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Birthday Presents For the Queen .....
No, Not the Queen of England. Queen Buffness the Spouse. OK, her birthday was Monday but I'm only late on posting it here. I did not forget her special day or any dumb shit like that.


Here's what I got her. Fun AND Educational!! Shit, once she gets this baby cranked up and running, she'll have more friends than she'll know what to do with.

Given the popularity of Meth around these parts, it was not easy to find this thing. Thank Goodness for WalMart!

In 2005, 23-year-old Chikara Omine exploded onto the ultrarunning scene. After a successful collegiate career running for SF State, Chikara found a new challenge in the hilly California ultras. He started 2005 with a sub-4 hour finish at the Skyline Ridge 50k (the first ever sub-4 finish on that course, even breaking the 37km course record at his split), then went on to set age group records at the Golden Gate Headlands 50k/USATF championships (4:03, 4th overall), the Firetrails 50 miler (7:04, 2nd overall, his first 50-miler), and at the Helen Klein 50 miler (2nd overall) with a screaming fast 5:47 (think about that – that’s like two sub-3 hour marathons back to back!). In addition, Chikara placed 5th in the San Francisco Marathon, clocking 2:38. With a clean sweep of age group firsts in some of the area’s most difficult ultras, Chikara won his PA/USATF age group championship at almost a 2x margin his first year out.

I caught up with Chikara as he trains for the 2006 season, where he has already won the Angel Island 50k (3:57) and the Jed Smith 50k (3:22!). He’s now setting his sites on the Way Too Cool 50k and Western States and any fun race in between.

First, congratulations on an outstanding season! Did you have any idea you would do so well in your first year in ultras?

Thanks Scott! I actually had no idea how my season would go. All I knew was that I love to run long and that I enjoy trails. Like many ultrarunners in my area, I set my goal to run Western States in sub 24 hours; but first I had to worry about running a qualifying time and getting through the lottery. After finishing my collegiate running, I actually started my 2005 season with the Mt. Diablo 50k, put on by Pacific Coast Trail Runs (PCTR). I can’t say that I had a great race there, but I still had “serious fun.” I also got my butt kicked by Andy Jones-Wilkins, who was running it as a training run, 3 weeks before his outstanding performance at Western States.

Your name is very unique. Is it a family name? What is your heritage?

It is a Japanese name. Both my parents are Japanese. I was born and raised in San Francisco though. Being only 120 pounds, I usually feel embarrassed letting people know that “Chikara” means “strength.” Strength to run maybe? I definitely don’t have physical strength my parents wanted me to have when they named me. It’s at least kind of neat to have a name that stands out.

You ran for SF State, yes? What events did you compete in?

Yes I did. Cross-country was my favorite but I also ran track. I competed in the events that are 1500m and longer. My training was focused on the 10k, but my favorite event is the steeple. Even though I am no good at hurdling barriers, I love how the race requires variation in pace. Unfortunately SF State lost its men’s track program last year. At least on my final year for cross-country I got coached by arguably the top (distance) runner in San Francisco at the time, Chris Lundstrom. He was a great role model and I learned a lot about training from him. He moved to Minnesota last June.

How has your training changed since switching to ultras? Do you still do the speed training required for those shorter distances?

Yes it has changed. I have been focusing on longer runs and less on speed. During my 2005 season, I mostly did long runs for endurance and entered some road and cross-country races to maintain some foot speed. The few speed workouts I did were usually fartleks, tempo runs, or mile repeats (can also be repeats of ½ mile to 2 miles). Hardly anymore 400 meter repeats for me anymore. Most of the time I am forced to do slower runs to recover from one ultra and get ready for another one.

I am now realizing that long runs are helpful, but they leave me too tired to put in quality workouts. Some speed workouts are necessary in order to feel comfortable at a good pace. I plan to have some weeks where I back off the mileage to do workouts and other weeks where I don’t do workouts and focus on longer runs.



When did you start running? When did you do your first trail runs?

I started running on my junior year of high school when I was 16 (1998). Before that, the only running I did was the mile or 2 mile for gym class or a race down a block or blocks against my friends. I usually did better in the 2 mile than the mile (compared to others who are also untrained), and the energy and excitement I displayed on my races down a block made people believe that I can run forever. I was encouraged to join cross-country, but it turned out that the “forever” was only 5 miles when I first started. After I learned about marathons and later about ultramarathons, I set new goals.

My very first ultra was the Distance Classic hosted by the Dolphin South End Running Club when I turned 17. It was a 12-hour run around a ¾-mile flat dirt field (now it’s only a 6-hour run). The concept of doing circles sounds boring but completing each lap brought excitement, as I realized that I am advancing further in distance. By mile 35 I injured my knee and had to walk often. Later I received many more injuries. Near the end I was so beat that on the last 3 hours I only completed 5 miles. After the race ended, my only thought was, “I can’t wait to come back again and try to beat my mark.” The cross-country practice 2 days after however, was not pleasant.

Later that year I ran my first trail run at the Double Dipsea (13.7 miles) also hosted by the DSE. I used to do most of the DSE races back then. I arrived at the race 30 minutes late, struggled on the hills/stairs, and finished close to last, yet I had a blast.

What is it about ultras and trail running that makes it so enjoyable for you?

I can’t say that running is always enjoyable. There are many days where I realize that it’s tough to be motivated to run everyday, and get tempted to skip a training run. Yet I run anyways, reminding myself that if I don’t train, there will be fewer days where it feels good to run.
I loved running ever since I started. It’s a great way to release all the stored energy. I believe that the longer I run, the longer I get to enjoy it. Races are fun, but I feel that some end too quickly. That’s not a problem with ultras. Later, I gave hilly trails a try and found something that made running even more enjoyable. The terrain on trails makes me constantly change pace, which I believe is more fun than trying to keep a steady pace on a road or track race. On top of that, the scenery on trails is much more enjoyable. Combine ultras with trails and that creates an ultra-fun event! After exhausting myself to complete an ultra, it feels unbelievable good to just relax and eat. I still like the short road races too, but ultras on trails are my favorite.

What inspires you to keep up the training?

One night during the winter I remember it was raining hard and it was cold and windy. From the window I looked into the dark night and saw that some of the streets are flooded enough to completely soak the shoes. I wanted take a day off, until I thought about what my coach (Chris) would do. I told myself “I bet that Chris would be running out there right now,” and off I went. Sure enough the next day, I found out that my coach was out running at around the same time. Runners train hard and I’m pretty sure many of my rivals are no exception. Some runners I’ve met hammer on their runs/workouts then come back the next day to do it again. Those types of runners get me motivated and give me inspiration. Sometime the hardest workers I’ve seen are not the fastest, but I am always more inspired by the efforts people give than their natural ability to run fast.

Do you train with a running club, or have a group of other ultrarunners you train with?

I run with the New Balance Excelsior. The club’s focus is not on ultra running so I don’t really train with other ultrarunners. On weekdays I usually train on my own. The club has some weekend trail runs that I like to do. Occasionally the club has workouts on Tuesday and Thursday, and I join them on those as long as my schedule allows it. Mostly I just like to run road and cross country races with the club. It makes running a lot easier and a lot more fun when you run for a team.

Do your workmates think you are crazy? What kind of work do you do?

At work I am always eating junk food and my workmates thought that my eating habits were crazy. When they found out I run ultras, they were more like, “oh, now your diet makes sense.”
Currently I am a student at SF State and only work part time as an accounting assistant. I plan to stay in the accounting field after I graduate.

Lastly, a few training questions. What’s a typical training week look like for you? How many miles? Is your ’06 training different than ’05?

During my base training, I like to run between 100-110 mile weeks with some 60-80 mile weeks to back off. I do it off of daily runs of 13-18 miles. I usually like to spread my mileage evenly through the week. Every once in a while I will run a week higher than my usual range.
Once I start adding some workouts I lower my mileage anywhere from 50-80, but at a faster pace. I do long runs on weekends and usually 2 interval or tempo/fartlek workouts during the weekday with easy runs for recovery. Half of the time the workouts are done on the track or flat road, and half the time it’s done on hilly courses. If I have a race on the weekend, (non-ultras) I finish off with a long cool down. The week after and before an ultra, I usually back off training with a 40-50 mile week.


What are your favorite foods/race snacks?

When it comes to favorite foods, I am a junk food maniac. My favorites are pizza, hot dogs, bacon, burgers, various potato chips, nachos, krispy kreme donuts, chocolate bars, sodas, energy drinks and most things that are high in sugar. I usually cut back on my junk food a couple of days before a road race. I don’t know if it’s just my superstitious belief, but pasta and baked potatoes seem to be the magic pre-race meal for any race. However, I’ve had some good races (usually not the road races) eating pizza the morning or the night before the races. Junk food is the easiest way to get the calories I need.

For foods during ultras, I like potatoes, the pb&j pieces, chips or pretzels, and gummy bears if available. Ideally I would grab as many of those finger foods as possible, but I take GU gels if I want to save time. My favorite aid stations so far are the ones at the PCTR races. They have all my favorites for refueling during a race.

One of the best parts of ultra running is the post race meal. If you’ve never run an ultra, you can’t imagine how good food tastes right after you finish. You can eat all your favorite foods to replenish your energy. My recommendation: A slurpee from 7-Eleven and lots of pizza!

Another pizza maniac like me! I agree, few things taste better. A lot of the blog readers love to hear about “lessons learned” (ie, things that didn’t go right that perhaps they could avoid). Any you would like to pass on?

Mt. Diablo, my first 50k race, made me learn my lesson the hard way. I knew that trails are difficult and would make a 50k seem much longer; yet it’s amazing how easily I forget when I actually run the race. I pushed the pace too hard too early thinking that I’ll be fine as long as I go easier than my marathon pace. I also skipped many aid stations thinking they were unnecessary. Of course, I bonked and could not run a minute without walking. Before long, I couldn’t even walk straight and just had to sit. Luckily the food at the final aid station saved me and allowed me to finish.

The only good thing about learning a lesson the hard way is that it is the most effective way to learn a lesson. Two weeks later I had a better idea about pacing and taking advantage of every aid station. I ended up running well at the Skyline Ridge 50k.

Any tips you would like to pass on to somebody trying their first ultra?

The usual tips are to eat right and train hard. I ‘d also like to add, “go out there and have fun.” Think of “having fun” as the main goal, and placing well or running a fast time as bonuses. You aim for the bonuses, but you make sure you satisfy your main goal first. Achieving your goal is easy so you can relax and run a smart race. If you still run a bad race, as long as you had fun you will be eager to continue with ultras. Another tip I’d like to mention is to remember to thank the volunteers. Without them, we wouldn’t be able to run these great races.

What’s next on the race/run agenda? Do you plan on doing more/less races next year, or try different races?

I kind of like to enter races on impulse and never really have a set schedule. Sometimes I decide to run a race the night before. The only races that are set for me this year are Way Too Cool 50k and Western States 100 (I got in this year!). My plan is to run fewer races to prepare for Western. I plan to enter other ultras for hard training runs. The rest of the races I will be doing are the PA road races (marathon and shorter http://www.pausatf.org/). After Western I plan to make my racing schedule similar to 2005.

Best of luck in your Western States debut! Thanks for a great interview!

SD

Patriot Guard Riders ........

http://www.patriotguard.org

This is an organization I had heard about last month and for some reason just hadn't gotten around to joining. I fixed that problem today and have got their link up on the sidebar now.
Here's their mission statement:

Patriot Guard Riders Mission Statement

The Patriot Guard Riders is a diverse amalgamation of riders from across the nation. We have one thing in common besides motorcycles.
We have an unwavering respect for those who risk their very lives for America's freedom and security. If you share this respect, please join us.

We don't care what you ride, what your political views are, or whether you're a "hawk" or a "dove". It is not a requirement that you be a veteran. It doesn't matter where you're from or what your income is.
You don't even have to ride. The only prerequisite is Respect.
Our main mission is to attend the funeral services of fallen American heroes as invited guests of the family.

Each mission we undertake has two basic objectives.
1. Show our sincere respect for our fallen heroes, their families, and their communities.
2. Shield the mourning family and friends from interruptions created by any protestor or group of protestors.
We accomplish the latter through strictly legal and non-violent means.

This is a group I feel privileged to be a part of. God bless 'em.

CNN had a recent report on the Patriot Gaurd Riders here:
http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/02/21/funeral.motorcyclists.ap/

You are probably aware of who the protestors are at Military Funerals. You may know them as the Westboro Baptist Church, founded by Fred Phelps. I'll let you read what the Anti-Defamation League has to say about them. Keep in mind, this was written BEFORE the war in Iraq began.
http://www.adl.org/special_reports/wbc/default.asp

I've had the honor of seeing the Phelps Family Douchebags in action both conversing and corresponding with a couple of these fucking lunatic cult freaks.
FYI-
They are not: Baptists.
They are not: Christians.
They are not: affilliated in any way with any Baptist organizationation.
If you understand that right up front, it makes everything else easier to understand. These folks actually protested at Mr. Rogers funeral.

If you wish to know just who they are and what they stand for, you can go to their website here:
www god hates fags .com
I won't give the Sonsabitches a link, you'll have to make that work on your own.

Needless to say, The Patriot Gaurd Riders are meeting a need and I'm happy to be able to be a part. Think about it yourself.

Romance Novel Cover Art .........

This Longmire guy is Good. I've thought the same thing - but I don't have the skill, imagination, humor..... Eh shit. Just go check it out. Hilarious.
http://www.worldoflongmire.com/features/romance_novels/index.htm

Samples

Dude. Where's My Cornea?

"Four indicted in body parts snatching case"
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11523641/

It's nice to see that good old fashioned, American ingenuity still abounds. A guy sees a marketplace need unfilled and goes for it. You gotta love it.
Ok, you don't have to love it. Maybe just admire it.

"It is the latest chapter in a widening scandal involving scores of funeral homes and hundreds of looted bodies, including that of 'Masterpiece Theatre' host Alistair Cooke, who died in March 2004.
The body parts have been tracked to several states where they were used in transplants.
The 122-count indictment alleges the defendants forged death certificates and organ donor consent forms to create the appearance the tissue was legally harvested. The defendants were charged with enterprise corruption, body stealing and opening graves, unlawful dissection, forgery and other counts."








"I'm Alistair Cooke and ......

HEY! That's my Friggin' Tibia, you're messing with there!! Put that back, Bitch!"

The LA Times wrote a big article this weekend on trail running, including quotes from the 2005 TRM Marathon-and-Under Series Champion, Dale Reicheneder. A few of the interesting tidbits include:

"A 2002 study by researchers at Ithaca College compared the moods of college students who ran indoors with those who ran outdoors. The report, published at a conference of the American College of Sports Medicine, found the outdoor runners not only had brighter moods but ran faster than the indoor runners."

and

"Trail running is one of the fastest growing outdoor sports...the average runner hits the trails nearly 30 times a year, one of the highest participation rates of any outdoor sport, according to the foundation survey."

Also, links to the "5 best trails in Southern California" and local running clubs. Kudos to Hugo Martin for a great article!

SD

I Was Gonna Give Him a Ride.......












Except that I was late for work already.

Did I Show You My Youngest Son's Bike???


1974 RD 250. Sweet little bike. A great Ebay purchase last year. He and I made a road trip up to Detroit to pick it up and had a heck of a good time on the loooooong trip. Less than 5,000 miles on it when he got it.
He's put a little money into it to replace the missing mirrors and various other bits and had the local dealer sort it out for him. He doesn't ride it often enough and the crappy gas we get nowadays tends to gunk up the carbs if it's been sitting to long.
He's getting the bug for something a little newer and cooler and I'm gonna hate to see him sell it, but I really don't need to buy it myself and probably won't. Nice little bike though and to nice to change anything on. It's box stock right now and probably ought to stay that way.

Eagles!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!












I got to see 2 Bald Eagles today!!!
Mr. T, the Xray tech from work and main riding buddy, and I went down to one of the local fish and wildlife areas this afternoon on the Bikes.
Yeah, We rode in February, Ha.

I had been told recently that some Bald Eagles had taken up residence there. Sure enough, we saw 2 of them. Way Cool. I've only seen Bald Eagles once before in Michigan, years ago. Several times, I've driven 50 - 60 miles to see them and came up empty. This is cool. Only 30 minutes from home and a nice ride there.

I'm really thinking about getting another 35MM camera now. My crappy little digital wasn't up to the challenge of getting any pics. I needed a telephoto lens as they were several hundred yards away most of the time.
I'm still pumped though and I'll probably be back down there next week to check 'em out again.

Oh, I left the damn field glasses at home like a dumbass, too. Duh. I won't make that mistake again either.

For those of you eagerly awaiting the 2006 Trail Runner Magazine Trophy Series schedule, it is now posted here. It looks like many of the favorites are back (including some 2004 races that weren't there for 2005), plus some new races. Colorado (12) and California (11) have the most races, with Washington/Oregon (15 combined) also being a hot spot.

You may also see the notice to racers for the 2005 series posted here on their main page about the dozen races who were disqualified (due to RD's not submitting results). If you are making a serious run at this Series, you may want to check in with your RD's beforehand to make sure they intend to send results, and afterwards to remind them.

Happy racing!

SD

When Whidbey Island-based runner Matt Simms received 12 days notice that he was going to be shipped to Iraq, he made sure to make enough time for his favorite 30k run. But what started as a solo run turned out to be a surprise farewell as his friends joined him mile-by-mile.

From the story:

“To have one of those (30k) runs fresh in my mind three or four days before I depart was critical to my well being. I would not have missed that run for anything,” Simms said.

and:

Simms said he was humbled by the group’s goodbye. “The energy I draw from the group is incredible, and it was nice to have that as a send-off to carry me forward for the 354 days I’ve got left (on duty).

Read Brian Kelly's whole story here.

SD

Best of luck to all you marathoners running the Freescale Austin Marathon. As Uli says in this article from the Austin Statesman:

"Marathons hurt more than ultras".

Totally true! Be sure to check here for the results on how these two did on Sunday morning.

SD

Damn, Who'd a Thought Al Queda Offers Insurance and Vacation Benefits????

No, Seriously. No Shit here. Check this from Austin Bay.
http://austinbay.net/blog/?p=929

Very interesting article and link to a DOD site that has the complete text.

Kinda like the TRANSFORMERS - More Than Meets The Eye!
Go Take a look and tell me what you think.

Ugly Video. Dumbass Takes Out R1 Rider......
Watch this for a serious - WTF? - moment.
http://www.fazed.org/video/embed/?id=51

It was a female riding the R1.Turns out she was ok, but I'm sure that helmet cam just paid for itself.
Oh yeah, check out the nice young lady who stopped to help.


Some people are good for nothing. But like Slinkies, they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs.

Mid Ohio Vintage Motorcycle Days ........

July 28 - 30 Mansfield, Ohio. Got tickets booked yesterday! Chief's wife found us a motel fairly close by too. WooHoo!

This should be a fun trip. The great Giacomo Agostini will be there as Grand Marshall. If you're unfamiliar with Agostini, go read this:
http://www.motorcyclemuseum.org/halloffame/hofbiopage.asp?id=112

15 World Championships in 17 years. 12 Isle of Mann wins to go with that too. Yeah, He was a stud.










I'm looking forward to this trip. With any kind of luck, I may even be able to ride the BSA up there. That would be an adventure in faith. The big, blue Kawasaki will more than likely be the ride though.
One more pic. From the Isle of Mann.

This Will Inspire the Hell Out of You ........

"Dounreay 'loses' bomb-grade uranium"
http://news.scotsman.com/inverness.cfm?id=203702006
WTF is the matter with these people?

A couple of headlines for all you trail runners:

Wilkins And Garner Win USA 100 Mile Trail Titles

Andy Jones-Wilkins rocked the Rocky Raccoon 100 to finish 2nd in 14:56:55, good enough to win the USA 100-Mile Trail Championships. His teammate Jorge Pacheco (from Mexico, although he frequents Southern California) came in first in an amazing 13:16:56 - just seconds off the world record. Connie Gardner from Medina, OH, clocked an amazing 17:04 to clinch 1st female, and the women's US title.

(Click here for the full story)


The "Running Man" of Baltimore

The Baltimore Sun did a great article on Keith Boissiere, a local ultrarunner. I don't get the impression he runs a lot of organized ultra races, but his solo 50-mile one way runs to Washington, DC (and a bus ride home) definitely shows he has the ultra spirit. He sounds like a great guy.

(Click here for the full story)


Scott Jurek, the King of Ultramarathoning

A write-up on Scott's back-to-back wins at Western States and Badwater last year. A good one for those of you who just finished the Death Valley Marathon. So much for "I don't do roads"!

(Click here for the full story)

Happy training!

SD

Just Got Home From Chicago ............

Long Day. Had a lot of fun with Chief and Surly. The show itself was so, so. No Triumph dealer. WTF? Saw a bunch of cool bikes and didn't buy a one.

Chief's all hot for the Paul Smart Ducati or a new MotoGuzzi. He looked good on both of them. Gotta go hit the sack and play with the baby's Mom.

More Retro Sound Bites .........
Howzabout a P-38 Lightning doing a fly by? Yeah, that's what I thought. Check it out:
http://www.realtime.net/centex/p38.htm










Yeah, I like cool old shit. What about it?

Something to Think About .......

Next time you hear some Leftist whining about the NSA and the intel intercepts. They care more about scoring political points against the President than the safety of your country .............. Or you, for that matter.

Treason. Pure and Simple.

Hat Tip to SondraK - She's on the link bar, check her out.

I Heard Him Whispering in My Ear Today......







Come to the Dark Side of Administration, Unk. It is your Destiny.

I interviewed for a new position at work this afternoon. A Supervisory Slot in the ER. Better hours and a step in the right direction for getting off night shift. No real reason why I shouldn't get it. This could - should be a good thing. At least I hope it is. We've got a really good crew in the ER at present and if I have to supervise anybody, this bunch would be my first choice, as they are all high speed and motivated to getting the job done already.

I've lost a few steps and can't keep up with most of the Kids anymore, so maybe it will be easier for me to just keep track of them. I don't know, I had mixed results with my own Kids. We'll see, I guess.

Lordy, this is gonna be a stretch. The only good news is that I already know - The Power of the Dark Side.

They told be my Light Saber will be in next week.

We're Gonna Have to See How This develops.....
From the Salt Lake Tribune - http://www.sltrib.com/business/ci_3482712

Researchers, including a BYU scientist, believe they have found a new compound that could finally kill the HIV/AIDS virus, not just slow it down as current treatments do.

My Favorite part of the article?

In addition to being a potential checkmate to HIV, the compounds show indications of being just as effective against other diseases plaguing humankind - among them influenza, possibly even the dread bird flu, along with smallpox and herpes

We're talking about the cure for the common cold here folks. Not to mention, my Hepatitis problem. Hey, I could go back to killing my liver all by myself. I never once thought I needed help in that department anyway.

Free Medical Advice..........

(#5) Never, ever leave flashlights, shampoo bottles, beer bottles or any long, circular object on the floor because someday you will fall on it and it will somehow, work its way up your rectum.

(#125) Don't allow someone with a known poorly controlled seizure disorder to perform oral sex on you...

No, Really. Anyone who has ever worked in an ER can tell you that. This advice comes from here:
http://www.geekpress.com/

Unfortunately, the link to the original site, a medical student discussion board, is nonfunctional. Bummer.

Cycle World Show This Weekend in Chicago.........
Making a road trip up North to Chicago Friday morning to meet up with Surly( www.surlycamera.com ) and Chief.
I'll put some fresh batteries in the camera and hopefully, get some good photos for you. I'll have to make the trip back late Friday so I can have time to get some sleep before working Saturday night.

Gonna make for a long, high mileage, day.

Ever Want to Hear What a 6 Cylinder Honda 250 Sounds Like at Speed???
Of course you do, you damn Squid. Check it out. There are a few others as well.
http://www.mikethebike.com/ClassicBikes/RawSound/
That sound was the impending death of the British Motorcycle industry, but few people knew it at the time.

Here's the Man riding a Honda 350/6 Circa 1966:













In 30 years, today's kids will be feeling the same about Valentino Rossi. One has to wonder what the bikes will be like 30 years from now.

Last weekend, Christi and I headed to Furnace Creek, CA, for the Death Valley Marathon and as much sightseeing as we could fit in. Death Valley is an extreme place - 110 miles of desert, mostly below sea level, often recording no annual rainfall, and temperatures topping 130 degrees - commanding a serenity and beauty that is other-worldly. Needless to say, we enjoyed ourselves tremendously.

Death Valley in February is quite nice, with temperatures in the mid-60’s. This is much more manageable than the 115+ degree heat of the Badwater Ultra or Furnace 508 that is held here in August. But that doesn’t mean Mother Nature doesn’t flex her muscles. The original marathon course through Titus Canyon had to be diverted for a third year in a row (first from snow, second from flood, and now from rock slides), meaning we were going to race across the desert plain instead. One could tell from the tone of the Envirosports e-mail message saying the hefty $80 entry fee would not be refunded that this routine was getting old for everyone. But what could you do? If fate says “run the desert”, you run the desert.

Christi and I checked into the Furnace Creek Inn a few days before the race so we could check out the expansive drifts and dramatic couloirs of the mountains. Titus Canyon was deep and mesmerizing – one could imagine the crazy marathon of a thousand zigs and zags that almost awaited us. Scotty’s Castle (a very entertaining tour), Ubehebe Crater, Zabriskie’s Point (best sunset), Artists Palette, Dante’s Peak, and the 20-Mule Canyon were all fascinating. Christi’s camera soaked up the synchronous ribbons of sand and mineral at every stop, and the sunrises and sunsets drew amazing contrasts. By the time we ate dinner at the Furnace Creek Inn the first night (good fine dining, with a surprising array of vegetarian food), we were exhausted. Who knew there was so much to do in a place with nothing to do?


On race morning, I joined 300 other runners (222 marathoners, ~70 30k runners) at the Furnace Creek Ranch to sign up and get our numbers. The Ranch is a classic cowboy saloon (vs. the Inn, which is more of a spa), and we later enjoyed pancakes, beers, and steak in this casual spot. Since we no longer had a one-hour bus ride ahead of us, everyone had some time to kill before the 8:15am start. Christi and I decided to head down to Badwater for one last tourist stop before the race.


I had some trouble figuring out what to carry on the race. It was flat and fast, so best not to carry too much. But it was the desert, so I didn’t want to get caught without water. I ended up settling on no belt, and carrying one 8 oz Fuel Belt water bottle and one flask of Hammer Gel. My gear was as light as possible - singlet, shorts, Injinji tsoks, Inov-8 Flyroc 310's, and a couple of salt tablets. I got my iPod ready to roll, but heard the Envirosports people announce a “no headphones” policy as part of the race rules. News to me, but hey, I’m happy with nature’s soundtrack too.

In the crowd, we had about 20 first time marathoners, a barefoot runner named Chris Runyan, and Paul Piplani, who at age 58, was about to finish his 668th marathon. Steve Mader was one of the first time marathon runners, excited that no matter what his finishing time, he was going to set a PR for the distance. As we all lined up, we could squint and see the whole out-and-back course winding down across the desert…so close, but yet, so far.

The first three miles were at a slight downhill grade, and I tried to take advantage of it by letting my strides go longer than usual. There were no mile markers (standard for Envirosports), but I knew the first aid station was going to be around 3.1 miles so I figured I would get my time check there. The dirt road was deceivingly difficult footing, due to a drainage pattern that had created a gravel washboard to run across. I couldn’t quite stretch to my “road running” stride, but was still faster than my “trail running” stride. But we all got used to it within a few miles.

I hit the first aid station in first place and looked at my watch – 17:50. Oops. Looks like I came out a bit too fast. I turned around and saw 3-4 runners not too far behind me…or were they? The desert was playing tricks on me! I filled my water bottle, noticing that I was drinking quite a bit to battle the dry air. I headed out again, this time across the flatter section of the course, and tried to slow my pace just a tad. For a long while, I felt like I was the only runner out there. I couldn’t see anything but desert, and had only my steps and breath to fill my ears. Then I realized all the runners were probably experiencing the same sensation. You don’t realize how aural the woods are until you feel the calm serenity of the desert.


I hit the turnaround in 1:27, so my pace had slowed some. I was surprised to see that 3-4 runners had gained ground on me and were within a few minutes. By mile 15, Jason Beehler (a very tan 2:34 marathoner and Ironman triathlete from Indianapolis, IN) passed me up, sucking on the new hydro pack he got for Christmas. He refilled his pack at the 16-mile aid station, so I caught up with him again briefly, but it was clear that his fastest miles were ahead of him. He was a great sport, joining me in cheering on everyone coming the other way and giving high fives. My pace had slowed to 7:15/mile, but I was still feeling good.

At about the 21-mile mark, Peter Courogen (a 2:44 marathoner from Portland, OR) came blazing by me. He was smiling wide, asking where the “backpack guy” was. Peter had come up to Death Valley after a business trip in San Diego and was thoroughly enjoying himself. We estimated that Jason was nearly a mile ahead at that point, so Peter kicked it into high gear to catch him, but not before shouting a few words of encouragement to the last few 30k runners. I looked at my watch, and guessed I was on about a 3:02 finishing pace, as long as it didn’t get any hotter. We passed a few people grooving to their iPods, so perhaps the “no headphones rule” was more of a suggestion.

At mile 24 or so, my water bottle was empty, and I felt like I was dying of thirst. I could see the finish line (but then again, I had been “seeing” it for the last hour). I knew the thirst was just dry air coupled with the no-breeze stale heat, but it made the tunnel vision creep in. How in the world anyone could run here when it’s over 100 degrees is beyond me. But I grouped together with a rag tag bunch of 30k runners who were talking about that first post-race beer, and together our visions of Corona helped us grind up the last hill to the finish. I finished 3rd in 3:05, Jason Beehler had won in 2:57, and Peter Courogen almost caught him, finishing in 2:59. Larry Emerson of Bishop, CA (whom I believe had one of the bigger cheering sections) had an impressive 12th place finish in 3:27, showing that 51-year-olds can rock the desert too. Carol Silvera from San Jose, CA, won the women’s event in 3:33. Steve Mader clocked a marathon PR in 4:04 (as expected), good for 77th place. We all relaxed with snacks and Gatorade, commenting on the similar salt lines between the runners’ faces and the Badwater basin, and that shared feeling on being the only runner out there.


Despite missing Titus Canyon, we had a great time at the Death Valley Marathon. The Furnace Creek Inn is a wonderful retreat (particularly from busy Las Vegas), and there is definitely enough to do to fill a weekend visit. Fine dining at the Inn did not disappoint, and we enjoyed the more casual setting of the Café/Saloon/Steakhouse at the Ranch too. In retrospect, I should have carried more water for the race, and would recommend you err on too much (the winner DID have a hydro pak after all). It you’re looking to break out from the mountains and roads, this race is definitely worth checking out.

Peace, SD

PS – Congrats to Bev Abbs for rocking my home course (Woodside 50k) in 4:23 for 1st overall!

OK, Howzabout Some Retro Racing??
I was looking thru Google Images for some ideas of color schemes for my BSA and ran across this site: http://www.eurospares.com/graphics.htm

















1968 Brands Hatch. Lance Weil at speed. Great Photo that really conveys the image of Haulin' Ass.

The fellow who hosts this site has a bunch of cool photos.
Here's a beautiful BSA 500.













Here's one I've never heard of before.















OK, I totally got sidetracked on what I was doing. Surly's not the only one with ADD in this family.
Really interesting site. It looks like there is a shitload of stuff to look at and read. That ones gonna go up on the link list. http://www.eurospares.com/

I'm Happy to See the Senate Hearings Begin.........

One of the items that has undone my normal, happy, quiet and sublime self lately, is the NSA surveillance Program Bullshit. And Bullshit is exactly what it is.
The Friggin' NY Times back in December ( and now the Washington Post, as of yesterday) decided that Terrorists plotting to kill United States Citizens deserve some sort of special protections in their planning and operations relating to signals intelligence. In other words, Al Queda and their associates should be free from government eavesdropping on their planning and communications. All of the Loyal Opposition in the Democratic party joined in on this one to decry the Evil Bushitler and his "Domestic Spying Program" and have continued making the case that the President does not have these powers, it's unconstitutional, needs more warrants, he didn't keep us informed, yada, fucking yada, etc, etc.

Not a fucking word from any of them on any suggestions that would be a better alternative. Hell no. Nobody has gotten up and addressed the idea that, just maybe, they could pass some legislation that would address these concerns in a meaningful way, while continuing to thwart the terrorists, ensure the safety of our citizens (and their constituents).
OH hell no. The only thing you see is that Fat Fucktard, Teddy Kennedy, bloviating about "Spying on our citizens", Patrick Leahy, damn near crying over his concern for his Quaker friends being spied on with this horrible "Domestic Spying Program".

Right. Check. Got it .................... No. Wait a minute. I don't get it.

DOMESTIC SPYING PROGRAM. Think about that a minute. Domestic implies that this operation is being conducted within the borders of the U.S. exclusively. The Fucking NYTimes, All the Fucking Democrats and the rest of the Leftist, Commie, corksoakers, know that this claim is Total Fucking Bullshit. It's another lie to sway the opinions of people who aren't paying attention or get their news exclusively from the major, mainstream media.

This program has been explained in detail a million times. These are calls coming into the US or going out of the US between suspected operatives and agents of Terror. Simple. Unless Aunt Sally and her Quaker friends have been getting calls from Afghanistan or some such from Ali the Bomb Maker, they're not being monitored. Period.

Now of course, The Fucking NYTimes has now alerted all these terrorist assholes as to WTF is going on and we're gonna have to adapt a program that was working fine and has caught terrorists in this country already. Fucking Traitors.

That's why I'm happy to see these hearings start. I'm looking forward to seeing how the Fucking NYTimes reacts to all this in respect to how it reacted to the Plame leaks. Should be fun and with a little luck, The Sedition Act can be pulled out and dusted off. It would be nice to see a few of these treasonous bitches tossed in the Hoosgow for awhile. A rope would be better, but that's not likely to happen.

Where were these Sons-a-bitches when THIS occurred anyway?
















I just Have to wonder, whose side are these Bastards on, anyway? Oh Yeah, Is it ok to question their patriotism yet?

How Did I Miss This Great Christmas Toy???














This is another fine example of why the internet is such a wonderful thing! A little imagination, a Photoshop program and ..... POW! Is this shit great or what?
I think I lifted this from Denny at Grouchy Old Cripple - He's on the link bar.

OK. I'm Better Today.........
Yes, I was in a pissy mood yesterday despite taking a nice long ride. The temp reached a high of 58 (if you can believe the bank I passed. I don't.) It was nice anyhow and I had a good day riding.

Generally, a good bike ride is almost as effective as Electro Shock Therapy in getting "My Mind Right". I guess it's just the overabundance of dumbshit recently that was getting to me. Maybe it's because I'd only had a few hours sleep? Whatever the cause, today is better.

Even though it's snowing. Yeah, there's about an inch or so on the ground and there would be more if the ground were as cold as it ordinarily is this time of year. Not a big deal. It's that heavy, wet kind of snow that sticks to everything and makes it look like Christmas should. The sounds outside are muffled and it seems very quiet. I like that.

I was gonna take some pictures from the Official Crazy Uncle Command and Control Bunker, of how nice the ioverlapping fields of fire - OOOPS! - I meant how nice the yard looks with the snow, but the youngest offspring, Dogboy, took off with the camera. I'm not any kind of photographer, so it's probably not a major loss.

The camera has been AWOL down South with the Firstborn offspring, TherapyBoy, for a month or so. I had to threaten him before the little shit gave it back. I told him I was gonna quit my job, go on welfare and move in with him. He got it back pretty quick after that.

Used the returned camera to do the Ebay thing. Selling a fuel tank and some other extra bits I had taking up space. After all the dough I've spent lately at Ebay, seemed like the thing to do. Who needs 3 gas tanks for 1 bike? I really don't anticipate getting another 71 - 72 OIF BSA anytime soon.

A triumph would be OK though.

This Pretty Well Sums up My Feelings Today.....

There has been so much in the news lately that has pissed me off ....... Arrrrgghhh! Where to Start?

SHIT! There are just to many of the regular Assholes being good at really being Assholes lately for me to point all this goofy shit out. - democrats, radical Islamic Dickwads, The G** Damn NYTimes, most of the pussy Euro's, The Flippin' Turkish and US movie industry ........ and on and on.

I've written 2 drafts of this crap already and they both suck badly. I can't write anything when I'm pissed off like this. Too many stories going on in the last couple a weeks. I just can't keep up with the staggering number of leftist dickheads, and their antics anymore.

Screw it. I'm going out to the garage and clean the Concours. It was again up in the 50's today, so I rode for a couple hundred miles this afternoon. HA!! Global Warming to the rescue. The Garage is therapeutic. Too bad it's dark already, I could go fire off the pistol a bit and scare the neighbors. That always makes me feel good and keeps the local miscreants guessing. Heck, I feel better just thinking about it.