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TrailRunner ASPIRING TO RUN ULTRAS? POIGNANT LESSONS FROM A NEWBIE

One Dirty Magazine

MAY 2006 ISSUE 39

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CONTENTS MAY 2006 | WWW.TRAILRUNNERMAG.COM | ISSUE 39

40)

ONE DIRTY MAGAZINE

AROUND BEND

This Oregon small town is like one of those privileged kids you knew in high school—really cool, attractive and smart. Like that kid, Bend appeals to everybody—from the hard-core to the casual runner—but the rule here is: you gotta be nice.

BY KATRINA HAYS • PHOTOGRAPHY BY COLIN MEAGHER

DEPARTMENTS 4) EDITOR’S NOTE 6) LETTERS 10) MAKING TRACKS

Sponsors jump behind our growing sport: Q&A with Tim Twietmeyer, a Goliath of the trails who somehow keeps a low profile; Chicago-area trail runners horse around.

16) BUSHWHACK 18) TRAIL RX

Gotta have it. Take a long look in the mirror. Do you have an unhealthy running addiction?

You might be surprised.

BY TIM SPRINKLE

22) TRAINING

Zero to 100. An ultrarunning newbie starts from scratch and builds to a 100-mile trail race in just one year.

Learn from his lessons and start training.

BY DOUGALD MACDONALD

26) TAKE YOUR MARK

A race that will rock your world.

Virginia’s Massanutten Mountain Trails 100, where ankle-bending boulders are the name of the game.

BY JEFF WASHBURN

28) FACES 30) GREAT ESCAPES

A must-do run is born: New York’s Subway Loop. Dirt, river valleys and rubbish dumps are just a train ride away.

BY STEVE BENNETT

46) GALLERY 50) TRAIL TESTED

2006 Spring Shoe Review, fertile ground for your next purchase.

Spring has sprouted 16 top new models.

60) TRAIL RUNNER TROPHY SERIES CALENDAR 63) RUN AMOK

34)

TITLE BOUT

Super gel me. A dietary experiment goes south when this writer goes gel crazy.

BY BRIAN METZLER

TRAILS vs. ROADS Who rules the running universe?

Two elites come to blows for all the marbles.

BY SHAYNE CULPEPPER AND BERNIE BOETTCHER PHOTOGRAPHY BY DAVID CLIFFORD

THIS PAGE: Two-time Olympian Shayne Culpepper of Boulder, Colorado, shares her sage opinions in this issue. See page 34.

COVER: Kir Newhard cheats winter in Castle Valley, Utah.

PHOTOS BY DAVID CLIFFORD

REDEFINING

EDITO R’S NOTE

by DUANE RALEIGH

HUMANLY POSSIBLE

By hook or by crook. The cab leg of Steve Bennett’s Manhattan “Subway Loop.”

The Great Escape

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Trail running can be many things.

It’s exercise. Competition. Work. For me, hitting the singletrack is an amalgam of all these things capped by the Big Kahuna: Escape. It’s not that the grass is always greener, but that the itch to get away, like poison oak on your backside, requires a good and regular scratching.

As best I can recall, the urge to get out struck me when I was about 14. My buddy Donnie and I, keen to see some new country, hopped on our banana bikes and pedaled 40 miles down the interstate. Our plans were thwarted by a December ice storm that soon had us pushing our bikes and a very stern highway-patrol officer who sent us packing back to our infuriated parents.

It’s been downhill (and uphill) since.

When you live at 6200 feet, the snow hits hard around Thanksgiving and you don’t see dirt until sometime in March, maybe April. Getting out, though not physically impossible, has issues. It’s uncomfortable at best. Treacherous at worst. Ask my wife, Lisa. She was running a local trail, slipped on the frozen ground, banged her head and got up seeing triple. She now sports a shiner that would make Rocky Balboa proud, and drives home the fact that in the winter you gotta really want it.

Back at the office we escape the sea4 TRAILRUNNERMAG.COM | MAY 2006

sonal gloom by gathering around the watercooler like hyenas on a kill, and rehashing the past season’s exploits. We also weave fantastical tales of what we would like to (no, will!) do this spring.

When no one is around, I plot my dream outings by cruising googleearth.com, where, for free, you can pull up satellite imagery of just about anywhere you’d like to go and see detail right down to the boulders and trees. From that eye in the sky I’ve had untold vicarious escapes. Try it yourself, it’s cool and you’ll never again be taken by a surprise twist on route.

Similarly, we at Trail Runner hope that every issue of the magazine will transport you to the trails during those times when you can’t actually put rubber to dirt. In this issue, for instance, you can peruse the complex trail systems and rich cultural scene of one of America’s quiet hotspots, Bend, Oregon. In Great Escapes you read about one city-locked runner who through his own ingenuity cobbled together a 39-mile trail that begins in Manhattan. His “Subway Loop” shows what you can do when you really put your heart into your running. It’s inspirations like those that take the nip out of the air and, now that that hot orb called the sun is hanging higher in the sky, prompt us to spring into action. As if we need it.

■

DAVID CLIFFORD

FEEDING THE URGE TO SURGE

LETTERS SHOW ME THE MONEY

Why don’t we see ultrarunning in the Olympics? If we can have snowboard halfpipe, winter roller derby (short-track speed skating) and winter shuffleboard (curling), why should the Olympics turn away real athletes like us? Simply because it’s boring to watch. I think the funny thing is that watching the Olympics the last few days they fail to show the “Old World Sports,” like cross-country skiing, ski jumping, alpine skiing and speed skating. Give me a watch or distance, not a judge. Can I get style points for making a rock jump on a trail run? ¶ The real athletes are performing to their ultimate limits while four bankers are deciding where to slide the 40-pound rock on the ice. Women riding the halfpipe get 10 feet of air and they are amazing. Give me a real sport.

—Karl Meltzer, Sandy, UT RIPOFFS NOT FUNNY

PERFECT FOODS

I am a new subscriber to Trail Runner. I have been a distance runner for 20plus years and am moving more to the trails—just the kind of new subscriber you want. I like many of the articles, reading the magazine cover to cover as I have Runner’s World for years.

But Jonathan Thesenga’s article [“Living the Low-Budj Lifestyle,” Bushwhack, No. 38] was a total turn off.

I’m all for being frugal and getting tips on how to be so. But it is not good that he gives several tips on how to rip off businesses in order to keep his budget low—and even tips on which businesses not to rip off (e.g. running-shoe stores) because you might get caught.

It was not funny. He advocated ripping off soap, energy bars and office supplies.

Juvenile and dishonest. Help Jonathan find a part-time job so he can pay his way instead of ripping off the rest of us.

As an insulin-resistant runner, I have scoured books and the Web trying to find running nutrition info specific for me. It is scarce.

I almost choked when I read Dave Sheldon’s “Balancing Act” [Nutrition, No. 37]. It was everything I have fought so hard to learn through trial and error.

My only complaint is that you didn’t run the article two years ago!

—Christy Zacharias, Martensville, Saskatchewan, Canada

THINK OUTSIDE THE BUBBLE I’m sorry but testing the breathability of modern fabrics in the arid West doesn’t burst any bubbles for me. I’ve got scads of micro-fiber clothing and when I get through with a trail run here on the East Coast, I have to ring the sweat out of them. I’ve yet to find a true wicking shirt or shorts.

If you really want to test your gear you

—Judy Payne, McLean, VA

YOUR CHOICE! Vasque Lite Speed

Montrail Masai

need to get outside your bubble and send it to some testers in other parts of the country. In fact I’d suggest sending them to Alaska, Maine, Florida, Ohio, Texas and California.

And why can’t they make micro-fiber clothing that won’t retain odors and stains? I’ve got a (formerly white) singlet that is gray and can’t be washed with any other clothes due to the smell.

—Stu Gibeau, Black Mountain, NC

WHISTLE WHILE YOU RUN I just read “Wilderness 911” [Trail Rx, No. 38] and would like to suggest that runners add a whistle to their list of wilderness safety equipment. If you choose to ignore the buddy system (Rule #4), a whistle can be used to send an SOS if you are injured or lost. In addition, large, dangerous animals such as black bears can sometimes be scared away by blowing a whistle. I always carry one, because my fear is the day I don’t have it is the day I may need it the most.

—Donna Graham-Finan, Goshen, NY

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FEEL THAT BREEZE I enjoyed the current issue [No. 38] for a couple of reasons. First, your coverage of the endangered trails of the Boulder area [“Trails in Peril,” Making Tracks] hit home. I live Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and the 15 miles of singletrack we frequent are slated for development by the 6 TRAILRUNNERMAG.COM | MAY 2006

» letters University of North Carolina. You mentioned it in your March 2005 issue [No. 32], and area trail users’ grass-roots efforts resulted in our and neighboring Carroboro town councils urging UNC to reconsider its plans.

Recently, the university tossed out the original plan. Now begins a two-year process to reconsider the development, one that we hope will not include the 17,000 parking places of the initial plan.

Now, on a lighter note, I also enjoyed the gear round-up, but you failed to include the most versatile of running garments: the Sport Kilt! Seriously, this garment is hygienic, stylish and functional. Over half of our club members (www.trailheads.org) don their kilts after our weekly workouts. The Sport Kilt (www.sportkilt.com) goes on, and off come those skanky running shorts.

And the lightweight poly-wool blend holds a crisp pleat even in a downpour. Once each year we host a kilt run, which spins a few skulls as we head down Main Street and dash into the trails.

—Steve “Squonk” Hoge, Chapel Hill, NC

EDITORIAL

CIRCULATION

PUBLISHER Duane Raleigh

CIRCULATION DIRECTOR

draleigh@bigstonepub.com EDITOR Michael Benge mbenge@bigstonepub.com SENIOR EDITOR Garett Graubins ggraubins@bigstonepub.com COLUMNS EDITOR Alison Osius aosius@bigstonepub.com PHOTO EDITOR David Clifford dclifford@bigstonepub.com CREATIVE ART DIRECTOR Bret Roedemeier broedemeier@bigstonepub.com PRODUCTION COORDINATOR

Rowan Fryer rfryer@bigstonepub.com PRODUCTION MANAGER

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Lindsay Brown lbrown@bigstonepub.com RETAIL SALES COORDINATOR

Craig Saleeby csaleeby@bigstonepub.com OFFICE MANAGER/ CIRCULATION ASSISTANT

Danyelle Rigli circassistant@bigstonepub.com ACCOUNTING Mark Kittay CPA accounting@bigstonepub.com BIG STONE PUBLISHING 1101 Village Road UL-4D, Carbondale, CO 81623 Office: 970-704-1442 Fax: 970-963-4965 www.trailrunnermag.com

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WARNING! The activities described in Trail Runner carry a significant risk of personal injury or death. DO NOT participate in these activities unless you are an expert, have sought or obtained qualified professional instruction or guidance, are knowledgeable about the risks involved, and are willing to assume personal responsibility for all risks associated with these activities. TRAIL RUNNER MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, OF ANY KIND REGARDING THE CONTENTS OF THIS MAGAZINE, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY WARRANTY REGARDING THE ACCURACY OR RELIABILITY OF INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN. Trail Runner further disclaims any responsibility for injuries or death incurred by any person engaging in these activities. Use the information contained in this magazine at your own risk, and do not depend on the information contained in this magazine for personal safety or for determining whether to attempt any climb, route or activity described herein.

The views herein are those of the writers and advertisers; they do not necessarily reflect the views of Trail Runner’s ownership.

•Manuscripts, photographs and correspondence are welcome. Unsolicited materials should be accompanied by return postage. Trail Runner is not responsible for unsolicited materials. All manuscripts and photos are subject to Trail Runner’s terms, conditions and rates •Please allow up to 6 weeks for the first issue after subscribing or a change of address (to expect continuous service).

No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. © Copyright 2006 by Big Stone Publishing Ltd. 8 TRAILRUNNERMAG.COM | MAY 2006

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MAKING TRACKS With no fewer than seven logos on his race garb, Karl Meltzer mirrors a growing trend toward athlete sponsorships.

Trail Stars go NASCAR BUSINESSES JUMP BEHIND TRAIL TEAMS, ATHLETES Karl Meltzer rolls into a pit stop, hurriedly screeching to a halt. Onlookers, support crew and fans cheer as he downs some food, checks his treads and peels away. His sponsors’ logos blur by—Red Bull, Montrail, Powerbar, First Endurance, Ryders Eyewear, Petzl, Smartwool …

B

But this is not NASCAR. This is a trail race. And, while trail running will never pull down big-time TV ratings or attract 120,000 screamers to a single event, it is drawing increasing sponsor support. Logos on shorts, shirts and trail-side banners are growing as common as cans of Bud at the Daytona 500.

Montrail, a maker of trail, adventure-rac-

10 TRAILRUNNERMAG.COM | MAY 2006

ing and climbing shoes based in Seattle, Washington, was among the first to sponsor trail running on a widespread scale, beginning in 1998. Says Krissy Moehl Sybrowsky, who oversees the Montrail-Nathan Ultrarunning team, “The goal of our sponsorship program is to identify talented athletes and ambassadors of the sport, support them and help them to achieve

their goals.” Montrail supports over 80 trail runners, providing gear (Montrail shoes as well as products from several partner companies) and incentives for performance, ambassadorship and media exposure.

Shoe manufacturer Vasque is also committed to trail running, sponsoring over 30 races and 15 athletes through the Vasque Ultraruning Team. Says team captain Ethan Veneklasen, “It’s all about facilitating the spirit of people going out and doing what they love in the outdoors.”

The North Face sponsors several trailrunning athletes as well, including Dean Karnazes and Tim Twietmeyer (see page 14), plus the venerable Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run. Says Leticia Ferrier, Senior Strategic Marketing Manager, “It’s that human spirit of going some place where nobody has gone before, geographically or spiritually. We want to help athletes go there, whether it’s a 100-mile race or exploring for exploration’s sake.”

Until recently, trail running was such small potatoes that few companies supported it. That has changed as the sport has grown and struck a mainstream chord— road runners seeking new challenges or softer surfaces, hikers losing patience with 20-minute miles or simply those in search of outdoor adventure.

Translated into Madison-avenue marketing jargon, trail-running sponsorships have become more of a win-win for both athletes and sponsors. Athletes benefit with gear, financial support—although this part of the equation still lags, according to many—and the intangible, motivational bonus of racing on a team. Companies, on the other hand, have an opportunity to build and reinforce their brands at the grassroots level, appealing to a rapidly growing crowd.

Says Adam Druckman, Sports Marketing Manager for Teva, “We have the philosophy that you can create respect for your brand by supporting core athletes. That’s the underpinning of sports marketing.” For five years, Teva has supported the U.S. Mountain Running Team, helping to send the country’s fastest off-road speedsters to the annual World Mountain Running Trophy championships. They have also sponsored the U.S.A. Track and Field National 10K Trail Championships and perennial mountain-running champions Simon Gutierrez and Anita Ortiz.

DAVID CLIFFORD

ALL THE TRAIL NEWS YOU CAN USE // BY GARETT GRAUBINS

making tracks « And the win-win arrangement benefits companies in other ways.

Says The North Face’s Ferrier, “We feel that athletes can be not only ambassadors for the brand, but also work closely with product designers and engineers.”

Such arrangements are increasingly common. Montrail solicits shoe feedback from their athletes. Says Sybrowsky, “We have athletes all over the country testing our shoes on varying terrain and conditions—wet, rooty trails of the Northwest, deserts of the Southwest and smooth trails of California.”

Members of the Vasque Ultrarunning team worked with Highgear to develop a new trail-running watch line, the Enduro. Seventime Western States 100 champion Scott Jurek is sponsored by Brooks and regularly works with them on developing new apparel and shoes. The Brooks Cascadia trail-running shoe, launched in 2005, resulted from this athlete-manufacturer synergy.

Trail athletes have understandably heralded the increase in support from companies. Says Spyder-sponsored trail runner and adventure racer Dave Mackey, 2005 USATF Ultrarunner of the Year from Boulder, Colorado, “This is great for the sport as it offers a level of validity in the public’s eye.”

Trail runners will never snag paychecks equal to NASCAR drivers—or even Olympic-caliber road runners. “It is still very hard to get money to do trail racing,” says Mackey, who admits that he loses money when he travels and competes. “I race so much that the lost income can be significant.”

“This will never be a sport where people are making a living competing; it has never been intended to be a professional sport,” says Veneklasen. “But if Vasque can help people travel to races and make the sport more competitive, then it will continue to grow.”

That sulfuric smell is not that of a fizzling running fad. It’s burning rubber.

■

OVER-

HEARD “I told him I would pay his entry fee if he ran in his Speedo swimsuit and medals.”

—CHARLES HANSBERRY of Missoula, Montana, trying to convince a fellow attorney, five-time Olympic swimming medalist Dave Berkoff, to run the Bighorn 50K. Berkoff agreed and signed a legally binding contract prepared

by Hansberry.

“Please quit praying for me. It’s a waste of your time. Go for a trail run instead.”

—LARRY ROBBINS of Kennesaw, Georgia, in response to several people saying that they would pray for him to stay safe on his long training runs.

“The race is on … just to get entered.”

—JOHN BOZUNG, race director for the Squaw Peak 50Miler, held in June around Provo, Utah. The 2006 race filled its 250 slots in 22 days—44 days quicker than the previous year.

“His new nickname for me is ‘Crystal’ because I break so easily.”

—2006 Grand Slam of Ultrarunning hopeful PAUL DEWITT of Monument, Colorado, on his tendency toward injuries and the barbs he swaps with Grand Slam record holder Joe Kulak of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. DeWitt calls Kulak the “Philly Doughboy.”

2006 MAY | TRAILRUNNERMAG.COM 11

Hoofing It WINDY CITY STRIDERS BATTLE SNOW, COLD AND NAYSAYERS DECEMBER CHALLENGE

4,

2005,

8K,

CROSS

ELGIN,

COUNTRY

ILLINOIS —The

deer yielded their stomping grounds to 1010 runners, and that much was expected. But a herd of horses made a late entry, shocking onlookers and frontrunning thoroughbreds alike.

Maybe more surprising was the lack of mud on the eight-kilometer race held in suburban Chicago’s marshlands and woods.

Normally competitors can plan on deep, shoe-sucking mud. Not so in the 2005 race, when snow and ice covered the course.

On the upside, fewer of this year’s runners duct taped their shoes to ankles, as race guidelines suggest, to prevent people from finishing barefoot. On the downside, those seeking the annual mudfest were disappointed. “It’s not really a true Cross Country Challenge if we don’t find shoes out on the course afterward,” shrugged course designer Bob Telfer.

Despite wind and 25-degree temperatures, several entrants ran shirtless—including 28-year-old Emisael

Favela, who won the race in 29:23. Fellow Chicago-area runners Joe Parks, 28 (2nd place, 29:42), and Jacek Kafel, 29 (3rd place, 29:51), couldn’t close the gap.

Among the women, Melissa Bosslet, 21, of Champaign, Illinois, ran 35:13 to beat, by more than two minutes, 2004 champion Jennifer Goebel. Goebel moved down a slot as did third-place finisher Emily Farrell, despite her running more than a minute faster than when she placed second in 2004.

The shockingly grueling race course, which included hills, dales, rutted farm fields and log jumps, shared center stage this year. After wandering in and out of forested trails, frontrunners emerged into an open field little more than a mile from the finish. Here, they had to contend with several spooked horses.

Herds of other runners saw the horses, but by then the equines had found safety on the far side of a fence. No injuries to man or beast resulted. Later, the two herds mended fences inside a huge, unheated stable. A meal of pasta, chicken and hay made every runner happy.

—JOEL PATENAUDE

Complete results at www.chicagoaa. com/results/searchable.html

Emisael Favela, in the flesh, averaged 5:55 miles en route to the win.

JENNIFER SISSON

» making tracks

» making tracks Forever young Tim Twietmeyer pumps up toward Emigrant Pass during the early hours of the 2004 Western States 100.

Is that when you started running trails and ultramarathons?

I was doing 5Ks and 10Ks on the city roads—little stuff like the Bay to Breakers run. Then, I saw a 24-hour track race and became intrigued. I signed up for the race the next year. Western States was getting lots of write-ups and I thought, “Some day, I’m going to run it.” That was my ultimate goal—to finish Western States.

Why do you focus almost exclusively on Western?

It’s my yearly pilgrimage, and it’s one of the most important races on the ultrarunning calendar. I always want to peak for it. Plus, the course fits me well, since I’m a big guy [6' 3" 175 pounds] and I’m able to move pretty well on the rough downhills.

What possessed you to run the Western States in the winter?

I had read about the early local miners— hearty dudes who didn’t shy away from whatever had to be done. That started the wheels turning and it just sounded like an interesting challenge, and a bit of a tribute.

Do you have any advice for runners considering similar crossings of famed trails?

Brace yourself for varying conditions.

Watch the weather and avalanche dangers, daily. Prepare for the worst and hope for the best.

TIM TWIETMEYER SOMEHOW RUNS UNDER THE TRAIL-RUNNING RADAR WHEN NEWCOMER SCOTT JUREK won his first of seven consecutive Western States 100 championships in 1999, Tim Twietmeyer had already completed the famed run 16 times, winning it five times.

In fact, “Twiet” finished second to Jurek that year, a nail-biting 30 minutes back.

“Twiet might be the best trail ultrarunner that nobody has heard of, but to me he is a legend,” says fellow Western States veteran Dean Karnazes. “His trail ultrarunning accomplishments are unparalleled, and he is still going strong.”

It may be Twietmeyer’s easy-going demeanor and single-minded focus on the Golden State’s Western States 100 that have kept him mostly out of the mainstream’s eye.

Consider that Twietmeyer, who lives in Auburn, California, where the race finishes, has completed Western States a record 24 times—every year since 1981 (he didn’t run in 1984). Wins aside, he’s finished second five times, and third once. Beginning in 1989, Tweitmeyer had a string of 15 14 TRAILRUNNERMAG.COM | MAY 2006

consecutive top-five Western States finishes—all in a race that is considered the Boston Marathon of 100-mile trail events.

Yet Tweitmeyer, 46, is not a one-dimensional, one-race-per-year runner. In early 2004, he and Karnazes ran the snowcovered, avalanche-prone Western States course in the winter time [No. 31, “Right Race, Wrong Time”]. In 2005, he covered the newly-opened Tahoe Rim Trail, a 165-mile route circling the namesake lake, in 45 hours 58 minutes—a current record. Twietmeyer waxes dreamy as he ponders the next items on his “Life To-Do List”: a bike ride along the entire Pacific Coast in 2007 and a trans-America bike ride in 2008.

By foot or bicycle, Twietmeyer’s pace is difficult to match, but Trail Runner managed to catch up with him.

Have you always been a Cali guy?

Yeah. I grew up in the Bay Area, but moved to Auburn 16 years ago for the trails. It was time to escape the city and get more rural.

What was the toughest part?

The longest stretch between road access was 40 miles, when I ran 10 hours without any aid, after having already run 100 miles. The first night was rough, too.

You’re pushing through that time when your body says that it’s time to sleep and it was very high [9000 feet], tricky trail.

Everything slows down and psychologically the miles don’t pass as fast.

Did you ever consider quitting?

Nah, not really. I had somebody running with me for the last 100 miles or so—three running friends who I knew could handle it. If I started whining, they’d kick my ass.

When we were done, we decided we had fun because it wasn’t an organized race, and we didn’t have the pressure of being somewhere by a certain time. We did it because we wanted to do it.

OK, I gotta ask. How long have you had the moustache?

[Laugh] Twenty or 25 years. My wife is afraid for me to shave it off. She‘s never seen me without it, and she doesn’t know what’s underneath.

■

PATITUCCI PHOTO

Secret Legend

Why run the Tahoe Rim Trail?

I thought it would be a nice complement to one of my first ultras, a 72-mile paved run around Lake Tahoe. The trail is always interesting since it follows a ridge for 165 miles and has just under 30,000 feet of vertical, the equivalent of climbing Mount Everest. Some of the views are just unreal—Reno [Nevada] on one side, several wilderness areas and a few ski resorts.

B U S H WH ACK

by JONATHAN THESENGA

» Illustration by JEREMY COLLINS

Smoking is Cool CAN NICOTINE AND TRAIL RUNNING COEXIST? My knee was jacked. The orthopod told me I had a slight tear of the meniscus. The forecast was grim: three months of no running or have surgery on that crusty left knee. Three festering months—basically the entire summer race season. What the hell was I going to do? It was 90plus degrees, which meant rock climbing, my only other recreational outlet, was out of the question. I needed something to occupy myself.

I could’ve taken up kayaking, inline skating or mountain biking, but kooked-out gear-dork sports aren’t my bag.

16 TRAILRUNNERMAG.COM | MAY 2006

So what did I do? I took up smoking.

And I loved it.

I embraced those vile nic-sticks like they were my long-lost siblings. All it took was a few drags and I was fully on board. I had apparently been lied to since kindergarten—smoking wasn’t bad for me. Smoking was cool. Nicotine is it. It made my neck feel like it is was on a bobble-head doll, fingers tingle, stressed-out mind effortlessly drift and muscles melt into Hindu-esque relaxation. Escapism was only a few huffs away!

After several days of hacking and coughing, my devirginized lungs began to embrace the toxins like warm hugs from grandma.

I didn’t go all the way over to the Dark Side, though, and start buying cartons of Pall Mall menthols and hot boxing a pack or two a day. No, I rolled my own smokes from loose tobacco, twisting up only two or three a day. Yes, I was smoking, but I wasn’t a smoker.

I didn’t buy my fix at 7-Eleven or from a tsk-tsking customer-service clerk at Safeway. I got my goods at a proper tobacco shop, a business catering to those with finer smoking tastes (no matter that the shop also had four aisles of porn), run by a cheery man more than happy to take my $4.35 for a pouch of Bali Shag. His name was Tony, and we became fast friends as my smoking evolved into a 10- or 12-a-day escape.

The three months breezed by, thanks to Tony and Mr. Nicotine. I now knew how good a cigarette tasted with my morning coffee, how soothing an afternoon smoke down by the river was, and how sleep came easily after knocking back two rollies. I had told myself I would stop smoking once the orthopod’s three-month sentence had lapsed, but quickly changed my mind.

Sure my teeth were getting a touch yellow, my boogers were black and I had developed a funky phlegm thing, but give up smoking because of that? Hell

no. And I had a feeling it wouldn’t affect my running that much.

One week after my forced running sabbatical, I was entered in a trail marathon (an assignment for this virtuous magazine), and managed to knock back six or seven hours of trail time in preparation, carefully testing my new knee. The meniscus seemed OK, but nothing else did. It wasn’t, though, due to the smoking, I told myself. No way. I’d been a couch slug for the past 90 days so naturally I felt bad, I convinced myself, as I enjoyed an after-run smoke.

Race morning came and after 30 minutes of stretching, I snuck off into the woods for a quick nic fix. I was ready.

The knee felt solid. The only thing I was worried about was being unable to smoke for the next three hours.

Ten miles in I was loping along the buffed out, rolling singletrack, passing people with ease as I stayed near the front of the pack. The knee felt good. So did the lungs. Then came the two-mile hill climb.

My pace backed down to a crawl, old ladies trotted by and I felt feverish and hacked up black and yellow loogies. I started walking. The hill was endless.

My tar-soaked lungs were redlining, unable to get enough oxygen to feed my legs. My sweat felt like acid as the nicotine seeped out of me.

What the hell? My best friend for the past three months, Mr. Nicotine, was hosing me. I tottered up the hill, had a horrific coughing fit, then wobbled down the final 14 miles to finish, cramped up and nauseous. I finished in 39th place, 45 minutes off my expected time. I leaned against a tree and took a leak. It smelled like tobacco, and I dry heaved.

2005 JULY | TRAILRUNNERMAG.COM 17

2006 MAY | TRAILRUNNERMAG.COM 17

After several days of hacking and coughing, my devirginized lungs began to embrace the toxins like warm hugs from grandma.

Having learned his lesson the hard way, Jonathan Thesenga no longer smokes, but he now spends $10 a week on Nicorette gum.

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TRAIL Rx

by TIM SPRINKLE

» illustration by JEREMY COLLINS

WARNING SIGNS Dedicated competitor or addicted runner?

Do you attempt to run through injuries? Overuse injuries are common with running addiction and can range from calf pulls to ankle sprains. The good news? Nagging injuries will eventually drag down performance, a situation that no runner can ignore.

Are you neglecting responsibilities? Yes, it takes some creativity to schedule a consistent running regimen. But when choosing your workout over appointments or family, it’s a bad sign.

Are you tired all the time? Listen to your body. General fatigue is its way of announcing that you’re overextended. And all that singleminded focus can lead to trouble in the concentration department.

Do you have a one-track mind?

Interesting anecdotes are one thing, but no one wants to talk race splits and stretches all the time.

When it seems to be all that you’re talking about, it’s probably all that you’re thinking about.

a crazy voice in my head. That’s when I knew something was really wrong.”

Sports psychologists consider Moran’s condition a “running addiction,” an intense obsession that can impact physical health, stress levels, outside responsibilities and more. The problem, however, remains largely undiagnosed, in part because of the healthy image associated with the runner’s lifestyle. If someone is well enough to go out and run every day, how sick can they be?

GOTTA HAVE IT CAN YOU GET TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING? All 30-year-old Jenny Moran wanted was to get in better shape. And when she started trail running on a regular basis, that’s what happened. For the first time in her life, she felt in control of her weight. It was, she says, an amazing feeling.

But within a few years, things spiraled out of hand. Moran’s workouts became a 18 TRAILRUNNERMAG.COM | MAY 2006

fixation, looming large over other activities. At the peak of the obsession, she was even using her runs as a type of purge to “cancel out” whatever she had eaten that day “Running consumed my thoughts,” Moran, now 42, says. “Every day I sat at work thinking about running. It was like

SOLE FOCUS “Runners will tell you that their sport is one of the great pleasures in life,” says Dr. Kevin Stone, a San Franciscobased orthopedic surgeon and sportsmedicine specialist. “Any runner has some degree of healthy addiction; they like it, and so they keep running.”

The problem, he says, comes when running becomes their sole focus.

People become obsessed with the endorphin rush of the “runner’s high” and over train, eventually leading to mental and physical exhaustion.

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» trail rx

TREATING ADDICTION What’s the next step?

A

B

C

Who would you take running advice from?

Want to run faster, stronger, and smarter?

2006 CAMPS

with

Talk it over: According to Dr. Sachs, most runners don’t even realize that they have a problem. Just expressing your concerns can go a long way toward helping.

Slow things down: Exercise addiction’s real danger is that the runner will do too much, too fast, and seriously injure themselves. The experts all agree that rest days and cross training are important parts of a healthy workout program.

Medical treatment: Have a doctor assess the situation to put a stop to the mental and physical damage before it goes too far.

Therapy: Like any addiction, compulsive running may be tied to some other root cause. Therapy can be an effective way to help a runner understand and overcome his or her problem.

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Dr. Michael Sachs, a Professor of Behavioral Sciences at Temple University, who has studied the psychology of running for more than 25 years, adds that factors ranging from body image to cabin fever can also contribute to an addiction.

“There’s a sense of mastery that goes along with addiction, of having that challenge and being able to run those distances,” says Sachs. The problem, he says, comes when a runner loses control over his habit, running more than what’s healthy and damaging his body in the process.

For Linda, who asked not to be identified for this story, it came down to personal identity.

“I had always been very athletic,” she says, “but I just fell in love with running. That’s what I am, a runner. So, when I got injured, I ignored it and kept on running.”

Linda stuck with it for nearly a year, in the process developing a case of Achilles tendinitis that still hasn’t responded to treatment. Now, after a career-ending injury and more than a year of rehab, she finally sees how obsessed she had become. For her, running was an escape, an activity that made her “feel alive like nothing else.”

The down time has been a roller coaster ride of depression, panic and guilt.

“It’s been horrible,” she says. “Trying 20 TRAILRUNNERMAG.COM | MAY 2006

trail rx «

to find something to fill that void has been tough, but you have to keep your sanity. If you’re not a runner, what are you? I’m still a little lost.”

THE FINE LINE But that’s not to say that every dedicated runner on the trail is on the verge of a breakdown. Nancy Hobbs, an experienced runner and chair of the USA Track and Field Mountain/Ultra/TrailRunning Council, knows many healthy athletes who train hard.

“What’s right for one person isn’t always right for someone else,” she says.

“I see runners who train eight hours on the weekend, but it goes in waves.”

Are they overdoing it? Dr. Sachs estimates that less than five percent of the running population qualifies as addicted under his “restrictive definition:” a fixation so strong that it completely dominates the athlete’s life.

Even so, more than a few runners knowingly straddle the line between control and addiction.

How do you know if you are pushing

past the line? Just examine the symptoms: are you missing out on responsibilities, dealing with injuries that won’t go away, feeling constantly tired or interested in little else but running?

Truly addicted runners will literally sacrifice everything else in their life in order to get in their workouts, with no regard for the toll it takes on their families or themselves.

“We all know somebody who fits the description in some way,” Dr. Sachs says, “but a lot of individuals who love running do it intensely and keep it in perspective. There are few real addicts, but enough that we should be aware.”

individual therapy or other treatment may be necessary to get to the bottom of what’s causing the addictive behavior.

Stone agrees, adding that variety in training is key. “Great athletes are versatile athletes,” he says. “Those with the most varied workouts are less likely to get hooked on one thing.”

Of course, try focusing on that the next time you look out the window and see the blue sky of a beautiful trail-running day. True addiction may be rare, but every runner knows how easy it is for the sport to get under your skin.

Personal success is all about control and knowing how much you can handle.

GET OVER IT

UNDER CONTROL

Sachs admits that not everyone responds to intervention—some people just have to fix things for themselves.

But let them know that you’re concerned, he advises.

“The person may not realize what they are doing,” says Sachs. “They should take some time off, or do something more restful.” Beyond that, he says,

As for Moran, she has scaled back her workouts and regained control of her life, but hasn’t forgotten what it feels like to be trapped in her sport.

“I think that running has given me lots of positive things,” she says, “but I also think that it’s an easy place to hide out if you have a problem; it can be hard to imagine the negative side of it.”

■

TRAINING

by DOUGALD MACDONALD

» photo by DAVID CLIFFORD

Ramping up to your first 100-miler takes dedication, and experimentation to determine the best foods and hydration system.

Leadville from Scratch FROM ZERO TO 100 IN A YEAR

I

I began to take my running seriously in August 2004, when I resolved to run Colorado’s Leadville Trail 100 exactly one year later. Until then, running meant neighborhood jogs with my golden retriever. I had never run a race longer than five miles.

My zero-to-100 plan didn’t quite pan out—I injured a calf muscle partway through the race and ground to a halt

22 TRAILRUNNERMAG.COM | MAY 2006

after 86.5 miles and 26 hours. But I did manage to complete three trail ultras during my first year of running, and I learned valuable lessons for anyone breaking into long trail races—lessons I’ll heed when I return to Leadville.

Keep the right company. Every ultra has two races—the race to win and the race just to make the cutoffs—and the appropriate training and tactics for each

are very different. Whether you’re talking to fellow runners or gleaning tips from the Internet, take care to understand the background behind the advice, because tips and training schedules from an elite runner may be counterproductive for a back-of-the-packer. Likewise, train with people at or near your level—it’s OK to be pushed, but repeatedly getting left in the dust is demoralizing.

Build a base. You need miles, but be patient. If you run too much or too fast, you’ll risk injury. I trained for almost seven months before my first 20-mile run.

Once I had a good foundation, I ran 20

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miles or more at least twice a month all spring and summer.

Focus on long runs. My average weekly mileage peaked at around 45, and much of it was those long runs, including half a dozen runs or races of ultra distance (longer than 26.2 miles).

Not only are long, slow runs and fast hikes the best way to train for ultra distances, they also are essential for figuring out your equipment and tactics.

Learn to walk. Walking works different muscles and joints than running, as my aching hips attest after a long hike. I planned to walk nearly 60 miles at Leadville, and trained with fast hiking on big hills, plus a 41-mile walk through the Denver suburbs. The effort paid off at Leadville; I was faster than almost everyone around me on the monster climbs.

Eat right. Friends had warned me about projectile vomiting at 100-mile races, and, from what I witnessed at Leadville, they weren’t kidding. But my stomach stayed strong. During long training runs and races, I learned that I could eat just about anything for the first six or eight hours; after that, I could tolerate only soups, energy gels and diet supplements like Ensure—with one exception. I loved to snack on cold, cooked bacon all day! I also discovered that I needed about half the recommended dosage of electrolyte supplements.

When I took the full amount, I retained too much water, marked by uncomfortable swelling in my hands. (Extreme electrolyte imbalance can lead to dangerous hypernatremia.)

Everyone is different and you won’t really figure out what works—or leads you into the bushes—until you start doing all-day runs.

Race Registration Information

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BOOT CAMP Thinking of trying a 100? You can preview the course and glean invaluable tips from veterans at these 100-mile-race training camps. ◆ Western States Training Camp, Foresthill, California MAY 27-29 Experience 71 miles of the point-to-point Western States course over three days. $215 includes meals, camping and transportation for the full weekend. www.ws100.com/training.htm ◆ Leadville 100 Training Run Camp, Leadville, Colorado JUNE 24-26 Two long days on the Leadville course plus a 12-mile night run. $125 includes panel discussion, meals, transportation and aid stations. www.leadvilletrail100.com ◆ Angeles Crest Group Runs, Wrightwood, California VARIOUS DATES MARCH-AUGUST Free group runs on the Angeles Crest 100 Mile Endurance Run course, plus trail-work days to meet entry requirement. www.ac100.com ◆ Javelina Jundred Full Moon Run, Phoenix, Arizona OCTOBER 7-8 A free, no-frills, 12-hour moonlit romp through the desert one month before the Javelina Jundred 100mile race. www.ultrazone.us/Javelina 24 TRAILRUNNERMAG.COM | MAY 2006

training «

I learned that I could eat just about anything for the first six or eight hours; after that, I could tolerate only soups, energy gels and diet supplements like Ensure—with one exception. I loved to snack on cold, cooked bacon all day!

Experiment with gear. Use every long run as an opportunity to test your shoes, clothing, hydration systems and blister prevention. I preferred a road-running shoe until my runs started going over 20 miles, and then realized I needed more forefoot protection for rocky trails. I tried hand bottles and hydration packs, before I ultimately chose a two-bottle waist pack. After early problems with hot spots on my feet, I discovered Sport Shield roll-on lubricant and, on the recommendation of a 10time Leadville finisher, started wearing nylons as liner socks during my longest runs. The result? No blisters all summer.

Run at night. I had a mountaineering background that involved plenty of nighttime hiking. But running at night was a new experience. I experimented with various lights before settling on a headlamp and flashlight combo, and I practiced lifting my feet when I was tired to avoid tripping on shadowed roots and rocks.

Train on the course. I attended the three-day Leadville Training Run Camp and raced the High Mountain 50K, also in Leadville. By race day, I had run all but five miles of the course.

Psychologically, it is a big boost to know what lies ahead, and to know you’ve done the hard parts before.

Use a crew and pacers. You’ll need all the help and encouragement you can get. After my leg injury, I was ready to drop after 40 miles, but I didn’t want to let down my friends. With their support, I experienced a second and third wind and made it another 46 miles. Now if I’d only gotten that fourth wind …

Take a break. I took two vacations (one week and three weeks) during the year, when I did little or no running. Each time, I came back much healthier and stronger, and mentally recharged.

On the other hand … I wouldn’t have traded my late-spring, 18-day raft trip down the Grand Canyon for anything, but the timing was poor. In order to stay on schedule, I had to ramp up the mileage way too fast after I returned, from an average of 30 miles a week before the trip to 45 miles afterward. That 50-percent jump may have planted the seeds for my calf injury.

And, given some twinges I felt during the last few weeks before the race, I would have been better off tapering more aggressively. I broke one of the cardinal rules of training: Listen to your body.

Try, try again. I was disappointed not to finish my first 100-miler, but very satisfied with my progress in a single year, from being unable to run five miles to completing two 50K races and a 50-miler well under the cutoffs. As for Leadville ... I’ll be back.

Dougald MacDonald is a freelance writer, author and editor based in Louisville, Colorado.

2006 MAY | TRAILRUNNERMAG.COM 25

TAKE YOUR MARK

by JEFF WASHBURN

by CHIP GARETT GRAUBINS Illustration

by SOMODEVILLA DAVE CLIFFORD » »photo

THE ROCKY FACTS Massanutten Mountain Trails 100 Course description: 101.8 miles (4.3 miles of pavement, 14.8 miles of dirt road and 82.7 miles of mostly VERY rocky trail) in the George Washington National Forest near Front Royal, VA, with about 19,000 feet of climbing.

Race Date: Saturday, May 13, 2006.

Info: www.vhtrc.org and click on the Massanutten Mountain 100 link.

Rocks around the clock: After more than 24 hours of running, 2005 MMT finisher Randy Dietz and his pacer grind toward the top of Shawl Gap, just four miles from the finish line. Dietz finished 19th overall, with a time of 26:59:33.

Massanutten Rocks!

TRAIL ULTRARUNNERS HAVE A LOVE-HATE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE EAST’S TOUGHEST 100

I

I have been kicking rocks in Virginia’s Massanutten Mountains for 24 hours and I’m only 75 miles into the race. For the past three hours, I have struggled though the eight-mile section misnamed Short Mountain.

After exiting this stretch in 2004, Susan McCarthy said, “Short Mountain is where bad people go to die.”

The Massanutten Mountain Trails 100 (MMT) demands more than almost any other 100 miler. Mentally, it’s defeating to continue after the first grueling 50 miles, knowing that there is still another 50 miles of these toe-destroying rock gardens. Also, weather can break your psyche—central Virginia is hot and humid with occasional violent thunderstorms.

However, the real crux of the MMT is that the course follows the spine of an Appalachian mountain range and you must descend to all aid stations and then climb back to the ridge. This roller-coaster ride translates to 12 major climbs and uncountable minor ones.

Many trail runners look at MMT finishing

26 TRAILRUNNERMAG.COM | MAY MARCH 2006 2005

times and wonder how it could possibly take so long. After all, these are not the 14,000foot Rockies. Of the roughly 65 percent of starters who cross the finish line, most take between 31 and 33 hours, an average of around 19-minute miles. The reason for the snail’s pace is the footing. Runners need to be very agile to get through the race unscathed. Even then, almost every one kisses the trail.

The MMT starts at the Skyline Ranch Resort near the town of Front Royal, Virginia, at the northern gates of Shenandoah National Park. The course follows a figure-eight loop, first heading south before returning north.

Under the 5 a.m. stars, runners begin with a paved road section. After this short warm-

up, they enter singletrack and begin the first climb. Light absorbs the sky as people arrive at the first overlook. This is the reward for many lonely hours of training: a sunrise over the bucolic Fort Valley and the thrill of knowing that a full day and night of trail running awaits.

The race’s first descent mirrors many others on the MMT course. Runners climb over boulders and traverse rock-littered fields, before heading downhill to an aid station. This first drop can actually be fun, as runners bound on fresh legs. In the later miles, runners curse these same rocks.

Aid stations (16 of them) and milestones help runners to divide the course into mentally manageable segments. Early in the race, there is the path commissioned

by George Washington to transport cannons during the Revolutionary War. Later, there is the National Forest Visitor’s Center and the official halfway point of the race.

Runners who make it here but do not finish are honored as MMT “Visitors” and receive a rock from the course with a plaque that says “Visitor.” Beyond the Visitor Center, at the course’s southernmost point before runners head back to Front Royal, the Wildflower Trail enchants with its buffet of pink lady slippers.

As runners meander northward toward the finish, their weary legs creak on the constantly uneven footing. The Massanutten course devours pretenders, and many improperly prepared runners limp through the night.

After the race, runners lounge in the grass. Legs swollen and scraped, conversation revolves around the course’s terrain.

Initially, runners spray cuss words, then hours, days and weeks afterward, a tone of reverence takes hold. It’s a love-hate relationship, and the main reason that so many MMT’ers return every year is that Massanutten rocks.

■

FACES

by IAIN MACINTYRE

» photo by BRUCE EDWARDS

Beaulieu credits his father and inner strength for a miraculous recovery.

LOGAN’S RUN

TOP CANADIAN RUNNER REBOUNDS FROM LIFE-THREATENING INJURIES Run, Logan, run. Run down dusty ranch roads and up narrow, steep mountain trails. Run through forests and icy streams, and keep going over deadwood and around rocks, climbing above the treeline. Then run farther.

Run when your feet hurt and heart pounds, until filling your lungs at altitude is like trying to catch your breath underwater.

Run because every step is a celebration of your life—your spirit—because every stride takes you farther from that terrible 28 TRAILRUNNERMAG.COM | MAY 2006

day 17 years ago. Run because you can.

Run, because running saved you and others need to know.

Logan Beaulieu did not start running to lose weight or get in shape. He wasn’t trying to beat anybody or test himself. He wasn’t hoping it would make him famous.

He began running because if he hadn’t, he’d probably be dead or in a wheelchair, reliant on drugs and dwelling on the night his friend died in a car accident.

“They thought I was dead, too,” Beaulieu, 33, says. “One of the ambulance guys

noticed I was still breathing.”

When paramedics arrived 17 years ago at the accident scene in Penticton, British Columbia, where the car in which Beaulieu was a passenger had been Tboned, Logan’s leg was sticking through the passenger door. The door was not open. His leg punctured it.

No alcohol was involved. No charges were laid.

Logan didn’t quite die that warm night in 1988, but nobody knew if he’d survive the next one and the one after that.

He was airlifted to St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver and spent the next 16 days— one for each year of his life—in a coma.

Logan’s father, Moe Beaulieu, was there each night, praying that his son would wake up and, if he did, could function mentally and physically.

On one of those nights, Moe, 60, says, a stranger from Italy came into the trauma ward to visit her father. Moe asked her name and she told him, adding in her limited English that it meant “small miracle.”

“So I said: ‘Would you mind putting your hand on my son because we need a small miracle?’” Moe recalls. “She put her hand on his forehead and over his face.”

On the 17th day, the Beaulieus got their miracle. Logan woke up.

No one knew how much neurological damage Logan had suffered, and doctors told him there was only a 10-percent chance he’d walk again.

Moe liked the odds. Beats zero, right?

Moe Beaulieu, now 60, separated from Logan’s mother, June, around the time of the accident, and left his advertising job to take charge of his son’s recovery.

Although still paralyzed on one side, Logan would be bustled into a wheelchair

by Moe and ordered to use his good hand to wheel himself.

“I said: ‘Son, if you stay in that wheelchair six months, you might be there the rest of your life,’” recalls Moe. “I said: ‘You’ve got to get moving.’ He was out of the wheelchair in three weeks.”

Logan and his dad went for “walks” around a grassy clearing at the rehabilitation center in Vancouver. Moe half-carried Logan and Logan dragged his leaden left leg.

Gradually, Logan began to regain feeling on his left side. The Beaulieus moved to Victoria, British Columbia, and Moe pushed Logan to run.

“If you’re physically fit and active, your mind kind of follows along,” explains Moe, as if it were obvious.

As Logan got fit, his mind did follow.

“Apart from the endorphins rush, running is great therapy in itself,” says Logan.

“It’s great for the mind, especially when I was going through school [after the accident] and found it difficult.”

Moe, who now organizes a series of ultra trail races, has completed nearly 100 ultras, but didn’t do his first until age 42.

Logan beat him by 21 years. Five years after his accident, he lapped a quartermile running track 401 times during the Sri Chinmoy 24-Hour Race in Victoria.

“I ran 401 laps in case there was a miscount,” Logan says. “I wanted to make sure I did 100 miles. It was something I could do, something I could be good at.”

Logan has completed more than 20 ultras since then. In summer 2005, he was second at the Keremeos Kruncher 50K in Keremeos, British Columbia, and third at the Lost Soul Ultra (100K) in Lethbridge, Alberta.

At the 2005 Canadian Death Race in Grand Cache, Alberta, he led for three legs before dropping—his first-ever DNF. He stopped 12 kilometers from the finish of the 125-kilometer race.

“I’d have done anything for a veggie burger or bologna sandwich,” he says.

After bouncing between odd jobs for years, Logan now wants to focus solely on running. He has launched a website (www.

Logansrun.ca), is seeking sponsors and may begin motivational speaking.

Logan, who now lives in Edmonton, Alberta, says he wants to help others who have suffered debilitating injury and battle the stigma of head trauma.

“I used to kind of hide from it,” he says. “I suppose I still do. It was when I was 16, and so much has happened in my recovery since then. It’s almost like it was a lifetime ago.

“People with head injuries go through depression and can easily turn to drugs or alcohol. I was fortunate to have my father as a role model and have strength inside.

I’d like to be a positive influence on other people. I want to make people feel better about themselves.”

■ 2006 MAY | TRAILRUNNERMAG.COM 29

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GREAT ESCAPES by CROCKER photographs

by CLIFFORD DAVID BRANSON byBRIDGET STEVE BENNETT

by DAVID »»photos

The author ponders his return to the masses via the George Washington Bridge, ending his 39-mile urban adventure.

Below: Savoring the loop’s last section of dirt on the Long Path.

Subway Loop WITH CAB FARE, A SUBWAY METROCARD AND TRAIL GEAR, A NEW YORKER FLEES THE CITY

New York City has many aliases—Big Apple, City that Never Sleeps, Capital of the World—but “Trail-Running Mecca” is not one of them. I moved here just as I swore off running on asphalt and concrete—an inauspicious clashing of my career and athletic goals.

After a few months, I discovered some trails around the city. There’s a loop in Central Park you can run until you’re dizzy or trampled by the crowds. Head over to Brooklyn for a handful of dirt routes in Prospect Park. Then, there are 30 TRAILRUNNERMAG.COM | MAY 2006

the paved “trails” (yes, I know) along the Hudson and East Rivers that begin to look awfully tempting. But none of these would occupy an entire day or be mistaken for epic.

I needed a long dirt-ridden escape that would shatter the claustrophobia of Manhattan living, and could be accessed (I had no car) using only that glorious and infuriating pinnacle of mass transit—the subway.

I concocted a plan: take the subway north from Manhattan to Van Cortland Park in the Bronx, run north to the Tappan Zee Bridge, cross to the town of Nyack, and then

I’m not pushing myself any harder.

There’s just less resistance.

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Damian Benegas tests himself and the new Flight Series™ Ascent gear on Mt. Whitney, California. Featuring apparel, shoes, and equipment, the Ascent ultralight system is perfect for moving fast and unencumbered across any terrain. Learn more at www.thenorthface.com/ascent.

Photos: Corey Rich.

» great escapes

Amid the hordes, Bennett begins his solitary outing from Grand Central Station.

TRAILHEAD

NEW YORK CITY’S SUBWAY LOOP

GETTING THERE The Subway Loop begins at Van Cortland Park in the Bronx, accessible by taking the 1 or 4 Train to its northern terminus. For the Long Path, take the A Train to 181st Street and head west across the George Washington Bridge (blazes begin immediately).

SEASONS This route is great spring through fall. Snow and ice can make the trails treacherous in winter, but they don’t close.

GUIDEBOOKS/INFORMATION New York City’s subway map helps in reaching the trailheads (www.mta.nyc.ny.us/nyct/maps/submap.htm). Van Cortland Park contains many trails, including the beginning of the Subway Loop. Maps of the OCA trail are available from the Friends of the Old Croton Aqueduct (www. aqueduct.org/index.html). The best source for Long Path info is the NY-NJ Trail Conference’s The Long Path Guide (www.nynjtc.org).

LODGING New York City has a huge array of pricey accommodations. Smaller towns on the route offer cheaper options. There isn’t any legal camping.

FOOD AND DRINK Towns along the OCA have restaurants and convenience stores. On the Long Path, Nyack is a great rest stop. Try Bunbury’s Coffee Shop in the town of Piermont (northeast of the trail on Piermont Avenue).

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run south along the Hudson to the George Washington Bridge and back into Manhattan. Total mileage would top 39 miles and I’d gain a hilly total of 6471 vertical feet.

The city’s 4 train grinds north through Manhattan and the Bronx before coming to a final stop at Woodlawn Cemetery and the edge of Van Cortland Park. The park itself has a network of paved and unpaved paths sprawled through 1146 acres. My target, the Old Croton Aqueduct (OCA) Trail, runs 26 miles north from New York City to the New Croton Reservoir. This mostly dirt trail sits atop a 19 th-century, bricklined tunnel that delivered water to the city for 113 years; parts of it are still in use.

The OCA leaves Van Cortland Park and enters Westchester County, crossing a few streets, some parks and one freeway before entering downtown Yonkers, a complicated place that could use a bit more civic pride. Parts of the Yonkers OCA cross through a dump, literally. A shredded piece of plastic catches my ankle above the shoe cuff and cuts through my sock but doesn’t break skin. I clamber up a hill of box springs, broken toys and please-let-itnot-be-human feces, and hit the pavement of downtown. After this short stretch, my feet return to a dirt path.

Heading to Tarrytown, 11 miles north, I fall into a pleasant rhythm on some flat, suburban trail, occasionally interrupted by quaint downtowns and dotted with a few otherworldly landmarks. Untermyer Park’s ornate, ivyswathed entrance is flanked by stone lions, horses and sphinxes. Several miles later, the trail crosses the gothic, Edward Gorey-style estate called Lyndhurst.

Tarrytown is a historic Hudson River town that is both a commuter community and a weekend destination. Here, the massive Tappan Zee Bridge crosses the river at its widest point, connecting Tarrytown and Nyack. This is also the location of the biggest flaw in my loop plan. The Tappan Zee doesn’t allow pedestrians. But there is a bus, albeit an infrequent one.

I had been monitoring my watch, but

great escapes «

Escaping New York City’s concrete jungle is easier than you think.

distances and arrival times are tough to estimate on a firsttime run. Reaching Tarrytown, my fears are confirmed—I’ve missed the bus by 15 minutes, a gap that is suspiciously close to the amount of time I hit my snooze alarm this morning.

Undeterred, I remember that this is the greater New York area, so I call a cab.

The cab deposits me near a Nyack strip mall, and I manage to find the trail, an unmarked little route that slips up a hill. This is the Long Path, an undulating singletrack trail marked by green blazes. Brilliant autumn forests of maples, oaks, birch and hickory escort me southward, back toward Manhattan.

The Long Path weaves through several parks, leapfrogging between major trails and lesser paths. Passing through Clausland Mountain Park, I’m so focused on the trail’s technical footing that I lose the blazes. I backtrack, and realize I missed a key turn.

With 20 miles behind me, I’m over half way. During these first 10 miles from Nyack, I pass three backpackers and a very large, very naked man who cavorted past me in a cemetery. He may have been wearing shoes, but I didn’t dare to check.

The path dips into the town of Piermont and soon crosses into New Jersey on a series of stone stairs improbably placed in the middle of the woods. Foot traffic and road crossings increase as I approach the George Washington Bridge and enjoy sprawling Hudson River views from atop sheer basalt cliffs. Over 22 million people live in the New York metro area, but I’m mostly alone, save for a probably drunk group of wellcoiffed bridesmaids giggling through a patch of poison ivy.

At about 38 miles, the Long Path ends and signals a sad return to concrete on the George Washington Bridge. My knees whisper a word of thanks as I slow to a walk and enter the closest subway station.

I sit down on the A train, back among the urban dwellers and declare the Subway Loop a success. I found solitude, scenery and dirt, just a Metrocard swipe away. As I return to the grid of streets, Manhattan’s skyscrapers are no less tall.

But now I can see the horizon beyond them more clearly. ■ 2006 MAY | TRAILRUNNERMAG.COM 33

TITLE BOUT AND IN THIS CORNER, WE HAVE

IN THIS CORNER, WE HAVE

Bernie Boettcher

Shayne Culpepper

43, TWO-TIME USATF MASTERS MOUNTAIN RUNNER OF THE YEAR, WHO WHIPS UP ON THE FIELD IN MOST TRAIL RACES

32, A TWO-TIME OLYMPIC ATHLETE AND ROAD RUNNER PAR EXCELLENCE

Photograpy by David Clifford

True or False?

Road runners are too focused on speed.

They are obsessed with split times and don’t stop to smell the roses.

Shayne Culpepper:

False. If a road runner or any distance runner focuses too much on speed, their career will be shortened by injury or burn-out. While road runners do focus more on times and splits, that doesn’t mean that they don’t or shouldn’t stop to smell the roses.

On the other hand, that does not mean you need to pack a picnic lunch on your next run.

True or False? Trail runners are hopeless romantics and aren’t as competitive as road runners. & BB: True AND False.

The hopeless romantic will dare to try the impossible.

The hopeful realist wishes him luck, but goes back to his steady job.

The hopeless romantic never gives up trying.

The hopeful realist, well, he tries, but knows when to quit.

I’d rather be a hopeless romantic. Trail running is a much more free-spirited interpretation of running than road running. The preoccupation with love, the celebration of nature, the often impractical desire to run in remote places that can flood your senses like a fine tequila … it’s all pretty romantic stuff.

As far as being competitive, trail runners ROCK! A strong desire to compete locally, nationally and globally has been the primary focus of many trail runners. In Europe, we are revered, and it’s finally catching

on in the U.S. The only thing we lack is an Olympic event.

V SC: The hopeless romantic will dare to try the impossible, and more often end up with a twisted ankle, or an afternoon lost in the woods with West Nile-biting mosquitoes.

The hopeful realist wishes him luck, and comes up with a meticulous training plan, more often resulting in success.

The hopeless romantic never gives up trying, and then wonders why he’s injured, and why his wife forgot his name.

The hopeful realist, he tries, but keeps running in perspective. He knows when to cut out those extra miles to maintain his health and sanity.

I am going with the hopeful realist. Plan and execute. Set the bar high, and rise to the occasion. Like collecting seashells, there is a reason trail running is not in the Olympics.

True or False? Trail runners are slow-footed plodders. & BB: True. Some trail run-

ners are slow-footed plodders,

Bernie Boettcher:

If you never run fast, you’ll never run fast. It’s the same for trails as it is for roads. I do most of my speedwork on trails, over varied terrain, through beautiful places.

I don’t need to stop to smell the roses. Trail running IS the roses.

The air may be thick with vapors from a waterfall, or musty from wet leaves, or sappy like a pine forest, or pungent with sage, or fishy along a lakeshore. It’s all a bouquet of roses to me.

because they spend too much time running on the road.

The ability to accelerate down rock-strewn trails comes from practicing on rock-strewn trails. Just because your ankles start looking more like a tree trunk than a twig doesn’t mean you’re slow. It means you’ve adapted to the terrain. It means you can run up a mountain, stand at the top of a scree-filled couloir, and smile at the prospect of descending faster than your state champion can run on the track.

There’s nothing more fun than leaving your road-running buddies in the dust when the terrain gets technical.

I’ve watched it happen. Some high-speed road runner shows up at a trail race and smokes the first mile, only to be seen later, bumbling through the boulders, and getting passed by guys who couldn’t come within four minutes of him in a road 10K. V SC: I agree with Bernie’s “true” response. Trail run-

ners are slow-footed plodders. Practice makes perfect, so the more slow-footed plodding you do, the better you are at it. But I would like to see an excellent slow-footed plodder (like Bernie perhaps) spend more time on the roads and track. Then when that road runner takes out that first mile, he could run with him, and then truly dust the competition on the technical parts and win by eight minutes instead of four.

Road runners receive more prize money and media recognition. Will this change?

V SC: Probably not. And

why should it? If trail runners don’t care when they get to the finish line, why should anyone else? & BB: Shame, shame!

Who’s been feeding you this nonsense about trail runners not caring how they finish? Nothing could be farther from the truth.

Competition can be fierce among top athletes. Estab-

lished trail races keep track of course records too, so you always have the opportunity to beat the clock.

The prize money in trail racing is horribly inadequate, but that’s never stopped runners from making it a race.

I admit to prostituting my running talents at road races just to earn enough money to pay for my trail-running habits. I’ve come in 20th at a road race and earned more money than first place on the trail. The thing is a lot of the runners ahead of me in a road race would show up behind me in a trail race.

Which is the tougher challenge: road marathons or trail marathons? & BB: No doubt, trail marathons. The

13-plus-mile, nearly 8000-foot climb up Pikes Peak makes Boston’s famous Heartbreak Hill look like a piddling speed bump on the way to the mall.

The Leadville Trail Marathon starts at 10,200 feet elevation and goes up from there! You’ll suck wind like a Hoover at a dust-bunny convention. If you live at sea level and want to know what it’s like, put a straw in your mouth and seal the rest of your mouth and nose with

duct tape. Then run the biggest hill you can find for 26.2 miles, after you’ve covered the road with gravel. Let me know if you think it’s tough.

V SC: I am far from a marathoner, but I do know a bit about them—my husband, Alan Culpepper, holds the American debut record for the marathon in 2:09:41.

While high-elevation trail marathons will work the lungs, have any of the entrants ever run one 4:55 mile? Now how about 26 in a row? I am going with the road marathon. Lungs and legs!

Can top road runners be competitive on the trails? & BB: Yes, but only if they’ve spent a

fair amount of time running trails or cross country. Road runners do very well running uphill, where speed and power counts, but struggle on rugged terrain and technical downhills where constant attention must be paid to trail detail. If you’re not used to it, your senses overload and you automatically power down like a fuse-box surge protector.

V SC: I will agree with this one—although most good road runners transition well to cross country. I imagine that with one or two trail runs

TALE OF “SMOKIN’” SHAYNE CULPEPPER Hometown: Lafayette, Colorado Age: 32 Height: 5'5" Racing Weight: 112 Peak training mileage: 65 mpw Specialty: Middle distance. Flat and (very) fast. Track and roads.

Top Races and KOs: • 2004 Olympic Trials 5K Champion (15:07) • Two-time Olympian • 2004 World Indoors 3K bronze medalist • Two-time U.S. Indoor 3K Champion • 800M PR of 2:02, 5K PR of 15:01

36 TRAILRUNNERMAG.COM | MAY 2005

per week, we could quickly transform a great road runner into a great trail runner.

True or False? By running endlessly on an unforgiving surface, road runners are trashing their bodies.

V SC: False. With the quality of run-

ning shoes these days, even the most inefficient runners—yes, even trail runners—can log time on the roads. “Trashing your body” comes from not taking care of other details, such as proper stretching, massage, hydration and replacing old footwear. All runners would benefit from varying their terrain, which strengthens muscle groups that their specialty does not always target. & BB: Many running-related knee and hip injuries can be traced back to repeated running on hard surfaces.

Shayne offers some good suggestions to help mitigate road-based injuries.

Warming up before you run with some simple exercises is another good way to prevent injury. If you don’t have time for that, make sure you run your first two miles slowly.

But, quite often, you can eliminate all those inherent road-running problems by simply switching to softer surfaces.

That way you can trash your body in new and exciting ways, like twisting your ankles, falling on pointy rocks and getting whipped by low-hanging branches.

What’s with the skimpy outfits that road runners wear (e.g. the side-split shorts, tiny singlets, etc.)?

V SC: In an effort to cross the line

first, a lighter load (less clothes) leads to less effort, and thus faster running.

Do trail runner’s actually race in those backpacks? What is in there anyway? I

can see some water bottles around the belt, but if I were a trail runner, I would consider tossing the entire set-up as soon as I was done drinking. & BB: Most road races are fully supported, with stocked aid stations every couple miles.

Trail runners often travel 10 or 20 miles without any kind of support, for training runs and races. This can mean being out there alone for several hours.

If you don’t take food and drink with you, you do without. I’ve done some trail races where the temperature

THE TAPE “KILLER B” BERNIE BOETTCHER

Hometown: Silt, Colorado Age: 43 Height: 5'11" Racing Weight: 148 Peak training mileage: 116 mpw Specialty: Runs weekly races (60 of them in 2006) and wins a majority of them. A technical, downhill trail-running ace.

Top Races and KOs: • 2003, 2005 USATF Masters Mountain Runner of the Year.

• 2003, 2004, 2005 North American Masters Snowshoe Champion • 2004, 2005 Trail Runner Trophy Series Masters Champion • 2003 USATF Masters 10K Trail Champion • 2004 Colorado USATF Masters Marathon Trail Champion 2006 MAY | TRAILRUNNERMAG.COM 37

Even roadsters venture off road— nearly half of Olympian Shayne Culpepper’s weekly runs are on dirt.

Here, she enjoys the Red Rocks Trail above Boulder, Colorado.

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dropped over 30 degrees from the base of a mountain to the top. It only takes one freak blizzard at 14,000 feet to cure you of the notion that a hat, gloves and windbreaker are “too heavy” to take along. In shorter trail races, no one bothers with all that stuff. Light is in.

Skimpy doesn’t offer much protection from the elements.

And, “tossing” your gear or wrappers is littering, unless you plan to come back for it later.

Who’s sexier? & BB: Trail runners are sex-

At the 2005 10K National Trail Championships, the winning time was 46:41, a snail’s pace by road standards. It doesn’t matter. We lined up in the mud and snow to answer one simple question, “Who can finish first?”

The winner (Matt Carpenter) might’ve looked a bit eccentric with his long hair slapping his shoulders, but he had one intent: to win. If there are any road run-

didn’t have roads and tracks. I don’t think they had much of a time concept either, much less watches. Running was a survival skill, for hunting, fleeing, gathering information and communicating with others. It was done on trails that eventually became roads.

Road running, and particularly track running, is modern man’s way of reducing the sport to it’s lowest common denominator, running on a flat surface against time. It’s like greyhounds chasing a motorized plastic bunny around an oval compared to wolves chasing a snowshoe hare through the forest.

The romance of the trail soothes the soul and puts a smile on your face. And since most sexual liaisons begin with a smile ...

ier, but it has little to do with looks. There are obviously many good-looking athletes in both sports. Most runners have great bodies, but sexy is as sexy does. Trail runners tend to be far more content, happier runners than road runners, who practice in a more neurotic environment. Running around in circles on a track against a stopwatch, or on congested roads is far more stressful than gliding down a forest trail ending at a mountain lake. The romance of the trail soothes the soul and puts a smile on your face. And since most sexual liaisons begin with a smile ... well, you do the math.

V SC: If it all starts with a smile, check out the smiles on the face of a track athlete the next time they make their first Olympic team, set a personal best or win a medal at the World Championships ... elation!

well, you do the math.

Who is more eccentric and free-spirited?

V SC: I would have to say that the

trail runner’s are more on the eccentric and free-spirited side. Anyone who can run without much care for the time or distance must be pretty freespirited. Racing on the roads has more of a clear objective—get to the finish line fast and first. & BB: There can only be one winner in any given race, be it road or trail.

Second place is reserved for “the first loser” in either discipline. It’s wrong to underestimate the competitive nature of trail racers. We train and compete to win. It’s just that our courses are determined by the length of a trail or the height of a mountain.

ners who think that they can beat Matt or women’s champion Anna Pichrtova, well, I dare you to come to the 10K Trail Championship in Vail, Colorado on June 3. I could use a good laugh.

Why run roads?

V SC: Run roads because you can

pretty much do it anywhere! If you get too caught up on only being on trails, you may find yourself having to skip a run or two the next time you take a vacation or visit a city. & BB: Yeah, we’re well on our way to paving paradise. Roads can be found anywhere. It’s too bad so many people seem to think this is a good thing.

I’ve never taken a vacation to a place where I couldn’t find a trail to run. And I don’t call it a vacation if the place doesn’t have trails. I usually leave before there’s no other choice but to run on a smoggy roadway.

Which is the purest form of running?

V SC: Road running and track. The

marathon and track and field date back to the first Olympic Games. While these events were contested on a dirt surface, I am sure that they did not intentionally place trees, or streams in their paths.

If paved roads and tartan tracks were available at the time, it seems to me they would have opted to use them. & BB: Trail running. Our ancestors

What is your favorite run (road or trail) and why?

V SC: I have to be honest—

my favorite run is South Boulder Trail in Boulder, Colorado. I run there probably five of my 11 weekly runs. I love it because it is soft, well groomed, flat and beautiful. I use this trail for everything: long runs, tempos runs and even light speed sessions such as one-minute pushes. Also, it is close to some of my road loops, so often I warm up and cool down on the trail, and do some workouts on the roads. & BB: I knew there was something I liked about you. My favorite run is a trail, too, but I have to take a road to get there. I never tell anyone where it is because I like never seeing another person on it.

Why run trails? & BB: Trail running makes a good

life better. Dashing about in the wild brings forth cheerfulness and confidence. Movement through fine landscapes expanding before us invigorates body and spirit. It feeds the infinite desire for exploration and soothes the soul with the sights, scents and sounds of nature’s beauty.

V SC: Run trails to have a nice soft surface to recover on before your next hard session. Sure, enjoy the trail: running slow, the sights and smells of nature.

And make sure you go easy enough to recover for the next day’s track session of 15 x 400-meter at race pace. You can have it all!

■ 2006 MAY | TRAILRUNNERMAG.COM 39

Bend, Oregon, is like one of those privileged kids you knew in high school—really cool, attractive, smart and nice to everyone. Like that kid, Bend has it all. Varied trails, with rolling hills, ridges, canyons, mountains, singletrack and forest roads. Off-trail it has a vibrant town center, good food, art galleries and coffee houses. Bend is attractive to everybody—from the hard-core to the casual runner—but the rule here is: you

Around

Bend gotta be nice.

By Katrina Hays • Photography by Colin Meagher

Rock On 2005 Trail Runner Trophy Series Ultra Division Champ, Kami Semick, enjoys a jaunt at Smith Rock, Oregon.

Sweetly Soft Cush old-growth-pine needles offer padding for Sean Meissner on the convenient Shevlin Park trails.

Carbo Reloading When the run is over, it’s time to head to the Deschutes Brewery for some local flavors.

t’s just before noon on Wednesday, and time for the FootZone mid-week trail run. Trouble is, it just started snowing, and it’s not just flurries. These snowflakes are the size of softballs.

“We may not get too many folks today,” says store manager, Dave Thomason, wandering by with an armful of shoeboxes.

“Better day for Nordic skiing. But we’ll get a few.”

In downtown Bend, FootZone is Central Oregon’s running store. The 10-year-old shop is located in the historic Tower Theatre building, and has rough, old brick walls, bright pinewood floors and the mouth-watering, tangy smell of new shoes. Snazzy silky boxers strut their stuff next to more demure “Life is Good” T-shirts, and racks of Sugoi and Sporthill clothing meander down the center of the store.

Sean Meissner blows in, shaking off the snow. Meissner, 32, is an ultrarunner from nearby Sisters, a town 20 miles to the northwest. He swipes a sleeve across his face.

“Wow, look at this color,” he says, heading straight for the wall of shoes, and picking up a screaming orange and red number. “It’s like the attack of the colored shoe.” He puts the shoe back and squeaks off to the solo dressing room to quickly change into his running clothes.

Chris Kraybill arrives, covered in wet snow, and receives much ribbing about his newly shaven face.

White Lines Winter is no reason to hang up your trail shoes in Bend.

“You look twenty years younger,” teases Ellen Welcker, one of the FootZone staff. Welcker ran last night at 11 p.m., so she’s content to stay in the shop away from the whiteout outside.

“I got a job,” says Kraybill, rubbing his jaw. He shrugs and tosses his keys behind the counter.

Storeowner Teague Hatfield is leading the run today. He pulls on a black polypro cap and calls out, “Hey, have you heard we’re putting on a dirt series this year? We’re adding a race in September, called the Dirty Dozen.”

“Excellent,” says Meissner, who puts on the Peterson Ridge Rumble, a 30K or 60K trail race held in early April. “That’ll round things out.”

The three men bounce on their toes for a second, pulling on light gloves, and then they’re gone, trotting out the back of the store and into the snow to cruise the six-mile Footbridge Loop along the Deschutes River.

VARIETY IS THE SPICE

It’s a Blur Meissner pounds out a quick loop just minutes from downtown.

E Trailhead BEND, OREGON GETTING THERE. Bend is located in the center of Oregon on U.S. 97. Alaska Airlines and United Airlines fly into Roberts Air Field in Redmond, 15 miles north of Bend.

SEASONS. Year-round, but in late summer and fall the glorious high country is free from snow and open to trail running.

ACCOMMODATIONS. Bend has lodgings ranging from bed-andbreakfast inns to lodges to Motel 6. RV and camping sites are available during the summer and fall months. The Bend Visitor and Convention Bureau Web site has a good listing of lodgings: www. visitbend.com.

OTHER STUFF. Bike rentals: Sunnyside Sports: www.sunnysidesports.com; whitewater rafting: Sun Country Tours: www.suncountrytours.com; guided outdoor activity tours: Wanderlust Tours: www.wanderlusttours.com.

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In Bend, trail running isn’t some trendy sport. It’s simply what you do. Athletes of all stripes, interests, intentions and abilities run trails here, because the trails are literally right on the doorstep. And once you take a look around, there’s no reason to run anywhere else.

The town lies between the forested eastern flank of the Cascade Range and the vast Central Oregon desert. At 3629 feet, Bend sits in an area known as the “high desert,” for its juniper-and-sage vegetation and sunny, dry climate. The town typically gets over 300 days of sunshine a year and just 12 inches of rain, but the Deschutes River and smaller creeks that pour out of the mountains and into town prevent the area from feeling too arid.

It is precisely this physical variety that makes Bend so blessed for the trail runner. Central Oregon has year-round access to trails—in the winter runners head east into the Badlands for miles of rolling, snow-free desert running amidst bitterbrush and ancient juniper trees. To the north, Smith Rock State Park juts massively upward in red-rocked splendor. This famous climber’s destination also offers winter running par excellence, with trails that have plenty of vertical for relatively snow-free, early season training.

In the mid-season—late March to July—runners hit the River Trail and wind along the Deschutes River through lava flows, meadows and trees. It’s easy to head up into the Forest Service lands to the immediate west of town and run in second-growth forests along old logging roads. And in the late summer and fall, the glorious high country opens up, allowing runners to take advantage of endless high-altitude runs where the mountains loom overhead.

PRIVILEGED PEOPLE “We’re really spoiled,” says Roger Daniels. Daniels, 69, is a trailrunning fixture in town. He usually leads the CORK (Central Oregon Running Klub) Saturday morning runs, which are almost always run on trails. Daniels holds five sub-24-hour buckles from the Western States 100, and is an age-group regional and national champion in 50-milers. A wiry, white-haired man who runs with his arms straight down by his sides (the most distinctive running style in Bend), Daniels is understated, gentle, fiercely competitive and about as nice as the day is long.

“I have a philosophy,” says Daniels. “Time spent running on trails is not subtracted from your life span.”

Daniels exemplifies Bend trail runners. He’s nice. Not fake, nam-

Take Me to the River Kristin Jossi and Gina Miller soaking in the diverse River Trail, which follows the serene Deschutes River for 30 miles.

E

Rave Runs

SHEVLIN PARK LOOP This is the classic, after-work or lunch-break run in Bend.

Shevlin Park is a 650-acre parcel located just five minutes from downtown. The 4.8-mile, moderately difficult run is a scenic singletrack loop that winds through an old-growth preserve.

THE RIVER TRAIL Bend’s signature trail goes for 30 miles along the Deschutes River to the town of Benham Falls, offering spectacular scenery, from lava flows to aspen groves and pristine meadows. It is easy to break up this trail into smaller chunks, or loop away from the river onto Forest Service lands along old logging roads. The River Trail is moderately difficult, and not terribly technical.

GREEN LAKES LOOP The must-do late summer-fall run in Central Oregon. Green Lakes takes you from the Green Lakes Trailhead, along the massive flank of the South Sister, past the Green Lakes, and along the wide-open high valley below Broken Top Mountain. The entire 12-mile run is a breathtaking example of mountain running. While it is not super technical, most of the run takes place above 6000 feet with typical mountain sudden weather changes.

SMITH ROCK Smith Rock State Park is located about 25 miles north of Bend on U.S. 97.

Known for its world-class rock climbing, Smith Rock also offers some strenuous, technical trail running with jaw-dropping views of the mountains and high desert. Consider tackling Misery Ridge, or the 11.4-mile Burma Road loop.

TUMALO CREEK Located 10 miles up Skyliners Road west from Bend, the Tumalo Creek Trail takes runners up past several beautiful waterfalls. This trail links to several other trails that wind through forest, past high lakes and along mountain ridges. The basic Tumalo Creek run is an easy seven-mile out-and-back, but other loops can add technical, strenuous sections to a run.

MUST-HAVE MAP OF ALL THE LOCAL TRAILS Mountain Biking and Cross-Country Skiing Map of Central Oregon. Available at local running and biking stores, or online at www.adventuremaps.net.

by-pamby nice, but genuinely friendly. When a newbie showed up to BOOM TOWN a Saturday CORK run worried about whether she’d be able to find Bend is undergoing a population explosion. Six years ago, the her way back by herself, Rogers patted her shoulder and said, “We inhabitants numbered around 38,000. Now, due to a recent andon’t leave anyone out there to die. Don’t worry!” And he proceeded nexation of formerly outlying areas, and a huge influx of people to introduce her to another runner with a similar pace. who have moved here for the lifestyle, the population is 70,000 This is something that is a constant in the runners in the area— and climbing fast. For the most part, people who move here slip people have time for a friendly nod and smile on the trail. They will easily into the area’s relaxed vibe, but there are the oddball athpause to pet your dog and ask how you are—and not bother to stop letes who feel it’s more important to maintain a heart rate than to the time on their stopwatch. This friendliness makes Bend so acces- offer a smile. Central Oregon’s trails do a great deal to soothe the sible. It is also prized by the locals. inappropriately competitive breast, but make no mistake—don’t Munching on a cookie and downing some tea at Nancy P’s Bakery think Bend is a playground for runners who aren’t serious about on one of those crisp fall days, when the air around Bend seems to their running. glow with energy, FootZone manager Dave Thomason is blunt.

The area boasts a huge number of competitive athletes—from “You gotta be nice here,” he says. “If you’re a jerk, it’s gonna come Olympians to age-group champions to recreational racers. Peoback at you, and everybody will know.” ple train rigorously here, and the town has a fleet of physical Thomason, 32, is a lanky guy, with an enviable stride that therapists, clinics and personal trainers to he makes light of (“Hey, if you’re gonna be slow, you better be ease the athlete’s way along the trail efficient”). to individual greatness.

Tracy Bahr, another FootZone employee, wanders by with her “Whether it’s walking the “I have a own cookie and mug. Bahr has an understated, sunny personality, dog, or doing a hard-core philosophy,” and she just happens to be one of the top female ultrarunners in the training session, the trails says Daniels.

West. Bahr holds the course record for the Smuggler’s 50-Mile, was are where we go,” says Jusfifth overall in the 2003 Badwater 135 and has a PR of 23:13:30 for tin Wadsworth, a three“Time spent running 100 miles. time Olympic Nordic on trails is not “You talkin’ about some of those new people?” she asks. “Tell you skier. He is the director subtracted from what, we’re gonna kill them with kindness. They’ll have to succumb of Rebound Physiyour life span.” to our friendliness.” cal Therapy in They both laugh.

Bend, and no (continued on page 58) 2006 MAY | TRAILRUNNERMAG.COM 45

Topher Gaylord climbs a stairway to heaven above the Vallee Blanche, Chamonix, France.

PHOTOGRAPH BY SCOTT MARKEWITZ

“The goal of life is living in agreement with nature.”

—Zeno (335 BC to 264 BC)

IT’S EASY! JUST FINISH ANY TROPHY SERIES RACE AND YOU

2 0 0 6

T R O P H Y

S E R I E S

ARE ENTERED IN THE 2006 TRAIL RUNNER TROPHY SERIES. 8WHAT a points series of 114 trail races, including two divisions: Marathon and Under, and Ultra.

8WHO anyone is eligible. Just finish a TROPHY SERIES race, and you’re automatically entered. Win bonus points for finishing top three.

8WHEN all races take place between March 1 and September 30, 2006.

8WHERE TROPHY SERIES races dot the United States

and Canada, from coast to coast (see page 60 for listing).

See page 60 for a listing of all 2006 Trophy Series races.

Visit: www.trailrunnermag.com for details and updates.

SUPPORTING SPONSORS

18 CHAMPIONS

WILL RECEIVE A PRIZE

PACKAGE VALUED AT

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INCLUDES OVERALL AND AG E - G RO U P WI N N E R S

TR A I L T E S T E D SPRING SHOE

REVIEW PUTTING SPRING

IN YOUR STEPS Float over fertile ground with trail running’s latest lightweight crop

By Garett Graubins Photos by David Clifford

It’s time for spring cleaning. Toss your browning, abused trail kicks onto the compost heap, and start your search for a new shoe right here, where a garden-full of shoes will breathe life into your stale legs. These shoes have the wispiness of spring seasonals cross-pollinated with the durability of bamboo and comforting nature of aloe.

This crop also promises to help trail runners tread more lightly on the Earth. The average shoe weight comes to 12.9 ounces (for a men’s size 9.5), compared to 13.2 ounces for Trail Runner’s 2005 spring and fall reviews. But the lighter weight doesn’t mean that runners are sacrificing comfort; this review sported some of the best-cushioned models ever.

Ultimately, the goal of trail shoes is to help runners of all shapes, sizes and species to perform to the best of their ability on a range of surfaces, from gravel paths to cushy flower beds.

To that end, it’s vital to find a shoe that suits you best, and we encourage you to read the sidebar on page 54 for tips on fit. It’s a jungle out there.

(All shoe weights apply to men’s size 9.5) We would like to thank Jerome Osentowski of the Central Rocky Mountain Permaculture Institute (www.crmpi.org) for allowing us the use of his energyself-reliant greenhouse to photograph this season’s shoes.

50 TRAILRUNNERMAG.COM | MAY 2006

ADIDAS CARDRONA, 12.5 OZ., $85 www.thestore.adidas.com Final Word: Practically amphibious. The Cardrona gulps water and promptly expels it, thanks to the upper’s

open-mesh construction. A semi-stiff last lets you feel the trail, but also protects. It’s a good fit, too, as the trademark three Adidas stripes clamp softly around the sides. The thin laces may create pressure points. Dust and dirt will slip through the mesh upper in arid conditions, so don’t wear white socks.

Running in this breezy model was like lounging on a screened-in porch. Best for neutral striders pounding non-technical trails and fire roads. Performed shockingly well in mud.

Tester-monial: “I hadn’t worn such grippy or brightly colored shoes since my wayward days spent as a college sprinter.”

—Bryon Powell, Arlington, VA

TIKKA PLUS - NOW 80% BRIGHTER Revolutionary LED technology lets you switch on the high beams. These next generation LEDs represent a dramatic advancement in lighting, giving Petzl headlamps 80% greater brightness than any other headlamp in their class and 20% longer burn times. The “New LED technology” label is your guarantee of enjoying the benefits of this breakthrough in LED efficiency – look for it now because you never know when you might get stuck in the dark.

www.petzl.com

» trail tested MULTIPURPOSE TRAINER

ASICS GEL-EAGLE TRAIL V, 14.3 OZ., $100 www.asicsamerica.com Final Word: What does the Trail V do? Anything it wants. It’s a tough

number, with bulging muscles and sharp teeth. A flexible sole lets the foot adjust itself to uneven terrain, and helps the shoe run lighter than its weight. The heel and the forefoot are decoupled, allowing the front and rear of the foot to adjust to the trail independently. The water-resistant upper still breathes well, and the gusseted tongue provides a clean fit and debris-free running. Overall, it’s tough to find a more aggressive shoe that still manages to coddle the foot. We just wish it were slightly lighter.

Tester-monial: “This is the best trail shoe I have ever run in. It simply fit so well and I truly felt ‘one’ with the trail. It enhanced my confidence in running trails.” —Lin Gentling, Rochester, MN

6 HELLY HANSEN JUELL, 13.9 OZ., $95 www.hellyhansen.com

Final Word: A light-duty, low-mileage model that can roll through forgiving, loamy paths or gravel roads. A rubbery midsole provided abundant midfoot flex, and a stiff forefoot plate offered solid protection but also seemed to interrupt the stride cycle. Urbanites will appreciate the Juell’s accents and style, making for a seamless transition from the easy morning jog to the corner bagel shop.

Honeycomb mesh panels keep the shoe breathable.

Tester-monial: “This shoe would perform best at short distances.

The underfoot protection is great; you cannot feel rocks or roots.”

—Andrea Smythe, Cary, NC

INOV-8 ROCLITE 315, 10.9 OZ., $90 www.inov-8.com Final Word: Huh? A bomber shoe that weighs less than 11 ounces? Yes, they’ve done it. With far more support than traditional inov-8s, which have become lean favorites of mountain-running speedsters, the Roclite 315 is an effective blend of protection (synthetic suede surrounds the foot and a reinforced toe bumper defends your toes), support (including a flexible, reinforced arch) and freedom of movement (witness the supple forefoot that allows a pebbleby-pebble feel for the trail). Best for medium-volume feet. We recommend buying one half size smaller than normal. Tends to hold water.

Tester-monial: “Inov-8 nailed it with the Roclite 315.

At under 11 ounces, it is a nimble yet burly little number.”

—Michael Benge, Carbondale, CO

52 TRAILRUNNERMAG.COM | MAY 2006

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» trail tested

MERRELL OVERDRIVE, 12.7 OZ., $90 www.merrell.com Final Word: A breakthrough hit from Merrell. Testers raved about the shoe’s comfortable fit (“… like wearing another pair of socks,” said one) and snug lacing system (a cinch strap that pulls together a soft, protective exoskeleton). The forefoot is soft—but still authoritative enough to handle rocky trails, thanks to a Vibram sole. The Overdrive gently ushers the foot from heel landing to toe-off like a road shoe, and even handled pavement with aplomb. Neutral striders should seriously consider this model.

Tester-monial: “On the trail, they feel light and springy, and I was shocked at how well they handled while running up boulders.”

—Beth Kehler, Charlottesville, VA

Shoe Savvy Heed these pointers and find the right fit

By Adam Kelinson If a shoe does not fit correctly, even the most technological bells, whistles, straps and snaps won’t guarantee anything— except sore feet. It is difficult to provide a single method of finding the right fit, but there is one iron-clad guideline that all foot professionals espouse.

“Make sure that you are fitted by someone who understands the biomechanics of feet,” says Karen Schwartz, a Certified Pedorthist and owner of Sage to Summit, a running store in Bishop, California.

Trail Runner spoke with Schwartz and Dr. Ray McClanahan, a sports podiatrist and duathlete in Portland, Oregon, to compile the following guidelines for savvy shoppers:

KEEN OCHOCO, 13.1 OZ., $110 www.keenfootwear.com Final Word: At first, the askew lacing system is trippy (i.e. “Am I wearing them on the wrong feet?”). But we loved it on longer runs, because it keeps blister-causing pressure far from the toes. The wide-platformed Ochoco exudes luxury and runs with gusto.

A gumby-like, flexible forefoot lets your feet do the work—just what nature meant.

The shoe also absorbed heel shock like a pillow and repelled big debris with its rugged toe box. An extra deep heel stabilized each foot strike. The material covering the “quilted” instep fabric raised some questions about durability on ultra-rocky runs.

Tester-monial: “If you took your favorite running shoes, made the tread more aggressive, added a large toe box and bumper, and then the comfort of your bedroom slippers, you would end up with the Ochoco.”

—John Hayward, Annapolis, MD

• Purchase shoes in the evening or post-run to ensure a proper fit. Feet tend to swell during runs and throughout the course of the day.

• Make sure you have a snug heel and instep and that there is plenty of wiggle room for your toes. There should be about one half inch from the end of your longest toe (not necessarily your big toe) to the end of the shoe.

• Measure your foot for both length and width—not only the length from heel to toe, but also the length of the arch from the heel to the front of the shoe. Arch lengths vary from runner to runner, and your arch may not fit the manufacturer’s construction.

• A good running shoe should bend easily at the ball of the foot.

(Continued on page 56)

54 TRAILRUNNERMAG.COM | MAY 2006

trail tested «

4LAFUMA

ACTIVE TRAIL MESH, 13.8 OZ., $80 www.lafumausa.com Final Word:A trimmer version of Lafuma’s 2005 debut and a sleeper favorite of the review. A single-sock, bootie design, webbed-lacing system and double pulltab tightener contribute to a close fit. The relatively high ankle cuff gives added support, making this a viable consideration for adventure racing and fastpacking, too. Excels in rugged terrain and runs lighter than its weight. Does not drain well, despite its breathable mesh upper. Testers felt the lacing system stowaway system needed improvements (“It could snag on debris on the trail,” said one tester).

3MIZUNO

WAVE ASCEND, 12.8 OZ., $85 www.mizunousa.com

Tester-monial: “I like this shoe because it’s good at controlling pronation. I’ve had pain around the ball of my foot that went away when I began wearing the Waves.”

—Lisa Demoney, Oakland, CA

Final Word: Comfortable, lightweight and sleek trail shoe with the comfort of a road model. The heel absorbs and disperses shock well and transitions to soft landings on the forefoot, with medium flex at the ball of the foot before toe-off. The mesh upper breathes well, but the shoe could drain better. Abrasion-resistant bumpers encircle and shield the foot. A semicurved last delivers added stability and confidence when the trail decides to test you.

Tester-monial: “I was skeptical when I opened the box, but after my first run, I was a believer. They were comfortable and performed wonderfully.”

—Richard Patch, Washington, DC

3MONTRAIL

HIGHLANDER, 12.6 OZ., $85 www.montrail.com Final Word: Montrail ventures in a new direction with the Highlander, modeling it after a traditional British fell-running shoe, with a close-to-the-ground platform and sleek, simplistic fit. Semi-flexible forefoot is stiffer than classic fells, and more supportive. Luggy, cleat-like tread pierces muddy, moist or spongy surfaces and delivers traction for a speed-generating toe-off. Not meant for Montrail loyalists craving stiffer support. The Highlander lets your foot do the work, meaning neutral striders will like it.

4NEW BALANCE 809, 14.6 OZ., $85 www.newbalance.com

Tester-monial: “Strapped into the Highlander, I channeled my inner speed demon on some wet trails, and the tread snarled and gnashed its teeth. What’s more, the shoe’s still flexy enough for non-techie paths.”

—Garett Graubins, Carbondale, CO

Final Word: If Conan the Barbarian ran trails, he would wear this muscular shoe. There is extra support and reinforcement all around—in the shoelace eyelets, the heel cup, and around the entire toe box (a synthetic suede that effectively deflects debris). But there’s some tender love here, too. The heel absorbs shock better than most models reviewed and the forefoot felt supple and cushiony. The tread is not overly aggressive, either, and transitioned surprisingly well from gravel surfaces to more technical singletrack. Not ideal for Conan’s shorter, smaller-boned brother, Felix the Barbarian, or speedsters looking to hammer 5:30 miles on the homestretch.

Tester-monial: “A workhorse training shoe that is comfortable right out of the box. Consider adding this shoe to your stable if you like galloping on muddy trails.”

—Rachel Landon, Portland, OR

2006 MAY | TRAILRUNNERMAG.COM 55

» trail tested (Continued from page 54)

NIKE AIR ZOOM KYOTEE 11.8 OZ., $90 www.nikerunning.com Final Word: Maximum support at a magically paltry weight. Unisock construction (a bootie) means a cushioned, glove-like fit. Aggressive, oversized lugs perform like claws on lateral moves. Testers loved the sweetly smooth heel-to-toe roll via the rocker-shaped last and flexible forefoot. Shoe could use a bit more ventilation; it dried slowly. We just want to know how they made it so lightweight!

Tester-monial: “Well-cushioned and comfortable enough that I didn’t need to break them in before I took them on a four-hour jaunt.”

—Don Messenger, Sammamish, WA

INNOVATIVE, LIGHT & FAST

PUMA TRAILFOX 10.3 OZ., $100 www.pumarunning.com Final Word: The Ferrari of the ’06 crop, the

Trailfox puts the pedal to the metal, proving that featherweight shoes can provide support and performance. The lycra singlesock construction and gusseted tongue held debris at bay and delivered the comfort of a cushiony (but unsoiled) diaper. And the upper actually feels like a diaper—a waterresistant ripstop softshell material that proved plenty durable. The Trailfox adapts beautifully to all of Mother Nature’s moods.

Curved last may not suit larger runners; it’s best for narrow- to medium-width, low-volume feet. Try on before you buy.

Tester-monial: “The stylish Trailfox is all about low profile and the performance that comes with close-to-the-ground agility. The midsole has just the right amount of cushion and protection without forfeiting feel for the trail, and it’s as fast and light as it looks.”

—Adam Chase, Boulder, CO

56 TRAILRUNNERMAG.COM | MAY 2006

Style vs.

Substance McClanahan also points out that proper shoe fitting is greatly hindered by some companies’ occasional focus on fashion over function, and identifies the following construction and design flaws:

• Tapering Toe Boxes Some toe boxes taper so abruptly that they compress the toes together. “There is no scientific evidence that indicates that a tapering toe box has any biomechanical advantage,” says McClanahan. “Our toes play an extremely important role in our sense of balance—especially when trail running.” How to tell: remove the shoe’s insoles and stand on them, with socks that you intend to wear while running.

Spread your toes apart. No part of your foot should extend beyond the insole.

• Toe Spring The shoe’s toebox is sometimes elevated so far above the ground that it creates uneven distribution of force, or pulling between the tendons on the top and bottom of the foot. As a result the top tendons are stronger than those on the bottom. This—along with heel elevation and tapering a toebox—may create toe deformities (known as “hammer toes”). This leads to unnatural compensation by leg muscles and subsequent biomechanical problems.

• Heel Elevation Look out for a shoe heel that is elevated above the ground. This can contribute to problems similar to those caused by an elevated toe box (see above).

• Keeping a low profile Paul Langer, a podiatrist and running-store owner from Minneapolis, Minnesota, notes, “The foot has better proprioception [the process by which the foot’s tendons and muscles quickly adapt to changing terrain] and stability if it remains closer to the ground. Elevating the foot from the ground increases the risk of ankle sprains and makes the foot less able to adapt to uneven terrain.”

trail tested «

3SALOMON

TRAIL COMP SCS 11.5 OZ., $90 www.salomonsports.com Final Word: A seismic shift from previous Salomon mod-

els—and lighter than 2005’s GCS Pro by three ounces.

Supreme cushioning around the ankle cuff and tongue means unrivaled comfort. The layered mesh upper breathed well and drained like a sieve. Moderate stiffness on a semi-curved last makes this a good choice for a neutral strider. The SCS rocked on drier surfaces—both smooth and technical—but the tread pattern slipped a bit when conditions deteriorated. Testers loved the back-to-basics lacing system that allowed a customizable fit.

4THE NORTH FACE ENDURUS XCR BOA 14.8 OZ., $130 www.thenorthface.com

Tester-monial: “The SCS is one of the most comfortable, lightweight trail runners I’ve ever put on my feet. I give it a strong endorsement for anybody who runs dry, hilly, dirt trails.” —Signy Judd, Berkeley, CA

Final Word: Godzilla goes high tech with this hefty, hardhitting number. A rugged outsole and aggressive tread trounces all trails, while the innovative Boa lacing system (a network of thin cord laces tightens and locks with the rotation of a dial, located above the heel) secures the foot.

Petite striders may not need this much brawn, and some testers commented that the Boa system tended to pinch on the top of the foot.

Tester-monial: “Sturdy, roomy and orthoticfriendly, with a funky lacing system that is ready for take-off.”

—Elizabeth Everly, Phoenix, AZ

3TIMBERLAND

ENDURION W/ GORETEX XCR 13.6 OZ., $110 www.timberland.com Final Word: The Endurion melds style and light-duty per-

formance into this lightweight, waterproof model. Heel “seatbelt” integrates with the lacing system to give that locked-and-loaded feeling when heading out the door.

The rigid midsole is an impenetrable shield, and consequently very stiff. Testers had to muscle up just to deliver the manual flex test. The shallow, waffle tread had a gluelike grip on dry or semi-tacky surfaces, but turned slick in monsoon conditions and loose gravel. Fashion plates will like the meticulous upper pattern and accents.

4VASQUE BLUR 12.9 OZ., $85 www.vasque.com

Tester-monial: “This is a ‘storm’ shoe—great for all weather-related conditions, while staying light and fast. I felt as light-footed as a deer I saw bounding through some trees.” —Terry Foust, Kaysville, UT

Final Word: Behold the archetypal Vasque design: high ankle cuff for added support, mid-foot stabilization and a rocker footbed that delivers seamless heel-to-toe strides. Mid-range stiffness means that trail pounders will feel the trail, but never wince from stingers. A Vasque Ultrarunning Team favorite. Synthetic suede upper and exoskeleton provided a pleasantly snug fit, but also held moisture more than some other upper materials. Overall, the Blur gets comfort points on the trails and panache points at the café.

■

Tester-monial: “This shoe was more flexible and lightweight than other trail runners I’ve tried. It felt good on all surfaces, including roads and urban trails.”

—Ann Heaslett, Madison, WI

2006 MAY | TRAILRUNNERMAG.COM 57

adventure oregon » bend, Getting Loopy The River Trail offers a plethora of loop options, from short to mammoth.

(continued from page 45) slouch when it comes to trail running.

High-volume, high-altitude off-season running is the bailiwick of any Nordic skier, and Wadsworth mentions one of his favorite training jaunts, the “Three Sisters in a Day” run.

The Three Sisters—named Hope, Faith and Charity—tower just behind Bend in the Cascade Range. Each peak is over 10,000 feet high, and each base sits at around 6200 feet. Running them is a decent trot for anyone, and if that’s not enough, you can throw in a jog to the top of Mount Bachelor—a mere 9065-foot volcanic butte—for a little extra vertical.

But it’s not the gnarly, over-the-top type of trail running that is the heart and soul of Bend’s trail scene. It’s the river. The Deschutes River runs through the center of Bend, and many years ago the Bend Metro Park and Recreation District had the good sense to create a trail system that follows the water. Now, it’s possible to run along the Deschutes for 30 miles, through gorgeous canyons, aspen forests and lovely meadows. The River Trail is where runners often end up, heading back into town after run-

ning in the enormous Forest Service lands that sprawl along the western side of town. And soaking in the chilly Deschutes after a run is a time-honored Bend tradition—and a heck of a lot more interesting way to ice down poundedout legs than sitting in a bathtub.

READY, SET, GO An indication of the popularity of trail running is the healthy trail-racing scene. Thomason created the Dirty Half Marathon five years ago. The Dirty is a wonderful race that loops along the Phil’s Trail area west of Bend. This is signature Bend trail-running country: singletrack that winds along, climbing through dense ponderosa and lodgepole forest, and through dark, lava-rock canyons that are cool and slightly mysterious. The race is challenging, pretty and has the kind of vibe where every single fi nisher is announced over the P.A. system to mighty cheers from spectators and racers alike. And beer is served as a post-race beverage.

Thomason caps the entries at 500, which was met last year for the fi rst time. “It’s just taken off,” says Thomason, smiling and shaking his head. “I

bend, oregon « don’t want to turn people away, but it would ruin the experience to put any more runners out on that trail. So I tell folks to sign up early.”

SERIOUS APRÈS Bend knows that nobody can run 24/7.

After the trails, this savvy town has much to offer. Shopping options abound in both downtown and at the Old Mill District, where developers have carefully refurbished Bend’s old lumber mills into high-end shops.

The town is serious about its beer, boasting several excellent brewpubs.

Try an Outback Ale at the Bend Brewing Company, or an Obsidian Stout at Deschutes Brewery. There are first-rate restaurants like Blue Fish and Zydeco for dinner, as well as terrific burritos at Parrilla Grill. Nancy P’s bakery and the Village Baker are great for sweet treats, and the best breakfast in town is at the Victorian Café, but be prepared to wait for a table, especially on weekends.

And of course, that famed Bend lifestyle is replete with other outdoor activities— whitewater rafting, golf, canoeing, biking, rock climbing, skiing and snowshoeing.

Again, a lot of Bend’s action centers on

h T

those lovely trails. Lynn Jacobs, a parttime nurse, mother of three little boys and a runner who manages to log at least 50 miles a week, says that she became a convert soon after moving here five years ago.

“I was a total pavement pounder when I moved to Bend,” she says. “After a while, a girlfriend asked, ‘Why are you running on roads?’ and she took me out and showed me the trails.”

Jacobs pauses and thinks, trying to articulate the magic of Bend’s trails.

“Before you even think about it, you’re on a trail. I feel like I’m exploring, not working out.”

That is the vibe, that is the lifestyle and that really is the secret. In Bend, Oregon, the outdoors gets naturally tangled up with that little thing called “living.” One is inextricable from the other, and both become more beautiful as a result.

Katrina Hays is a writer who lives in Bend, Oregon. She’s a slow-but-steady trail runner, Nordic ski coach and avid road cyclist, and has written about the Central Oregon sports lifestyle for SAIL, Northwest Dive News and Bend Living.

E Ready to Race?

PETERSON RIDGE RUMBLE April 9, 2006. This is a fun, low-key 30K or 60K run on and around the Peterson Ridge trail near Sisters, Oregon, 22 miles north of Bend on U.S. 20. The first third is gentle uphill, middle third is rolling with a few short “grunt” sections and the final third is gentle downhill, making for a fast finish. Mud is very likely, and snowy sections are possible.

DIRTY HALF MARATHON June 11, 2006. The course is a 13.1-mile loop in the Phil’s Trail area west of Bend. The trail is very runable with a handful of small technical sections. The entire course has a net gain/loss of 1000 feet.

HAULIN’ ASPEN TRAIL MARATHON August 13, 2006. This marathon and half marathon heads out under the aspen trees in Shevlin Park and climbs into ponderosa pines on singletrack trails in the Cascade Mountains.

FOR COMPLETE LISTINGS OF ALL RACES, TRAILS AND INSIDER TIPS: Fresh Air Sports: www.freshairsports.com; FootZone: www.footzonebend.com; Central Oregon Running Klub: www.centraloregonrunningklub.org.

c r A o s e s c t a he S R e

ky

Leadville Trail 100

Training Camp ................................ June 24, 25, 26, 2006 3 organized runs to familiarize participants with the challenges of the Leadville Trail 100

Trail Marathon & 1/2 Marathon ................. July 7, 2006 Leadville Rocky Mountain trails, summiting 13,185-foot Mosquito Pass

Leadville Trail 100 ............................. August 19-20, 2006 50 miles out-and-back in the midst of the Colorado Rockies.

Low point-9,200 ft.; high point-12,600 ft.

ENTRIES AVAILABLE JANUARY 2, 2006

HOPE PASS SUMMIT 12,600 FT. Photo by Scott Rafferty

Merilee O’Neal, Race Director PO Box 487, Leadville, CO 80461 (719) 486-3502 • www.leadvilletrail100.com

2 0 0 6

T R O P H Y

S E R I E S

See p. 48 or trailrunnermag.com for info

NATIONAL RANKING SYSTEM Presented by

December / January Rankings 1. MOAT 2. bikes plus two 3. Gander Mtn./HART 4. RennMultisport.com 5. TooCoolRacing.com 6. Black HART 7. Team Litespeed 8. HoustonAdventureRacing.com 9. HART Burn 10. Backpacker/Bicycle Shop

www.usara.com

PACIFIC/DESERT 04/01 American River 50 50M; Sacramento, CA; www. run100s.com/snu; wser100@comcast.net 04/09 Peterson Ridge Rumble 30K, 60K; Sisters, OR; www.footzonebend.com/rumble; smeissner@lycos.com 04/15 Capitol Peak 50-Mile and Relay Olympia, WA; www.capitolpeakultras.com/cp50mile.htm 04/23 Mt Si Relay and Ultra Runs 50K, 50M, 50R; Snoqualmie, WA; www.ontherunevents.com/mtsirelay; mtsirelay@verizon.net 04/23 Spokane River Run 5K, 10K, 25K, 50K; Spokane, WA; www.spokaneriverrun.com; spokeaho@msn.com 04/29 Escape from Prison Hill Half Marathon & Relay 13.1M; Carson City, NV; www.sagebrushstompers.org; Jeffrey.Mark@us.army.mil 04/29 Zane Grey Highline 50-Mile Endurance Run Payson, AZ; www.zanegrey50.com; jazzzaz@comcast.net 05/06 Miwok Trail 100K Sausalito, CA; www.run100s. com/miwok; miwok100k@aol.com 05/13 Malibu Creek Trail Challenge 4M, 14M; Malibu, CA; www.trailrace.com; info@trailrace.com 05/13 McDonald Forest 50K Corvallis, OR; www.mac. oregontrailseries.org; ken.ward@hp.com 05/20 Bishop High Sierra Ultra-Marathons 20M, 50K, 50M; Bishop, CA; www.bhs50.com; andrew. boyd2@verizon.net 05/21 Ohlone Wilderness 50K Trail Run Fremont, CA; www.abovethefog.net; ohlone50k@abovethefog.net 05/27 Mt Wilson Trail Race 8.6M; Sierra Madre, CA; eweaver@ci.sierra-madre.ca.us 06/10 Lake Youngs Ultra 28.8M; Bellevue, WA; aj_martineau@yahoo.com 06/24 Double Dipsea (Walt Stack DSE Double Dipsea) 13.7M; Stinson Beach, CA; www.doubledipsea.com; runkenrun@aol.com 06/24 Western States Endurance Run 100M; Squaw Valley, CA; www.ws100.com; wser100@comcast.net 07/15 Clackamas River Runoff 15K 8K, 15K; Estacada, OR; www.RogueMultiSport.com; cneely@RogueMultiSport.com 07/29 Mt Hood PCT 50/50 (Scott McQueeney Memorial) 50K, 50M; Clackamas Lake Historic Ranger Station (PDX), OR; www.pctultra.com, www.orrc.net; longrunpdx@gmail.com 08/12 Mt Disappointment 50K Angeles National Forest, CA; www.mtdisappointment50k.com; eventdirector@mtdi sappointment50k.com 08/13 Haulin’ Aspen Trail Marathon and Half Marathon 13.1M, 26.2M; Bend, OR; www.FreshAirSports.com; haulinas pen@freshairsports.com 08/19 Where’s Waldo 100K Willamette Pass, OR; www. wpsp.org/ww100k; thornley@wpsp.org 09/16 Cle Elum Ridge 50K Run Cle Elum, WA; kmoehl2000@yahoo.com 09/16 Timberline Marathon 26.2M; Government Camp, OR; www.RogueMultiSport.com; cneely@RogueMultiSport.com 09/23 Run/Walk 4 The Poor Trail 1/2 Marathon Benefit Challenge 5K, 10K, 13.1M; Lakewood, WA; www.humanmultisportspnw.org or www.active.com; humansports2001@hotmail.com 60 TRAILRUNNERMAG.COM | MAY 2006

>>SIGN UP NOW! Just finish any 2006 TROPHY SERIES race, and you will be automatically entered.

09/30 Serrano Canyon 15K Malibu, CA; www.trailrace.com; info@trailrace.com ROCKIES 04/22 Spring Desert Ultra Trail Running Festival 5M, 10M, 25M, 50M; Fruita, CO; www.geminiadventures.com; reid_delman@geminiadventures.com 05/06 Collegiate Peaks Races 25M, 50M; Buena Vista, CO; www.collegiatepeakstrailrun.org; chamber@buenavistacolo rado.org; Burke.Kaiser@collegiatepeaksbank.com 05/13 Prickly Pear Land Trust Don’t Fence Me In Trail Runs 5K, 12K; Helena, MT; www.pricklypearlt.org; mpmiller93@yahoo.com 05/28 Medicine Bow Half Marathon 13.1M; Laramie, WY; www.angelfire.com/wy2/marathon; RunWyo@msn.com 05/28 Wyoming Marathon Races 5K, 13.1M, 26.2M, 52M; Laramie, WY; www.angelfire.com/wy2/marathon; RunWyo@msn.com 06/17 Wahsatch Steeplechase 17.5M; Salt Lake City, UT; www.wahsatchsteeplechase.com; butch@butchadams.com 06/18 Joe Colton’s Off Road Adventure Run 5K, 10K, 10M, 15M; Rollinsville, CO; www.joecoltonadventure.org; Lori.

Kinczel@igc.org 06/24 Old Gabe 25K/50K (formerly Jim Bridger) Bozeman, MT; www.math.montana.edu/~thayes/Runs/Runs. html; trailrunner@montana.net 06/25 Golden Gate Canyon Trail Run 20K; Gilpin County, CO; www.runuphillracing.com; adam@runuphillracing.com 07/09 Summer Roundup Trail Run 12K; Colorado Springs, CO; www.pikespeakmarathon.org; raceinfo@pikespeakma rathon.org 07/16 High Mountain Trail Run 25K, 50K; Leadville, CO; www.hminet.org; coachamanda@earthlink.net 07/22 Snow King Hill Climb 2.3M; Jackson, WY; www. tetonwyo.org/parks; jharkness@tetonwyo.org 08/TBA Mantua Mountain Marathon 26.2M; Mantua, UT; www.ultrarunner.net; brentmary@gmail.com 09/02 Grand Teton Races 26.2M, 50M, 100M; Alta, WY; www.tetonraces.com; LRSmith916@aol.com 09/02 Meeteetse Absaroka Challenge 5K, 10K, 15K; Meeteetse, WY; www.meetrec.org; meetrec@tctwest.net 09/04 American Discovery Trail Marathon, Half Marathon & 5K Colorado Springs, CO; www.adtmarathon.com; sultancat@adelphia.net 09/09 Mid Mountain Marathon 26.2M; Park City, UT; www. mountaintrails.org; info@mountaintrails.org 09/16 Sombrero Ranch Roundup 4.5M; Estes Park, CO; www.bolderboulder.com/sombrero.cfm; matt@bolderboulder.com 09/17 Lead King Loop 25K; Marble, CO; www. leadkingloop25k.com; macek57@hotmail.com 09/23 Golden Leaf Half Marathon 13M; Aspen, CO; www. utemountaineer.com; paul@utemountaineer.com 09/30 24 Hours of Frisco 24H; Frisco, CO; www. emgcolorado.com; emgmh@emgcolorado.com

HEARTLAND 04/01 Rockin K Trail Run 26.3M, 50.6M; Kanopolis State Park, KS; www.ultrarunners.info; psheridan@classicnet.net 04/15 McNaughton Park Trail Runs 30M, 50M, 100M; Pekin, IL; www.mcnaughtonparktrailruns.com; aweinberg@pekinhigh.net 04/22 Double Chubb 25K, 50K; St. Louis, MO; www. stlouisultrarunnersgroup.net; slugrd@yahoo.com 04/30 Trail Marathon & Half Marathon 13.1M, 26.2M; Pinckney, MI; www.trailmarathon.com; events@runningfit.com 05/27 Berryman Trail Run 26.2M, 50M; Potosi, MO; www. stlouisultrarunnersgroup.net; slugrd@yahoo.com 06/03 Kettle Moraine 100 Endurance Runs 100K, 100M, 100R; LaGrange, WI; www.kettle100.com; kettle100run@yahoo.com 06/04 Deadwood Mickelson Trail Marathon & Half Marathon 13.1M, 26.2M; Deadwood, SD; www.DeadwoodMickel sonTrailMarathon.com; leanhorse@rushmore.com 06/10 Lake Mingo Trail Run 7.1M; Danville, IL; www. kennekuk.com; krr@kennekuk.com 06/10 Run for Youth 5K, 25K; Marquette, MI; www. runforyouth.org; info@runforyouth.org 07/01 Afton Trail Run 25K, 50K; Afton, MN; www. aftontrailrun.com; aftontrailrun@yahoo.com 07/08 Keweenaw Trail Running Festival 5.8K, 10K, 25K; Copper Harbor, MI; www.keweenawtrails.com; jcrumbaugh@charter.net 07/29 Grand Island Trail Marathon & 10K Munising, MI; www.algercounty.org; jcrumbaugh@charter.net 07/29 Indian Hills Trail Run 3M, 8M; Ashtabula, OH; www. hmapromotions.net; HMA@NACS.NET 07/29 Minnesota Voyageur Trail Ultra 50M; Carlton, MN; www.voyageurtrailrun.com; BDCurnow@msn.com 08/19 Cleveland Shrine Club Cross-Country 5K; Cleveland, TN; www.milesplit.com/meet/13047; coachpark s@tennesseerunner.com 08/26 Lean Horse Hundred, Half Hundred & 50K 50K, 50M, 100M; Hot Springs, SD; www.leanhorse.com; leanhorse@rushmore.com 09/09 Dances with Dirt Ultra and 100K Relay 50K, 50M, 100R; Hell, MI; www.danceswithdirt.com; events@runningfit.com 09/24 Wild Wild Wilderness Trail Run 7.6M; Danville, IL; www.kennekuk.com; krr@kennekuk.com EAST 04/01 Croom Trail Fools Run 15M, 50K, 50M; Brooksville, FL; www.wecefar.com/croomtrailrun; ediet@knology.net 04/02 Borderland Trail Run 16M; Easton, MA; www. realsimplesolutions.com/trailrun.htm; photostudio@realsimpl esolutions.com 04/02 Urban Environmental Challenge 6.3M; Bronx, NY; www.vctc.org; ddburns13@msn.com 04/09 Flatwoods Four Trail Race 4M; Thonotosassa, FL; www.tamparaces.com; ricky@tamparaces.com 04/29 Owl’s Roost Rumble 5K, 13.1M; Greensboro, NC; www. owlsroostrumble.com; smbassett@hotmail.com 05/06 Capon Valley Run 50K; Yellow Spring, WV; www. iplayoutside.com/capon50; lynn@edgebrook.org 05/13 Massanutten Mountain Trails 100-Mile Run 101.8M; Front Royal, VA; www.vhtrc.org; stanruns@att.net 05/20 Dirty Dog Trail Run 15K; Charleston, WV; www.wvmtr. org; danieltodd@charter.net 05/20 Long Island Greenbelt Trail Run 50K; Plainview, NY; npalazzo@optonline.net

05/27 Pineland Farms 50K & 25K Trail Challenge New Gloucester, ME; www.mainetrackclub.com/pinelandfarms. html; iparlin@maine.rr.com 06/10 Laurel Highlands Ultra 70.5M; Ohiopyle, PA; www.laurelultra.com; rfreeman@access995.com 06/10 Northfield Mountain Trail Race 10K; Northfield, MA; www.cmsrun.org; dave.dunham@comcast.net 06/17 Highlands Sky Trail Run 40M; Davis, WV; www. wvmtr.org; wvmtr@starband.net 06/18 Greylock Trail Races 3M, 13.1M; Adams, MA; www. runwmac.com; dion@bcn.net 06/24 Loon Mountain Race 6M; Lincoln, NH; www.whitemountainmilers.com; info@whitemountainmilers.com 07/08 Cranmore Hill Climb 10K; North Conway, NH; www.whitemountainmilers.com; info@whitemountainmilers.com 08/20 Savoy Mountain Trail Races 4M, 20M; Florida, MA; www.runwmac.com; saharczewski@aol.com 08/26 Springmaid Splash Xtreme Trail Race 10K; Spruce Pine, NC; www.mitchellraces.com; hollifield68@bellsouth.net 09/09 Odyssey Trail Marathon & Half Marathon Douthat State Park, VA; www.OARevents.com; info@OARevents. com 09/23 Great Eastern Endurance Run 50K, 100K; Blue Ridge Mountains, VA; www.greateastern100k.com; rungillrun@adelphia.net CANADA 05/13 Keremeos Kruncher 25K, 50K; Keremeos, BC; www.eagleruns.com; eaglemoe@nethop.net 05/20 MEC 5 Peaks Trail Series-COP 5K, 10K; Canada Olympic Park, AB; www.fivepeaks.com; info@5peaks.com 05/27 Blackfoot Ultra 25K, 50K, 50M, 100K; Edmonton, AB; www.blackfootultra.com; info@blackfootultra.com 05/27 Sulphur Springs 10K, 25K, 50K, 50M, 100M; Ancaster, ON; www.burlingtonrunners.com; jhewitt@pathcom.com 06/17 Kusam Klimb 23.2K; Sayward, BC; www. kusamklimb.ca; hollo@kusamklimb.ca 06/17 MEC 5 Peaks Trail Series - Mt Ste Anne 5K, 10K; Mt Ste Anne, ON; www.5peaks.com; info@5peaks.com 06/24 Eagle Lite Ultras 25K, 50K, 50M, 100M; Keremeos, BC; www.eagleruns.com; eaglemoe@nethop.net 08/06 Wreck Beach Bare Buns Fun Run 5K; Vancouver, BC; www.wreckbeach.org; Judyw@wreckbeach.org 08/07 Northwest Passage Marathon and Ultramarathon 13.1M, 26.2M, 35M; Somerset Island, Nunavut; www.CanadianArcticHolidays.ca; mail@Canadi anArcticHolidays.ca 08/26 MEC 5 Peaks Trail Series - Crabbe Mtn 5K, 10K; New Brunswick, ON; www.5peaks.com; info@5peaks.com 08/26 MEC 5 Peaks Trail Series - Whistler 5K, 10K; Whistler, BC; www.5peaks.com; info@5peaks.com 09/03 Walk in the Park 50K; Kamloops, BC; www. ultrarunner.net/witpindex.html; bmpskier@shaw.ca 09/08 Lost Soul Ultra 50K, 100K, 100M; Lethbridge, AB; www.lostsoulultra.com; tmea@telusplanet.net 09/09 MEC 5 Peaks Trail Series - Albion 5K, 10K; South Eastern Ontario, ON; www.5peaks.com; info@5peaks.com 09/09 Moose Mountain Trail Races 16K, 29K; Calgary, AB; www.members.shaw.ca/moosemountain; jen. silverthorn@shaw.ca 09/30 Run for the Toad 25K; Cambridge/Paris, ON; www.runforthetoad.com; sarson@toadpatrol.com â– 2006 MAY | TRAILRUNNERMAG.COM 61

GEARFINDER

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OUTFITTERS ALABAMA

2750 Carl T Jones Dr Ste 1200T Huntsville AL 35802 256-650-7063 www.fleetfeethuntsville.com dink@fleetefeethutsville.com ARIZONA

FLEET FEET TUCSON 6538 E. Tanque Verde Road Tucson, AZ 85715 520-886-7800 FOOTHILLS RUNNING COMPANY 4025 E Chandler Blvd Ste 54 Phoenix AZ 85048 480-706-3103 www.foothillsrunning.com foothillsrunning@cox.net RUNNING SHOP 3055 N Campbell #153 Tucson, AZ 85719 520-325-5097 www.runningshopaz.com SUMMIT HUT 5045 E Speedway Tucson AZ 85712 520-325-1554 www.summithut.com SUMMIT HUT 605 E Wetmore Tucson AZ 85705 520-888-1000 www.summithut.com

CANADA NORTH SHORE ATHLETICS 1200 Londsdale # 101 N. Vancouver, BC V7M3H6 604-990-6888 www.northshoreathletics.com info@northshoreathletics.com

1850 Douglas Blvd Roseville CA 95661 916-783-4558 F 916-784-9150 www.fleetfeet-fairoaks.com danelle@fleetfeet-fairoaks.com FLEET FEET SPORTS 32411 Golden Lantern Ste H Laguna Niguel CA 92677 949-488-3356 www.fleetfeetln.com scott@fleetfeetlagunaniguel.com

FALLS ROAD RUNNING STORE 6247 Falls Rd Baltimore MD 21209 410-296-5050 www.baltimorerunning.com jim@baltimorerunning.com MASSACHUSETTS CARABINER’S INDOOR CLIMBING INC 328 Parker St New Bedford MA 02740 508-984-0808 F 508-984-7577 www.carabiners.com info@carabiners.com

COLORADO

WESTCHESTER ROAD RUNNER 179 E Post Rd White Plains, NY 10601 914-682-0637 F 914-949-4166 www.westchesterroadrunner.com westchesterrr@aol.com NORTH CAROLINA

MINNESOTA

BOULDER MOUNTAINEERING 1335 B Broadway Boulder CO 80302 303-444-2470 F 303-444-2729 www.thebomo.com info@thebomo.com

45 DEGREES 209 S Main Street Stillwater MN 55082 651-430-3609 www.45-Degrees.com GetOutside@45-degrees.com

JUS RUNNING 523 Merrimon Ave, Ste. 1 Asheville, NC 28804 828-252-7867 F 828-252-7817 www.jusrunning.com jusrun@bellsouth.net

NEVADA

PENNSYLVANIA

BOULDER RUNNING COMPANY 2775 Pearl St. #103 Boulder, CO 80302 303-RUN-WALK www.boulderrunningcompany.com BOULDER RUNNING COMPANY 3659 Austin Bluffs Pkwy #32 Colorado Springs, CO 80918 719-278-3535 www.boulderrunningcompany.com BOULDER RUNNING COMPANY 8116 W. Bowles #C Littleton, CO 80123 303-932-6000 www.boulderrunningcompany.com RUNNER’S ROOST LAKEWOOD 437 S Wadsworth #B Lakewood CO 80226 303-991-1851 www.runnersroostlakewood.com

SUMMIT CANYON MOUNTAINEERING 732 Grand Ave Glenwood Springs, CO 81601 970-945-6994 F 970-945-7586 800-360-6994 www.summitcanyon.com shop@summitcanyon.com FLORIDA RUNNING WILD INC. 1133 N Federal Hwy Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304 954-565-9400 F 954-565-9421 www.runningwild.com runwild4@bellsouth.net

RED ROCK RUNNING COMPANY 7350 W Cheyenne Suite 101 Las Vegas NV 89129 702- 870 -4286 F 702-386-7223 www.redrockrunningcompany.com info@redrockrunningcompany.com NEW HAMPSHIRE ENDURANCE 122 Key Rd Keene NH 03431 603-357-3232 info@gotendurance.com www.gotendurance.com NEW JERSEY CAMPMOR 810 Route 17 N Paramus NJ 07652 201-445-5000 800-CAMPMOR (226-7667) www.campmor.com customerservice@campmor.com THE RUNNING COMPANY OF MONTVALE 14 A Chestnut Ridge Rd Montvale, NJ 07645 201-391-6008 F 201-391-6012 www.njrunningco.com montvalerunning@aol.com

TYD 285 Pascack Rd Washington Township NJ 07676 201-664-2355 F 201-664-4330 www.mytyd.com tydllc@aol.com

INDIANA RUNNING REVOLUTION 511 E Campbell Ave Campbell, CA 95008 408-374-9310 www.runningrevolution.com info@runningrevolution.com

NEW YORK TRI RUNNING & WALKING 191 W Main Street Victor NY 14564 585-924-7690 www.trirunningandwalking.com trirunningandwalking@frontiernet.net

GORD’S RUNNING STORE 919 Centre St. NW Calgary, Alberta T2E 2P6 403-270-8606 F 403-283-8341 www.gordsrunningstore.com info@gordsrunningstore.com

CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE 16 11161 W. Pico Blvd.

West Los Angeles, CA 90064 310-473-4574 for other SO CAL locations see: www.adventure16.com

MARYLAND

THE EXTREME OUTFITTERS 2271 Pointe Pkwy Ste 110 Carmel IN 46032 317-818-0860 F 317-818-0941 www.theextremeoutfitters.com info@theextremeoutfitters.com

TYD 14 A Chestnut Ridge Rd Montvale NJ 07645 201-391-6008 F 201-391-6012 www.njrunningco.com montvalerunning@aol.com

BUCKS COUNTY OUTFITTERS 64 E Swamp Rd Doylestown PA 18901 215-340-0633 F 215-340-9621 www.buckscountyoutfitters.com info@buckscountyoutfitters.com ELITE RUNNERS & WALKERS 5992-E Steubenville Pike McKees Rocks, PA 15136 412-490-0881 F 412-490-0882 877-RUN-WALK www.eliterunners.com shoes@eliterunners.com TENNESSEE

RIVER SPORTS OUTFITTERS 2918 Sutherland Knoxville TN 37919 865 523-0066 F 865 525-6921 www.riversportsoutfitters.com info@riversportsoutfitters.com ROCK CREEK OUTFITTERS 100 Tremont St Chattanooga TN 37405 423-265-5969 www.RockCreek.com info@RockCreek.com ROCK CREEK OUTFITTERS 220 Hamilton Place Blvd 7 Hamilton Crossing Chattanooga TN 37421 423-485-8775 www.RockcCeek.com info@RockCreek.com RUNNER’S MARKET 4443 Kingston Pike Knoxville TN 37919 865-588-1650 www.runnersmarket.com runnersmarket@nxs.net

ONLINE CAMPMOR www.campmor.com customerservice@campmor.com 800-CAMPMOR (226-7667)

www.rockcreek.com info@rockcreek.com 888-707-6708 100 Tremont St. Chattanooga, TN 37405

www.summithut.com summit@summithut.com 800-499-8696 5045 E Speedway Tucson AZ 85712

TRISPORTS.COM www.trisports.com customerservice@trisports.com 888-293-3934 F 602-532-7971 2555 N Coyote Dr Ste 111 Tucson AZ 85745

UTAH

WASATCH RUNNING CENTER 8946 S State St. Sandy UT 84070 801-566-8786 www.wasatchrunningcenter.com info@wasatchrunningcenter.com VERMONT SKIRACK 85 Main St Burlington VT 05401 802-658-3313 F 802 658-5083 800-882-4530 www.skirack.com info@skirack.com VIRGINIA

CHARLOTTESVILLE RUNNING COMPANY 110 Old Preston Ave Charlottesville VA 22902 434 - 293- 7115 F 434 - 293- 7015 www.charlottesvillerunningcompany.com info@charlottesvillerunningcompany.com

WASHINGTON SOUND SPORTS 80 Madison St Seattle WA 98104 206-624-6717 F 206-622-3121 800-279-7551 List your store!

Craig Saleeby 1-877-762-5423 ext. 17 retail@bigstonepub.com

RUN AMOK

by BRIAN METZLER

» Illustration by JEREMY COLLINS

SUPER-SLURP ME A DIETARY EXPERIMENT GOES SOUTH ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION during a long, exhausting trail run, I

wished that the energy gel stashed in my pack was a cheeseburger. During a few fatigue-induced hallucinations, I actually thought those gels tasted like a cheeseburger. Or a plate of nachos. Or an oversized Hershey bar.

I’m not the first trail-running geek to think about the seemingly endless combinations of flavors, but I’m probably one of only a few to have experimented with gelmixing at Mile 31. The Power Gel combo of Chocolate, Strawberry Banana and Vanilla has actually tasted better than a real banana split. I’ve even made peanut-

butter-and-“gelly” sandwiches for lunch at the office, as well as during a race.

And then during one training run, inspired by Morgan Spurlock’s Super Size Me documentary, the thought came to me: What if I ate nothing but energy gels for a day or two? The movie made sense because people actually eat fast-food crap

for days on end. I couldn’t exactly see that sucking down flavored maltodextrin packets had any such point. I just wanted to do it.

For breakfast on Day 1, I started with a random assortment of flavors—a couple of Green Apple Power Gels, a Chocolate GU and a Clif Shot Go Mango—but by midmorning I was famished. I crammed in two Tri Berry GUs that I hoped would keep me on an even keel until my seven-mile run at lunchtime.

It was during the run that I decided I had to do this right. Stopping at my friendly neighborhood running store, I bought three dozen gels in a variety of flavors and brands. After running, I chowed on some fruit salad: a Banana Blitz GU, a Kiwi Strawberry Carb-BOOM! and a Tropical Fruit Power Gel. By then, I was already scheming about dinner. I have been known to make a public plea for pizza- and steak-flavored gels, but since no one has taken me up on the idea, I had to improvise.

That evening, with my wife watching in disgust, I poured a Plain Hammer Gel and a Just Plain GU atop eight ounces of teriyaki beef jerky in a blender. After I threw in a bit of butter and some salt, it tasted vaguely like a steak and a baked potato. For dessert, I tried to enjoy a simulated Dreamsicle in a bowl—three near-frozen packets of Vanilla Orange Carb-BOOM!—but my year-old daughter gobbled it up first.

While the first day of my little experiment was fun, Day 2, I must admit, was rough. I woke up in the middle of the night with a stomachache and in the morning felt almost hungover. I tried to give myself a jolt with a simulated cup of java (a Mocha Honey Stinger and an Espresso Hammer Gel), but it didn’t help much.

By lunchtime I was constipated and felt horrible during a late-afternoon jaunt. For dinner that night, I almost gagged on my third Power Gel Raspberry Cream—usually one of my favorite flavors.

I quit the project the next morning when the constipation turned to exploding diarrhea about three miles from a trailhead outhouse. I could tell you more, but, trust me, you don’t want to hear it. My last treat was a pink liquid known as Pepto Bismal.

Brian Metzler once ate nothing but bananas—about 18—during a 24-hour stint as a volunteer at the Boulder Peak Triathlon.

2006 MAY | TRAILRUNNERMAG.COM 63

THE RUSH DOESN’T END AT THE WATER’S EDGE. SIMON GUTIERREZ, TEVA U.S. MOUNTAIN RUNNING TEAM. SAVE MONEY AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE. BECOME A CHARTER MEMBER OF THE TEVA MOUNTAIN RUNNING CLUB. VISIT TEVA.COM/GORUN FOR DETAILS.

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