Jeremy,


http://amandalollar.com/ and please also link http://www.batworld.org

CowTown 50k--02/27/2011

Cowtown 50k

My first official race of 2011 is an official finish. My finish time of 5:46:46 is 10 minutes better than last year, yet still 46 minutes slower than I had anticipated. I was trying to beat 5 hours. I suppose my training was not quite where I thought it was. However, the first 16 miles were awesome for me. Then somewhere between 16 and 17 I hit “the Wall”. I kept my legs moving and kept telling myself I’d be re-motivated once I hit 20. Finally I hit 20. I felt better at this point. I popped some Advil's I stashed in my camelbak, and a few endurolyte caplets. It was also very encouraging hearing all the fans yelling “only 5 more miles”, “only 3 more miles”, “almost finished” even if I did know they were yelling to the Marathoners and I could add 5 miles to anything they yelled. The 25 miles mark is roughly where we split off from the marathoners. It was at this point I felt that “toughness” I feel during an Ultra. That knowing I am going further than most. Somehow this drives me to keep truckin’ along. Seeing the other Ultra runners walking in front of me is also a driving factor, perhaps it’s my competitive spirit kicking in 26 miles into a run. So at this point I am shuffling, music playing, feeling good. I pass maybe 6 runners. My quads and calves start cramping nicely, and the sun finally pops out and warms it up to about 80, which does not help the cramping. The weather turned a bit warmer than I was used to running in, especially in February. Then the “extra” 5 miles for the 50k runner met back up with the marathoners. This placed in with all the “walkers” and those who could no longer run and were just praying for a finish line. I received some odd looks I ran by, stop to massage out a cramp in my calf, and start running again. Finally I turned the corner and see the last stretch to the finish line. In full sunshine I push through some nausea and head for a strong “looking” finish. So 50 yards from the finish line I push on with 2 cramping calves(so bad my feet were no longer flexing, just flat foot stomping), 1 burning quad, 1 crampy quad, a queasy stomach, and a big cheesy grin on my face because I just crossed the finish line. 3 years completed. Also a very real outlook of where I am as far as training. I think if it were a 50 miler, I would have paced myself better at the beginning. I would have eaten better, stayed hydrated better, and all in all took care of myself a little more. That being said I think I would have had a 11 hour 50 mile finish time, which ain’t half bad if ya ask me!


A comment on the venue for Cowtown since it was all new this year. My only complaint was packet pick-up. The fitness expo seemed lacking like several vendors did not show or want to participate this year. Also, they forced you to pay for parking. Sure it was only $5, but come on I’m only going to pick up my race packet. 20 minutes tops. Other than that I heard a lot of complaints about corrals and race starts but I think it was ok. They had 5 corrals, and delayed starts for each corral. For example I was in corral 4. It took 14 minutes for me to cross the start line. Normally this would bug me, but with a chip timed event who cares! If I was going for a PR or an attempt to win I would have been lined up in corral 1 anyway. I think the new start/finish location really opened it up for the fans to be able to see the finish. This year made things less crowded, and parking was way more manageable. The course was nearly the same with the downtown portions cut out, and some “ghetto” portions added. The ghetto was cool though because even they were outside supporting us and every kids seemed to enjoy seeing all the runners.

Good Run, Good Day -Jeremy

Cedar Ridge Preserve 12/26/2010

Today was day one of my plan to run DFW area trails. I found a few close by that I knew were paved, too short, or were a pay to enter type of trail. Not what I was looking for.
Then I stumbled onto Cedar Ridge Preserve (thanks Trails.com). I'd heard of before when looking for mountain bike trails and usually just disregarded it because they don't allow bikes. They do not allow anything but hikers, walkers, and runners. From what I read it was 6 loops and roughly 6 miles. Exactly what I was looking for.
Contact Info:
Cedar Ridge Preserve
7171 Mountain Creek Parkway
Dallas, Texas 75249
972-709-7784

When I arrived there were about 20-30 cars parked. This initially concerned me. I don't like running around a lot of people. I wanted to enjoy the trails...alone!
I noticed one lady with a big German Shepard and signs saying pets must be on a leash, so I'm guessing pets are welcome.
Fortunately, I only saw a handful of people, all hikers, and all very polite. Well to me anyhow(see Angry Asian below). Here is a link to my route:
View Cedar Ridge Preserve 2010-12-26 in a larger map
Picture of the entry way into the preserve I took them on my way out....which is why they are nighttime shots...


So I started off...trails were very well marked. Very well maintained. Very enjoyable.
as you will notice I did about 7 miles but stopped to snap a pic of anything that caught my eye.
Here are a few of the trail:

Here are few of my favorite shots I got of the pond.
Right before I found this overlook picture below, there was an older Asian couple I passed. I said hello, they ignored me. I stopped to pull out my camera and the guy started yelling at some rocks. He then proceed to angrily kick all the loose rocks from the trail. I can only imagine he fell previously. I really, really really, wanted to ask the guy what he expected to find on a nature trail! I did get some satisfaction in the fact that I figured he busted his butt on a rock, AND that he'd probably never be back! And of course the view made me forget all about him.


So to wrap things up...their are 6 loops. Took me 7 miles. At the back of the preserve their was an awesome pond worth stopping and checking out(see pics above). The 2 difficult loops are as they are listed. Difficult. Not impossible or impassible, Just pretty steep climbs for the area! On 2 occasions I slowed to a walk and labored up. On several more occasions I felt these lungs burning as I gasped for air while climing. But like any good uphill....there is a downhill, these were typically fast and fun. A few parts of the trails were covered in leaves and became a bit slippery. Despite the full day of rain we had 2 days ago, the trails were in good shape. Only about a mile stretch became even slightly muddy. It wasn't anything sloppy and gooshy. Mostly just sticky.
The park closes at 6. I was minding my time closes. I started the last trail with 20 minutes left. I took a wrong turn and popped out in a neighborhood. I had to back track and as soon as I got back on trail I found a tower. Here is a pic I took from up there:

Made it back to my truck at 5:52pm I was the only vehicle left. Worth mentioning is: I did not see a single piece of trash at all anywhere! (this is very rare for the metroplex)
What a great day!



Here are the remainder of the pictures I thought were worth sharing. Makes it hard to believe this is only minutes outside of Dallas. And right in the mess of the DFW metroplex.

A few pictures at a stream crossing. In fact I believe it was the only stream crossing. There was a bench here that would of made a nice spot to sit and relax.

This tree stopped me in my tracks. Not sure why it did, but it sure makes a nice picture!And few of the view

-Jeremy-
www.crazyaboutultras.com

back at it....

o my blog has not been all that I hoped it would be.

I have 1 anonymous follower and my blogging has become a bit stale. I fear I have not even lived up to the title I have given it. “Elwell’s Running Adventures”. I had a few adventures. More setbacks though. After my most recent exploit: “Running for WILD”, in which I ran 105 miles through the DFW area in 30:01, I was terribly burned out on running. I followed this run up with a 25 mile pace run with my brother Jacob. He did a similar solo effort but went 160 miles. I think I over trained for my 105 miler. It was essentially like working a second job for 3 months. Then the day came and went and I questioned myself why I would want to do something like that ever again. Then 3 weeks later my younger brother does over 50 miles further. Then I had to ask myself “Does it ever end?” “Do we just keep running further and further?” “How much can my body AND MIND take of this?” My answer was, and still, is I just don’t know. Since September I haven’t completely quit running. I was still doing 5-10 miles a week with my dogs. I still maintain www.crazyaboutultras.com. I still pay close attention the upcoming races. I did however use my time to lift weights and get into a bit of mountain biking. I built up a decent 4x4 vehicle and took it off road a few times.

So I imagine you know where this is going.

I am really gaining a sense of adventure. Some one on expeditionportal.com called it “wanderlust”. That sums it up perfectly. I have been lusting to simply disappear into some deep forest land and truly enjoy nature. I have researched trails and forest all over the US. I know more 4x4 trails, mountain biking trails, assumed routes, and paths, but I have yet to actually ride them or drive them. I have a deep desire to throw caution to the wind and get rid of everything I own and simply hit the road.

Fortunately, for my loved ones, I have been working on a reasonable solution. I will keep my job. As miserable as it makes me sometimes, it still pays fairly well. That and I’m on my second semester of college. YES! After 10 years I have gone back to school.

But I still have that wanderlust to soothe.

My plans are to use my days off, my vacations, any free time I can russle up and start overlanding.

Overlanding: the self-reliant over land travel to remote destinations where the journey is the principle goal.

I will finish my vehicle and make it an adequate overland vehicle. It will be capable of sustaining myself, another person, and 2 dogs comfortably for up to a week or 2 at a time. Coupled with this, I will tote mountain bikes and running gear.

Did I forget to mention I am running again? I have signed up for the cowtown 50k. I am back to training. This time around I promise not to take it so serious it feels like a job. My goal is 4:30 finish time, or a top ten finish. There are a few other races that have captured my enthusiasm again. For now I will be sticking to 50k/50milers and working on building up a decent speed. I’ll leave the long 100/150/200miles to my younger brothers! I enjoy sleeping through the night….not running (or sleep running as we call it).

Back to overlanding…I want to travel to remote locations, backwoods, back country and wilderness areas. Some place that isn't a campground. Some place that isn't a massive tourist location. Somewhere that will require 4wheel drive to get to. I can setup a primitive camp site, i.e. tent only, and enjoy nature. Then, with my free time, I intend to explore further via mountain bike. If I don’t feel like mountain biking then I will run. If I don’t feel like running, I will hike. And if I don’t feel like doing anything at all….then I won’t.

Now I know this all sounds wonderful, but I have one weekend off every 3 weeks, and 2 weeks of vacation a year. Not necessarily the kind of time to do the exploring and traveling I have in mind. Especially seeing that Texas is only 3% public land and therefore I would be traveling quite awhile just to find some backcountry/wilderness to enjoy. To soothe my soul while I am unable to travel I will stay close to home. I have discovered tons of hiking/biking trails in the DFW area and Texas, as a mater of fact.

So in my days off or my free time I will run as many of these as I can. I will bike the rest! My training partner (who dislikes running) will be content to ride alongside me while I run. If the trails allow it, the dogs can come too. Hopefully this will account for majority of my training and the dogs training!

Other sports that are becoming very intriguing are rock climbing, kayaking, and canoing.

Eventually I will have my degree. I will have a job that allows me the freedom to do what I want when I want. Maybe a few trips and this will be out of my system. May a few trips and I will be moving to the mountains. I don’t know. Maybe next year I will have a strong desire to move up with my company and make lots of money. All that I know is that for now I have what some call “wanderlust” and I must get away.

Sorry for the lengthy post! If anyone reads this….lol….I do intend to keep at it! I do intend to give trip reports! I do intend to take a kazillion pictures too!

And if anyone in the areas in down to tag along let me know. I have plans on becoming a NTTR member (north Texas trail runners www.nttr.org). I also want to find a 4x4 club, or maybe meet up with some other Ford Bronco owners.

2011 races I am looking forward to:

Cowtown Ultra (50k)--February 26^th

Nuesces 50 mile in Rocksprings TX--March 5^th

Leadville SilverRush 50 mile mountain bike—July(Saturday)

Leadville SilverRush 50 miles trail run---------July(Sunday)

Happy adventuring,

Jeremy

Follow all my current exploits at
www.rfwtraininglog.blogspot.com

Thanks and happy running,
Jeremy

What I am up to now:

So the year seems to be slipping away from me and I have only two Ultras under my belt.
Fortunately we are heading into running season. At least for Ultras.
I have a charity run planned on September 24th. I will be running across the DFW area, 105 miles in under 30 hours, to raise money for DFW Wildlife coalition and BatWorld. Please check out the website and help if you can. www.runningforwild.com
I still cant help but feeling I should knock out a few races in the meantime. The brothers are doing the Leadville 100, which I have already decided against. Too much money, and too far away. I really don't want to use up a weeks vacation to kill myself in the mountains.
So check back often see what I'm up to. I plan to do some crazy runs to promote the Running For Wild. Also keep track of my training. I will have a daily/weekly blog on there.

Thanks for reading,

Jeremy