Race Report: My First 50k

Or, “The Bluff Course is Actually Shaped Like a Cherry”

I could say all the normal things about my first 50k, like how intense, dramatic, or world-changing this half-day race had turned out to be. Or, how the training worked, the diet held up, the equipment was well-planned. Instead, with tongue firmly in cheek, I would like to describe how the first 50k in fact closely mirrors another important milestone in life - the loss of virginity.

You see, like my 50k race, the voyage into maturity also required a great deal of training and experimentation. It’s not like reading a book can quite prepare you for everything that you might experience or encounter. Much like the 50k, the journey into adulthood required research, planning, coaching, and a good deal of strategy and luck. Here are some of the things that I found were similar - or very different - between the two events. Read more

Race Hydration - Pack versus Bottle

With less than 1 week before The Bluff 50k, I’m pretty consumed on mentally rehearsing the race day. What to bring, what to wear, what to eat (how to eat?), and my overall race / pace strategy. This is my first ‘ultra’ distance event, and I’m clearly excited. So, one of the topics that came up during my brainstorming centered around whether to wear my hydration pack, or carry a bottle & refill at aid stations only. I won’t go into the history (and will also ask that Guthrie and Iggy don’t let my previous ‘pre-race’ hydration faux-pas out of the bag). Let’s just say that I’m keenly aware of staying hydrated before & during a race, so this is something I’ve been thinking a great deal about lately. Read more

Travelling Bimbler: Crowder’s Mountain State Park - Charlotte, NC

I figure since I have to travel, I might as well see some sights. I don’t usually opt for the “cultural” sights of the city, but the more challenging, geographic kinds. This trip I venture outside of Charlotte, NC and head to Crowder’s Mountain State Park. Read more

Daddy Blog: Logistics of a Run

I’m here to come clean. Sometimes, I feel guilty for not running with the pack. I also sometimes (more these days) feel guilty for not being at home with little Boris and Natasha as well. It is often very difficult to prioritize family and personal and work all at the same time. So difficult, in fact, that I often suffer from the dreaded “Analysis Paralysis” (which I’ve learned does not have to do with incapacitating oneself from the wrong end).

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