tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27847510993999090822024-03-08T08:58:58.147-08:00Stunt Team EnduranceFaith, family, endurance... The pursuit of clear eyes and a full heart.Anthony Bunthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17063104551284063426noreply@blogger.comBlogger65125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2784751099399909082.post-2495210003638639622013-04-06T22:25:00.000-07:002013-04-06T22:31:35.495-07:00Weiser River 50K! Here I Come!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UlDxU-TjKR4/UWEAdrc_NnI/AAAAAAAAA4I/MBeOx1U2Qrs/s1600/ScreenHunter_01+Apr.+06+23.08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="83" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UlDxU-TjKR4/UWEAdrc_NnI/AAAAAAAAA4I/MBeOx1U2Qrs/s320/ScreenHunter_01+Apr.+06+23.08.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The Facebook announcement!</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The other night I was poking around on Facebook and found a little promo going on through Shu's Idaho Running Company. The promo required emailing the store and stating why I wanted to run the race. They then had a drawing to pick the winners. Lucky me, I get to go run 31 miles again! April 27th, 2013. <br />
<br />
The course should be fast, its flat and slightly downhill (following the river downstream on an old railroad grade). Now, we'll see if my legs are up for it. I'll feel good for the first 15, then its all up in the air. On the 21st of March I was able to put together a great little run in Boise, running the first 8 miles of the Race to Robie course and back down in 2:04. Right after this I had to take some time off. This means I'm coming off a two week layoff with very little running going into this race. I had some non-running related issues keeping me off the trails. I feel good now, and was in great shape before the layoff, so I think I'll be able to sneak in a couple of good workouts on the trails next weekend, and put in some solid miles up until a few days before the race. I think that I'm mentally less confident going into this than Wilson Creek. With Wilson Creek, you knew you were going to be hiking it at some point. This course doesn't provide the shelter of a rocky, steep, mountain climb, but it also means I will be off my feet in less than 5 hours (hopefully). Overall, I'm using this race as a workout to get ready for some secret race plans coming up in June, so no 7 day taper, but definitely taking it easy race week. Stay tuned!Anthony Bunthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17063104551284063426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2784751099399909082.post-28930815862592182192013-04-01T11:44:00.001-07:002013-04-01T11:44:18.704-07:00Goat Heads<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CCnEMBDjOF0/UUG-VlTSLWI/AAAAAAAAA3o/0Zp1YSF8ito/s1600/Goat+Heads.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CCnEMBDjOF0/UUG-VlTSLWI/AAAAAAAAA3o/0Zp1YSF8ito/s640/Goat+Heads.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Some goat heads found in my running shoes after a recent run along Lake Lowell.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Thorns are a part of life in Idaho. The most infamous thorn in our Southern Idaho Desert is the <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tribulus_terrestris" target="_blank">Tribulus terrestris</a></i>, better known as the "Goat Head." These little nasties have been known to stop bike tires in their tracks, even with Slime or other sealants protecting the inner tubes. They can stab into the paws of pets, into bare feet, or puncture the supplemental cushion units in running shoes (let me introduce Nike No-More-Air Trainers; squish, squish, squish). One of the nastiest aspects of these thorns is that they grow outward from a center root, as a blanket across the ground near roadways, sidewalks, or trails. Once the thorn pierces the passerby, the seed is carried away until it breaks off, leaving the thorn impaled into the victim, allowing the plant to disperse into high traffic areas until the trail is a minefield of prickly enemies. You don't even have to be on a trail to get one of these. On more than one occasion I've been cruising along on a smooth, clean piece of asphalt on my road bike and been the unsuspecting victim of these nasty buggers.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AQAKz4w8myA/UVnTE8foDKI/AAAAAAAAA34/vL-Vr8ZKleY/s1600/goat-head+flower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AQAKz4w8myA/UVnTE8foDKI/AAAAAAAAA34/vL-Vr8ZKleY/s320/goat-head+flower.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>If you see this little nasty guy, get your weed spray and go crazy... <br />Photo: Forrest and Kim Starr<br /><a class="external free" href="http://www.hear.org/starr/plants/images/image/?q=030612-0063" rel="nofollow" style="background-color: #444444; background-image: url(data:image/png; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19.1875px; padding-right: 13px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none;">http://www.hear.org/starr/plants/images/image/?q=030612-0063</a></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Goat-heads are mentioned in cycling circles around here in the same way Barack Obama is mentioned at the Republican National Convention. That is to say, they are the scorn of the cyclist. One of the worst things about getting a goat-head is that shortly after embedding itself in your tire the head breaks off, leaving behind the quarter inch thorn, nearly invisible to the untrained eye, so that after you pull over, fix the flat and resume the ride, the little devil will puncture again, leaving you with two flats in the span of about 100 yards. The same thing happens when they get into your pet's paw, working their way deeper into the flesh pad, causing infection and excruciating pain. <br />
<br />
Pardon me while I get all philosophical for a moment...<br />
Thorns come in all shapes and sizes in our lives. (Yup, I went there.) We get stuck by thorns in all aspects of our lives, often when we least expect it, or at least can't see them coming. We can be cruising along in life just fine and then we hear the deflating sound of the air slowly leaking out of our tires (hissss). Sometimes we have what we need to deal with the interruption, other times, we are left powerless and have to get some help. I've changed hundreds of flats over the years of working as a bike mechanic and as an avid rider, but even I have made the call or taken the long and lonely walk home after I've exhausted my supplies of spare tubes, CO2 cartridges, or patches. I've had to throw away shoes that have been ruined, death by pincushion, only after spending my hard-earned money on them. I've seen friends have their pets hobbled, left limping around by a hidden impalement. Just like the goat-heads, thorns in life can do major harm, working deeper and deeper, or cause recurring "flats" after you think you have the problem fixed. Fortunately, in life and in endurance sports, there is always hope for the next day, the next ride, the next run, the next race, etc. Personally, my relationship with Christ brings me hope. For me, its the only flat-protection I can rely on. I know that even if a puncture occurs, I'm not going to be left stranded, that the wound can be healed and that I can be restored and back on my way in no time.<br />
<br />
I have to say that for the past few days I've been dealing with a major thorn. Its hard not to be bitter, to feel hopeless, and have your outlook on the future skewed by the negative impacts of a small but significant set-back. My wife helped me snap out of it, but truthfully, being positive about the future when the thorn is still deeply embedded is very difficult. I had to be reminded of the hope that occurs through the healing of Christ in my life. I also had to be reminded that even in the midst of the lonely walk home, carrying the bicycle in one hand and the carbon fiber super-shoes that make great pedaling platforms but very poor walking devices in the other hand, you're still out there, in the midst of life; and the choice exists to make something good out of that walk or to be scornful and bitter. I've noticed a lot of things when forced to slow down because of a thorn that I would have missed otherwise. In the midst of a set-back, look at in a positive way, if you can, ask Christ to help, and enjoy the moment for what it is, not what it could have been. Anthony Bunthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17063104551284063426noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2784751099399909082.post-36200605708319902512013-02-20T12:42:00.001-08:002013-02-20T12:42:53.836-08:00Stories from the run...Sometimes its hard to find the time to workout. Often for me, a time constraint gets me going much harder than I would otherwise; for example, running my fastest effort of the year for 5k the day after running my longest continuous run. My wife is my best training partner as she will give me time to go out and I'll try to squeeze as much out of that time as possible. I have had some of my best rides and runs ever after being given a time constraint that results in an disgruntled stare if I break in the door late. I wish I could say that I was always back on time, but that would be a gross overstatement. Once, when I was a fit and fast cyclist, I set out on a 50 mile ride which I blasted through and finished in 2.5 hours, solo. I was quite impressed with myself, until I realized that I was a half-hour late... sorry Michelle. <br />
<br />
Last night, I had 25 minutes so I took off on what was to be a quick jog. The air was crisp and as I settled into the motion of running I felt a little pep in the legs; it was a good night to run fast. I picked up the pace after half a mile and mentally committed to the effort. The run from the day before began to show its effects as the sub-7 pace started to feel a bit labored, "too late to slow down now though, gotta go under 21:00 for 3 miles." Mile 1 ticked by and my Garmin beeped, revealing mile one to have taken 7:16. Running fast hurt, but it was a good kind of hurt. I passed houses where people sat inside, lights on, in the warmth of a comfy couch, staring at a glowing box, feeling much less alive than I was feeling at the moment. <br />
<br />
Entering a dark area of my route, my headlamp lit up just enough to keep me from tripping. Mile two, 6:46, now that was more like it... As I turned the corner to head home, I was no longer running, but soaring from the joy of running fast through the night. My legs were churning around 6:20 pace now and I felt completely alive. "Too peppy" I thought, better keep it realistic. Mile three beeped on my watch, 6:43. With just a couple tenths of a mile left, I began reflecting on the week, it was a week of stress, and of joy. I felt humble to be as blessed as I was. Now I neared the end of the loop, slowing enough to notice a little white car approaching on my side of the road. Its windows were down and I knew what was coming; one teenager hung his head out from the backseat and let out a wimpy attempt at intimidation, "ahhhh!" he yelled. With 41 miles in my legs for the week, adrenaline in my veins, and the built up stress from my week looking for a place to escape, I yelled back with my loudest, most primal, straight-out-of-Braveheart shout, "AAHHHHH!!!!" It was as if the pressure of a week of grading, teaching, and disciplining was released. I smiled as the car continued rolling away and I heard a distinct "holy s---!" come from the car. Poor teenagers... they had no idea how the pure, releasing, joy of motion can breathe life into a tired man. <br />
<br />
As I ease into a new week, I am mindful of how much a small moment of freedom in a life of obligations and responsibilities can rejuvenate the mind and body. Happy Presidents day everyone, get out there and feel alive today. <br />
<br />
<br />
<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="405" scrolling="no" src="http://app.strava.com/activities/41384136/embed/6be859429512259d398223e9f3cf9a1aa816a7aa" width="590"></iframe>Anthony Bunthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17063104551284063426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2784751099399909082.post-2309873999063958682013-02-02T14:18:00.000-08:002013-02-02T14:18:03.578-08:00More than just running... "Eat & Run"As is usual for me during these cold, dark days and nights of winter in Idaho, I have been reading a couple of my favorite books that inspire me to get out a do what most people don't, brave the elements in the dark morning hours to log miles, rain, snow, ice, or fog not withstanding. I started out re-reading the classic book for any ultrarunner; Dean Karnazes' "Ultramarathon Man." This book provides a humorous and insightful look at the development of an ultrarunning cult icon, Dean Karnazes. If you're a runner and haven't read it, pick it up and enjoy. I've probably read it 3 or 4 times now. <br />
<br />
The second book I picked up this winter was "No Shortcuts to the Top," by Ed Viesturs. You can't help but be inspired by this guy and his account of tackling the world's 14 highest peaks all without bottled oxygen. His approach to the inherently dangerous sport of mountaineering is one of calculated risk management and sheer determination. His book inspires one to finish projects no matter how difficult with careful, determined, diligence.<br />
<br />
Finally, I have just finished reading a new book by ultrarunning legend and true star athlete, Scott Jurek. Jurek is known for a few things in ultrarunning, one of them being a seven-time champion of one of the most prestigious ultras, The Western States 100. Another unique think Jurek is known for is his diet, which is fairly unique among the world's elite athletes, being a long-term vegan. He turned vegan after experiencing increased benefits from slowly changing his diet from junk-food junkie to a full-on vegan. At one point, he even shunned cooking for a while, eating only raw, plant based food. He gave this up after a bit because it involved too much chewing... hmmmm, that doesn't sound very appealing. Jurek's book, "Eat & Run, My Unlikely Journey to Ultramarathon Greatness" was on my list of books to read and I finally got a hold of a copy from the local library that I proceeded to devour in about 4 days. From an entertainment standpoint, he isn't nearly as humorous as Karnazes, and there is less inspirational hoopla than Viesturs, but there is some excellent knowledge to be gained by this book. To me, it seemed as if Scott Jurek was writing this as much for self reflection as for the masses. I can appreciate a book like this, and I'll probably read it again someday. It does have the unique feature of many running tips and recipes that Jurek shares. I may come back around to this book if I go further with the little experiment I'm about to try...<br />
<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1w3uRpcTbss/UQ2OB27YPrI/AAAAAAAAA3E/rj1Jt1o1LgI/s1600/IMG_6801.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1w3uRpcTbss/UQ2OB27YPrI/AAAAAAAAA3E/rj1Jt1o1LgI/s320/IMG_6801.JPG" width="320" /></a>It was while reading Jurek's book that I realized the next step in my evolution into an endurance athlete might involve something else besides training more. I am very busy being a husband, parent, teacher, and athlete, and although I may desire to run and ride much more than I do, I am limited by time and finances. Its is true that getting faster or running longer requires a phenomenal amount of training, but it is also true that I can likely gain significant benefits from a better diet and rest regimen. So here it is, my attempt and going healthy...call it an experiment of sorts. <br />
<br />
I haven't been drinking much soda, but its time to cancel it completely. I also want to give up refined sugary sweets for the most part, excluding special occasions But the biggest change may come from eating less meat and more variety of veggies and fruits. I think I'm going to give a shot at stepping down the number of "legs" I'm eating on a regular basis. Going from things with 4 legs (cows, pigs, etc.) to only things with 2 (chicken, turkey, etc.). I'm not saying I will never eat beef again, in fact, I have some great taco soup featuring some ground beef waiting for tonight's dinner, but rather; I will be choosing the leaner option when its there and looking to eliminate excess from my diet. Here's a shot of my first meal under this new commitment: spinach salad with black beans, fresh local sweet corn, raw carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, turkey pepperoni, mozzarella cheese, and italian dressing garnished with some sliced oranges. I can say that it was really, really good! My two little kiddos really liked it as well, chalk one up for dad today!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eBFanlc0a60/UQ2N8ZfVLpI/AAAAAAAAA2w/JmgD_tNUwuo/s1600/IMG_6798.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eBFanlc0a60/UQ2N8ZfVLpI/AAAAAAAAA2w/JmgD_tNUwuo/s640/IMG_6798.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
On a slightly different note, I'll be posting "Trail of the Week" features again as soon as some weather cooperates and I can get away to some new places. Thanks for reading and happy trails!</div>
<br />
<br />Anthony Bunthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17063104551284063426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2784751099399909082.post-18205522258135169562013-01-21T10:16:00.002-08:002013-01-21T11:04:36.773-08:00Wilson Creek (Really) Frozen 50k 2013 Race Report<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This past week has been a bit nerve wracking to wait anxiously for the 2nd running of the Wilson Creek Frozen 50k. I'd been anxiously watching the weather, hoping for some kind of a break in the nasty inversion we've been dealing with in southwest Idaho. With no end to the inversion happening, it was sure to be a very cold and tough race, with temperatures more normal for Canada than Idaho. With the seriously cold temperatures hanging around for multiple weeks around here, I had plenty of time to test and retest my cold weather running gear, and come race day, I felt as ready as I could be to tackle the course at Wilson Creek.</div>
<br />
On race day morning, I met my friend Ben Blessing at the Nampa Rec Center and we rode down to the trail together in his X-Terra. "Ultra Ben" has run 41 ultra marathons despite being only 28 years old; one year younger than myself. About halfway there we ran into some thick fog and the temperature dropped to -1 Fahrenheit. Shortly after hitting the fog, Ben's vehicle started making an ear piercing noise that sounded like feedback from a speaker but only happened when we drove over 40 mph. We finally got to the trails, ears ringing, and my toes were already getting really cold.<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jKC6naIjU-g/UP18fNx7O3I/AAAAAAAAA0Q/sU0-AVD_FRI/s1600/DSC00371.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jKC6naIjU-g/UP18fNx7O3I/AAAAAAAAA0Q/sU0-AVD_FRI/s320/DSC00371.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2pZbDzQMqMY/UP18fxWtj-I/AAAAAAAAA0Y/Mu6ONaIo4nc/s1600/DSC00374.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2pZbDzQMqMY/UP18fxWtj-I/AAAAAAAAA0Y/Mu6ONaIo4nc/s320/DSC00374.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
Check in was quick, and bunches of runners were waiting for the bathrooms. The temps outside quickly pushed my toes over the edge into the painful freezing category, so I decided to forgo the potty and just stay inside the check in tent by the wood stove. I made the right choice, because I made it through then entire race without having to stop for a pit stop. Race directors Emily and Davina began herding the huddled bunches of freezing runners to the start line shortly before the 7 a.m. start time, and the mass of shivering bodies reluctantly filed towards the road where an informal starting line was setup. A bunch of people already looked frozen, and my feet were getting really cold, though the rest of my body was just mildly chilled. I had dressed to be warm, if not maybe too warm during the assault on the mountain. I've ran enough through the winters to know that I run best when my body is warm and I tend to shut down when I get overly cold. <br />
<br />
A few weeks prior, Ultra Ben and I had taken on the 20 mile loop of the course in very similar conditions. I was a bit under dressed, more like most of the runners that now surrounded me at the starting line, and I had a very difficult time running on the long sustained climb of the Wilson Creek Road between miles 7.5 and 11. To stay warm for the 7 hour race, I had a base layer from my former Hammer Nutrition "sponsored" days; a Hammer performance wicking t-shirt and Race-Ready Long Distance shorts. The shorts sport some nice pockets for storing gels or my camera if things got too cold in my jacket pockets. On top I ran with a Polarfleece cycling jersey that fit snug, but not tight and my old reliable Cannondale cycling jacket. I choose both of these items because I knew they would perform well in the extreme cold and because they have plenty of pockets to put food and some extra necessities. I used my Canari winter cycling/running pants that feature a windproof/water resistant front and lower calf area and a breathable yet cozy fabric on the back. Perfect pants for the temperature and the snow we were going to be running through. For my head I used a balaclava with a neoprene face mask built in and a Bula Polarfleece hat. My hands had two pairs of lighter weight gloves, for extra warmth and versatility in case I needed to vent heat at the top of the mountain which was above the inversion and warmer than the valley where we would start and run the majority of the race. I also threw on my fleece scarf that were the finisher awards from last year's race (complete with skulls!) to give me an extra barrier and options for heat venting as the race went on. I used this coming off the back of Wilson Peak where it was too warm for the face mask anymore but cold enough to want something covering my neck and chin.<br />
<br />
For my footwear in the cold, I simply went with my Brooks Cascadia 6 running shoes, Swiftwick Aspire socks, and Outdoor Research Ultra Trail Gaiters. The gaiters were the bomb, keeping my ankles and feet somewhat warmer while allowing full range of motion and protection from the snow, ice, and grime that I would be running through. Taking off the gloves to empty a shoe would have been a really big bummer in the cold. The only downside to the gaiters was that I had to make sure my shoe was tied tight and right the first time, because once the gaiters were on, they are a bit tricky to get off, especially if one is on the verge of cramping in the later parts of the race. I also had a pair of Yaktrax Pro traction devices for the race, but I decided that I would keep them in my drop bag and not mess with them for the big loop. I suspected, accurately that I wouldn't need them until reaching the 10 mile loop where the trail was more packed down and icy. I don't think I missed them at all on the big loop. I had absolutely no foot issues at all (other than tired sore feet) during the race. Not a single blister or anything. I was absolutely thrilled with my footwear choices.<br />
<br />
My goal was to minimize the amount of stuff I carried, so I left the Nathan HPL # 020 race vest in my drop bag and ran with only a 20 ounce handheld bottle. I put my food and first aid kit in my back pockets of my fleece. My camera went into my front handwarmer pocket so I could grab it quickly. I noticed later that it was banging into my hip, albeit ever so slightly, but it was beginning to hurt by mile 16 so I moved to the back jersey pockets as well. The fleece cycling jersey was perfect for going light and warm. The Cannondale jacket also had a back pocket so I could temporarily store my bottle if I got tired of carrying it (only once) or it got frozen (multiple times).<br />
<br />
At the start, Ultra Ben played the National Anthem on his trombone, even as the below zero temps tried to freeze his slide in place and Emily gave us some last minute instructions. Anxious runners began growing impatient as Emily repeated the basics of not getting lost and making sure you grab the proof at the summit, but soon the shotgun was fired and the mass of ultra-fit crazies took off up the hill. I was content to start very slow, but the cold was really getting to my feet, and I decided to run hard for about 5-8 minutes to just get the blood flowing. I felt like I was running easy, but I knew I had started a bit fast so I eased up considerably at the first steep section near mile 2. I power hiked the steep climb through the first canyon, and trotted across the flats that make up the 3rd mile of the course. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GmiB-qZuKW4/UP18jZASkUI/AAAAAAAAA0o/enUY7dfr5m4/s1600/DSC00377.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GmiB-qZuKW4/UP18jZASkUI/AAAAAAAAA0o/enUY7dfr5m4/s400/DSC00377.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GLp8Ki312_s/UP18h8lEWjI/AAAAAAAAA0g/AucukcBWfFg/s1600/DSC00376.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GLp8Ki312_s/UP18h8lEWjI/AAAAAAAAA0g/AucukcBWfFg/s400/DSC00376.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
After a short descent down a snowy off-camber side hill, complete with a short glissade down into a ravine, I settled into my hiking mode as I began the first real testing section of the course. From about mile 4 to mile 6 the course follows a tough jeep road up to a rough single-track descent. I kept leapfrogging a couple of other runners, but ended up passing at least one of them while being passed by several of the slow starting, more experienced ultra runners for good. I wondered if the people passing me were just running the 20 mile race or if I really started that fast? The descent carries you through yet another canyon with the rugged and beautiful Wilson Butte on the left and views of Wilson Peak straight ahead. I made good time through this section, feeling very much in control on the downhills even with lots of snow and some more off-camber sections. I caught up with a few of the more timid descenders and came into the 7.5 mile aid station feeling happy and right on schedule with what I hoped to consume liquid and calorie wise. <br />
<br />
Last year, the arrival at this aid station marked the beginning of the slog through endless mud and misery, this year, it was a little more pleasant. The road surface was packed snow and frozen with good traction and little to slow you down. I realized that I needed to run this section conservatively due to my relatively fast start, so I was content to let a few people pass me without much thought. I didn't really gain much on anyone in front, and for the most part, I covered this ground efficiently but relatively quick. I hit the 10 mile mark for the race in just under 2 hours, a pace I knew was a little fast given my estimated finish time of 7 hours. The middle 15 miles of this race are the hardest. They involve a trip to the summit of Wilson Peak, a nasty steep downhill with numerous steep uphill grunts before you drop (quite literally this year) right off the mountain proper and into the high desert plateau. To finish off the middle section you climb up the Wilson Creek itself and up to the high point of the 10 mile loop. If there is an "easy" section of this race it is the relatively mild downhill and almost transcendent run through the lower Reynold's Creek canyon. This comes only after 23 miles of suffering so needless to say, the legs are shot by this point.<br />
<br />
Back into the moment of the race, I continued maintaining a casual pace up to the summit of Wilson Peak near the 13 mile mark of the race. Overjoyed to be on top and out of the inversion, I stayed on the summit for a few moments, taking some pictures and chatting with a couple racers as they came up and grabbed the requisite "proof" of taking the full out and back on the course. Emily is always top secret about this, and this year she made us grab a little green army man out of a bag taped to the tower at the summit. I searched the bag for one with a flame thrower, but couldn't find one quickly enough so I reluctantly took a standard infantry man and stuck him in my pocket for safe keeping. Shortly after I arrived on top, Ben joined me on top and stopped just long enough to say hey and pose for a picture before taking off to smoke the second half of the course. It was now time to take on the challenge of descending Wilson Peak, which is tough enough in ideal conditions, but brutal with a layer of snow and ice covering the rocks and erosion channels that line the trail like land mines.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8m9kYnjg_Cg/UP18oTtJ6hI/AAAAAAAAA1A/ZStH9p76K4Y/s1600/DSC00380.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8m9kYnjg_Cg/UP18oTtJ6hI/AAAAAAAAA1A/ZStH9p76K4Y/s640/DSC00380.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(A good view of the inversion socking in the Treasure Valley)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3oGGbDOR7w8/UP18lk3O1AI/AAAAAAAAA0w/4qJDVoFmRM8/s1600/DSC00378.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3oGGbDOR7w8/UP18lk3O1AI/AAAAAAAAA0w/4qJDVoFmRM8/s640/DSC00378.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Closing in on the summit)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WhB9p2QYaCY/UP18u8CsjZI/AAAAAAAAA1g/vo3kjo8zQ6A/s1600/DSC00386.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WhB9p2QYaCY/UP18u8CsjZI/AAAAAAAAA1g/vo3kjo8zQ6A/s640/DSC00386.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(The weather on top of Wilson can be extreme, this weather station was cemented to the ground...)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5fQve2_4_pg/UP18podOy-I/AAAAAAAAA1I/OCry9AbVNQA/s1600/DSC00381.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="356" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5fQve2_4_pg/UP18podOy-I/AAAAAAAAA1I/OCry9AbVNQA/s640/DSC00381.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Dennis Ahern running strong)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AIbumGE_1iU/UP18wnoPhII/AAAAAAAAA1w/t7zfCwj9eVg/s1600/DSC00389.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AIbumGE_1iU/UP18wnoPhII/AAAAAAAAA1w/t7zfCwj9eVg/s640/DSC00389.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fwN-AYn62-w/UP18zW7hmZI/AAAAAAAAA14/tpiUoZKp5Vc/s1600/DSC00390.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fwN-AYn62-w/UP18zW7hmZI/AAAAAAAAA14/tpiUoZKp5Vc/s640/DSC00390.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Z78gcwiKTqI/UP2B7yvCFNI/AAAAAAAAA2Y/H0cmdI7GbsE/s1600/BenBlessingWCF50k2013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Z78gcwiKTqI/UP2B7yvCFNI/AAAAAAAAA2Y/H0cmdI7GbsE/s640/BenBlessingWCF50k2013.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Ultra Ben Blessing)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P-uKyDTejBc/UP18rjeHLKI/AAAAAAAAA1Y/jprNUSSNcAs/s1600/DSC00385.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P-uKyDTejBc/UP18rjeHLKI/AAAAAAAAA1Y/jprNUSSNcAs/s400/DSC00385.JPG" width="294" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Self portrait on the summit, I'm very happy...)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I managed to run well down the first pitch of the descent, but after hitting the first "up grunt" on the downhill I was quickly thrown into the pain cave. I was going through my water fairly fast, and as soon as I got back into the inversion, the last few ounces in my bottle froze solid, rendering it useless. I could see Ben descending off in the distance and I knew that I had to move along if I was going to keep myself from getting cold and dehydrated. I think that the cold dry air was causing me to drink more than normal, which would explain why I went through so much fluid in 10 miles. At one point I was fiddling with the frozen bottle and I stepped on a snow covered rock enough to roll my left ankle and drop me to the ground. It wasn't really a fall, more of a drop as I momentarily thought the race for me was over. Fortunately, I got up, and after a few hundred yards, worked the soreness out. I never felt any more pain in the ankle during the rest of the race, so I guess I lucked out and dodged a bullet. However, my water situation was getting worse, as I started to really feel thirsty and dry. A few handfuls of very dry and icy snow helped a bit, but in reality, it did little more than wet my mouth. I knew that I was sweating quite a bit, but wasn't really soaked because all the moisture being pushed out through my fleece mid-layer was freezing in contact with the shell of my jacket and turning to snow. Every hour or so I'd pull my sleeves down over my hands and shake my arms to remove the ice from the arms of my jacket. Getting off the mountain and to the 2nd aid station was my priority and I was elated when I finally got there.<br />
<br />
Getting to the aid station and off the mountain was a big lift and the food and fluid I was able to take in really helped me get going again. The high from being down the mountain quickly dissolved as I set off across the false flat that makes up the last 2 miles of the 20 mile loop and the final miles of the 10 mile loop and 50k course. I passed several 10 mile racers during this section and ran strong down to the finish/aid station/drop bag location. The Pulse Running and Fitness had a great aid station set up here ("Paradise") , and the owner of the Pulse, Holly, filled my bottles and offered some good encouragement. I haven't bought a lot at her store, but I certainly will now. I was grateful for her and her crew's assistance. It wasn't until trolling the Facebook pages later on that I even noticed the whole gang at her station was sporting beach body costumes over their winter clothing. Weird. How do you not notice that? Transitioning through this aid station took me slightly longer than the other stations did, as I wanted to grab a dry hat, neck gaiter, and my Yaktrax Pro's for the more packed and icy 10 mile loop. Ironically, I pulled into this aid station in the exact time I did last year and took care of the clothing, fuel, liquid, and footwear needs in less than 5 minutes. Last year I spent 10 or more minutes at this station, so I was happy to move relatively quickly through this major station. Unlike the big 20 mile loop, this section would be entirely in the inversion, so it was going to be very cold the whole way. The aid stations are closer together on this loop, so I was able to ditch some of my extra food and go as light as possible. <br />
<br />
Leaving the finish area and starting the 10 mile loop is always tough and almost immediately after I left I hit a new low for the race. You start right away with a 3/4 mile climb and you have to face the daunting task of climbing the trail through Wilson Creek itself before you get to the high point of the loop. I was trailing a gal wearing an Air Force or Army Reserve jacket at this time and she kept me behind her for quite a while until I got myself together and started running again. I trotted along, fighting a bit of cramping, until I gained the last major high point of the race and the second to last aid station called "Rocky Road." I got hot water in my bottle and some Heed (awesome!) and started down the "Bingo!" trail, my personal favorite. The thing about Emily and Davina's races are that if there is an easy route and a hard route, you can always count on taking the hard route. However, to my surprise and delight, apparently the planned split off of trail w500 (Bingo!) onto w501 was too dangerous or not possible with all the snow, so we continued down the much smoother, although steeper, main trail. My ankles rejoiced at this awesome news and I was grateful to enjoy my favorite trail in the Wilson area with my legs feeling ok and my energy coming up after getting some Heed and Hammer Gel's at the last station. I came through the marathon mark of this course faster than last year, and was quite happy to get back to Stinson Station for the second and final time of the day. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="text-align: center;">Stinson Station sits at the base of the Wilson Peak mountain and right before you drop into the Reynolds Creek Canyon for the most scenic and easy part of the entire course. My legs were really wanting to cramp up by this point, and I had a tough time pulling my Yaktrax off so get through the rocky, dry, and tricky drop into the canyon. I eventually got them off, but it cost me a minute or more of time that was spent dealing with the slightly cramping muscles. I knew now that I was on my limit and any quick or sudden moves would bring forward progress to a halt in the clamping pain of full on leg lock. Fortunately, that full out leg cramp never came, and I was able to trot slowly through the canyon and out without incident. It was now just 3 relatively easy miles to the finish and I had plenty of time to make it if I wanted to hit my unofficial goal time of under 7 hours. On this last stretch, I soooo wanted to be done, but I couldn't manage to run faster than about 12 min/mi for more than a half mile at a time before I had to drop to a power hike. Even hiking the entire 3 miles would get me under 7 so I just hiked as fast as I could for a mile and then jogged the last mile to the finish. The sight of the finish after nearly 7 hours of intense effort was almost overwhelming, and I almost got a bit teary eyed after crossing the line in 6 hours, 58 minutes and change. My Ipod, which had been playing away the whole race, providing distraction from the pain cave switched to the song "Every Little Thing Counts" by Janus Stark. It was a fitting end to day. I savored the moment for a minute with a few pictures and a trip to the food tent and it was off to home. It took the entire day for me to get to the point where I felt almost like moving, but ultimately I came away from the race with no damage done other than the expected soreness and a small dose of hypothermia :) The sense of accomplishment I felt after finishing my second ultra on a tough course in crazy conditions is hard to describe. Topping it off was the fact that I only had about 5 weeks of focused training in my legs when I took this on. I know that it's not ideal preparation, but I was happy that I didn't have to dedicate my life to the race for 6 months to get across the finish line. I don't know what race or event lies off in the distance for my next adventure, and that is a great feeling right now.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZJ_qW3ZNA4w/UP18znF2LXI/AAAAAAAAA18/mDjqfbX3_fg/s1600/DSC00391.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZJ_qW3ZNA4w/UP18znF2LXI/AAAAAAAAA18/mDjqfbX3_fg/s640/DSC00391.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/9Irs8buVaZo" width="420"></iframe>
Anthony Bunthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17063104551284063426noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2784751099399909082.post-43192608087417496832013-01-13T13:13:00.001-08:002013-01-13T16:43:56.420-08:00If its worth doing, its worth overdoing...I have an affinity to challenge myself. I think most people do really; in fact, I think that without challenges in life it would be incredibly boring and tedious. Most people like to challenge themselves with a reasonable goal, work hard for a period of time, and then succeed due to weeks of hard work and dedication. <br />
<br />
It would be nice if I were able to do this without finding myself in situations such as the one I'm facing this week. Saturday, I'll be taking on the 2nd annual Wilson Creek Frozen 50K in the Owyhees of Southwest Idaho. The race is put on by a couple of mildly psycho chicks named Emily and Davina who think its a good idea to run in the mountains in January. I actually find them quite pleasant and friendly people, despite their obvious joy they gain from torturing poor unsuspecting runners with crazy trail conditions. This is not the first time I've done this either... I managed to finish a marathon mountain bike race at Galena Lodge in 2009 on 3 weeks of training. 5 and 1/2 hours and 43 miles with 6000+ feet of elevation later I finished the Galena Mountain Bike Marathon for the second time. I then laid in the freezing cold mountain creek and wondered what the heck I was thinking...<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N_VA18G7tdA/TxyI1GfEqGI/AAAAAAAAAfk/ewHDkhzLFlM/s1600/Muddy+Road+Climb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N_VA18G7tdA/TxyI1GfEqGI/AAAAAAAAAfk/ewHDkhzLFlM/s200/Muddy+Road+Climb.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Muddy...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Last winter, the WCF50K went off right after a unusual winter warming period. A week of rain pounded the mountain with precipitation, and 40 degree temperatures kept the trails from drying out at all. The result, copious amounts of peanut butter textured mud that basically turned a pleasant 31 mile gallop into a sufferfest from the first climb. I dragged my sorry butt through that race and immediately wanted to do another. Well, as many of you know, I have a couple small kiddos that required my attention and 2012 went by without another single event being entered. Sure I rode and ran more than the average joe, in fact, I just missed 2000 miles of distance as recorded by my Garmin <br />
(I'm sure I actually hit 2000 miles but I didn't use the Garmin every time I rode my bike or ran a bit).<br />
<br />
Finally, around the second week of December, I decided that I was going to sign up for the 50K again out at Wilson and see how I did. I managed to take my weekly mileage up to the mid 30's pretty easily and hit 54 miles during a 6 day period after Christmas. I've been training pretty hard, but nothing like last year. The bright side, no nagging injuries from weeks of training. The down side, we're looking at the complete opposite of last year's conditions for this year's race. Very cold, snow covered, and maybe even some smog from an inversion to top it off. Regardless, I'm very excited to test myself again on one of my favorite trails and with some of the best race directors around. As I think about what I'm about to do, I am reminded of one of the things that I tell my 9th graders from time to time: "if it were easy, it wouldn't be worth doing." On that note, "if its worth doing, its worth overdoing right?" (Tori Belleci from Mythbusters). Here's to overdoing it. Happy tapering all you Wilson Creek trail runners. <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
"This is one of those 'What the Hell am I doing Moments?'" (Jamie Hyneman)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-He8V4e0ie3o/TxyJQYrGbHI/AAAAAAAAAgU/eU2k82LV-yw/s1600/Punching+my+number+at+the+summit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-He8V4e0ie3o/TxyJQYrGbHI/AAAAAAAAAgU/eU2k82LV-yw/s640/Punching+my+number+at+the+summit.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Summit Checkpoint on Wilson Peak during the 2012 WCF50K)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Anthony Bunthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17063104551284063426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2784751099399909082.post-83548671638736613702013-01-10T06:34:00.000-08:002013-01-10T06:34:17.760-08:00Trail of the Week: Deer Flat Wildlife Refuge<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Y7vugJXgEqo/Tn5KJ0w4mwI/AAAAAAAAAZg/AamJxJvoqfo/s1600/Deer+Flat+Sign.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Y7vugJXgEqo/Tn5KJ0w4mwI/AAAAAAAAAZg/AamJxJvoqfo/s320/Deer+Flat+Sign.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Lot's of food, family, and fun times potty training my daughter has kept me away through the holidays for the regular trail of the week feature, but I think that its time to get it rolling again, especially since most of the Treasure Valley is experiencing a snow day today, including myself. I already had two cups of coffee in the system when I got word of the day off, so posting a trail review seemed like the perfect thing to do. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qX8465uitPA/Tn5KoarbYqI/AAAAAAAAAaA/Yzoqd6_VCVg/s1600/Dam+Gravel+Roadway.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qX8465uitPA/Tn5KoarbYqI/AAAAAAAAAaA/Yzoqd6_VCVg/s320/Dam+Gravel+Roadway.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SyhX7FoxHrk/TTGnJlaKYgI/AAAAAAAAAHI/y_bTBgdSXWE/s1600/PC310655.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="222" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SyhX7FoxHrk/TTGnJlaKYgI/AAAAAAAAAHI/y_bTBgdSXWE/s320/PC310655.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
This week I'm reviewing the local blip of nature we have in the Nampa area, Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge and its small but scenic section of trails. The Deer Flat Refuge (DFR) is one of the most popular places for Nampa trail runners to get their dirt fix during the week when they are unable to get to the more challenging trails in Boise or the Owyhees. The DFR is actually part of a large plot of land that includes much of the area around Lake Lowell in Nampa and some islands in the Snake River. <br />
<br />
To get to the DFR, simply drive west out of Nampa on Lake Lowell Avenue from 12th Avenue and take a right turn on either Midway, Middleton, or Midland road. Turn left on the next available road which is Roosevelt and take it to the top of the hill, you know the big one. At the top of Roosevelt Hill, you will see a sign to your left that will take you down to the actual DFR visitor's center and nature trails. Another great option is to park at the end of the dam and run across the dam to the trails to add a bit of length. I often run from my house to the trail to make a nice little 10-12 mile loop out of it. <br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bMyula6ahN8/UErIyfU02gI/AAAAAAAAAog/09YMRB5btfc/s1600/IMG_6342.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bMyula6ahN8/UErIyfU02gI/AAAAAAAAAog/09YMRB5btfc/s320/IMG_6342.JPG" unselectable="on" width="320" /></a>Deer Flat's visitor center is a great place to take your kids for a short visit to check out their exhibit and use the viewing glasses facing south towards the lake. They have made it very small children friendly by putting a coloring station, puzzles, and other activities out for kids to use. They also have a restroom, and a room full of stuffed critters from the area. The parking lot near the boat ramp also has an outhouse that is a bit dreary but usable. It is a great place to make a pit stop if you're anything like me and have had to stop more than once to "fertilize" the flora out on the run. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dwwQmyyrVrU/UO7Ng2HnRUI/AAAAAAAAAzc/NVbuRM6qOMs/s1600/DSC00051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dwwQmyyrVrU/UO7Ng2HnRUI/AAAAAAAAAzc/NVbuRM6qOMs/s400/DSC00051.JPG" width="225" /></a>The trails themselves at the DFR are not anything that will likely inspire prose or move you deeply, however, you do get a pretty awesome view of the surrounding area, the lake, the Owyhees, and Nampa itself. It is also very common to see bald eagles out there (almost every time I go) so if you are dying to see an eagle, this is the place to do it.<br />
<br />
From the parking area, you will find a short little piece of singletrack that takes you over to the nature trail proper. This trail takes a short jaunt along the lake near a wildlife viewing hut and an osprey nest before ending on the service road that runs through the majority of the DFR. This is a gravel road that has some good hills to run up and loops back around to the parking area along the lake, becoming relatively flat for a mile or so. There are a few little side trails that have been made, but due to a history of the DFR staff not looking so kindly on runners I won't direct you on to those. If you want to find them yourself, you can't really get lost out there, so have at it. Just stay inside marked boundaries and you'll be fine. <br />
<br />
The best place to look for eagles is on the backside of the service road loop. There you will notice some nesting platforms that are used by the eagles during nesting season. They will often be hanging out in the trees near here, watching for fish, rabbits, or whatever. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cWpN8vfT0_w/UO7McpZDEAI/AAAAAAAAAy8/2ReGTEeGt1U/s1600/Deer+Flat+Area.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="377" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cWpN8vfT0_w/UO7McpZDEAI/AAAAAAAAAy8/2ReGTEeGt1U/s640/Deer+Flat+Area.jpg" width="640" /></a>I spend so much time there, I had trouble figuring out which pictures to share on the blog, so I just brought out some old ones from past blog posts along with a few new shots to show a bit of the variety of experiences I've had out there.<br />
<br />
Finally, I put a screen grab from Google Earth for you, just in case you haven't yet been convinced that you can find your way out there. Its not the Sawtooths, or even as cool as the Boise Foothills, but it is a small taste of trails in the midst of a city that really doesn't have much else in terms of true "nature" to experience. The best part about the DFR is that it is so close to home. I live less than 3 miles from these trails and can visit them any time I want. Boise or even the Owyhees can't claim that, so it is this area that I call home for most of my trail running.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-z0zrXO00x_Y/UO7NiE2YEHI/AAAAAAAAAzk/PlnoNTpah8M/s1600/P9110022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-z0zrXO00x_Y/UO7NiE2YEHI/AAAAAAAAAzk/PlnoNTpah8M/s320/P9110022.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />Anthony Bunthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17063104551284063426noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2784751099399909082.post-38977757843229691702013-01-04T08:13:00.001-08:002013-01-04T08:14:36.249-08:00How to Train for a 50k the WRONG Way.There are a few events in life where you look back and seem to forget about the hardships, pain, and misery that proceeds or in fact qualifies the accomplishment. I've heard that childbirth is like that, although some would obviously disagree. Graduating college is another one worthy accomplishment, when looking back one often only remembers the good times, not the crazy stress of finals week or 5 hour chemistry labs. But surely running a 50k during the winter in rugged mountains and trails would be one of those events in life where the good certainly wouldn't seem to outweigh the bad, at least it would seem that way to those who haven't ran one or could even understand why anyone would want to "race" that far. It is through those eyes, the eyes blind to the strife that took place on January 21st, 2012 in the Owyhee mountains, that I signed up for the 2nd running of the <a href="http://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=17441" target="_blank">Wilson Creek Frozen 50k</a> (race report <a href="http://anthonybunt.blogspot.com/2012/01/wilson-creek-not-so-frozen-50k-race.html" target="_blank">here</a>).<br />
<br />
One would assume that before signing up for a 50k ultramarathon that takes place 4 weeks from the date of signup that the individual signing up would have been training hard and long for quite some time. Most training plans require about 20 weeks of gradual buildup and peak runners somewhere around 50-60 miles per week. The truth is that I haven't really been "training" but I haven't been docile either. My "training plan" for this race has been an intense buildup of running in the last few weeks, with an intense cycling regimen in the several weeks leading up the the running. When race day comes, I'll have about 6 weeks of solid running in. I was steadily building mileage in October before a cold knocked me down for 10 days and then I started over at 15 miles per week again in late November before jumping up the 30+ miles a week around Christmas. Ultimately, I managed to run 54 miles in 6 days between Christmas and New Years Eve, culminating in an epic trip around Wilson Peak with fresh snow and bitter cold temperatures challenging me. I'm still shooting for a 40 mile week this week and I will then begin tapering off until race day. The good thing about training this way is that I really don't have time to develop some of the nagging injuries that often plague me above 40 miles per week. I often get tendinitis in my IT band and sometimes in my feet. However, I really have been feeling OK despite jumping my mileage up pretty fast. <br />
<br />
As part of my "plan" I try to simulate the effort that I will need to complete the ultra on race day. The key is to tire out the legs and then try to keep running, as I will surely be tired at the end of the first 20 miles of the 31 mile race. Last year, I ran the 20 mile loop out at Wilson Creek and then did a nice little 11 mile road run the day after. The problem is that by the time I was able to do the Wilson loop comfortably, I was at the point that recovering by the next day wasn't too bad, and my legs feet great on the 11 miler the day after. This year I decided that I would kill the legs in the week before the 20 mile practice run at Wilson and then try to run the Wilson loop at the pace I expected to maintain during the ultra. The tiring out part worked wonderfully, and I was able to put in quite a few miles in in the snow and wind before head out to Wilson Creek to run the 20 mile loop. The plan was to head out on New Years Eve with my friend Ben Blessing and try to hang on. So on Monday, December 31st, 2012, I met Ben and his dog Shadow at the Nampa Rec Center and we drove out to the trail head. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5stpnGvZbJE/UOb409_Ei_I/AAAAAAAAAvk/udqLC7gzbI4/s1600/DSC00329.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5stpnGvZbJE/UOb409_Ei_I/AAAAAAAAAvk/udqLC7gzbI4/s320/DSC00329.JPG" width="320" /></a>The drive out to Wilson was rather uneventful, other than the fact that as we rode out to the trails the thermometer in the car was steadily decreasing from the teens to the single digits as we got close to the trail. At one point it showed 5 degrees Fahrenheit, but rose to a balmy 8 degrees by the time we pulled into the parking lot. This was sure to be a COLD run.<br />
<br />
With the temps so frigid, I really wanted to just stay in the car and head back to my cozy bed. But alas, this is the life of the ultrarunner. Run in all conditions through and over all kinds of terrain. So it was out of the car and up the trail we went. The light was just starting to come out for the day so we left the headlamps in the car and took off up the trail. The moon was still out and we got the pleasure of watching it sink slowly to the horizon throughout the course of the run. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--xaUxCNRqVs/UOb43Jd_UeI/AAAAAAAAAvs/_0YzjzcIhp0/s1600/DSC00331.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--xaUxCNRqVs/UOb43Jd_UeI/AAAAAAAAAvs/_0YzjzcIhp0/s640/DSC00331.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Morning light. Single digit temperatures.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wREg8IsrR34/UOb5Ch-MQwI/AAAAAAAAAwM/qvNizGF1iGk/s1600/DSC00338.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wREg8IsrR34/UOb5Ch-MQwI/AAAAAAAAAwM/qvNizGF1iGk/s640/DSC00338.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ben and Shadow enjoying the moon sinking to the horizon.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Fortunately, the trail climbs so much in the first 5 miles that keeping warm wasn't too hard, but I was still chilled. The key to staying warm in these conditions is simply run hard. The problem with that is that if you burn yourself up in the uphill portion of this 20 mile loop, there is a nasty price to pay on the down hill at the end. You have to save the legs for the crazy steep downhill run off of Wilson Peak. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_BnQGeaUT2I/UOb46Jik4GI/AAAAAAAAAv0/jB9VKU8lwk0/s1600/DSC00335.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="264" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_BnQGeaUT2I/UOb46Jik4GI/AAAAAAAAAv0/jB9VKU8lwk0/s640/DSC00335.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Climbing early in the loop.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
After beating the first real challenge of the loop at the 6 mile mark, Ben and I were blown away by this awesome view of the terrain ahead. This was about the first time we had really seen the sun since we started, and boy was it a welcomed sight.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jjMY9Xp_KwY/UOb5NUMjWcI/AAAAAAAAAwk/pzz5-aimZQc/s1600/DSC00342.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jjMY9Xp_KwY/UOb5NUMjWcI/AAAAAAAAAwk/pzz5-aimZQc/s640/DSC00342.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mile 6.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GnBx4Nuxzb8/UOb48uMPUcI/AAAAAAAAAv8/sfwpEu1g7g4/s1600/DSC00336.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GnBx4Nuxzb8/UOb48uMPUcI/AAAAAAAAAv8/sfwpEu1g7g4/s320/DSC00336.JPG" width="228" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Frozen!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
At the 10 mile mark of this loop, I was thoroughly chilled to the core. Ben was much fresher than I was and had to wait quite often for me, so I'm sure he was freezing as well. I suspect that on race day, the only time I'll see Ben is at the start and then he'll be gone, way ahead of my rather under-prepared legs and lungs.<br />
<br />
The scenery up and down Wilson Peak was simply awesome with all the snow around, and I took the time to be sure I enjoyed seeing the terrain this way. It is not common to have snow this low in the mountains for long in the Owyhees, although the temperatures can often be freezing. There just really isn't much moisture in the area. After topping out Wilson Peak, I tried to run downhill, but my left ankle was really sore from the uneven surface the snow was providing, and I really had to take it easy. Ben once again was gone and had to wait quite often for my sorry carcass to trickle down the hill. This was a bit out of character for me, as I usually blast the downhills, but not on this day. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZwxxkXD0G44/UOb5d2KkAbI/AAAAAAAAAxU/avN7MDfxXcc/s1600/DSC00350.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZwxxkXD0G44/UOb5d2KkAbI/AAAAAAAAAxU/avN7MDfxXcc/s640/DSC00350.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On top of Wilson, the weather equipment on top had blown over. Yikes!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gru8CvnNNRw/UOb5gd8JhEI/AAAAAAAAAxc/gTfaYe-0H-0/s1600/DSC00351.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gru8CvnNNRw/UOb5gd8JhEI/AAAAAAAAAxc/gTfaYe-0H-0/s640/DSC00351.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Winter in the Owyhees.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-l91JS7uGCjg/UOb5mWBA-4I/AAAAAAAAAxs/Ohj1G82iYeY/s1600/DSC00353.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-l91JS7uGCjg/UOb5mWBA-4I/AAAAAAAAAxs/Ohj1G82iYeY/s640/DSC00353.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ben and Shadow on top of Wilson.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hqGa8qt1Fog/UOb5qaXetiI/AAAAAAAAAx0/r9FDvYt7JT0/s1600/DSC00355.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="318" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hqGa8qt1Fog/UOb5qaXetiI/AAAAAAAAAx0/r9FDvYt7JT0/s640/DSC00355.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view coming off Wilson Peak. Wow!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ATb1HUuHur0/UOb50yGcnoI/AAAAAAAAAyU/DeHtJw5_wDE/s1600/DSC00363.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="323" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ATb1HUuHur0/UOb50yGcnoI/AAAAAAAAAyU/DeHtJw5_wDE/s400/DSC00363.JPG" width="400" /></a> <span style="text-align: center;">Once we were off the mountain we enjoyed a nice little show as Shadow jumped a jackrabbit and chased it through the sagebrush. Every so often he'd pop up out of the brush and we'd lose sight of him again. One thing is for sure, this dog lives for running and was having a great time despite the frigid weather. Once we were onto the last 2 mile stretch back to the car, the life kinda came back into me and I was running OK while chatting with Ben and tripping on Shadow. I actually felt better than I did coming off the mountain last year during the race which was reassuring for race day. I was 30 minutes slower on this loop in the snow than I was in the mud last year, but I can certainly cut 10 or 15 minutes off by not stopping to smell the roses like I did on this day. A couple on horseback rode into the parking lot at about the same time we finished. They looked as if they were dressed to go on an arctic expedition, while we looked like we were just out of the spandex section at the local sporting goods store. To each his own, but for me, this was simply a great day on the trails.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KinHskVrjEA/UOb52gsXmAI/AAAAAAAAAyc/QEQ5D_mvxOc/s1600/DSC00365.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="414" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KinHskVrjEA/UOb52gsXmAI/AAAAAAAAAyc/QEQ5D_mvxOc/s640/DSC00365.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nothing like a layer of ice frozen to your shoes... COLD!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_6sw3MvabR4/UOb56GWQKbI/AAAAAAAAAyk/LSq93ZnlGA4/s1600/DSC00366.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="274" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_6sw3MvabR4/UOb56GWQKbI/AAAAAAAAAyk/LSq93ZnlGA4/s640/DSC00366.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The infamous Wilson Peak hidden behind the clouds.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Anthony Bunthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17063104551284063426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2784751099399909082.post-39661819631384630532012-12-21T15:06:00.002-08:002012-12-22T07:19:21.147-08:00Trail of the Week: China Wall<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8C1eLqlL9fY/UNTotGlZZEI/AAAAAAAAAuE/jsfSuPN75qQ/s1600/DSC00314.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8C1eLqlL9fY/UNTotGlZZEI/AAAAAAAAAuE/jsfSuPN75qQ/s640/DSC00314.JPG" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I do not recommend running with guys this fast... ouch!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This week's post is likely to make some people a bit angry, and that's fine, because the trail I'm posting is somewhat of a hidden gem in the Owyhees that quite a few people know about but seem to have a difficult time finding or figuring out a way to enjoy it. The route I'm posting up is a very mellow (as much as possible in the Owyhees) 7.4 mile round trip loop to the amazing "China Wall" trail. Some would prefer it be kept a secret, but I think spreading the word to get more trails and interest in the area would be beneficial and so here we are... To the Canyon and Back.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fNMMPUJPW54/UNTo_HAf6sI/AAAAAAAAAuU/Cqt9rJhtDm4/s1600/IMG_5569.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fNMMPUJPW54/UNTo_HAf6sI/AAAAAAAAAuU/Cqt9rJhtDm4/s320/IMG_5569.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Go to the left of the pointy rock feature from the parking lot.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Getting the the China Wall is a bit tricky because there is no one trail that takes you right there from the main trail head at the Wilson Creek parking area. There is quite a few trails that take you in that general direction, and it is easy to get off course and turned around if you are out there for the first time by yourself. I recommend trying to find a buddy that can show you around if you can. From Nampa, go south on HW 45 and turn west on HW 78. Take a left on Wilson Creek Road and proceed south until you are about ready to enter the feedlot. Just before the feedlot, veer right onto gravel and travel about 1 more mile to the main trail head parking lot where a couple of restrooms are available and a signboard has a map posted. Upon my last check, there were many free copies of the are <a href="http://www.blm.gov/pgdata/etc/medialib/blm/id/travel_management/wilson_creek.Par.30004.File.dat/Wilson_Handouts_Webmap_8x11_Topo.pdf" target="_blank">map</a> available, but they are not of great detail so use caution to not get lost.<br />
<br />
From the parking lot, head east toward the large rock formation. I recommend that you stay just north of the feature and follow trail W300. This is a nice piece of trail with some undulations but is generally flatter than many of the other trails around the area. W300 will dump you off onto Pigeon Road and you will drop down a small hill and follow the sandy road north.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JBhjv2rss6k/UNTpI31SdiI/AAAAAAAAAuc/TdHtXqXhjHA/s1600/IMG_5571.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JBhjv2rss6k/UNTpI31SdiI/AAAAAAAAAuc/TdHtXqXhjHA/s640/IMG_5571.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view from W300 to the north.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
After gaining the small 4WD road you will notice a steep little run-up off to the right that becomes trail W310. This is a common way to get over to the Reynolds Creek canyon where the China Wall is but I also liked staying on the road and running up and over the small but steep hills on the way there. You can't really miss the entry into Reynolds Creek canyon and the trail (W600) is really the only way through the steep walled Reynolds area. Once dropping into the canyon keep a watch out for wildlife high up in the rugged surroundings. I've seen multiple bighorn sheep down in there and it is truly a sight to see.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eMVP0EGQp7c/UNTpT4aXcWI/AAAAAAAAAuk/yiJDI-HkDQo/s1600/IMG_5575.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eMVP0EGQp7c/UNTpT4aXcWI/AAAAAAAAAuk/yiJDI-HkDQo/s400/IMG_5575.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From a run in March, looking up the canyon.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Running or biking along the trail at this point is technical and there is some minor exposure as you traverse the canyon on the built up trail surface (hence, the China Wall name). You will be jumping over rocks and pushing through some minor brush, but all-in-all, it is a truly awesome trail. At the end of the canyon you'll see a trail leading up to the right and over the rocky, rough, and steep canyon wall. This exit is a tough little grunt and can be a bit of a hands on the knees pushing endeavor to get up unless you're like the two guys I was running with; in which case, you just slightly slow down and glide right up.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Tkl02NZ_ruM/UNTpejn1HVI/AAAAAAAAAus/187rsJFHfSE/s1600/IMG_5576.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Tkl02NZ_ruM/UNTpejn1HVI/AAAAAAAAAus/187rsJFHfSE/s640/IMG_5576.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The "China Wall"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BNuKdL5KfX8/UNTp2grpkWI/AAAAAAAAAu8/lyxUg8TL758/s1600/IMG_5583.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BNuKdL5KfX8/UNTp2grpkWI/AAAAAAAAAu8/lyxUg8TL758/s640/IMG_5583.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This picture is also from the run in March, but this is the way out of the canyon.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
After getting up the canyon wall, you'll soon be on the same road you took around to get into the canyon, but you will be at the base of the main Wilson Peak land feature. You'll take the road back down to the north and follow it until you reach the camp/parking/whatever little area where W400 goes off to the west. Follow this uphill trail for about 2 miles and you'll soon be back at the trail head and you're car. I've mapped this route out on <a href="http://connect.garmin.com/course/2554581" target="_blank">Garmin Connect</a> and you can easily combine this with the <a href="http://anthonybunt.blogspot.com/2012/12/new-feature-trail-of-week.html" target="_blank">Wilson Creek and Bingo! loop</a> I mapped two weeks ago. Click on the links and plan your adventure. Show me the Trails!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kIUd6lBX0iM/UNTwv3YFVNI/AAAAAAAAAvQ/aV7tb7jzuaE/s1600/ScreenHunter_01+Dec.+21+16.27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="310" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kIUd6lBX0iM/UNTwv3YFVNI/AAAAAAAAAvQ/aV7tb7jzuaE/s640/ScreenHunter_01+Dec.+21+16.27.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://connect.garmin.com/course/2554581">http://connect.garmin.com/course/2554581</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
As always, if you take a trip on one of my suggested loops, please post comments and provide any feedback you may have about the usefulness of these trail of the week features. Anthony Bunthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17063104551284063426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2784751099399909082.post-39188316168188108762012-12-19T05:39:00.001-08:002012-12-19T05:39:38.784-08:00Perspective<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LUgv1lslWPc/UNHDQzNo66I/AAAAAAAAAtw/MpktmhXyBDM/s1600/DSC00203.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LUgv1lslWPc/UNHDQzNo66I/AAAAAAAAAtw/MpktmhXyBDM/s640/DSC00203.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Morning sky over Skyview... I was speechless.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It was hard to go to work on Monday morning. Most Mondays are a bit on the rough side, but this Monday was worse than normal. It was of course, the first day back at school since the Newtown massacre and I have been taking it a bit rough. To top it off, our school lost a student over the weekend, not one I knew, but it is always hard on the students. I felt it was silly to try and hide the reality of what happened from the students, I explained that I was feeling pretty sad about the kids in CT and that it was OK and even "normal" if they were feeling the same way. In the midst of finals and the end of the grading period, as well as the excitement of Christmas break coming, the students were bound to be feeling a bit confused about how they should go about their lives with so much negative things going on. <div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Each class I taught received the same speech; that is, in the midst of sadness and negative situations, we can only worry about what we can control. That in the middle of a negative week, they cannot dwell on the negative things, but acknowledging them is good for the mind, and then letting them go is the only way forward. There are a lot of bad things going on around, but they should keep their eyes fixed on the good, and fixed on what they need to do so that one negative action from a person does not become more negative by their allowing it to dwell inside them for too long. Finals are important and one of the things you can control, so focus on doing your best and remember that while we see and hear about the negative things a lot, there are far more good things going on around us that we can see if we are looking at the world in the right way.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I compared this weekend to the attack on 9-11-01 and recalled that our country was facing a difficult time then. Most of my students were too young to remember much about that event, but I recalled for them the feelings I had that day. It seemed like there was so much evil, and I kept asking, "WHY!?" but the reality is there is often no satisfaction in knowing why, because actions such as these are so senseless that we cannot be comforted by knowing why. There was a great deal of questions that followed 9-11 and the overall feeling was that if we let the terrorists control our lives through fear we are letting them win. In the same way, if we allow the murders of the 20 children and 6 adults to continue to stay in the front of our mind and allow the murderer's actions to effect our actions negatively, we are giving him another small victory. The goal is not to ignore the negative action, but to acknowledge it, sympathize with the victims, help if we can, and move forward in life taking care of our needs and lives without surrendering to the evil. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Satan is lurking, waiting for his ploys to bring him another broken heart or lost soul. God is reaching out to us, to comfort us, pull us up, and cry with us. He also is still in control, although mourning the attack on the innocent, He can restore us and uplift our hearts if we only reach out to Him during these rough times. </div>
Anthony Bunthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17063104551284063426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2784751099399909082.post-20931068256961614262012-12-15T07:53:00.001-08:002012-12-15T08:47:17.544-08:00Trail of the Week: Three Bears Trail, Boise Foothills<br />
Judging by the overall success of the first "Trail of the Week" feature, there are quite a few people who want to know where to ride and what they're getting into when they head out. Today's trail review is another one of my favorite trails, one that until this year I hadn't ridden all that much because it requires a bit of commitment to aim your bicycle that direction in the Foothills. Three Bears Trail is one of the ultimate downhill rides in the area. It can be very high speed, but there are enough technical features to keep you alert and off the back of the saddle. It is rocky in many places, and involves climbing up 5 or 6 miles before you plunge back down to Boise in an adrenaline filled rush. Three Bears is on the Eastern side of the Foothills main trail sections, and is accessed through the Military Reserve area. On the <a href="http://www.ridgetorivers.org/trails/interactive-map/" target="_blank">Ridge to Rivers</a> map, you'll find Three Bears marked as trail number 26 and it is listed at 4.35 miles in length (almost all of it thrilling downhill riding). Now how do you get there?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tegdHILB1yo/UMyiTjB6uHI/AAAAAAAAAtQ/TbxdPk_7q_s/s1600/Boise+at+night.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tegdHILB1yo/UMyiTjB6uHI/AAAAAAAAAtQ/TbxdPk_7q_s/s320/Boise+at+night.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Gaining the top of the Three Bears Trail is no easy feat. It is most easily accessed via the Rocky Canyon Road but who wants to ride a boring road up to the beginning of a high speed mountain bike roller coaster ride? My favorite way to get to Three Bears involves starting at the parking area in the Military Reserve and taking the Central Ridge Spur (#22A) to the Central Ridge (#22) and then over to Shane's loop (#26A) which drops you off less than a couple miles from the Three Bears Connnector on Rocky Canyon Road. Climbing is going to happen, so dig in for a decently long climb up the Central Ridge area until you reach Shane's. Shane's Loop connects with the lower portion of Three Bears, but I'll get to that later... I usually continue heading East on Shane's until reaching a signpost that directs you further East to Rocky Canyon Road. The Shane's Loop segment offers a brief break from the climbing, and the drop down to the road is a bit technical. Once on the road, you continue climbing for about 1.5-2 miles until you reach a steep access trail identified as the Three Bears Connector. This is a nasty little slog up to the actual Three Bears Trail and it can be loose at certain times of year which makes it even nastier. I usually settle in on my granny ring and drop my fork down to steepen up the head angle (one of my bike's many cool tricks) so the climb is a bit easier. After climbing some very steep sections you finally reach the trail of the week, Three Bears.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CraXun7uiEM/UMyih-TWenI/AAAAAAAAAtY/kJqwFJwZF7U/s1600/P8260012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CraXun7uiEM/UMyih-TWenI/AAAAAAAAAtY/kJqwFJwZF7U/s320/P8260012.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rocky Canyon Road</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
From the top of Three Bears you have a fantastic view of the valley, Boise laid out before you as the earth falls away towards the city. In the dark morning hours of my normal riding time, this is a magical view, similar to the view of landing in a city at night on an airplane, except better because your not breathing in recycled air and stuck between two smelly passengers. Descending on Three Bears is an exhilarating experience. The trail never gets to that scary steep "omg" level, but it certainly keeps you on your toes. The rock gardens are fairly regular, and braking bumps and sharp corners abound. The descent of Three Bears is also broken up by a few uphills that are short and easy if you carry a lot of speed on the downhill sections. Throughout the entire descent, you are treated to views of Boise, if you can look up to view it with your speed induced watery eyes. After a bit of descending, you'll come to another junction with Shane's Loop (26A). It is here where you must decide if you want to continue down Three Bears and eventually jump onto the road that leads you back to the Military Reserve parking area, or take a left and go back to the original junction with Shane's Loop and descend via the Central Ridge trails. I'm split on which is best, but I think I like the Three Bears all the way option the best. <br />
<br />
Like so many trails in the Footies, the Three Bears Trail can be accessed through other options and can be linked to other trails. One nice variation is to continue past the Three Bears Connector trail to 5-Mile Gulch (Trail #2 on the RtR map). Once here you can climb up a more mellow grade, albeit longer, to Watchman's Trail (#3 on the map) and put together a really nice ride. At the bottom of Three Bears you'll find a junction with trail #5, Freestone Ridge, which you can climb up (way up!) to another really fun trail called Fat Tire Traverse. This will take you over to the more central trails like Sidewinder which you could hit and go to the Freeway and back towards Camelsback park or take a ride down Lower Hulls Gulch, or perhaps even go way over to Corrals, Bob's, or Hard Guy. That sounds like a good one for next week.. Here's the Garmin Course <a href="http://www.blogger.com/%3Ciframe%20width='460'%20height='600'%20frameborder='0'%20src='http://connect.garmin.com:80/course/embed/2536133'%3E%3C/iframe%3E" target="_blank">Map</a>, check out the <a href="http://www.ridgetorivers.org/" target="_blank">Ridge to Rivers</a> website as well and get out there. Happy trails!<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-R0anmP856Bg/UMycnVKpHyI/AAAAAAAAAs8/gXiWXKNPx64/s1600/ScreenHunter_01+Dec.+15+08.50.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="278" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-R0anmP856Bg/UMycnVKpHyI/AAAAAAAAAs8/gXiWXKNPx64/s640/ScreenHunter_01+Dec.+15+08.50.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Screen grab from Garmin Connect... Check out the link above for more info.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />Anthony Bunthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17063104551284063426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2784751099399909082.post-86957511176489946022012-12-15T06:35:00.000-08:002012-12-15T07:58:47.915-08:00Some days its hard to find a reason to ride...Like so many others this morning, I'm sitting here thinking about the events that unfolded just a little over 24 hours ago yesterday in CT. The incredibly painful reality of the situation hit me last night at 9:00 as I watch the news. I began weeping for the families, the children, the teachers, and the rescuers of that awful scene. Even now, I fight back tears and choke down the feeling of sheer anguish for them.<br />
<br />
Like many people yesterday, I had a normal, if even enjoyable Friday. I taught my classes, chatted with students, and even got in a great little ride around the lake before going to pick up my kids at their daycare. When I picked them up, Lisa, the care provider, could barely get out what had happened. I was horrified but quickly forgot about it as the kiddos and I went out Christmas shopping for my wife. At the store, the kids were going absolutely CRAZY and I was completely embarrassed as we left the store, my face still red from the frustration of dealing with 2-million kilojoules of energy crammed into two 3 foot tall bodies. <br />
<br />
After dinner, we joined my wife at the hospital for a short Christmas party where we all decorated sugar cookies and laughed as my daughter dropped hers, frosting side down, on the table. We went home and the crazy kids returned so it was off to bed for them and slowly, like frostbite, the reality of the sad news began to settle back in. <br />
<br />
We watched the news and the more I watched, the deeper the agony I felt for those who lost their small children. I asked myself why anyone would do this and I quickly came to the same conclusion that everyone else has, there is no reason. The tears came full force now, just sobbing for the families, and praying that God was watching over those little ones now. I hate that gunman, so cowardly in his action, chose to attack the most innocent of society, and then, the ultimate act of cowardliness, took his own life. I have no love for this person, my heart burns in anger and my mind is somewhat comforted that he will pay for his actions eternally. However, it doesn't change the situation that we all are left here to face. Why?<br />
<br />
Still sobbing, I go upstairs and grab my children and the three of us lay in my son's bed, cuddling, me crying while the kids sleep. My son, ever squirmy, wakes up and begins to think of excuses to get out of bed. "Ssshhh, let's just lay here for a while" I say. My daughter somehow can feel my sorrow and pulls tightly into my arms. I begin crying harder now, wondering if God will protect my children from such evil in the future, praying that he does, and trusting that they are His to watch after, no matter what evil finds them in this world. After 10 minutes that felt like 10 hours I tuck the kids back in bed and return downstairs. The only thing to do now is go on with life, there is nothing else to do. I turn on the TV again and Jay Leno is on. He appears to be saddened as well, even remarks that they considered canceling tonight's program in light of the events on the day. Thankfully, he goes on with the show, offering some distraction from the terrible onslaught of news. After a few minutes, exhaustion finds me and I drift off to sleep.<br />
<br />
When the alarm buzzed me awake at 5:30 for my morning workout, there wasn't much thought to the tragedy of yesterday. I drank coffee, ate some cereal, and worked on a the blog post for my weekly Trail of the Week feature. After finishing my coffee and clicking "save" on the post, I began suiting up for my ride in the dark cold morning, which for some unknown reason brought the horrible news back into my mind. Just yesterday I was on a ride, completely unaware the that nation was being bombarded by horrific news of evil. My mind went back to the images from the news and tears started to well up in my eyes again. I put the rest of my gear on and went out into the cold. The air was brisk, but I didn't feel it. It seemed to match the feelings in my heart. I made it 2.5 miles before turning around and heading back home. I just couldn't ride anymore than that today. Someday soon, we will all be back to normal, but families are crushed right now, feeling a loss that I cannot bear to imagine. My prayer is for them today, Please God, be with these families. Put your arms around them and help them to know you are watching these kids in Heaven now, where they wait for their parents to join them. There is now no fear for them, no sorrow, just the purest joy that we can imagine, the kind of joy we want to feel right now but seem to be feeling the opposite. Time will pass, hearts will mend, and God, mysterious in His ways, is still good and in control. He hates evil, and His heart is breaking right here with ours. Anthony Bunthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17063104551284063426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2784751099399909082.post-9155632123025662832012-12-11T14:13:00.000-08:002012-12-11T14:13:59.472-08:00Raleigh Furley Review: First Impressions<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Its been a few months since I sold off my Surly Pacer and bought this black beast so I felt it was time to share my first impressions of the bike in all its glorious single-speededness. Originally, I made the choice to purchase this bike with the idea that someday it would make a good gravel grinder and a decent light-touring bike. I thought about going with another Surly, such as the Crosscheck but I went for the disc brakes and the fact that I could actually sit on this one at my local shop. It also had some cool features that made me lean towards the relatively unproven bike versus the venerable Crosscheck.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
First off that list of cool features was the price. I was able to pick up the Raleigh for a really reasonable price and would have paid substantially more for a Crosscheck. I also liked the overall parts selection on the Furley as I wanted to try out singlespeeding right away. Surly bikes are equiped with OK stuff, but the fit and finish of the stem, bars, grip tape, and saddle were a bit nicer on the Raleigh. The disc brakes were also a big plus (more on that later) because living in Idaho, I plan on riding up and down some big hills, and I don't want to worry about brakes while I'm going downhill at 30+ mph. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gZFyP1DvGCU/UMZxQKNCJfI/AAAAAAAAAsc/gVfPjwXs8Cw/s1600/Furley+wallpaper+BW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gZFyP1DvGCU/UMZxQKNCJfI/AAAAAAAAAsc/gVfPjwXs8Cw/s400/Furley+wallpaper+BW.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of my favorite pictures taken of any of my bikes... I just like it :)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Riding the Furley is fun, period. It rides predictably, stable but not sluggish, and can carve a corner pretty well. I don't want to make this a review about singlespeeding, but I will say that riding a singlespeed bike is quite a bit harder, I work harder on the flats than usual, and the hills are no longer just minor blips on the ride radar. For one thing, the bike is heavy, 26 pounds out of the box. I won't say thats a bad thing because the reason this bike is so heavy are the reasons that I like it: burly wheels, steel frame, and disc brakes. I lightened it up by removing the cheater brake levers and replaced the stock saddle with a bit more performance one that suited me. Hills definitely are more of a challenge and that has actually been kind of a good thing for now. I will say, that I think this bike is one that would really shine with a wide gear range drivetrain like the Sram Apex group or a Shimano group with one of the new 10-speed mountain derailluers and cassettes. It really is a great bike to ride a long distance, and I can see it going on some really long rides in the future in some very mountainous places.<br />
<br />
Now for some negatives with the stock setup:<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
Flatlanders will find the stock gearing pretty slow if they are speedy. I swapped the stock 18 tooth sprocket for a 16 tooth one just so I could ride my "normal" speeds without spinning wildly in the saddle to go 18 mph. Another thing to mention is that the brakes. They are finiky and sometimes impossible to get silient. The stock Kenda tires are really heavy with wire beads and have terrible flat resistance. I got a flat every ride with them on, and since I dislike slime for the most part, I went with some Specialized Armadillo tires to use for my pavement commute. I'd like to get some Schwalble Marathon's for touring this summer, but that's another time and for now its just base miles for fun and relaxation from the daily grind of teaching 9th grade science. </div>
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
If you're debating getting a Furley, you should know that there are some negatives; however, if you're like me and value simplicity in a bike with some style and a bit of versitility thrown in, the Furley is one of the bikes on the short list to consider. If you're like me and have a local shop that carries them, ride it and see if its for you. <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DqkXKVlraKw/UMZxadkxu5I/AAAAAAAAAsk/xm3PjEVoY_A/s1600/IMG_6565.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DqkXKVlraKw/UMZxadkxu5I/AAAAAAAAAsk/xm3PjEVoY_A/s400/IMG_6565.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Mr. Furley," as I call him, all decked out with lights, fenders, and road tires to make commuting more enjoyable. I've had very few flats with Armadillos, in fact, none in over a year of riding on the tires. First on my Surly Pacer, and now on this bike. No flats in Idaho with goatheads abound... that's a winner right there. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
Anthony Bunthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17063104551284063426noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2784751099399909082.post-22691600278469614922012-12-06T20:57:00.001-08:002012-12-11T14:15:17.340-08:00New Feature: Trail of the Week!Giving my flighty nature and general tendency to move quickly from one thing to another, I hope that I can buck this trend and post a weekly feature one local area trails and loops. One of the great challenges one faces when trying out the sport of mountain biking is finding suitable trails and navigating along them. In Boise, its one thing to take on a trail and make a wrong turn, you'll have little trouble getting back where you need to be and often you can seek directions if you find somebody to ask; but in the Owyhees, you're likely to not see any other riders/hiker/equestrians so you'll be on your own. In no way is this blog guaranteeing that you'll never get lost, however, by taking on routes I feature you'll at least know what you're getting yourself into when you head out. Enough introduction... show me the trails!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HQGXV4hznWw/UMF0HiyM-EI/AAAAAAAAArs/xbLQTnn5i_4/s1600/DSC00211.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HQGXV4hznWw/UMF0HiyM-EI/AAAAAAAAArs/xbLQTnn5i_4/s640/DSC00211.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wilson Peak is at the center in the background. The road to Wilson Creek is only gravel for a short ways.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I want to start by saying that when you head out on any ride or run in the mountains you need to be prepared and be self-reliant. What will you do if you get a flat? What if your bike breaks? What will you do if you roll and ankle? Do you know basic trail-side bike repairs such as: fixing a flat tire, repairing a snapped chain, or tightening a loose part? Go see your local bike mechanic if you don't. If you're in Nampa, <a href="http://www.rollinghcycles.com/" target="_blank">Rolling H Cycles</a> will show you basic repair skills if you ask and bring some cookies for the owner ;)<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2sDTFNGXjRw/UMF0qwFidmI/AAAAAAAAAsI/hZJZLclIEGE/s1600/DSC00234.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2sDTFNGXjRw/UMF0qwFidmI/AAAAAAAAAsI/hZJZLclIEGE/s200/DSC00234.JPG" width="141" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Parking lot at Wilson</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Let's start off this feature with one of my favorite loops in the Owyhees; the Wilson Creek to Bingo Loop. The overall difficulty of this loop is probably intermediate with some sections that experts will enjoy and be challenged by, particularly climbing up Wilson Creek. For more information on Wilson Creek in the Owyhees of Idaho, go to the <a href="http://www.blm.gov/id/st/en/Districts-Idaho/BDO/owyhee/recreation_sites_/wilson_creek_travel.html" target="_blank">BLM</a> page and click on the map link at the top of the page. You start in the main parking area and immediately begin climbing on a trail towards the South where W100 exits the parking lot. For about 3/4 of a mile you'll climb across a couple dips and up some loose sand to the top of a small ridge. Its pretty steep starting out so if you like a warm up before you begin a climb you may want to consider riding down the road a bit and then coming back to tackle the first hill. <br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8uawhWBkS7k/UMF0SjAQgLI/AAAAAAAAAr4/w8cT_ZXr-2w/s1600/DSC00223.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="215" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8uawhWBkS7k/UMF0SjAQgLI/AAAAAAAAAr4/w8cT_ZXr-2w/s400/DSC00223.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Last little section before gaining Wilson Crk Rd again.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Shortly after topping out the first climb you'll descend a short but fun section until you cross a small drainage and come to a junction where you must go left or right. At this point you you'll turn left and follow a doubletrack trail East, still on W100. There is a junction to the right that you'll go past first and then you'll begin the see the canyon carved out by Wilson Creek itself. Ignore the sign that points to W140 and stay on W100 (Wilson Creek Trail). This is where you'll begin to feel more challenged technically and if you can ride the whole climb clean to the end then you should stop, pat yourself on the back, and admire what a great mountain biker you are. The Wilson Creek Trail takes you uphill mostly and you'll pop out back on Wilson Creek Road about 3.5 ish miles into the ride. Once on the road, turn towards the North and head up the slight incline for roughly a mile until you gain the highpoint of the ride and come the a junction where W500 goes off to the right, downhill towards the East and the Reynolds Creek area. <br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iMbtBRhZ_FI/UMF0ckgaB1I/AAAAAAAAAsA/q_-n9DcGdZ4/s1600/DSC00226.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iMbtBRhZ_FI/UMF0ckgaB1I/AAAAAAAAAsA/q_-n9DcGdZ4/s400/DSC00226.JPG" width="241" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">High Point of the Ride/Run looking back...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Trail W500 is affectionately known as "Bingo!" and you'll see why when you start tackling the two steep, butt rubbing descents in the first mile or so down Bingo! These are the two toughest challenges on this trail, but the rocks can be a bit sketchy too further down the trail. If you're on a cross country or trail bike, avoid taking W501 partway down W500. It gets a bit rough going down W501 and you'll have a bunch more fun on the fast, flowy, and skinny main trail. W501 does come back to W500 eventually though, so if you take a wrong turn, you can catch back onto Bingo! soon enough. Enjoy the descent on Bingo! until you come to a dirt road that is labeled Pigeon Rd. on most online map programs. Take this dirt road straight downhill and stay left at a junction with a branching road that goes off to the right and towards the China Ditch. After passing the junction to the right you will come to an area on the left side of the road that appears to be set up for camping or other such activity. <br />
<br />
You'll find a trail (W400) going up the hill at the end of this circled off area that takes you back towards the start of the ride. Overall, this loop is about 8.25 miles and is a ton of fun. It easily can be made longer with different options that I'll post up in future Trails of the Week features. <br />
<br />
This is a Garmin course for those of you with a Garmin, however, this particular route is for the W501 option, which is fine on foot but by bike it can be a bear.<br />
<a href="http://connect.garmin.com/course/2509576#.UMF0ruGQDa8.blogger">Garmin Connect - Wilson Creek to Bingo (501 option)</a>Anthony Bunthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17063104551284063426noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2784751099399909082.post-86565616450602914012012-12-02T09:08:00.006-08:002012-12-02T09:08:58.797-08:00Darkness is setting in as the Fall fades.<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BEZ14Q-Rgs4/ULt_EoHNGKI/AAAAAAAAAps/uOi9ro0HpNw/s1600/DSC00224.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BEZ14Q-Rgs4/ULt_EoHNGKI/AAAAAAAAAps/uOi9ro0HpNw/s400/DSC00224.JPG" width="257" /></a><br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6sQsyjvqooU/ULt-613bAUI/AAAAAAAAApg/24pXiDUE500/s1600/DSC00219.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6sQsyjvqooU/ULt-613bAUI/AAAAAAAAApg/24pXiDUE500/s400/DSC00219.JPG" width="256" /></a>Fall bike riding is by far my favorite activity. The temp's and the colors all around make it unlike any other season. Exploring the Owyhees has been on my list of things to do for a while, so with the trails dry and the colors amazing, I was fortunate to experience some of my favorite riding ever. The Wilson Creek area south of Nampa and just west of the Melba area is accessible and quite rugged. There is a certain wild-west aspect to it when compared to riding in Boise's relatively tame and over-crowded foothills. <br />
<br />
Even the approach to the trails is rugged, at least more so than Boise where your ride often begins with a pass behind the local tennis court and ride through someone's backyard before climbing onto the sandy-sidewalk wide path that takes you further up where the real trails are. When at Wilson Creek, you pedal out of the parking lot onto a singletrack climb riddled with sand-traps and washouts before taking on some of the rockiest riding one would sanely take on. You are also more likely to run into a herd of wild horses or even the occasional Rocky Mountain Bighorn sheep than another mountain biker. It makes risk-taking less attractive since the likelihood of someone coming along to help you out is pretty low. I generally hike-a-bike a bit more than usual even if it is something I'm fairly certain I can ride. This timidity, however, does not diminish the fun factor, and a more relaxed attitude is sometimes nice. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
Just before Thanksgiving, I was able to meet up with a few other riders and show them a loop out in the wilds of Wilson. We had a great time on our 16 mile ride. Two of the more roadie-centric riders fell back in love with mountain biking, despite me putting them through a ringer of a ride that highlighted some of the more technical trails in the whole area. Gary Jenkins and I chatted quite a bit as we primarily rode together and I was quite impressed by his singlespeeding skills and fast descending on a rigid bike. He's the real deal in terms of die-hard mountain biker. I felt sheepish with my dual-suspension and 27-gears. At least he made me feel better by stating that his next bike will probably be a full-squish 29er such as mine. They at least said they had fun, we'll see if I can actually get them to go back out there again in a few weeks... :)<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eE0keHx6eQ8/ULuFEgBaNKI/AAAAAAAAAqE/De3RjXlE9-w/s1600/DSC00253.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eE0keHx6eQ8/ULuFEgBaNKI/AAAAAAAAAqE/De3RjXlE9-w/s640/DSC00253.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gary rocking the rigid SS!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KSoRQrcj7Oc/ULuFU4J4qBI/AAAAAAAAAqY/PyNtBlE1pjQ/s1600/DSC00260.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="282" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KSoRQrcj7Oc/ULuFU4J4qBI/AAAAAAAAAqY/PyNtBlE1pjQ/s640/DSC00260.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Colors were full still full on.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WXf21FyQS8o/ULuFq0V49TI/AAAAAAAAAqo/Tu6Nl7nYRZQ/s1600/DSC00264.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WXf21FyQS8o/ULuFq0V49TI/AAAAAAAAAqo/Tu6Nl7nYRZQ/s640/DSC00264.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gary and Michelle. Dan joined us, but I didn't come out with a picture that would post online correctly, so he's left out...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The end of Summer was also marked by the sale of my road bike in exchange for a Raleigh Furley single-speed cyclocross bike. I still don't exactly know why this felt right, and at times I question my thought process, but as a result of down-grading the road bike I've been fortunate to be able invest in some parts for the nearly decade old 29er, my Gary Fisher Sugar-293 courtesy of a great dude name Hal. Although I was first a bit apprehensive about putting much into the bike, it has shown me that it still has a lot of miles left to give. This blessing was unexpected and I've certainly been loving the dirt and mountain riding its been providing me. The sale of the road bike also allowed me to get some quality lights for riding any trail in the pitch black. I don't really want to endorse them, but they came off of Amazon for a reasonable price but are clearly a Chinese copy of an American brand of lights. I do have my morals, but when it comes to lights that will allow me to keep riding during these dark mornings, I can't argue with over 1600 lumens for $80. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-G06DFfRX7l8/ULt6mOiyfgI/AAAAAAAAAo4/t6WapadaGds/s1600/IMG_6389.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-G06DFfRX7l8/ULt6mOiyfgI/AAAAAAAAAo4/t6WapadaGds/s400/IMG_6389.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My old Maglite XL50, 139 lumens. Runs on 3 AAA's</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lyAuVK4MXIM/ULt6fmO5HOI/AAAAAAAAAow/bPWCFB-P8FI/s1600/IMG_6387.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lyAuVK4MXIM/ULt6fmO5HOI/AAAAAAAAAow/bPWCFB-P8FI/s400/IMG_6387.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New light system, one floodlight on the bars and a spot on the helmet. <br />1600+ lumens with rechargable lithium-ion battery packs. 3 hours of battery life</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Night riding has opened up a whole new world of riding, as I no longer have to wait for the day when nothing else is going on so I can make the journey to the hills for a ride. I can also take on longer pre-work commutes. These lights are bright! I highly recommend the investment in some bright lights if your a busy rider with commitments at home and work. Even though its colder, and the scenery is much different, I am having the most fun on two wheels since the kids arrived and my life changed forever for the better. It is moments like these below that keep me looking forward to the day my little buddies are ready for their first mountain bike ride.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gvYLvy3dS1c/ULuJS4MRvnI/AAAAAAAAArc/USKgy4GmgCw/s1600/DSC00245.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gvYLvy3dS1c/ULuJS4MRvnI/AAAAAAAAArc/USKgy4GmgCw/s320/DSC00245.JPG" width="243" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C5Xs3rs0djI/ULuJOT1482I/AAAAAAAAArM/1EdVR4uEaj8/s1600/DSC00239.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C5Xs3rs0djI/ULuJOT1482I/AAAAAAAAArM/1EdVR4uEaj8/s320/DSC00239.JPG" width="243" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1A2ePbWt024/ULuJPX1wE0I/AAAAAAAAArU/hZN7eaFKRhE/s1600/DSC00243.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="416" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1A2ePbWt024/ULuJPX1wE0I/AAAAAAAAArU/hZN7eaFKRhE/s640/DSC00243.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
Anthony Bunthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17063104551284063426noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2784751099399909082.post-11393845081631555212012-09-07T21:18:00.002-07:002012-09-07T21:18:18.254-07:00Back in the saddle again!Summer heat, crazy kids, moving into a new classroom, and the never ending fence project... just a few reasons why I haven't posted in a month or two. The good news for those who care is that I'm back in the saddle again, both figuratively in relation to this blog, and literally on my bike.<br />
<br />
The highlight of the summer was a big ride in the Owyhees with local Cycling Guru Adam Haynes of <a href="http://www.rollinghcycles.com/" target="_blank">Rolling H Cycles</a>, and the <a href="http://www.leadvilleraceseries.com/page/show/431578-leadman-and-leadwoman" target="_blank">LEADMAN</a> Mark Wheeler. We were thinking about trying a dirty hundie, but decided that 45 miles and 7500' of elevation was quite enough. Next time we'll shoot for 50 miles and maybe hit 10,000'. Mark looked fresh after the 5 hour ride, but Adam and I were in the hurt locker by the end.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KjVTTs6XMqg/UEq9qQkrvAI/AAAAAAAAAn0/iV-xc5MwLfk/s1600/IMG_6092.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KjVTTs6XMqg/UEq9qQkrvAI/AAAAAAAAAn0/iV-xc5MwLfk/s640/IMG_6092.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunrise on the way to the big Owyhee ride. Silver City, ID</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vuEKCDXUvxs/UEq-Eo8oTJI/AAAAAAAAAoE/mXOHxqhJFOQ/s1600/IMG_6095.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vuEKCDXUvxs/UEq-Eo8oTJI/AAAAAAAAAoE/mXOHxqhJFOQ/s640/IMG_6095.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the Silver City Hotel taking a water break around mile 32, Silver City, ID</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9XH0gju4p_Y/UEq9jtET94I/AAAAAAAAAns/cWmH5eRivfc/s1600/Bike+on+War+Eagle+Mtn.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9XH0gju4p_Y/UEq9jtET94I/AAAAAAAAAns/cWmH5eRivfc/s640/Bike+on+War+Eagle+Mtn.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Gary Fisher 293 on top of War Eagle Mountain, Silver City, ID</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4UvpAF4Cxyc/UEq9TsoagxI/AAAAAAAAAng/jeFeDOMVMOw/s1600/IMG_6343.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4UvpAF4Cxyc/UEq9TsoagxI/AAAAAAAAAng/jeFeDOMVMOw/s400/IMG_6343.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">SS, Disc Brakes, Flat Black, Beefy rims and tires equals FUN!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I could try to take the time and summarize the rest of the past two months, but really, the point is moving on with the blog, so I'll spare you the boredom and just let you know that it was a long, hot summer out here in the west. I managed to squeeze in some other pretty good rides, especially the last Friday before going back to work for the school year. 100+ miles with a ride up Bogus Basin road in the middle of it. It was a great way to close the summer, and it left me wondering how long I could continue to knock a century each month. It is something worth considering, but I'll have to make sure I'm taking care of business at home and work before I commit to a 6 hour ride. The challenge just got a little more interesting as I have simplified my road rig down to a single speed cyclocross bike from <a href="http://www.raleighusa.com/bikes/steel-road/cyclocross/furley-13/" target="_blank">Raleigh</a> called the Furley. It is beyond fun, and brings new challenges to my rides everyday, which, surprisingly, I find very satisfying. It is not the fastest bike on the road, but you can be riding along at 20 mph and jump onto the gravel shoulder to dodge a car without missing a beat. Downhill is just awesome, as I have long had issues with fast descents on a road bike (put me on my mountain bike and there's usually no worries); stable and intuitive is the best way to describe the way it rides. <br />
<br />
The new bike is really a realization of my goals as a rider. My primary use of a bike is to commute, but I want to be able to go just about anywhere. I am focused on completing a number of different rides in the future, none of which is going to be put onto a timeline because I have learned that right now those commitments are nearly impossible to keep. The <a href="http://www.mohican100.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=59&Itemid=65" target="_blank">Mohican 100</a> is still a big goal, along with a trip down the Owyhee Scenic Byway (104 miles through the desert on a gravel road), a 100 mile ride in the Owyhee mountains is also on the list, maybe something like the Dirty Kanza 200 or Trans Iowa, and perhaps a bikepacking trip to gain experience for my new lifelong dream ride of the <a href="http://tourdivide.org/" target="_blank">Tour Divide</a> Race. I'm focused on long, adventurous riding, not so much in going out on a road ride and hammering at 25 mph for 20 miles in a paceline. I have nothing against that at all, in fact, I will miss being able to hang in the group for the most part on my Furley, but it is very difficult to get away to meet up at a designated ride time with a big group. Most of my miles are added onto my commute, or fit in within small, limited windows of free time. I just bought some lights, so I'll be taking on some early morning rides with those. Of course, I will post a report on the lights and the rides as soon as I can.<br />
<br />
I've also been planning on rebuilding my suspension on the mountain bike with Adam. I just ordered the parts and will be taking on that project soon. Again, expect to see me update with the results of the project. I've already regreased the rear shock once, but this time I'll be putting all new seals and grease, as well as changing the oil in the front fork. I decided to forgo any new parts on the fork other than the oil, as I really am not crazy about it, but don't want to drop any cash on a new one yet. The goal is to move onto a new mountain bike sometime (sooner rather than later would be nice, but unlikely) so I'm not putting much money into the 2003 Gary Fisher at the moment.<br />
<br />
It may seem that I have totally foregone any running, but I have been running just enough to know I still can. It has traditionally been a winter sport for me, so I think that once the cold weather really hits, I'll lace of the trail runners and head back out to the Owyhees. The reality is that whatever I chose to do athletically has to fit within the context of my faith, family, and career, so I pick and choose what is the most fun and rewarding at that time, and focus on that. I have never been able to focus on more than one sport, so I have just given up trying and am just living in the moment of the sport I'm into. Anthony Bunthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17063104551284063426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2784751099399909082.post-67290755636503306592012-06-03T21:16:00.001-07:002012-06-03T21:19:25.455-07:00The year to not remember...<span style="background-color: black; color: #eeeeee; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 19px;">"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to heaven, we were all going direct the other way - in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only." <i>Charles Dickens, <u>A Tale of Two Cities</u></i>.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: #eeeeee; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;"><span style="color: #eeeeee; font-size: 17px; line-height: 19px;">Two days removed from what I can without reservation say was the hardest year of my life, I cannot help but think of this classic quote from one the greatest writers in the history of the English language. Just as the classic story from Dickens, there were two distinct worlds with unique characters and events at play, that seemed at odds with one another but in fact were so much the same. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;"><span style="color: #eeeeee; font-size: 17px; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;"><span style="color: #eeeeee; font-size: 17px; line-height: 19px;">I found myself this year going between two worlds, each seemingly more challenging than the other. In the world of education, a third straight year of funding cuts and increased workload for no more pay stretched my mental and physical capacity to the max, while at home, the world of toddlers and honey-do's demanded just as much of my limited resources. There seemed to be no easy moments, no place existed that was an escape from the demands at hand. Months went by with no more than 6 hours of sleep a night and a likely average of around 5 hours or less. Papers piled up on my desk at work, waiting to be graded. Lesson plans went from "pretty good and challenging" to "eh, okay I guess this will do" to "well, this will keep them busy for a while so I can get my grading done." At home a fence is still waiting to be stained, after an epic spring day of power-washing it. Michelle is still waiting for a mother's day raised garden bed to be put in, I promise, it's coming :). </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;"><span style="color: #eeeeee; font-size: 17px; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;"><span style="color: #eeeeee; font-size: 17px; line-height: 19px;">Of course, something had to give... 50 miles per week of running dropped to 20, then to zero. My workouts consisted of the occasional longish bike ride and a 3-4 day per week ride to work and back. My elite state of ultra marathon fitness has diminished significantly, and my goals athletically for the year have been basically wiped out. That's not to say I've let myself completely go, as I have managed to maintain some basic fitness despite it all. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;"><span style="color: #eeeeee; font-size: 17px; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;"><span style="color: #eeeeee; font-size: 17px; line-height: 19px;">Spiritually I have struggled as well, but there has been some good things going in terms of a new men's Bible study group meeting at my new favorite shop, Rolling H Cycles in downtown Nampa. Michelle and I have been able to meet up with a new couples small group out of our church, and although my daily devotions haven't been great, there is hope. Its is reassuring to know that Jesus is not a "coat" that I can take off when life gets busy, but rather a complete indwelling within me that I cannot live without. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;"><span style="color: #eeeeee; font-size: 17px; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;"><span style="color: #eeeeee; font-size: 17px; line-height: 19px;">There have been some cool moments this spring that would likely make an interesting blog report, but for now I just want to keep it simple. It was a hard year, that is for sure, but the worst of the storm is now over and it is time to enjoy the summer. Yeah for teaching!</span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-roxx2MgU2Fo/T8wym-jnHhI/AAAAAAAAAmg/lZa6buHon7g/s1600/DSC00092.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-roxx2MgU2Fo/T8wym-jnHhI/AAAAAAAAAmg/lZa6buHon7g/s640/DSC00092.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">Myles and Kara at the Exergy Tour, Women's Professional Bike Race; Boise, May 2012. We took the Burley bike trailer up to the top of the queen of the mountain location to watch the women come by. I got some serious looks from people I passed pulling a 60+ pound trailer up the mountain on a bicycle. Oh the fun it making some poor fellas feel like the slowest dudes ever. This picture was taken downtown before we rode up the mountain. Notice the cowbell in the hand of Myles. It was one time where both kids were allowed to be as loud as they wanted. I kept yelling back in to the trailer "More Cowbell!" as I rode around with them in tow.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #eeeeee; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #eeeeee; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<br />Anthony Bunthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17063104551284063426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2784751099399909082.post-60299676874206364672012-02-19T21:57:00.000-08:002012-02-19T22:00:33.028-08:00Patience<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EiwQ4X3X5fc/T0HZTFxWkBI/AAAAAAAAAkc/53c81-EVjBk/s1600/DSC00085.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EiwQ4X3X5fc/T0HZTFxWkBI/AAAAAAAAAkc/53c81-EVjBk/s400/DSC00085.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Graded and Recorded!</em></td></tr>
</tbody></table>This post is more than just about running; although, as I'm comming to find out, it could be very applicable to my new favorite past-time, running rediculously far. You see, lately I've been struggling with the application of patience to my everyday life, as well as my athletic goals. It hit me tonight as I was pounding through a stack of papers to grade (typical night when my wife is working her night shift). Patience is something we all have to learn at some point and I for one place it high on the list of things that are not fun, right up there behind grading papers. Furthermore, there is nothing rewarding about the process of learning patience; quite frankly, it sucks. However, it appears that at the end of the process, there seems to be some kind of satisfaction. It actually reminds me a lot of training at times, although I usually find training to be something enjoyable, there are of course moments where you ask yourself, "why am I doing this again?" <br />
<br />
Ultra runners know the importance of patience. Push too hard early in your race and a big fat DNF is all you'll get at the finish line, if you even make it to the race. I'm convinced that 99% of all running related injuries happen as a result in one form or another from lack of patience. <br />
<br />
Cyclists know that patience is also critical when competing at the highest levels of the sport. "Go ahead, attack 2 miles into the race. You can sit out front and burn yourself up while we sit back here in the peloton and sip Coke. We'll even stop for a pee break, and still reel you in with miles to go before the finish and you'll be so tired we'll spit you off the back and leave you sucking wind all the way to the finish." (I'm pretty sure this happened to me early in my bike racing days.)<br />
<br />
Aside from the above analogies, I have really been struggling to be in the moment. It is all too easy to look around at the "<em>Jones</em>'" and wonder, "why can't I find the money to (fill in the blank)?" There are numerous things that I find myself fancying, idolizing, and just plain lusting over (darn you bike shop!). I can't even limit myself to things of monetary significance. Of those things, there's that doctorate degree I'd maybe like to get someday, or maybe a business to own. Heck, there's even a big part of me that wants to sign up for a 100 mile ultra run this year just because I know I could do it. But then there's a burning question of "is this really the time to be worrying about that?" After all, it is true that you are only young once, but this applies more to my kids than to myself. I have found myself trying to remember daily that the moments I have with my two little ones are precious and limited, yet in spite of this, patience eludes me. I remember once someone saying: "don't ever pray for patience, because God is good and he will deliver the circumstances under which we need to develop it." I must have missed that point, and at some point prayed for this development of patience that I'm definitely needing at this point. Funny though, my children have a head start on me... tonight's bedtime story, "<em>Patience</em>." My 21 month old chose it. Amazing how kids can bring out the best in us all.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XPF_toUazJM/T0HYx-BP1XI/AAAAAAAAAkE/TCD_0vMKSE4/s1600/DSC00084.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XPF_toUazJM/T0HYx-BP1XI/AAAAAAAAAkE/TCD_0vMKSE4/s400/DSC00084.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Bedtime story and an award that will always top any race honor...</em></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Anthony Bunthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17063104551284063426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2784751099399909082.post-78771639864907982362012-02-17T04:41:00.000-08:002012-02-17T04:41:34.393-08:00Nampa's NEW bike shop!As much as I loved Cafferty's Cyclery in Nampa, I am so excited to help announce the addition of another local bikery called <a href="http://rollinghcycles.com/" target="_blank">Rolling H Cycles</a>, also in downtown Nampa. Rolling H will be a different experience than Cafferty's and I hope both shops can do well. I will report more on situation in 14 days when Rolling H opens its doors, but for now you'll just have to check out their webpage and as most things these days, follow the progress on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rolling-H-Cycles/227983583922449" target="_blank">facebook</a>... Enjoy!Anthony Bunthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17063104551284063426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2784751099399909082.post-35633693368966115932012-02-08T11:10:00.000-08:002012-02-08T11:10:06.945-08:00Crazy training run story...Its been about 2 1/2 weeks since the carnage of the WCF50K and I feel that my legs and body are starting to come around. I have been able to log some good runs, and feel ready to take on training for my next planned race, The <a href="http://pickledfeetultras.com/scer/" target="_blank">Silver City Endurance Run</a> on June 23rd. I have basically decided to loosely follow Bryon Powell's plan outlined in <a href="http://www.irunfar.com/rfp" target="_blank">Relentless Forward Progress</a> with some minor modifications to account for a fluctuating schedule of opportunities to run. I'll definitely be posting some updates as I get them, but for now, there's not much to report.<br />
<br />
The only real interesting thing that happened training wise occurred this morning on my pre-work 6-miler. I set out from home around 5:45am and less than a mile into the workout encountered an older man walking his giant German Shepperd dog. The dog was startled by my presence and jumped out towards me where I was running on the road. The jerk caused the man to stumble and fall down a small, shallow, grass covered ditch between the sidewalk and the road where he apparently hit his head and was knocked unconscious. I carefully approached and tried to communicate with the man and he did not respond to my shouting. Immediately, I looked around for a passing car and flagged down a woman and her daughter who happened to have a cell phone. I explained the situation and asked them to call 911.<br />
<br />
By then the man was stirring, but still facing the ground and unable to get up. Another passing car stopped and the gentleman jumped out and came to help. We made contact with the man who was obviously very out of it, he didn't recall falling down or know what happened, and he eventually asked to get up. I was very concerned to try this but thought that as long as we held onto him, he couldn't fall and hurt himself again. After a few shaky steps up to the sidewalk, the older man appeared to have regain composure and was able to walk off towards his home which he insisted was "right around the corner." <br />
<br />
Obviously, I was a bit freaked out by the whole incidence, but felt I maintained calmness and thought clearly enough to take care of the situation. For the next 5 miles, I thought continuously about the man and wondered if I should have made him wait for the ambulance. I guess maybe next time I will have to make the same decision, but will have a bit more experience. I want to point out that I did not move the man until he was already trying to move himself and I asked him more than once to stay on the ground until some help arrived. When it was clear that he was not going to do that, I helped him up so that he didn't take another fall. Talk about a memorable morning on a mundane training run... If you have any comments about these kind of things, I'd love to hear them.Anthony Bunthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17063104551284063426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2784751099399909082.post-16668510575866241012012-01-29T12:04:00.000-08:002012-01-29T12:04:36.682-08:00Barefoot Experiment: Week 1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I've long struggled with foot related issues due to overpronation which has led to a host of injuries over the years. Since it appears that I will need to be running gently due to an IT-band related injury from my 1st ultra marathon, I've decided that now is the time I will start trying out this whole barefoot thing; let's just call it an experiment. I know that it will take many weeks of steady and slow progress so I'm officially committed for the long haul. The goal of this program is not to be able to run barefoot, but to be able to choose the shoes that I want to run in, not be limited by shoes that are for overpronators specifically. There just are not a lot of good choices of footwear for competitive trail runners who overpronate, so if I can change my shoe needs through this experiment it will be awesome!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AMdyUWmecIc/TyWiyl8XUXI/AAAAAAAAAjs/mLlm34l6UoA/s1600/Week1+bLeft.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br />
</a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pSvxAhSbeE8/TyWipevU2OI/AAAAAAAAAjk/fqfMAYzas1g/s1600/Week1+aRight.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-figbsGGig3A/TyWkWVha7HI/AAAAAAAAAj4/piGMjEwE-nQ/s1600/Week+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-figbsGGig3A/TyWkWVha7HI/AAAAAAAAAj4/piGMjEwE-nQ/s320/Week+1.JPG" width="289" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Immediately after my 5 minutes of running on the sidewalk.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Week 1 (1/23/12-1/29/12):<br />
Ran on Wednesday and Thursday in Asics 2150's and green superfeet insoles, Trail run on Saturday in Brooks Cascadia 2 with green superfeet. One barefoot run on Sunday for a total of 5 minutes. I've read its better to start off on pavement so you can get some good feedback from your feet. I used the sidewalk in my subdivision which is relatively free of rocks and debris so I could avoid any punctures from goatheads or small rocks. As a bonus, it allows me to get a "run" in while my kids are napping. The high school kid I ran by looked at me kind of weird, but hey, I probably looked pretty silly out there in running pants and no shoes...Anthony Bunthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17063104551284063426noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2784751099399909082.post-96735123132247472012-01-28T19:25:00.000-08:002012-01-28T19:25:31.466-08:00Rest Week?One week after accomplishing my goal of surviving the Wilson Creek Frozen 50K, I had to opportunity to head out to the trails for a couple hours. Not ever passing up on an opportunity to be out there, I decided to head out to Wilson Creek again for a little recovery jog/hike on the 10 mile loop of the 50K course. Since the race is over, I felt free to explore the trails in whatever way I wanted, not sticking to the "course" and just going where I felt. I decided that I would head over to the Reynolds canyon again but instead of taking the course, I went up the big rocky hill right off the parking area and then took trail 300 over to the canyon, going basically on the 10 mile "course" but in the reverse direction. It was a really awesome day. On the way out there I had to stop for a photo of the hulking Wilson Peak as seen off of Highway 45 as you drop down to the Snake River.<br />
<br />
Following my little trip through the Reynolds canyon I went over to trail 500/501 and took 501 up to the top of the ridge where the trail intersects with Wilson Creek road. From there, I wasn't sure exactly which direction I was going to head, but upon arriving I decided to drop down to Wilson Creek on trail 160 and then onto the twisty trail 100. One week after the race, the trail was still a little bit roughed up, but there will likely be a quick turnaround for the trails as they are primarly sand and often get washed out by runoff coming down from the Wilson Creek watershed. <br />
<br />
All in all, it turned out to be a pretty nice day out. My legs feel great except for a nagging pain in my left hip flexor (thanks to 10 lb mud brick shoes last weekend) and my left knee is sore from a tight IT-band issue. I'll have to take a nap instead of a run tomorrow and ease into next week with some self-therapy on the foam roller and the "stick." Maybe a few days on the bike would be a good thing. The primary goal for the next month is to get back to 100% as quickly as possible so that I can slowly build up to a solid block of training going into June. <br />
<br />
Here are a few shots of today's outing... I hope that you find them enjoyable and inspiring in some way. As always, feel free to leave comments below. That makes the blog thing a little more fun for me.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wJPrHT0abX0/TySxjkjBxzI/AAAAAAAAAiY/F4ZtzU4_L44/s1600/IMG_5566.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wJPrHT0abX0/TySxjkjBxzI/AAAAAAAAAiY/F4ZtzU4_L44/s640/IMG_5566.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The round figure of Wilson Peak lurking near the center, oh the carnage last weekend. Temps were hovering just below freezing with lots of sun and light winds. Its amazing what 1 week does for you... Notice the small coyote, or is that a stray dog?</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-T4A45ZenH_Y/TySxxY2O_PI/AAAAAAAAAig/qrqv2iNxnMw/s1600/IMG_5569.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-T4A45ZenH_Y/TySxxY2O_PI/AAAAAAAAAig/qrqv2iNxnMw/s640/IMG_5569.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I've wanted to tackle that little rock mound for a while, I just never got around to it. Today I went straight up that bad boy to begin the run. Its a nice little rock scramble to get on the tip-top; amazing view though.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0N-JvX2E1BI/TySytnEk4GI/AAAAAAAAAis/GZmM7k2UixQ/s1600/IMG_5571.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0N-JvX2E1BI/TySytnEk4GI/AAAAAAAAAis/GZmM7k2UixQ/s640/IMG_5571.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lots of wide open high desert out here.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Klyl2a7jW5E/TySzHGOwylI/AAAAAAAAAi8/NZ4CZRqhpNI/s1600/IMG_5581.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Klyl2a7jW5E/TySzHGOwylI/AAAAAAAAAi8/NZ4CZRqhpNI/s640/IMG_5581.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the wonderful little Reynolds Creek that carved out the magnificent little canyon everyone seems to be enjoying. It is truly a little gem out here in the Owyhees.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AXe0puqzEAY/TyS0aMdUNXI/AAAAAAAAAjY/QjmoTCrad34/s1600/IMG_5582.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AXe0puqzEAY/TyS0aMdUNXI/AAAAAAAAAjY/QjmoTCrad34/s640/IMG_5582.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another beautiful shot of the creek. I just wanted to sit here for a while but unfortunately I was on borrowed time and had to keep moving. I did hang out long enough to retie my shoes and absorb a little bit of the moment.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GBEB8mvwEVc/TySzUuJOdXI/AAAAAAAAAjE/8tH4PxogeeQ/s1600/IMG_5583.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GBEB8mvwEVc/TySzUuJOdXI/AAAAAAAAAjE/8tH4PxogeeQ/s640/IMG_5583.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="center">I had to do at least 1 self timer shot. This is the little climb out from the Canyon on Trail 510.</div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div align="left"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MSC-1w7Vm0E/TySzhDyJ_JI/AAAAAAAAAjM/JCFAe0qmy0E/s1600/IMG_5585.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MSC-1w7Vm0E/TySzhDyJ_JI/AAAAAAAAAjM/JCFAe0qmy0E/s640/IMG_5585.JPG" width="640" /></a></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="center">One of the purposes of this little trip was to test out these retro Brooks Cascadia 2's that I got from a friend. He never really wore them so they are basically new. Not my favorite shoes, but not horrible either. They are good shoes for a casual day on the trails such as today. Can't miss them with that color combo either.</div></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Anthony Bunthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17063104551284063426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2784751099399909082.post-43634883603579547262012-01-25T01:42:00.000-08:002012-01-25T01:42:45.263-08:00Ten reason's to run an ultraThis week I've been reflecting a bit on my first 50K race, the Wilson Creek Frozen 50K, and with the extra time I have due to not running (too sore) I have come to realize a few things... first I'll go into that, and later you can read my top ten reasons to run an ultra marathon.<br />
<br />
First off, if the weather calls for rain, wind, sleet, and you are running to the summit of a mountain, take a jacket for Peat's sake.<br />
<br />
Next, running in the mud is not fun. Changing shoes will give you a chance to run in dry shoes for about 5 minutes, and then you'll encounter more mud than before so just leave your dirty shoes on. Save yourself the hassel of cleaning two pairs of shoes.<br />
<br />
Third, you can keep moving forward even when you're sliding backwards down a hill as long as you can reach the sagebrush at the top of the incline.<br />
<br />
Fourth, don't bother worrying about the time... thinking about how long you've run and how much longer you have yet to go is a bit overwhelming at mile 12, especially when its taken you 3 or more hours to go 12 miles. Ouch.<br />
<br />
Fifth, when your Garmin flashes low battery just minutes from the finish, you will find another gear and speed up just to prevent your precious data from being incomplete. Next time I'll just have to run faster so I don't run out of battery juice.<br />
<br />
Last, if you think staying up to watch Late Night with Jimmy Fallon will be easier if you make up a silly list of reasons to run an ultra you're wrong. By now my body is so trained to get up early that staying up late is next to impossible. I'm writing this after falling asleep at the computer for 3 hours only to wake up at 2:30 a.m. and realize I've missed the show, bummer.<br />
<br />
Alright, now as long as I'm reflecting on this past weekend, I thought I'd explore why one may want to run an ultra marathon. This in no way is a complete list, as there are many other reasons one may want to try and tackle an ultra. Anyway, enjoy these very serious reasons to run "stupid far" (a quote from one of my high school students I teach).<br />
<ol><li>Running is good for you, running a lot must be very good for you.</li>
<li>Running is fun, except for when its not, then it becomes fun when you're done.</li>
<li>You can smile at the office when your coworkers talk about being sore from their pickup game at the local rec or gym.</li>
<li>Running a 10 miler becomes an short little recovery run.</li>
<li>Its the only time in your life you can eat a whole quart of ice cream, a giant cheeseburger, 6 bananas, and an entire bag of chips and still be in a calorie deficit. (Ok, I exaggerated here, it was only 5 bananas...)</li>
<li>You can look at the odometer on your car and realize that you ran farther this week than you drove.</li>
<li>You will become an expert at removing calluses, blister prevention, and removing band-aids from your nipples without leaving a distinctive band-aid shaped red mark.</li>
<li>You may see strange things, such as a 4 wheeler stuck in the mud as you run by in up to your ankles, mysterious bare-footprints charging up and down a mountain, grown men wearing tight leggings and discussing shoes like the designers on some corny reality T.V. show, surprised strangers who think they are in the middle of nowhere and then find themselves surrounded by hoards of runners showing up in the desert for a "training run," and women in pigtails and/or running skirts who literally can eat dirt and make tough guys look silly all while smiling and then darting off into the sagebrush to "water" the flora without a second thought (this is a combination of several remarkable women I have seen at the trails, not one in particular).</li>
<li>Race directors Emily and Davina at <a href="http://pickledfeetultras.com/">Pickled Feet Ultras</a>, nuff said...</li>
<li>Camaraderie... you will not find any other events out there where everyone is rallied around such a common purpose and will celebrate your success with you in the most genuine way even though you just beat them or vice versa. Ultra runners are the amazing athletes but even better people.</li>
</ol>There you have it. My list of reasons to run an ultra. I guess that means I enjoyed the experience immensly and will be trying another one at the next logical opportunity. That would be on June 23rd at the Silver City Endurance Run to be exact. Pickled Feet Ultras are sure to put on a fantastic event and the course is designed to take you up to the highest point in the Owyhees, Hayden Peak. Summiting Hayden has been on my list ever since moving to Idaho 6 years ago, so I cannot possible resist taking on this challenge. However, you'll not likely find me in the 100k yet. There is some unfinished business to take care of in the 50K distance first.Anthony Bunthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17063104551284063426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2784751099399909082.post-56572819540455121202012-01-22T14:02:00.000-08:002012-01-28T19:35:46.216-08:00Wilson Creek (not so) Frozen 50K Race ReportThere are times in life where one knows the sensible thing to do but chooses to do the opposite and the consequences are painful and life changing. Competing in the 1st running of the Wilson Creek Frozen 50K was exactly that. Anybody with any sense would have stayed home when the weather report was issued, but ultra runners aren't really known for being very sensible...<br />
<br />
If you've been following my blog you may recall some reports from training runs out on the Wilson Creek trails. Wilson Creek is an area in the foothills of the Owyhee Mountains of Southern Idaho and it is known for its great high desert scenery and usually dry and sandy trails. I can testify that running on said trails following the first real winter storm of the year with moderate temperatures preventing the freezing of the mud and in high winds is not advisable, but if you're so lucky as to survive, it becomes one of those memories that will likely last a lifetime.<br />
<br />
The race itself is the first of what will surely be many events put on by a new and amazing pair of race directors running the <a href="http://www.pickledfeetultras.com/">Pickled Feet Ultras</a> group. If you don't know what is meant by Pickled Feet then I will just point you to their webpage so you can see for yourself (such activity is another one of those ill-advised decisions).<br />
<br />
As I watched the weather leading into the race week it became apparent that running in the WCF50K would be more of an act of determination than blissful running on perfect trails. Unfortunately, I was more than right... In fact, by my estimation, at least 8-10 miles of the course was completely unrunable mud, and I'm not just talking about, "oh darn, my shoes are dirty" kind of mud... I'm talking, foot sucking, packed up and heavy, slippery, gritty mud that doesn't let up but gets tougher and tougher to run in. In fact, several veteran ultra runners at the finish stated that the course was the most difficult 50k they have ever run. One even mentioned he felt the mud added about 10 miles worth of effort to the race. When you combine the mud with the weather, 15-30 mph gusts, rain, sleet, snow, and bursts of sunshine just long enough to get you sweating so you can then freeze when the clouds roll back in, you have a most epic course to be sure.<br />
<br />
Forgive me if you tire of reading boring race accounts, but I'll try to describe the race from my perspective the best I can remember. I would like to thank my new found friend, Tony Huff for taking along his camera and sharing his shots with me. Feel free to scroll through the pictures if you get tired of reading about the nitty-"gritty" details.<br />
<br />
The race started at 7:00 am and about 1 dozen runners took off into the darkness in front of the 65 or so participants in the 20 mile or 50K racers. I went out strong but not unreasonable so as to avoid the congestion of runners running up the 1st little single-track climb. After the climb I began to settle into a very comfortable pace and wound up right beside Tony Huff and Ryan Lund. The three of us ran together for awhile and were surprised when some strong runners flew past us. Apparantly they had taken a wrong turn and ran a mile or so off course. Who knows how many others did the same thing, but I was thankful at that moment to have known the trails so well. We eventually popped out onto the Wilson Creek road and that's where the fun really began.<br />
<br />
Wilson Creek road is a clay based dirt road that turns to nearly impassible mud when the slightest moisture comes in. When you put 3 or 4 days of rain on the road it is a miserable trek for 4-5 miles until you reach the upper parts of Wilson Peak.<br />
<br />
<img alt="" border="0" height="480" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700581674199591010" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-N_VA18G7tdA/TxyI1GfEqGI/AAAAAAAAAfk/ewHDkhzLFlM/s640/Muddy%2BRoad%2BClimb.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="640" /><br />
Below, you can see how Ryan's shoes looked after just a bit of the road.<br />
<img alt="" border="0" height="480" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700581679586683298" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-91rbhyLGcBw/TxyI1ajdKaI/AAAAAAAAAfs/aB6openIrJU/s640/Ryan%2527s%2Bshoes%2Bcaked%2Bwith%2Bmud.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="640" /><br />
After slogging through as much mud as I could stand, Tony, Ryan, and myself reached the saddle where we head up the out and back to the summit of Wilson Peak. Even on this rocky protrusion there were places where the mud continued to test our mettle. It was hard to see runners already descending when there still was a considerable climb ahead, but nonetheless, I continued pushing. By now, however, my stomach was not feeling great and I decided that I needed to head down as quickly as possible once I reached the top.<br />
<img alt="" border="0" height="480" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700582163972669314" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_Pyhqp1lzEk/TxyJRnCEv4I/AAAAAAAAAgs/tKszgnW35ec/s640/Out%2Band%2Bback%2Bup%2BWilson%2BPeak.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="640" /><br />
<img alt="" border="0" height="480" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700582155423659442" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZyN7cjuovG8/TxyJRHL1NbI/AAAAAAAAAgg/wkyw8wQo2f0/s640/Views%2Bfrom%2Bthe%2Bsummit.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="640" /><br />
At the summit, there is a weather station where a hole punch was hanging with instructions to punch a hole in your race bib before descending. I punched mine and then told Tony and Ryan that I wasn't feeling great and just wanted to book it down. I think they lingered for a few moments but we basically ended up together for the major descent off Wilson. Ryan turned into an animal at this point, either that or I just hit a major low and had to back off because he was out of sight within minutes. Tony and I ran together for the main stretch off the peak, but only because he twisted his ankle and had to slow considerably.<br />
<img alt="" border="0" height="480" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700582142938344562" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-He8V4e0ie3o/TxyJQYrGbHI/AAAAAAAAAgU/eU2k82LV-yw/s640/Punching%2Bmy%2Bnumber%2Bat%2Bthe%2Bsummit.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="640" /><br />
One of the hardest parts about this course is that even though you are heading down the mountain, there are several pitches of steep climbing followed by even steeper downhill running. Tony seemed to be able to handle the ups better than me at this point, but I would catch back up on the downs and we came off the mountain and to the aid station at about the same time. I decided at this point to linger a minute at the station to try and get some nutrition and fluids going and Tony headed on to the end of the 20 mile loop. From this point on, I was running by myself and was facing a low that would last until around mile 26. As if to add insult to my injury, a massive gust of wind blowing sleet and rain blasted us as we made the last descent to get off the main mountain pitch.<br />
<img alt="" border="0" height="480" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700582139438981570" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8jXwasnv58A/TxyJQLoyYcI/AAAAAAAAAf8/0Y4u7BBmXQk/s640/struggling%2Bon%2Bthe%2Bup%2Bpart%2Bof%2Bthe%2Bdownhill.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="640" /><br />
After coming into the start/finish area and changing my socks, I decided to also put on dry shoes and a jacket. The jacket paid off but I think that changing my shoes caused my hip and knee to get out of alignment and I started to feel a lot of pain in the joints from the 22 mile mark until the brutal end. A section of trail between mile 21 and mile 24.5 was completely mud. At times I had to grab on to sage brush to move forward through the mess and I was really regretting my shoe change. Afterall, I had about 1 mile of dry shoes and then there was no difference from my original choice. Oh, well, that's an experience that will only help me in future ultras.<br />
<br />
After reaching the mile 24.5 aid (Rocky Road) I finally got some stretches of trail that were dry and runnable. The only problem was that after wallowing in the mud for 25 miles I was really hurting and I was trotting downhill at 11 min/mile. This was particularly frustrating because I normally go somewhere around 6 min/mile in many places on this particular downhill. In my head, I was thinking: "run if you can, walk if you have to, crawl if you must, but just don't quit." (Dean Karnazes)<br />
<br />
I limped into the mile 26.5 aid station in around 6 hours. At this point I knew I was going to make it to the finish ok, and had a little positive moment while I basked in the glow of just completing my first marathon length run. Now I had just 4.8 miles to go and they were the most scenic and runnable of the day. I was able to basically run the rest of the way, although I walked a few of the ups.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KRFHk28uxAU/TxyKCb9rtGI/AAAAAAAAAhk/AjsSWqDSrEA/s1600/one%2Bof%2Bthe%2Bfew%2Bdry%2Bplaces%2Bto%2Brun.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700583002815050850" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KRFHk28uxAU/TxyKCb9rtGI/AAAAAAAAAhk/AjsSWqDSrEA/s640/one%2Bof%2Bthe%2Bfew%2Bdry%2Bplaces%2Bto%2Brun.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="640" /></a>It seemed all my attention was focused on putting one foot in front of the other. There was no noticing the scenery, no euphoric moments of bliss, just the simple reality of left foot, right foot, repeat...<br />
<br />
It was a huge sign of relief to cross the final stretch of flat terrain before coming within sight of the finish. My legs were dying and so was my watch. The screen flashed "battery low" and all of a sudden I had a spark to try and get to the end before it ran out of juice. I went as hard as possible from about a half-mile out and just barely made it through the chute before the screen on my Garmin went blank. 7 hours, 10 minutes, and 4 seconds was the official time. More importantly, I finished my first ultra and became a marathoner and ultra marathoner in the same day. <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L6-b_ZT9DRY/TxyKCFUI2KI/AAAAAAAAAhU/oLCvgxXqLc8/s1600/a%2Bsight%2Bfor%2Bsore%2Blegs.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700582996735219874" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L6-b_ZT9DRY/TxyKCFUI2KI/AAAAAAAAAhU/oLCvgxXqLc8/s640/a%2Bsight%2Bfor%2Bsore%2Blegs.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="640" /></a>Post-race there were some nifty prizes for the age-groupers and great food. Emily and Davina put on an amazing race. I couldn't have asked for better organization, volunteers, and course marking.<br />
<div><br />
<div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bEC39Fbx4ps/TxyKBaEGLhI/AAAAAAAAAhI/_NbPcD4wKjM/s1600/Davina%2Band%2Bthe%2Bawards.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700582985125211666" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bEC39Fbx4ps/TxyKBaEGLhI/AAAAAAAAAhI/_NbPcD4wKjM/s640/Davina%2Band%2Bthe%2Bawards.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Props to the winners of some fine Wilson Creek awards. You can't get much more "Owyhee" than these prizes. <img alt="" border="0" height="480" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700582978329332050" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QZ6VApcfJU4/TxyKBAv1SVI/AAAAAAAAAg8/c6XaaXeHadI/s640/friends%2Bwith%2Bhardware.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="640" />Great job to everyone that even came out and attempted to run in these conditions. For all those that completed their mission, there are surely going to be some fond memories as soon as the pain wears off. For me, that may be awhile...<br />
<br />
<br />
<div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-91rbhyLGcBw/TxyI1ajdKaI/AAAAAAAAAfs/aB6openIrJU/s1600/Ryan%2527s%2Bshoes%2Bcaked%2Bwith%2Bmud.jpg"></a></div></div>Anthony Bunthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17063104551284063426noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2784751099399909082.post-69327403746625996142012-01-10T06:02:00.000-08:002012-01-10T06:06:12.793-08:00Frozen 50k Update and a new Merrel road shoeI just wanted to take a quick minute and post that my training for the Wilson Creek Frozen 50k is coming around nicely. I currently in the taper mode, which means I'm dying to go on a long run but am holding myself back for the sake of my race and my family's sanity. Its been a long Christmas break, and I've managed to hit some really good workouts. Now its time hurry up and rest. Meanwhile, check out this <a href="http://www.runningandrambling.com/2012/01/merrell-road-glove-review-and-giveaway.html">blog post from Running and Rambling </a>to read about the latest Merrel barefoot road shoe. I'm a fan of Donald's posts, so if you enjoy blogs and running check it out.Anthony Bunthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17063104551284063426noreply@blogger.com0