Illinois Prairie

As you all know by now, this moose is migratory. I’m currently spending my work-weeks

in the suburban Chicago area, which you might think is just one traffic light after the next. For the most part, you’re right! There’s also plenty of malls, traffic, restaurants, and trivialities to keep the fauna from seeing the floura so to speak.

Through some hoof-stroke work, Google helped me find a respectable “mountain bike” park in Palos Hills, about 20 minutes South of Downers Grove where I’m staying. The Palos Hills Park, or Palos Trail System is managed by the Cook County Forest Preserve, and seems roughly equivalent in size to our beloved Westwoods Preserve.

Trail Map

The Palos Park Trail system is adequately marked (although carrying a map is still useful) and expansive for a city park. To date, I’ve only explored a small section of the trail – which keeps me motivated to get out & go a bit further next time to see more. Each time, I’m rewarded with slight elevation changes (this is Illinois…100 feet of change is major) lightly-packed dirt and sometimes sandy trails, and excellent scenery (all away from traffic).

On my second excursion to the park, I got turned around (didn’t think to bring a map) and ended up around a ’slough’ (rain-fed shallow pond). I stopped to get my bearings, and noticed a female & male deer eating by the pond about 30 feet from me. I have never seen a horned buck on a run before, so I took my time watching & headed quietly away.

Maybe 2 minutes later, I see a small dog trot out on the trail in front of me, maybe 20 yards or so. The dog stopped, and looked at me – and I then realized that it was NOT a dog, but a coyote! The coyote didn’t seem to mind me too much, and certainly had made up it’s mind that the trail was the best route for wherever it was going. The coyote stayed trotting in front of me for a few minutes, me following (amazed, excited, cautious) behind it. That was incredible! And, I’m 30 miles from Chicago…

Bullfrog Lake

The trails have a definite ‘mountain bike’ flavor, with ‘whoop-de-doos’ and neatly positioned logs across streams, etc. Sometimes it’s annoying, and I definitely spend some time thinking about difference between trail runners and mountain bikers. But, I try not to let it bug me too much. For the most part, bikers that I’ve encountered on this trail system are very polite, and announce themselves (and tell me how many of them are coming) which is helpful for a runner.

On my last jaunt, I took an unmarked path for a little side-trip. I came upon a stone marker, which looked a bit ominous. I read the warning, and said to myself “Okay. Radioactive waste is buried here. Oh, there is a marked canister sticking out of the ground. Hmmm… I think I’ll be leaving now!”

CAUTION

Note: I will be sure to document any evidence of 3-eyed or 3-tailed creatures, and report back to the group.

The park has plenty of parking areas with port-a-johns, shelters, and picnic areas. However, the trails are still rarely travelled by runners, and I am sure to see 6-10 bikes along the way. Still better than cars, or staring at myself in a mirror on a treadmill at the hotel.

To date, I’ve explored the northwest quarter of the park. I start out at Red Gate Woods, follow Orange to Green to Blue & circle Bullfrog Lake (haven’t heard any yet). I take the Yellow to a small Black loop, and then head back to the parking area following Orange. This run takes me about 90 minutes, and the pace is decent. So, I think I could easily put a 2.5 – 3 hour run together here, although the park closes at sunset.

The most technical part of the trail are the mountain bike obstacles, and the trenches the bikes leave in the dirt when the trails are wet. I’ve been running in flexible (for me) trail shoes, with no ankle braces (knock, knock, knock) and have been doing well. So, leave the Hardrocks at home, and pack your Kayano’s for this one.

Slough

A new Bimbler’s Sound group has been created on Facebook.

Come as you are!

Bullwinkle

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.

First – equal focus for both events (for first-timers) is placed on the equipment. It’s not the shoes, it’s the runner. I get that. But, tell that to a first timer & you are likely to be quickly dismissed as unsupportive. Of course equipment is key, the rookie is apt to exclaim. Now I know, it has more to do with what you do with it that really matters.

Second – both first times seemed rediculously long! I mean, I struggled for a long time – on the course – and then it was over before I knew it. I’m sure the second time will show dramatically different results, assuming the comparison is valid. The times are only relevant if that is your goal, I know now. If just enjoying the day is what you’re after, then you’re set! Note: I did not see any runners smoking after the race.

Third – the aid stations and rest-stops were a lot of fun. Granted, there were no ice-luges, keg-stands, or funnels to do at the race, but when I approached aid station #5 and asked for a beer…well, let’s just say that it was in the realm of possibility. It was like a progressive dorm party, and therefore very similar.

Fourth – I definitely made some wrong turns. No more needs to be said about that.

Fifth – the event provided a meaningful and lasting memory for me to look back on. I enjoyed myself and only suffered minor bumps and bruising. Road rash was kept to a minimum (thanks to proper planning and practice!).

However – the biggest DIFFERENCE between the two events was definitely this: There wasn’t a lankey, closely-cropped Englishman handing me a towel and shaking my hand at the finish line. I mean, we all have to admit – that would be pretty weird. But, maybe each of us had our own Mr. Bimble patting us on the back, smiling, and telling us to come back next year. Although in my case, it would have been several years later.

I’ll be the first to admit that I see what other people do and tend to think they’ve already figured it out. However, my running experience tells me that it’s not always the case. Running is very personal, and what works best for one person absolutely sucks for someone else. So, I decided to see what kind of data exists on the topic of hydration to help me decide.

What I found most helpful was this incredible article titled “Maintaining Hydration And Peak Run Performance” from Kim Mueller, MS, RD, Sports Nutritionist written back in 2005. The principles Kim lays out – even after months of training – are eye-opening and certainly reinforces the Iggy/Forrest mantra of ‘…drink like a fish…’ during your races. Here are the key points:

1. Don’t wait until you’re thirsty to start drinking. Part of this article is about how most under-replenish fluids during cooler weather. Kim’s point is that you’re still sweating and losing fluids (compounded sometimes by dressing too warmly) and that sub-optimizing your hydration will certainly result in decreases in performance.
2. Start consuming fluids before the race. With the exception of caffeinated beverages, try to consume 16 ounces per hour (I interpreted this as from the time you wake until the race).
3. Know your ’sweat rate’ as well as your SPLIT TIMES! Weighing yourself before and after a training run or race is a decent way to determine the quantities of fluids that are lost during exercise.  There is a formula within the article, and it’s not wise to listen to anything mathematical from me. It does say that the average athlete will lose 1 liter of water per hour, which needs to be replenished in order to maintain hydration and performance levels. I especially liked her case study on the sidebar of the article.
4. Electrolytes! We all know that they are important, but which minerals are most important for us runners?
5. Factor weather into your hydration strategies. Again, just because it’s cooler does not mean that you aren’t sweating and don’t need to replace fluids.

With regards to my decision as to whether to use a hydration pack or a hand-held bottle, I think I’m going to stick with the pack. I’ve trained with it and am comfortable carrying the weight, and like the extra security of having a little extra water in the tank.

Two plugs on equipment: I’m using the Nathan HPL 020 Hydration Pack (thanks for the recommendation Mr. Bimble) purchased from North Cove Outfitters (they have 1 more on the shelf). I’m also a big fan of the Emergen-C brand Electrolyte Powder made by Alacer. You can pick up a box of packets at the Guilford Food Works for about $12. They don’t have any sugar, so my stomach can tolerate them far longer than other powders. The only downside is that they don’t contain any sodium either, so I’ll be supplementing that along the way.

Side note: colleague also mentioned that a hiker / climber was found dead on the trail just a couple months ago. The cause was likely a disastrous mis-step off the trail & into a crevice (or whatever geologists call them). Crevasse???

Undeterred, I strap on the gear – including documentation device (iPhone aka “Bugsy”) and personal security device (aka “Waterbottle”) and hit the trail. I started on the Crowder’s Trail adjacent to the Visitor’s Center & made my way through a coniferous copse. At my friend’s recommendation, I took the Rocktop Trail ascent – which was not unlike our very own Bluff Head Hill. I had to pick my way up from time to time, but would trip into a burst of jogging from time to time. It is indeed very steep & leads up to the summit of Crowder’s Mountain.

The trail actually made me feel at home, it was very similar to Metabasset / Westwoods system – with the exception of the trees (and the heat). After several minutes of quick-step ascent, I found my way to the first plateau & stopped to take some pics. I was heading along the ridgeline up the mountain at this point, and at each break in the treeline, I was rewarded with some awesome vistas.

After passing a few hikers (heading the opposite direction) it became clear that folk at this state park aren’t accustomed to many trail runners. However, my research turned up a small local 50k held each year here on this very trail & directed by a group called the Runners From Hell. For a giggle, read the waiver on their Crowder’s 50k entry form.

On my way to the peak, I was forced with several situations that I hadn’t experienced before. First, I had to leap over quite a few of those darn crevices and “stick the landing” before hopping over another set. To miss would, at a minimum, assure me a cracked ankle and some strawberry legs. At worst, I’m thinking I could have been stuck there for a while half-in & half-out, with mountain goblins pulling me into the mouth of the mountain. Oh my! I hopped carefully though & made it through the difficulties without awakening the Balrog.

The views from either side were tremendous & I really felt like I could see the “Metrolina” area as it was before suburban sprawl reshaped the landscape. There are so many trees in this area and you can easily see piedmont formations ultimately leading to the mountains in the west. I also saw a Waffle House in the distance, so I kept running.

On the way down, I encounted another interesting geological feature of the park: stairs! I mean, come on Bimble! They even have stairs in North Carolina! We need to get busy in Westwoods people! The stairs were, in fact, the WORST part of the run. My size 11 were about 50% too large for each step, so for what I think was approximately 300-350 steps, I had to make the decision as to which step to land on each time. It was too steep to run along side the steps, so I was forced to take it slowly. More descriptions and pictures of the steps can be found in NC Ultrarunner’s blog entry here.

After the stairs and a very steep gravel / scree downhill, I made a sharp left back onto the Crowder’s Trail and returned to the visitors center. The return trip was excellent & gently undulating through a pungent pine forest. I passed one lone runner on the backside, and nearly scared the bejesus out of her. Sorry!

The round trip took me about an hour, discounting for time spent taking pictures and dreaming of Balrogs. My next visit will add the King’s Pinnacle loop, which add another ascent smaller than Crowder’s Peak, but worth the visit according to my colleague. In general, it’s not a weekly run due to the 45-50 minute drive from Charlotte. But, for a challenging long run with some great climbs and speedy descents – it’s worth a return visit or two.

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).

If I get home at 8pm, can I get a run in? Will Boris be sleeping? Will Natasha be working? Will I have to make dinner? Will I have to eat dinner? What time will he nap in the morning? If he naps at 9, can I run then? Will Natasha be home to watch him? Can I get up at 5 and run before everyone wakes up? Will Rocky hate me for waking her up so early?

Balancing this can sometimes lead to mental exhaustion before you even get to the decision. Luckily, Natasha is very flexible (Boris not so much) and we are usually able to work out a compromised schedule that allows her time during the weekends for her work and her personal well-being, while I’m away during the week for my work and (our) financial well-being. I’m into the whole compromise thing. Unfortunately, I’m running less than I’d like to, but hopefully at the benefit of my family.

A great many articles have been written on runners who will do crazy things to schedule time for their runs. Waking up at 4am, running after everyone’s in bed – I even read a story about a mother who would strap her kid into a backpack & run the trails with a 20 pound baby on her back! I don’t think my ‘Wonky’ ankles could bear the Boris weight for more than a mile (I’ve tried running with him in it…it’s like running in salt water).

Craziest of all is not running period – which is why I’m happy to get out from time to time & make the most of it while I’m out. Enjoy the freedom, the silence, the absence of colorful plastic toys – and just run for a bit.

Peace.