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Coming Home to

The T etons ( ) A voyage to the past and the stunning trails of Wyoming’s Jackson Hole Valley

KRISTIN ARMSTRONG’S New Life with Trail Running

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CONTENTS

ONE DIRTY MAGAZINE

NOVEMBER 2006 | WWW.TRAILRUNNERMAG.COM | ISSUE 42

34 Reconnecting heart and home in Wyoming’s stunning Jackson Hole Valley.

BY BRIDGET CROCKER

42 PHOTO ESSAY: Hardrock’s most hardened competitors return year after year to one of trail running’s most punishing races.

PHOTOS BY DAVID CLIFFORD THIS PAGE: The Grand Master of Hardrock: Kirk Apt. With a record

12 finishes—10 in the top 10—he epitomizes the grit required to tackle the gnarliest 100-miler. Hardrock’s punishing 66,000 feet of vertical gain and loss, including summitting 14,008-foot Handies Peak, make it the pinnacle of mountain running. “What I love about this race are the people like Dale [Garland, the race director],” says Apt. “That’s what Hardrock is—the people, and, of course, the mountains.”

COVER: Bridget Crocker rediscovers one

of favorite Jackson Hole Valley trails under the towering presence of the Tetons.

PHOTOGRAPHS BY DAVID CLIFFORD

DEPARTMENTS 4

EDITOR’S NOTE

6

LETTERS

10

MAKING TRACKS Trail running is a simple sport but you’ve got to play by the rules; water purification made easy with the SteriPen; ultrarunner extraordinaire Lisa Smith-Batchen takes a new direction.

16

ADVENTURE Think you need to hit the Rockies to see elk, deer and old-growth trees? Nope. Escape to the Appalachian solitude of Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

BY STUART COWLES

20 NUTRITION Eating disorders vs. disordered eating. Learn how to tell the difference between these serious afflictions.

BY CLAIRE DOROTIK

22 TRAIL RX Curing connective-tissue ailments with an innovative new therapy— and running.

BY KATRINA HAYS 24 ASK THE COACH Pain relieving drugs; stopping pesky blisters; IT band stretches.

BY THERESE IKNOIAN 26 TRAIL TIPS Fun without sun: five pointers for nighttime running.

BY EMMA WILLIAMS 28 TAKE YOUR MARK The Santa Barbara 9-Trails 35Mile Endurance Run is a burly “short” ultra, and a great way to burn off that Thanksgiving dinner.

BY CHUCK GRAHAM

30 FACES Trail running fits perfectly into Kristin Armstrong’s new life.

BY GARETT GRAUBINS 32 LAST GASP The author and his friend learn disparate lessons from a poorly planned march to an arch.

BY BERNIE BOETTCHER 48 GALLERY 50 TRAIL TESTED Fall Shoe Review. We punish a dozen of the latest trail weapons, and present our findings.

55 RUN AMOK Snakes and trail runners don’t mix. Or do they?

BY BRIAN METZLER

EDITO R’S NOTE

by ELINOR FISH

The Tie That Binds While running through coniferous-lined meadows dotted with bright purple, red and yellow alpine flowers near Aspen, Colorado, last weekend, I sucked in cool crisp air, reminiscent of my home in the Canadian Rocky Mountains. Two months ago I left Canmore, Alberta, and moved south along the Rocky Mountains, settling in Carbondale, Colorado, to join the Trail Runner magazine team.

I first came to Colorado in 2001, meeting up with Boulder running friends Adam Chase and Darcy Piceu (now Africa) and making a late entry into the Danielesque Trail Races in Golden, Colorado. Feeling fit, I charged off the start line, keen to tackle the first long, winding climb of the 25-kilometer course. It didn’t take long before my pounding heart and constricted airway slowed my pace considerably. That day I learned to respect Colorado’s thin, dry air and appreciate the conditioning of local fitness fiends.

Five years later, I call Colorado home.

For the first few weeks, I obsessed about

the little differences between Colorado and Canada, yearning for familiar terrain and running partners, thicker air, cooler temperatures and smoother trails. But once I learned to accept the differences instead of resist them, I began adapting to new running and lifestyle patterns.

Two stories in this issue touch on how running connects us to a sense of place and belonging. Bridget Crocker’s story, “Vision Quest” in Wyoming’s Grand Tetons (page 34), is about reveling in the simple joy of reconnecting with childhood memories.

In “A Stone’s Throw Away,” (page 16) Stuart Cowles shares the hidden solitude of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, North Carolina, serving as a reminder that even your own backyard can be a place of discovery.

Every day I feel more at home as I discover new tree-lined and high-alpine trails, the best café in town for a post-run coffee and muffin and recognize the sandbagging of local hotshot runners when they suggest going for an “easy” run.

Running has helped me settle into a new community, make new friends and handle new challenges, and this issue of Trail Runner, with many inspirational stories from a wide range of people, also shows that running allows us all to recruit inner strength and resolve when we need it most.

Lisa Smith-Batchen, once bed-ridden with depression, returned to the running limelight this summer, completing a 270-mile run through Death Valley, in the name of inspiring others to “do something great.”

Kristen Armstrong found personal strength through running during her painful divorce from cycling legend Lance Armstrong, and more recently discovered the fun of taking her runs off-road.

Among the finish-line emotions of the 2006 Hardrock 100 (page 42), we caught up with some of the race’s fastest “repeat offenders,” asking what lures them back to one of the world’s toughest 100-milers.

Let these stories motivate you to keep exploring the potential of the human spirit and the diversity of your surroundings. ■

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LETTERS FORM-ING A MIND-BODY CONNECTION May I add my observations to Dr. Freim’s article “Form-ulate a Plan” [July 2006, No. 40].

He talks of efficiency and improvements that can be made through proper form.

As an anti-social runner who runs daily, alone in the hills above Hemet in Southern California, I have had no feedback, nor comparisons to other runners. Over the years, my style had become “The Great Slouch”—head down, body stooped, nothing but the trail beneath my eyes.

My enjoyment of running had become relative to my form. So, Dr. Freim’s article hit me just right. I straightened my back, ran tall and felt a sense of exhilaration.

I lifted my head, looked around and felt a sense of wonder. I extended my stride, pushed off and felt a sense of speed. I lifted my chin, relaxed my body and felt a sense of pride. Once again, my enjoyment of running has become relative to my form. Are we talking of a mind-body connection here?

—Bill Bellis, Hemet, CA

RUN IN THE MOMENT Only runners understand the dreaded prognosis my doctor gave me last month: “It’s time to transition to another activity. If you continue to put in the miles, you’ll need complete knee replacement within two years.” My tip for all those who are “holding back” on their training because work is really busy or letting another runner pass them in the last mile of an ultra because “There’s always the next race” is to live in the moment and put all you have into your passion today. There may not be next week or next month.

—Randy Wilcox, Henderson, NV

GRAND MEMORIES Justin Tade’s “Grand Canyon Adventure” [September 2006, No. 41] brought back great memories of my own adventure there.

A few years back, at a Thanksgiving family gathering in the park, I started down the Bright Angel Trail at 8 a.m. with a rim

temperature around 40 F. By the time I had reached Indian Gardens, I had stripped down to shorts, T-shirt and Camelbak, carefully stashing my extra layers along the trail. I passed four couples hiking down, but otherwise the trail was mine.

I continued on to the Colorado River, dipped my toe and started back up.

This was a unique experience for me, as, living in Colorado, I started most of my trail runs with a long climb followed by a quad-burning romp down.

I had sucked my Camelbak dry by the time I came back through Indian Gardens so I refilled, refueled and cranked back up slowing to chat a few times with those same couples I had passed on the way down. I popped out to meet the family just shy of noon.

Thanksgiving dinner at the El Tovar the next day was great, but so was the PBJ sandwich and orange I enjoyed in the heart of the canyon.

—Tim Perley, Boulder, CO

CANYON CRUISER Readers of “A Grand Canyon Adventure” in the September issue [No. 41] might like to know who has run the fastest rimto-rim. According to Footprints, the newsletter of the Grand Canyon Hikers and Backpackers Association, the record is held by Allyn Cureton.

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Cureton ran cross canyon from north to south in 3:06:47. He also holds the record for R2R2R, which he ran the same year in 7:51:23.

—Shelley Silva, Flagstaff, AZ

GEARHEADS UNITE Like with other sports, gear plays a major role in performing at your best. Most of us actually use the products like they are intended but there are those of us who use gear as a motivational tool.

How many times have we looked at the new issue of Trail Runner and seen the latest hydration pack or the new shoes from New Balance that just get us down right excited? I am a trail runner but, like many others, have kids, a full-time job, mortgage, etc. and the new cutting-edge gear reminds me to get out there and get it done.

Thanks for the great gear reviews over the past year, and I’ll see you at my next big race wearing a new pair of Sauconys and really cool Smith sunglasses.

—Keith Remington, Brandon, FL

CORRECTION In Trail Tested, September 2006, No. 41, the Highgear Enduro Compass was listed as having 24-hour chronograph; in fact, it has a 100-hour chronograph.

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“I never met a carbohydrate I didn’t like.� —David Lygre, 63, an ultrarunner from Ellensburg, Washington, in a lecture on carbohydrates to his biochemistry class. Lygre says somehow running and Will Rogers came together in his brain and out popped the quote. “No one is as tired as the person who does nothing.� —Anonymous quote posted on the wall of the Silverton, Colorado High School, finish line of the 2006 Hardrock 100-Mile Endurance Run. “I wanted to go for a run this morning but I was a little tired. But I’ll run this evening for sure. I just love to run, what can I say?� —Anton Krupicka, 23, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, the day after winning the 2006 Leadville Trail 100-mile race in a blistering 17:01:56

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WARNING! The activities described in Trail Runner carry a significant risk of personal injur y or death . DO NOT par ticipate 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. TR AIL RUNNER MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, OF ANY KIND REGARDING THE CONTENTS OF THIS MAGA ZIN E, AN D E XPRESSLY 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 safet y 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 July be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. Š Copyright 2006 by Big Stone Publishing Ltd.

8 TRAILRUNNERMAG.COM | NOVEMBER 2006 2006 JULY | TRAILRUNNERMAG.COM 8

MAKING TRACKS » Illustration by DAVE CLIFFORD

Running by the Rules

enhancement, though their effect on a race’s final outcome can be as equally influential when the dreaded letters “DQ” appear next to a racer’s name on the results page.

TRAIL RUNNING IS A FREE-SPIRITED SPORT BUT YOU’VE GOTTA PLAY FAIR

BANANA-PEEL ETHICS A large number of off-road races threaten to disqualify any littering runner, not only out of common environmental sense, but government agencies and private landowners would be understandably reluctant to grant land access to runners known to leave a string of cast-off gel-packets in their wake.

German ultra veteran Hans-Dieter Weisshaar discovered the no-littering rule’s devastating gravity when he was disqualified from Arizona’s 2005 Javelina Jundred 100-miler for casually tossing a banana peel trailside. Though he tried to argue that biodegradable banana peels shouldn’t count at litter, his pleas made no impact— after 48 miles of running, he was out.

“I had no choice but to DQ him,” explains former Javelina race director, Geri Kilgariff. “His excuse was, ‘It was just a banana peel.’ My response was, ‘If every runner threw banana peels, watermelon rinds and uneaten food into the desert during the race, the place would look like a garbage dump!’”

Nikki Kimball (front) on her way to third-place overall (first woman) at the 2006 Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run. Also a member of USA Track and Field’s Mountain/Ultra/Trail Running Council, Kimball understands trail running’s rules of engagement.

T

The sports world too often is tainted with controversy surrounding rules infractions. Professional cycling, for example, has suffered severely in the public eye as result of doping scandals, most notably, the recent disqualification of 2006 Tour de France winner, American Floyd Landis.

Trail running, on the other hand, has few rules and doesn’t have to deal with the complex, political game of athlete drug testing, with the exception of the World Mountain Running Trophy. Nonetheless, race organizers must at times make tough judgment calls to maintain the sport’s integrity.

“I think ultrarunners don’t cheat unless they are unaware of a rule. It’s something

10 TRAILRUNNERMAG.COM | NOVEMBER 2006

that attracts people to this sport,” says 2006 Western States 100 champion Nikki Kimball, 35. “I’ve never suspected anyone in the ultra world of doping, but if more money ever comes into this sport, it could tempt them.”

Trail running’s rules primarily address matters of personal safety and environmental concerns rather than performance

SAFETY FIRST At this year’s Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run in Auburn, California, Brian Morrison led the race as he entered the Auburn High School stadium. However, in the race’s final 250 meters, Morrison collapsed, and his coach and pacer Scott Jurek and others physically aided delirious and staggering Morrison to the finish line.

They were more concerned for the runner’s health than the race’s rules of engagement.

Still, the Western States board of trustees was forced to make a judgment call.

In a statement, the board determined “that runner 320 [Morrison] did not complete the course in accordance with rules 4 and 5 and pacer rule 11, and therefore did not finish the race,” which ultimately led to Morrison’s disqualification. However, the board also recognized that the runner’s crew actions “likely prevented a life-threatening seizure.” The board acknowledged that Morrison and his crew weren’t trying to cheat their way through

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SELF-SERVING VS. SELF-REGULATING Apart from littering and lending physical aid, other rules vary vastly from race to race. For example, Colorado’s Hardrock Hundred allows the use of trekking poles, while the Angeles Crest 100 in California forbids them.

Guidelines on pacers, or personal race escorts, are largely at race directors’ discretion. Some allow pacers the entire course, and others only after a certain distance or after nightfall.

Depending on the event’s duration and technical challenges, pacer rules become a safety measure.

“The ones who need pacers the most are those who push themselves the hardest,” says Kimball. “At Western

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the race’s closing stage; it was obvious to everyone present that Morrison needed to be carried beyond the finish to immediate medical aid.

Morrison and Jurek agree with the board’s decision, as emotional as it was to accept. “There’s no bitterness; it was a very unfortunate situation, but not one that’s under debate,” says Jurek. “A decision had to be made, but I see it as more of a DNF [than a DQ] because Brian wasn’t able to finish on his own.”

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States, what would have happened if Brian [Morrison] had collapsed three miles earlier and fallen unconscious in the woods on the side of the trail?

It’s important to have rules that keep people safe.”

Competitors are responsible for knowing each race’s unique set of rules. Muling, or having a pacer carry a competitor’s supplies for them, is forbidden in most races, but is permitted at the Leadville 100-miler, in keeping with the region’s historic mining tradition of using pack animals. However, where this kind of support is outlawed, there is next no practical solution to enforcement.

Trail races rely on the honor system.

Since it is not viable to have eagle-eyed course marshals stationed along remote stretches of trail, runners must trust their compatriots to follow the rules and have the personal integrity to uphold the sport’s ethics. It wouldn’t be diffi cult to cheat; it is unlikely a racer could be busted taking a shortcut, replenishing supplies between aid stations or passing a heavy water bottle or pack over to a pacer. Trail running’s inherent trust in its athletes is what makes it so unique.

“The idea behind the sport is that it’s very pure and most athletes want to keep it that way,” says Jurek. “The sport is about exploring our limits, and about discovering who we are. Those who do break the rules are just shortcutting themselves.”

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only American woman to win the famed Marathon des Sables, a six-day, 151-mile stage race across the Moroccan Sahara desert during which competitors carry their own food, clothing, medical kit, sleeping bag and other supplies.

Despite a long list of athletic successes, in 2003 SmithBatchen suddenly abandoned her championship running career to battle depression, a personal struggle made painfully public in a magazine expose earlier this year.

Smith-Batchen called the Badwater Double her comeback race, though she insists she is not returning to the competitive arena. Rather, her recent accomplishment allowed her to rediscover a pure love of running untainted by the pressure to win.

On her Badwater Double, from the Mount Whitney Portal trailhead at the race’s end, Smith-Batchen and her support crew continued to the Lisa Smith-Batchen enjoys a sun-kissed training run on mountain’s summit, reaching the trails near Grand Junction, Colorado, earlier this year.

14,494 feet. This point marked the Double’s turn-around, from which they descended back to Death ValLISA SMITH-BATCHEN ON ley, at sub-sea level, thereby completing a HER NEW APPROACH TO tour from the lowest point in the Western RUNNING AND LIFE Hemisphere to the highest point in the In July, 45-year-old ultramarathon Continental U.S. veteran Lisa Smith-Batchen began her Smith-Batchen became the third mission to run the 135-mile Badwater women to ever complete a Double, doing ultra—twice. One of the planet’s most so in six days and 23 hours. Armed with a demanding and extreme races, it begins new sense of purpose, Smith-Batchen no in Badwater, California, 282 feet below sea longer measures success in terms of fi nlevel, and ascends 13,000 feet over three ishing times and places. The driving force mountain passes to Mount Whitney Portal behind Dreamchasers Adventure Club, in the Sierra Mountains. Aside from the Smith-Batchen leads training camps and distance and arduous elevation gain, searprovides on-line coaching services to runing heat is what really makes Badwater ners of all abilities and ages in an array of runners suffer. This year’s event was espesports. Also a proud mother of two, wife cially punishing, as desert temperatures to Jay, a nutritional consultant, massage reached 123 degrees and energy-sucking therapist and mentor, she oozes boundless humidity exceeded 22 percent. Later in positive energy. the race, icy-cold hail pounded the runSmith-Batchen’s Badwater Double ners and flash floods covered the road in raised around $150,000 for the Reliankle-deep muddy water. gious Teachers Filippini, an organizaNo stranger to the event, Smith-Batchen tion supporting AIDS orphans in Ethiohad finished Badwater seven times and pia, a cause close to Smith-Batchen’s won it twice. She has completed more than heart. She works with her friend and 30 ultramarathons, 90 marathons, seven the organization’s founder, Sister MaryIronman triathlons, three Eco Challenges beth Lloyd, to assure the funds are and two Raid Galoises adventure races, channeled directly to the sick children to name a few. She was also the first and needing food, clothing and education.

14 TRAILRUNNERMAG.COM | NOVEMBER 2006

DAVID CLIFFORD

REDEFINING

Comeback Queen

making tracks « Why did you choose a Badwater Double as your comeback race?

This race was my Mount Everest. It was the biggest thing I’d ever tried and a real test of body, mind and soul.

I had no goal to go out there and beat anybody; I just wanted to do it at my own speed and in my own way.

I got to the start line with [two-time Badwater winner] Pam Reed and all these amazing people that I know and care about, but there was this peace knowing that I didn’t have to catch up to them.

Did you ever consider dropping out?

I got the “Badwater bug” at about 60 miles. I had diarrhea, a fever and was throwing up. It was very emotional, but I never thought I wasn’t going to fi nish because I knew I had 60 hours to do it and even if I didn’t make the race cutoff, I planned to continue. But that’s where my “nopressure” approach to the race came in.

I only slept about six hours in those seven days. I would have fi n-

ished in fi ve days, except that on my fi rst attempt to Mount Whitney’s summit, I quickly went from being hot to cold and became hypothermic. I reached 12,000 feet, but had to turn back to the race’s fi nish line to recover. Then we had to take an extra day to arrange permits to go up the mountain again. I wanted to tag the summit and do a proper Double; I couldn’t have lived with myself otherwise.

How do you feel about the recent article in Runner’s World exposing your battle with depression?

When Jay and I did that interview, we were very open and honest about our life. We never knew it would focus on my depression.

At first we were angry and disappointed, but we had to learn to let those things go because we couldn’t change it. It turned into something positive in that people all over the world sent letters and emails saying they were dealing with the same thing. They said, “If you can get back on your feet, then I can get back on my feet.”

As a coach, how do you work with runners who have also experienced depression?

From my own experience, after working toward a big goal, you can be over the moon with happiness, whether it’s a 5K or a marathon or whatever. But then there’s a sense of loss that comes along after it.

I’m trying to teach my clients to determine where they are going [in terms of life goals] before they cross that finish line, so they never get to that point of feeling depressed once the race is over.

So now that the Badwater Double is off your tick list, what’s on your horizon?

I am looking to be a better mother, a better person and a better example. I want to inspire people to do something; it doesn’t have to be athletic—just get off the couch, step out of the box, don’t be afraid.

I am going to make my life simpler. As an athlete, I have no expectations of doing anything bigger, longer or better than the Badwater Double.

■

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2006 NOVEMBER | TRAILRUNNERMAG.COM 15

ADVENTURE

by STUART COWLES

» photos by HARRISON SHULL

A Stone’s Throw Away EVEN IN THE NATION’S BUSIEST NATIONAL PARK, SOLITUDE IS SURPRISINGLY ATTAINABLE Smokin’: Rosalie and Stuart Cowles puffing on a crisp autumn day in the Smoky Mountains.

C

Cool temperatures, bright colors and the smell of morning brew fill our sensory receptors during the morning’s drive as hairpin turns try to distract us. We are descending into the Cataloochee Valley of North Carolina, and my running partner and wife, Rosalie, has rolled down the window and stuck her head out as far as her neck will stretch, just the way our huskies do. I ask her if she is trying to get that first breath of mountain air, but one look at her pale face tells me it is really a case of car sickness.

16 TRAILRUNNERMAG.COM | NOVEMBER 2006

We are on a pilgrimage away from the congested city and mountain-bike traffic of our local trails to a nearby yet distinctly distant world, Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

As we drive closer I contemplate why some people may have a hard time appreciating the Park. It is the most visited wilderness park in the world (over 13 million people annually), and often blanketed in Ohio River Valley smog.

As we approach the park entrance, we see a graveyard of road equipment and broken-down trailer homes that have the distinct stamp of Southern Appalachia.

Rosalie and I have witnessed this scene many times, but are able look past it anticipating the beauty that lies beyond.

The Smoky Mountains represent a beautiful and mystic land featuring over 130 different varieties of deciduous trees (some the largest of their kind), all types of conifers, lush green ground covering, odd red newts (a toed salamander-type creature) and fantastic seasonal diversity. And, for the trail runner, consider the over 900 miles of muddy, rocky, steep singletrack trails that offer year-round adventure.

The park’s Cataloochee Valley is one of western North Carolina’s best-kept secrets. Located about 50 minutes from Asheville, North Carolina, the valley starts broad and expansive, with deer and elk grazing in its fields, and narrows to a steep gathering of peaks and ridges. Loop trails range from about six miles to well over 20. We choose the Boogerman Trail, with a little diversion on the Caldwell Fork Trail. Although Rosalie and I have run the loop many times, with each outing holding something special for us, we look at the explosion of fall color upon us, and decide that today will be no exception.

Near the trailhead, our run is temporary delayed as we stop to witness two bull elk, their antlers locked in an attempt to establish dominance and mating privileges. We begin the run crossing a wet, narrow log footbridge suspended high above the river, one of many we cross. The short connector trail is soft and flat, allowing us to warm up, and our calves are soon coated with southern Appalachian mud. After a mile, we pick up the Boogerman Loop and face a series of three steep hills. Between breaths Rose comments about the tunnels of Rhododendron that today sprinkle dark

green in today’s pallet of autumn colors.

Last time we ran this way, they were in full bloom with big pink blossoms.

Our run began at about 2400 feet in an open forest of old-growth trees, mostly hemlocks and pines. As we crest the top of the first ridge, climbing almost 1000 feet of narrow earthen switchbacks, we run past several white pines, one a worldrecord specimen. Reaching for the sky, this giant is tucked back off the trail, its massive girth hidden by the thick, encircling rhododendrons. This will be the first of many giants we see.

We descend to a small gap, a much needed reprieve from the climbing, and stop at a switchback to take in the spectacular fall colors. In the spring and summer, the area’s natural “smoke” (thus the name), which is particulates of decomposing leaves and earthen matter trapped by humid air, obscures the vistas. At about 3600 feet the trail begins to roll, and we run through a grove of yellow poplar trees (referred to locally as Tulip Poplars due to their mid-summer flowers) that were somehow spared from the lumberjack’s blade. At this point I admit to my “tree-hugger” status; Rose and I stop at a giant elder and try, unsuccessfully, to stretch our arms entirely around its circumference. Standing in the shadows of these old giants, some over 500 years old, makes us ponder our brief existence on this planet.

Refreshed, we push up to the last ridge and begin our rocky descent to the Caldwell Fork Trail. The extreme rockiness requires focus, and our conversation wanes. I barely have a chance to notice the stonework of mysterious rock walls lining the trail. “Where did all of those rocks come from?” I ask Rose. “They sure as hell didn’t come from this trail!”

The history books tell us that just after the Depression, a fellow named Robert “Boogerman” Palmer brought his family here to escape the bustle and development of the Cataloochee Valley, and with one look all around, we assume, to build a lot of rock walls.

The waist-high walls shoot off in directions, and are thickly covered with rich, green moss.

Finishing our loop we pop out on the Caldwell Fork trail, cross yet another log bridge, and ascend the Big Fork Ridge Trail, for just “one more little hill” as Rose puts it. This section seems to climb straight up, affords one quick view, and descends toward

early when the temps will be in the 70s; midday temps can reach 90, and red ozone days are a real risk.

Guidebooks and information. Although the official parkservice trail map (found at any visitor center) is “not intended for navigational purposes,” it is great giving trail names, shade gradients and mileage, and only costs a buck.

The NPS websites are great resources (www.nps.gov/parks.html). Any National Geographic map or USGS quad map of the area will be helpful for predicting elevation changes. A good hikers’ resource is The Little Brown Book: Hiking Trails of the Smokys, by the Smoky Mountains Natural History Association, 1999. There are hundreds of other guides to choose from.

Pondering time beneath a centuries-old elder.

T R A I L H E A D BOOGERMAN TRAIL, GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK, NORTH CAROLINA

Getting there. The Cataloochee Valley is an easy 50-minute drive from Asheville, North Carolina, and about an hour and a half from Knoxville, Tennessee.

Both cities have major airports. From Asheville, take Interstate 40 west to the Maggie Valley exit (#20). Follow National Park Service signs to the right for about 10 miles on a paved and then winding gravel road. The Boogerman trailhead is located a few hundred yards past a campground on the left.

Seasons. Fall mornings are sure to be crisp with frost on the ground but the days may warm up to the low 60s, perfect for running. Winters are harder to predict, with the possibility of waistdeep snow or highs in the mid-60s without a spot of snow in sight. Spring is a gem in the Smokys, with typically cool mornings and temps in the mid-60s to mid-70s.

Summers can be steamy, so head out

Food and drink. Drive the short distance to Asheville for great restaurants and drinking holes. Try some Caribbean-Mexican delights at Salsa’s, or while enjoying a unique vegetarian delicacy at The Laughing Seed on Wall Street, watch the rock climbers pull dynamic moves on the artificial climbing wall.

/camping. The Asheville area has numerous hotels and hostels, with a few other options in the smaller towns of Maggie Valley and Waynesville. For camping, there are 10 pay campgrounds in the park but the Cataloochee campground, located just before the trailhead, is a great choice. With less than 50 sites, flush toilets and a cool creek to rinse off in, it is a perfect basecamp for a few days of running.

Races. If you like to race against a time clock, there are two nearby gems. The famous 17.9 mile Shut-inRidge Run (always the first Saturday in November), starts just outside of Asheville and sports Rockies-esque relief (www.lowerardentrackclub. com). Just outside of Knoxville, the Big South Fork Trail Run is a spectacular 17.5-mile jaunt in the Big South Fork National Recreation Area in mid-October, with soft footing and considerably less vertical than the Shut-In (www.ktc.org).

2006 NOVEMBER | TRAILRUNNERMAG.COM 17

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adventure «

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There can be no leaks, no drips and no excuses. Only then can it carry the GUARANTEED Rosalie Cowles logs some balance practice on the Boogerman Trail.

the gravel road dividing the valley.

Just before we hit the road we pass a large wooden holding pen that served as the first home for the park’s newly reintroduced elk.

Running this last flat stretch is a nice cool down, and with no rocks under our feet, we are able to appreciate huge expansive fields, orange, yellow and red on the distant mountains, old home sites of early settlers and grazing deer and elk. Until the final two miles along a gravel road, we didn’t see a soul the entire outing.

After kicking the mud off our shoes, we hop in the car, roll down the windows and drive the winding road past the highway-equipment graveyard back into the paved world, comforted in knowing that a return trip is but a stone’s throw away.

Stuart Cowles is a certified climbing guide, business owner, backpack designer, Leave No Trace educator and an avid outdoor enthusiast. His wristwatch and day-to-day worries stay at his home in Asheville, North Carolina.

2006 NOVEMBER | TRAILRUNNERMAG.COM 19

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NUTRITION

by CLARE DOROTIK

» photo by DAVID CLIFFORD

ments are common, which is not usually the case with disordered eating.

According to the Eating Disorders Association (EDA), for more than five million people who suffer from disordered eating, food cravings are uncontrollable.

Feelings of helplessness, depression and emotional issues can convert normal concerns about weight and food into an eating disorder, and for a runner the risk of developing an eating disorder, such as anorexia, bulimia and binge-eating disorder, is much higher than the general population (15 versus 62 percent).

Competing in a sport where being lighter is an advantage can be a contributing factor to developing disordered eating, which could lead to an eating disorder. So how do you know if you are experiencing disordered eating, or if you have slipped into the eating-disorder category? While it may seem a fine distinction, there are clear differences.

Food cravings are natural and healthy … to a point.

Disordered Eating or Eating Disorder?

KNOW THE DIFFERENCE AND WHEN TO SEEK HELP

L

Let’s face it—running is hard. We have all experienced a run that feels harder than normal, a tough trail or the long run that seems to never end. And sometimes the only thing that motivates us to keep going is a tantalizing meal at the run’s end.

Although it is normal to crave a favorite food, some yearnings cross the line to being unhealthy. On the least harmful level, they may be classified as disordered eating, but if your body image has become distorted to the point of controlling your food intake and impairing your relationships, ability to work or athletic performance, you might have an eating disorder.

Consider Sue, a trail marathon runner, who constantly calculates calories and numbers of fat grams, weighs herself often and feels obsessed with the scale's numbers. She avoids eating meals or snacks when other people are around. She exercises because she feels obligated. Losing weight and dieting have become her main concerns, although her weight is below 85 percent of normal for her height. Her running performance declines, she feels perpetually fatigued, gets sick a lot and doesn’t

20 TRAILRUNNERMAG.COM | NOVEMBER 2006

quickly recover from illnesses. She has also lost her menstrual cycle and her desire to have a relationship. She feels depressed and hopeless. Sue obviously needs help.

SLIPPERY SLIDE While even elite athletes can exhibit signs of disordered eating, such as intense cravings, distorted body image or rigid food restrictions, these signs differ from an eating disorder both in severity and impact on lifestyle.

According to the Santa Clara University Wellness Center, an eating disorder may have very serious effects, including osteoporosis, iron deficiency, headaches, electrolyte imbalances, depression, increased susceptibility to infection, increased risk of injury and gastrointestinal and cardiovascular problems. With an eating disorder, health, relational and functional impair-

OVER THE TOP While trail running can be a wonderful outlet for stress, it can also be overused, disrupting one’s relationships and performance at work or school, and causing injury. Called anorexia athletica, this condition includes weight loss of more than five percent of body weight, gastrointestinal problems, excessive fear of becoming obese and caloric-intake restriction. Those suffering from the disorder can also exhibit a lack of menstruation, binge or compulsive eating, negative body image and caloric purging through running.

The use of running as a purging method differentiates anorexia athletica from the more common anorexia nervosa, where victims starve themselves to the point of not being able to run, or walk for that matter.

On the other end of the spectrum, bingeeating disorder and bulimia nervosa both include binging, characterized by out-ofcontrol eating and eating to the point of discomfort. While bulimia also involves purging methods such as vomiting, use of laxatives, diet pills and excessive exercise, normal weight is maintained.

THE FINE LINE People with disordered eating may exhibit a mixture of signs. Elite trail runner and multiple course-record holder, including the Pikes Peak Marathon (1981) and the Bandolier Marathon (1988), Steve

nutrition « Warshawer, restricts his food intake, exercises frequently and fears gaining weight.

“I’ve done the three-day juice fast, run 175 miles a week and still wore racing flats on a 100-mile run,” says Warshawer, “because I still thought I was too heavy.”

While Warshawer may be aware of his distorted body image, he is of normal weight thanks to adequate caloric intake. However, he exemplifies disordered eating, due to his cycle of dieting and anxiety about fatness.

While a hardheaded runner may try to run through these problems, an eventual decrease in strength and endurance from too few calories is inevitable.

FOOD IS FUEL “Food is fuel, and just as your body needs to sleep, urinate and breathe, it also needs to be fueled,” explains sports nutritionist Nancy Clark, MS, RD, adding that when food is viewed as fattening, you will struggle with every mouthful. For those suffering from disordered eating, she recommends beginning by calculating your daily caloric needs.

To do this, take your weight in pounds and add a zero; this is your resting metabolic rate (RMR). For example, the average 120-pound woman needs 1200 calories just to lie in bed and breathe. Next estimate your daily activity level. If your activity level is sedentary, multiply your RMR by .2 to .4, if it is moderate, multiply your RMR by .4 to .6, and if you are highly active, multiply your RMR by .6 to .8. Add this number to your RMR. Lastly, estimate your caloric expenditure in exercise (for a runner, it is about 100 calories per mile for the average 150-pound male) and add it to your RMR to determine your daily recommended caloric intake.

Clark also suggests talking to a professional who can help you develop a normal eating pattern, establish alternatives to binge eating, practice problem-solving techniques and develop a plan to maintain healthy eating patterns. According to the EDA, this will include a relapse plan and knowing what may trigger the disorderedeating pattern. Stress, dealing with underlying issues in therapy, overwhelming emotions, death of a loved one, marital and family problems, and feelings of shame, loneliness, guilt and anger are just a few of these triggers.

Additionally, writing down negative selfstatements, challenging them and replacing them with positive ones can help.

Lastly, Clark recommends listing healthy coping mechanisms for crisis situations,

e.g. calling supportive family and friends.

Family and friends can remind us that life, after all, is supposed to be fun, and so is running. However, when running controls you and calorie counting dominates your life, damaging relationships and work, school or athletic performance, it is time to stop and ask yourself some questions (see sidebar). Disordered eating will restrict your ability to enjoy life, while an eating disorder risks your overall health and well being.

■

THE FIRST STEP FOR A GREAT DAY

CHECK THE SIGNS In order to make an accurate diagnosis of an eating disorder, consult a registered dietitian, therapist, psychologist or psychiatrist.

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BULIMIA NERVOSA • Bodyweight may be underweight, overweight or normal • Binge eating accompanied by lack of control and physical or emotional distress • Purging (self induced vomiting, diet pills, laxatives, diuretics, heavy exercise) in an attempt to rid the body of the calories consumed • Bingeing and purging occurs two times a week • Visits bathroom after meals • Body image (self evaluation and self esteem) is overly influenced by body shape and weight • Recognition that eating problem is out of control • Depression

ANOREXIA NERVOSA • Characterized by extreme weight loss (greater than five percent) • Intense fear of gaining weight, and distorted perception of body shape and weight • Amenorrhea (loss of menstrual cycle) • Gastrointestinal complaints • Extreme caloric intake restriction • Changes in personality or mood swings • Denial of the problem’s existence • Rigid or obsessive behavior attached to eating, such as cutting food into tiny pieces • Restlessness or hyperactivity • Wearing baggy clothes • Chew gum constantly • Refusal to eat in public • Poor athletic performance • Lack of energy, sleep excessively • Hair loss • Increase in body hair, especially on the face • Depression • Excessive exercise 2006 NOVEMBER | TRAILRUNNERMAG.COM 21

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There can be no leaks, no drips and no excuses. Only then can it carry the GUARANTEED TO KEEP YOU DRY® promise.

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TRAIL Rx

by KATRINA HAYS

» photo by DAVID CLIFFORD

Is ASTYM right for you?

ASTYM developer Performance Dynamics indicates that soft-tissue treatment can be particularly effective on post-surgical scarring and fibrosis, hip pain or trochanteric bursitis, plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendinitis, shin splits, patellar tendinitis, hamstring strains, iliotibial band syndrome and most other forms of chronic tendinopathies.

Visit www.astym.com and click on “Locate a Provider” to locate a certified ASTYM practitioner near you.

(or ASTYM, with the “Y” added for easier pronunciation: “ey-stim”) is a therapy that initiates reconstruction and regeneration of dysfunctional tissue. In simple terms, the treatment creates new healthy, functional tissue from chronically injured tissue.

OLD INJURY, NEW SOLUTION

Here’s the Rub ASTYM HAS CHRONICALLY INJURED PATIENTS RUNNING THEIR WAY TO RECOVERY

T

Two summers ago my alarm shrilled viciously early, calling me out for a long run before the day’s heat intensified. I groggily swung my feet off the bed but when my right heel hit the ground, I shrieked in pain and crumpled backward, tears of rage and self-pity springing to my eyes.

It was two months before my first marathon in Portland, Oregon, and it appeared that a persistent case of plantar fasciitis (a painful inflammation of the tissue running along the sole of the foot) would spoil my plans. Discouraged, I scheduled yet another visit to the physical therapy clinic for urgent treatment.

22 TRAILRUNNERMAG.COM | NOVEMBER 2006

“The fastest way to lose a runner as a patient is to tell them they can’t run,” says Chris Cooper MSPT, a physical therapist with Therapeutic Associates Incorporated (TAI) in Bend, Oregon. “To offer them a therapy where I tell them to run is a big deal.”

Augmented soft-tissue manipulation

I had taken my aching right heel through the usual round of ice, heat, ultrasound, iontophoresis (a course of treatment in which steroidal anti-inflammatory medication is applied locally and delivered to the injured area via electricity) and massage. When I limped back to the TAI office in the Athletic Club of Bend, Laura Cooper, MSPT, looked at me with consideration.

“I’d like you to try a new therapy that I’ve had good results with,” Laura said.

“But you have to really participate in your recovery, OK?” She said I would have to actively stretch, and I would have to (have to!) run as part of my rehabilitation.

Laura had heard of ASTYM from a fellow therapist. She convinced her husband Chris to join her in an ASTYM training course, and the couple immediately started using it in their practice.

“We started seeing immediate results among patients,” says Chris. “I haven’t stopped using other treatment modalities, but for treating certain injuries ASTYM blows them all out of the water.”

TOOLS OF THE TRADE Therapists trained in ASTYM use a series of ergonomically designed plastic instruments. The therapist rubs these tools over the injury site, the surrounding muscle’s origin and insertion and, finally, the ligaments above and below the injury. The

trail rx «

Curing the Skeptic Kami Semick, winner of the 2005 Trail Runner Trophy Series ultra division, is an ASTYM graduate.

“I was definitely a doubter,” she recalls, “but now I’d absolutely recommend ASTYM as a part of rehabilitation.”

Last summer, Semick ran two 100-kilometer races within a five-week period. Her Achilles tendon started to flare up, so she turned to the typical therapy of ice, rest, ultrasound and massage.

“I got a little relief, but the

therapist’s skilled hands use the tools to identify soft tissue adhesions (bumps along an otherwise smooth length of muscle or ligament), and impart a trauma that initiates breakdown of the damaged tissue.

This microtrauma stimulates a local healing response where the body resorbs the old fibrosis or scar tissue. Combined with stretching, exercise and functional activity (like running), the therapy restructures both the existing and new collagen (connective tissue) in the injured area.

“Basically, scar tissue looks like steel wool,” says Chris. “Old injuries are just a mass of disorganized tissue. Healthy tissue will lie down in tidy parallel lines.

The idea with ASTYM is that you’re microtraumatizing inappropriate tissue to set up a natural healing response to recreate smooth, healthy tissue.”

So, you’re essentially re-injuring an injury to make it better? I was doubtful about this new therapy—even more so when Laura cheerfully told me, “It’s intense!”

PERFORMANCE DYNAMICS

ACTIVE RECOVERY REQUIRED “Intense” is absolutely accurate. First, Laura rubbed my lower leg—from the toes to just above the knee—with heavy cream. That was the good part. Then she picked up a plastic tool resembling a heavy handle-less spatula and ran it solidly down my outer shin. As she rubbed firmly I could hear and feel the adhesions crunching under the spatula. It was painful. OK, it was very painful.

The typical ASTYM process calls for two treatments a week for six to 12 total sessions. I was absolutely rigorous about both following the stretching protocol and only running on trails and an elliptical trainer during the treatment. After three weeks

problem always crept back in,” says Semick.

For months, Semick went through the frustrating and expensive racing and therapy cycle.

After winning the Bend Marathon in October, she heard about ASTYM and hesitantly went in for treatment.

Within a month of ASTYM protocol combined with rigorous stretching, wearing a night splint and adjusting her orthotics, Semick’s injury had healed.

my heel felt considerably better.

“We must to do a solid job of educating the patient about the ASTYM process,” says Laura. “If the patient doesn’t do her part with stretching and strengthening, then it doesn’t work.”

“The new tissue the body lays down is only going to be as strong as the forces put on it,” explains Chris, “which is where the stretching and running come in.”

Both therapists point out that ASTYM therapy is based on proven scientific research and outcomes. Healthcare company Performance Dynamics researched and developed ASTYM. The company was founded in 1996 and grew out of a collaboration that included Dr. Thomas L. Sevier, MD, as the leading researcher and developer, and Ball Memorial Hospital in Muncie, Indiana.

“We have found ASTYM to be unbelievably effective in clearing up scar tissue and treating chronic tendinitis,” says Sevier, a former college basketball player whose patellar tendinitis frustrated him enough to begin developing ASTYM 13 years ago.

He says that Performance Dynamics’ research reports a 90-percent positive outcome with its athlete test group.

“It’s gratifying,” says Dr. Sevier, “because we get people back to their sport pretty much without recurrence.”

Gratifying was exactly my experience with the ASTYM treatment. My heel slowly continued to improve, I ran the Portland Marathon and I am still running today— with no heel pain.

Katrina Hays is a Bend, Oregon-based writer. She has written for SAIL and Scuba Diving magazines and is a regular contributor to Bend Living magazine.

2006 NOVEMBER | TRAILRUNNERMAG.COM 23

THE FIRST STEP FOR A GREAT DAY

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But the most crucial test is how you feel at the end of the day.

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There can be no leaks, no drips and no excuses. Only then can it carry the GUARANTEED TO KEEP YOU DRY® promise.

Shop for great gear at gore-tex.com

It’s a great day.

©2006 W. L. Gore & Associates Inc. GORE-TEX®, XCR®, GUARANTEED TO KEEP YOU DRY®, GORE® and designs are trademarks of W. L. Gore & Associates, 1-800-GORE-TEX

AS K THE COA C H

by THERESE IKNOIAN

» Illustration by JEREMY COLLINS

still on the market and studies have shown increased heart attacks in Vioxx users.

According to Western States medical director emeritus Bob Lind, that leaves acetaminophen (Tylenol), which at this point is the pain-reliever of choice—but only in moderate doses, with food and water, and, again, not for prevention. If your training causes so much pain that you are required to take pain relievers, maybe it’s time to consider a change of plan.

ANTI-INFLAMMATORY STATEMENT, BLISTER BAN & SIMPLE ITB STRETCH DRUGS OF CHOICE I started training for ultra trail racing a few months ago and have a few aches and pains. I am confused about which antiinflammatory drug to use. What do you recommend?

—PATRICK KELLY, FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.

In the January 2005 issue (No. 31), we discussed the danger of kidney and liver damage with ibuprofen use while running, although the studies were inconclusive. Still, the advice remained: use anti-inflammatories in moderation, and don’t use them for prevention.

At the medical meeting before the 2006 Western States 100, doctors released other findings that may keep you off the ibuprofen. Based on a study done at last year’s run, researchers found no difference in soreness, pain and race times between users and non-users, i.e. no benefit. Here’s the kicker: There were indications of increased muscle and kidney damage among users, as well as an indication that bacteria released into the liver and blood was causing more muscle inflammation.

“We don’t think taking ibuprofen is a healthy thing,” said David Nieman, Ph.D., professor of exercise science at Appalachian State University in North Carolina, at the session in June. “And there’s no benefit against muscle damage. So should athletes use ibuprofen? I really don’t recommend it.” And what’s a runner to do with the so-called NSAIDs (not only ibuprofen but also naprosyn and aspirin) on the do-not-take list? Cox-2 inhibitors like Vioxx and Celebrex may not be great either. Only Celebrex is 24 TRAILRUNNERMAG.COM | NOVEMBER 2006

GET OFF THE (IT) BAND WAGON During the past year, I’ve developed iliotibial band syndrome (ITBS), which flairs up whenever I run hard downhill. Are there stretches that might help?

—MARY GILBERT, FORT COLLINS, CO

The ITB runs down the outside side of your upper leg and helps stabilize your hips when running, which means it works hard. Aside from stretching, you should also ice your hip, AN OUNCE knee and the side of your OF BLISTER leg before and after runs.

PREVENTION Jack Emery, an ultrarunner I have blisters on the outside of and physical therapist from my big toes right at the second Grass Valley, California, sugjoint. I have tried blister pads, gests this stretch: standing sports lubricants and switching in front of a table, place your shoes, but nothing has worked. hands on the surface and bend What should I do? forward at the waist. Cross your right leg, slightly bent, —ERIC KAIRYS, in front of the left. With most LOS ANGELES, CA of your weight forward on Blisters remain a bit of an enig- the right leg and hands, push ma and a constant annoyance, your left hip out to the side, according to David Townes, keeping both the left leg and associate professor of emergen- your back straight. Repeat on cy medicine at the University the other side. Also, Google of Washington School of “iliotibial band stretches” for a Medicine. His AdventureMed plethora of other options. support business for advenEmery also suggests seeing ture races spends half its time a physical therapist, who can treating blisters. “Ultimately, show you how to do a friction what causes blisters is fric- massage using your thumb or tion against the skin,” which, knuckles on the side of your he says, can be caused by a leg to break up scar tissue in change or increase in activity, the ITB. Rolling on a specialpoor-fitting shoes (either too ly designed foam roller will tight or too loose), trail debris, help “unstick” the fascia from moisture and heat.

■ muscle sheath.

In addition, says Townes, “Some people are just unlucky,” and seem to be predisposed to getting blisters because of the shape of their foot or gait pattern. Changing out of wet socks and wearing gaiters can help, but if you’re the unlucky type, consider taping your feet before runs and bandage hotspots before they become full-blown blisters. Try Spenco’s 2 nd Skin or Sports Blister Pads, or Sam Trail Runner would like to answer your Medical Products’ Blist-O-Ban questions on training, medicine, gear Bandages. Using something and technique. Please send them to coach@bigstonepub.com. If we use to help the bandage stick, your question in an upcoming issue, such as Tincture of Benzoin, you will receive a pair of INOV-8 trail runners. The Terroc 330 offers great can help too. And consider a comfort and performance. Very flexvisit to a podiatrist or physical ible, light-weight and highly breathable for hard-packed trails and the therapist, who may be able to occasional dirt road. recommend changes to your www.inov-8.com running style.

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In what he later described as the toughest race of his life, Joe Kulak pauses at mile 62 of the Western States 100.

Joe regrouped and went on to finish in the top 15. Photo: William Anthony. www.enduranceis.com

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T R AIL TIPS

by EMMA WILLIAMS

»

photo by PATITUCCIPHOTO

Lights Out FIVE KEYS TO RUNNING IN THE DARK

F

Fall might bring welcome respite from the summer heat, but the prospect of decreased daylight and limited weekday trail time can feel like an unfair trade-off. But the time change doesn’t have to chase you off the trails–these common-sense steps will help you navigate the hazards of running in the dark right through to spring or the long night of your next 100-miler.

1. THE WAY YOU KNOW IS THE WAY TO GO.

Pick familiar terrain that you are comfortable with, advises adventure racer and ultrarunner Star Affolter, who often trains on the trails near her Tennessee home in the pre-dawn hours. “I choose trails that I have run before so I don’t risk getting lost,” says the two-time Primal Quest competitor. “Things can look very different in the dark, and it’s easy to get turned around.”

trail gear. Don glasses with clear lenses to protect your eyes from “invisible” branches that have the potential to gouge your delicate optical orbs. Wear well-fitting clothing that won’t snag on shrubs or trees and select shoes appropriate for the terrain to reduce the chance of tripping over unseen obstacles. For your running partners’ and vehicular traffic’s sake, consider wearing reflective clothing to make you more visible in the darkness.

2. GET YOUR GEAR ON.

3. USE YOUR HEADLAMP.

The middle of a moonlit trail is a lessthan-ideal place for a wardrobe malfunction, so use the seasonal change as an opportunity to re-evaluate your

A lightweight headlamp and /or handheld flashlight is essential for night travel, according to Jim Farmer, another Primal Quest competitor,

26 TRAILRUNNERMAG.COM | NOVEMBER 2006

team captain and lead navigator for Team Rock Creek Outfitters. “A good headlamp that fits well is crucial,” says Farmer, who suggests finding a model with multiple intensity settings to save on battery life. “You definitely want the strongest light possible, but you don’t want something so heavy and bulky that it’s bouncing around on your head and killing your neck.”

Since the advent of LED light tech nology, head la mps have become smaller, lighter-weight and brighter. One of the most compact headlamps on the market is Petzl’s Zipka (a retractable-band version of the popular Tikka), which weighs a mere 65 grams including batteries.

“Always make sure the batteries in your headlamp are fresh, especially if you’re out there alone,” says Affolter.

“And if you’re running on trails at dusk, go ahead and put the lamp on so it will be ready when you need it.”

Night Running Essentials

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iV>Ă•ĂƒiĂŠ ÂœĂŒÂ…ÂˆÂ˜}ĂŠ Â?ĂƒiĂŠ Ă›iÂ˜ĂŠ œ“iĂƒĂŠ Â?ÂœĂƒi°Ê 1Â?ĂŒĂ€>‡i˜`Ă•Ă€>˜ViĂŠ Ă€Ă•Â˜Â˜iÀÊ >Ă€Â?ĂŠ iÂ?ĂŒĂ˘iÀÊ ĂœÂœÂ˜ĂŠ >Â˜ĂŠ Ă•Â˜ÂŤĂ€iVi`iÂ˜ĂŒi`ĂŠ vÂˆĂ›iĂŠ Ă•Â?ĂŒĂ€>“>Ă€>ĂŒÂ…ÂœÂ˜ĂƒĂŠ ÂˆÂ˜ĂŠ œ˜Â?ÞÊ ĂƒÂˆĂ?ĂŠ Â“ÂœÂ˜ĂŒÂ…ĂƒÂ°ĂŠ iĂŠ >Â?ĂƒÂœĂŠ LĂ€ÂœÂŽiĂŠ ĂŒÂ…Ă€iiĂŠ VÂœĂ•Ă€ĂƒiĂŠĂ€iVÂœĂ€`ĂƒĂŠ>Â?œ˜}ĂŠĂŒÂ…iĂŠĂœ>Þ°Ê ÂœĂœĂŠ`ÂœiĂƒĂŠÂ…iĂŠ`ÂœĂŠÂˆĂŒĂŠĂœÂˆĂŒÂ…ÂœĂ•ĂŒĂŠLĂ•Ă€ĂžÂˆÂ˜}ĂŠÂ…ÂˆÂ“ĂƒiÂ?vœÊ ÂœĂ€ĂŠÂœÂ˜iĂŠĂŒÂ…ÂˆÂ˜}]ĂŠ Â…iĂŠ Ă€iÂ?ˆiĂƒĂŠ ÂœÂ˜ĂŠ ÂˆĂ€ĂƒĂŒĂŠ ˜`Ă•Ă€>˜ViĂŠ ĂŒÂœĂŠ Â…iÂ?ÂŤĂŠ Â…ÂˆÂ“ĂŠ }ÂœĂŠ Â…>Ă€`iÀÊ >˜`ĂŠ Ă€iVÂœĂ›iÀÊ v>ĂƒĂŒiÀÊ `>ÞÊ >vĂŒiÀÊ `>Þ°Ê -iiĂŠ vÂœĂ€ĂŠ ĂžÂœĂ•Ă€ĂƒiÂ?vĂŠ Â…ÂœĂœĂŠ ĂŒÂ…iĂŠ >Ăœ>Ă€`Â‡ĂœÂˆÂ˜Â˜ÂˆÂ˜}]ĂŠ VĂ€ÂˆĂŒÂˆV>Â?Â?ÞÊ >VVÂ?>ˆ“i`ĂŠ ÂˆĂ€ĂƒĂŒĂŠ ˜`Ă•Ă€>˜ViĂŠ ĂƒĂžĂƒĂŒi“Ê V>Â˜ĂŠ Â…iÂ?ÂŤĂŠĂŒ>ÂŽiĂŠĂžÂœĂ•Ă€ĂŠĂ€Ă•Â˜Â˜ÂˆÂ˜}ĂŠĂŒÂœĂŠ>ĂŠÂ˜iĂœĂŠÂ?iĂ›iÂ?°

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4. COMMON SENSE COUNTS DOUBLE.

Running in the dark compromises your field of vision and increases risk of injury, so basic safety precautions become even more critical. Running with a group is preferable, but if you do find yourself going solo, bring a cell phone and tell someone the route you’re taking, as well as the time you plan to return.

Leaving a note with your run itinerary on the kitchen countertop or the car is another smart precaution, and whether you’re alone or with others, a basic firstaid kit and a whistle to communicate your location are necessities.

5. HAVE A POSITIVE OUTLOOK.

Ultimately, running trails after dark is a matter of self-confidence; the more you dwell on the possibility of injury, the more likely you are to end up sidelined. “Confidence is key,� says Farmer. “Instead of trying to look out for every root, rock or fallen branch under foot, keep your focus a few steps ahead, then trust that your feet and legs will adapt.�

Emma Williams, an avid runner, cyclist and triathlete, lives and writes in Chattanooga, Tennessee and southwestern United Kingdom.

2006 NOVEMBER | TRAILRUNNERMAG.COM 27

TAKE YOUR MARK GARETTGRAHAM GRAUBINS DAVE CLIFFORD

by CHUCK

by LUISby ESCOBAR » Illustration » photo

SANTA BARBARA 9-TRAILS 35-MILE ENDURANCE RUN SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA

COURSE DESCRIPTION: Scenic and hilly, the 9-Trails race takes runners through Santa Barbara’s nine frontcountry trails, tackling a mixture of singletrack and fire roads with an overall elevation gain of 11,500 feet.

RACE DATE: November 25, 2006 ENTRY FEE: $45 before November 1st, $55 after November 1st.

WEBSITE: www.AllWeDoIsRun.com

Santa Barbara 9-Trail veteran Tim Cullum grinds his way through the lush Los Padres National Forest.

Turkey Powered SANTA BARBARA 9-TRAILS 35-MILER IS A RITE OF AUTUMN

T

The morning after a celebratory day of dining on Thanksgiving turkey, participants of the 16th Annual Santa Barbara 9Trails Ultra race will line up in the crisp morning air for the dawn start.

Race founder, Patsy Dorsey, is an exsmoker who made her ultrarunning debut in the American River 50 Miler in 1986. For a woman who began running as a means to control cigarette cravings, she has since become known as the “Grande Dame” of Santa Barbara endurance sports, competing in hundreds of marathons, ultramarathons and triathlons. The love of running and immense pride in her hometown’s natural beauty motivated her to create the grassroots ultra race in 1990.

“I wanted to share with other runners the environment I trained in,” boasts Dorsey. “Nowhere is as beautiful as here.”

After 15 years as race director, last year she passed the race’s reins over to 28 TRAILRUNNERMAG.COM | NOVEMBER MARCH 2005 2006

Luis Escobar, Mark Wieneke and a small group of local distance runners, though she will still have a presence at this year’s event.

The Santa Ynez Mountains are one of the few ranges in the world that run east to west, plunging 4000 feet to the Pacific Ocean. Channel Islands National Park and its bevy of natural wonders lies 11 to 40 miles offshore and is known as the “Galapagos of the North” for its diverse flora and fauna. A unique trail running destination in its own right, the Channel Islands add to the sweeping views visible during the race [see Great Escapes, May 2005, No. 33].

Linking Los Padres National Forest’s nine “frontcountry” trails, the challenging out-and-back course has an elevation gain of over 11,500 feet, ranging between 600 feet above sea level to 2400 feet. The constantly rolling terrain encompasses a blend of singletrack trail, fire roads and

four miles of pavement. While the 35-mile distance may be considered an entry-level ultra, the course is advanced in difficulty, featuring 10 sustained climbs, technical descents and multiple creek crossings.

“It’s true that the course is only 35 miles,” says Escobar. “But the best finishing times are comparable to a fast 50-miler.”

The 2006 event will see no more than 100 runners lining up at sunrise. Last year’s overall champion was 40-yearold James Elliott of Santa Barbara, and he’ll be there to defend his title.

Finishing seventh overall at last year’s event and winning the women’s division was Santa Barbara’s Amy Bigelow, 40, who will also be competing for her third consecutive title.

“Once you reach Gibraltar Road, the seventh of eight aid stations, you’re done with the major climbing and it’s 10 miles to the finish. At that point, I’m thinking, ‘I’m done!’” says Bigelow.

Among the race’s best aspects is the number of fantastic aid-station volunteers encouraging and fueling racers. Dorsey still volunteers at the race, working the Romero Canyon station at the halfway point, and later greeting each runner as they cross the finish line at the Jesusita Trailhead.

“I’ll be there with a hug and a hot bowl of soup,” says Dorsey. “It’s all worth it then. A lot of times I’ve had people fall into my arms crying and thanking me for letting them do this.”

Chuck Graham is a freelance writer based in Carpinteria, California and can see the halfway point of the 9-Trails race from his house.

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FACES

by GARETT GRAUBINS

» photo by BRENT HUMPHREYS Despite the demands of motherhood, Kristin still managed to explore the countryside herself. “When I lived in Switzerland, I’d run the trails every single day,” she says. She admits that it was slowpaced running—and just a few miles—but the stage was set for later days.

In February 2003, the public learned that this seemingly idyllic life of yellow jerseys and Champs-Elysées flower bouquets had its problems, and Kristin and Lance had decided to part ways.

Naturally, it was a very difficult time— not only heartbreaking but exceedingly public in nature. But good things eventually came from the split. As Kristin, now 35, recently explained during an appearance on the Oprah show, a big part of the healing process has been to re-discover the things she enjoys most in life. She says, “If you ask me today what I truly love, I can easily tell you I love God, my family, my friends, fireworks displays, a good red wine, staying up late with a mystery novel … and laughing until no sound comes out.”

Today, while the anchors of Kristin’s life remain motherhood, faith and a jambalaya of self-indulgent pursuits, she’s also embraced a new passion. She’s discovered long-distance running, and that has made a difference at a time when some people would consider tempo work and training mileage to be as unessential as a rearview mirror on a bicycle.

“I never did any long distance until the divorce,” she says. “I took it up on the suggestion of some friends—it was their gift to me, an act of compassion on their part, and it represented a healthy approach to feeling better.”

Self Re-Discovery HOW KRISTIN ARMSTRONG DEALT WITH DIVORCE AND FOUND AN ENLIGHTENED PATH

O

Only a few years ago, Kristin Armstrong lived in enchanted Europe, the land of hillside castles and Renaissance churches. ¶ During her time in Switzerland, her husband—a talented cyclist named Lance (yes, that Lance Armstrong)—would set out for long training rides while Kristin stayed back, focused on being a mother, learning a new language and supporting her husband’s athletic quest.

30 TRAILRUNNERMAG.COM | NOVEMBER 2006

MARATHON RECOVERY With her long blond hair, lithe frame and stunning appearance, Kristin resembles a fabled princess, more easily imagined in a ball gown than shorts and a salt-marked singlet. Looks deceive and beneath the kindly, gentle-natured exterior lurks an intensely swift-footed runner coming into her own. Kristin took on her first marathon in 2003, a road race in Dallas called the White Rock, only 10 months after the announcement of her divorce.

“It was brutal,” says Kristin. “I was a

“I was asking myself, ‘Why don’t I go more often? Why do I run pavement?’

Trail running takes the spiritual essence of running to a new level.” crying, hurting mess.” The pain aside, she labored to the finish with a solid time of 3:48.

Amidst the struggle at White Rock, Kristin found something she had been missing: solace. “There’s such grace and humility to running. It brings out the best in people,” she says. “I mean, here I am, a total disaster, but I’m still doing it.” With an omnipresent, glass-half-full brand of optimism, she placed the next year’s New York City Marathon squarely in her sights.

New York went better, and she ran a 3:45. So did Chicago, when Kristin rattled off a 3:35 and qualified for the Big Kahuna of road running: the Boston Marathon. Memo to the running world: a seriously talented runner was just realizing the potential of her stride.

HAPPIER TRAILS If a poll were taken of hardened trail runners, most would admit—maybe sheepishly after glancing behind them— that they were raised on asphalt. Likewise, Kristin seems to be heading off road more and more after planting a seed in the pavement.

Although she ran some dirt trails back in Switzerland, Kristin credits a friend named Scott Dunlap with introducing her to the off-road world. In 2005, Dunlap, husband of one of Kristin’s childhood friends and 2004 Trail Runner Trophy Series champion, invited her to his home in the San

DEVOTION IN MOTION Since her divorce from Lance Armstrong, Kristin has rediscovered a life-long love of writing. Recently, she penned a book inspired by her recent journey from saddened divorcee to self-determined, optimistic spirit. Says Kristin, “It’s a daily devotional for women going through a divorce.” The book, entitled Happily Ever After: Walking with Peace and Courage through a Year of Divorce, is due out from Warner Faith in January 2007.

Francisco Bay Area for a personalized version of Trail Running 101.

“Kristin was excited about running roads, and I warned her that she was only getting started,” says Scott. “She is very religious, and I told her that the forest is my own church.”

Kristin tackled some of Scott’s favorite loops, complete with some lung-busting climbs that would dwarf the roughest roadrace courses. Kristin took to it like a hummingbird to sugar water. “It reminded me of being a child—of being outside,” she says. “I was asking myself, ‘Why don’t I go more often? Why do I run pavement?’ Trail running takes the spiritual essence of running to a new level.”

Since then, Kristin has sought to hit the trails near her Austin, Texas, home more often. Granted, it’s a 10-gallon challenge with three children—she has a six-year-old son, Luke, and four-year-old twins, Grace and Isabelle. Speaking on the phone this past summer, Kristin said that she’d been limited mostly to the pavement: “With them out of school right now, it’s been baby jogger city around here.” But she still savors the occasional escape to the nearby dirt.

“There’s great trail running in the Austin area,” she says. “But you do have to watch for rattlesnakes and think about your footing. Trail running is still intimidating … I need to practice it.” But she takes it in stride, as she has learned to do with many other challenges over the past several years. Here, running overlaps heavily with her Texas-sized faith, which she describes as “the core of who I am.”

Says Kristin, “Everything comes from that place [Christianity] and everything relates back to it in some way.”

“Running has become such a spiritual experience for me,” says Kristin. “I love that feeling at the starting line—that you have no clue what is going to happen.

There’s no room for arrogance.”

Garett Graubins is former Senior Editor of Trail Runner magazine.

2006 NOVEMBER | TRAILRUNNERMAG.COM 31

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LAST GASP

by BERNIE BOETTCHER

» Illustration by JEREMY COLLINS

Lost In Time A DEATH MARCH TO A DESERT ARCH

W

We’d grown up together back East. We were young, idealistic, determined morons who’d built bodies capable of exceeding the limits of standard-issue models.

But I hadn’t seen “Rich” in years when we threw together a spur-of-themoment Grand Canyon trip.

We met at about 10 p.m. at the Grand Canyon Desert View overlook. Our last trip here had taken us to the bottom of the canyon and back. In our rush to hike, we had forgotten to pack food and water and ended up eating prickly-pear cactus on the way out, but most of our adventures were like that.

Entering the tourist shop, we pored over maps and postcards.

“Where’s this?” Rich’s wide eyes landed on a postcard of Rainbow Bridge, a stone arch 290 feet high and 275 feet long overhanging a reflecting inlet near the border of Utah and Arizona. “Let’s go there!” His 32 TRAILRUNNERMAG.COM | NOVEMBER 2006

smile sealed our fate.

After driving into the night, we camped on the shore of Lake Powell. We were up at dawn, but got a lazy start exploring the shoreline. After carefully examining our generic Utah “road map,” the two of us determined the trail into Rainbow Bridge to be about a 10-mile round trip.

“Oh, we should be able to do that in about three or four hours,” I said.

We remembered to fill our water bottles and picked up some beer and a sandwich each in Page, Arizona, but got lost driving through a maze of unmarked dirt roads in the Navajo Reservation before finally finding the trailhead around 2 p.m.

I threw some gear into the daypacks and handed one to Rich as he gulped a beer to wash down his lunch. We weren’t even sure if we’d discovered the right trail until we stumbled across a faded, broken sign lying in the dirt a quarter-mile out.

“I think it says Rainbow Bridge,” I exclaimed. And it did, but what I didn’t know was that the trail was about three times longer than our road map indicated, at times barely visible, and rife with intense elevation changes.

The trail roller-coastered through boulder-choked canyon country on the southwest flanks of 10,388-foot Navajo Mountain.

Slickrock descents reversed directions and climbed rimrock ledges to overlook the canyon maze of the Rainbow Plateau.

After an hour of hearty running in the hot, dry October wind, we found our strength sapped. We walked for an hour ... and then another.

“We should’ve been there by now,” I groaned.

Our water was nearly gone. By the fourth hour, it was gone.

We were deep in the shadows of Cliff Canyon when the sun went down. Rich tumbled on a treacherous descent, gaining a bloody, swollen knee.

“Could be a long night,” I said.

“Yup,” he said, still smiling.

It grew cold before the first stars came out, but we built a fire and wrapped ourselves in emergency blankets. We took turns feeding the fire, but grew exhausted.

Around midnight, I buried fire-heated rocks in the bitter cold sand, and caught a few catnaps. Rich stayed upright to collect more heat from the fire. He fell asleep standing up, backed into the flames and caught his blanket on fire. The flames were around his shoulders when he woke up.

We shared a granola bar (the last of our food) for a predawn breakfast on the final march to the arch, and arrived at the world’s largest natural bridge at sunrise.

I took some pictures, while Rich stole a nap on a sunny rock.

We staggered up the trail, often collapsing under shady rocks in the hot afternoon sun. At times I thought Rich might not get back up again, and I should go for help. But we reached the car just past sunset, after a 30-hour tour.

This Rainbow trek, a decade ago, inspired me to become a better trail runner. I vowed never to be caught out weak and unprepared again.

It inspired Rich to take up hang-gliding, and I haven’t seen or heard from him since.

Bernie Boettcher still runs after rainbows near Silt, Colorado.

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Jennifer Sauer, Josh Mahan and Bridget Crocker on a bluebird day in the Gros Ventre Wilderness, Wyoming.

34 TRAILRUNNERMAG.COM | NOVEMBER 2006

RECONNECTING

&

HEART HOME

IN WYOMING’S STUNNING

JACKSON HOLE VALLEY

BY BRIDGET CROCKER • PHOTOS BY DAVID CLIFFORD

2006 NOVEMBER | TRAILRUNNERMAG.COM 35

WHEN I FIRST SEE THEM, The author reconnecting with her previous home in the Jackson Hole valley, here in Grand Teton National Park.

I START TO CRY.

NOTBUTWATERY, SURFACE TEARDROPS, RUMBLING WAVES THAT ORIGINATE FROM A PLACE DEEP IN MY CORE, A PLACETHESETHAT’S BEEN FORGOTTEN LAST FIVE YEARS I’VE BEEN LIVING NEAR THE OCEAN.

W

When I see their shimmering, silver-tipped one of them, making this pilgrimage during the summer solstice leaves dancing jubilantly in the wake of an to run the trails I grew up guiding with my family’s backpacking afternoon thunderstorm, I sense these aspen outfitting business. trees remember me and are marking my Photographer David Clifford and I meet up in the wild-west-themed return. Their brilliant white bark illuminates town of Jackson (Jackson Hole is the name of the valley; Jackson is Highway 89 along the Snake River, guiding the main town) and strike out for the trails of Grand Teton National me back to the valley where I grew up. My Park. Stacked, puffy cumulus clouds drift overhead as we make the core cracked open, I surrender to the aspens’ spectacular 15-minute drive from town. David and I board the ferry embrace, slightly mystified that I haven’t crossing Jenny Lake (named for the Shoshone wife of fur trapper missed them until now.

“Beaver” Dick Leigh) intent on revisiting the pine-forested paths The Jackson Hole valley lies nestled in the well-worn by my family. northwest corner of Wyoming just south of The ferry drops us near Inspiration Point and Hidden Falls. David Yellowstone National Park. To the west, it is shoots me a look of horror as we’re herded in with the tourist throngs sheltered by the craggy Tetons and borders the for an orientation speech from a Park employee.

Gros Ventre Wilderness to the east. At over “This place is like Aspen on steroids,” David says, disillusioned.

6000 feet above sea level, the Snake River and “Follow me.” I tug on him and we slip off, making our way along her tributaries traverse the sage-covered valley the less-worn Lake Loop Trail. After about a mile and a half, we see floor. I am not alone in thinking that Jackson only pale yellow columbine, Douglas fi r and flaming red Indian Hole is the loveliest place on Earth—nearly paintbrush, the state flower of Wyoming (I remember this from Girl four million tourists from all over the globe Scout camp). A bit further down the trail we come across a gothic visit the valley each year. Strangely, I am now teenage girl from Akron.

36 TRAILRUNNERMAG.COM | NOVEMBER 2006

HARDCORE THE OUTDOOR CULTURE IS HERE.” “I’VE FORGOTTEN HOW

Gemma May and Bridget Crocker pounding out an afternoon run in the Gros Ventre.

“Shhh …,” she says, wide-eyed. “Look.”

She’s fi xated on a yellow-bellied marmot. David, a seasoned Colorado Rockies man, rolls his eyes as if she were mesmerized by a cow or pigeon in our path.

I’m suddenly reminded of what it was like when my family fi rst moved to the valley from California in 1978, and what a magical wonderland it was to us. I sense the awe pulsing through the girl, who is normally disconnected from nature, plugged into her iPod or myspace website. For her, a whole world has just become available—call it a marmot moment. Here is the real beauty and power of this place: It takes hold of you and brings you into its fold until you are no longer in the landscape, but, rather, the landscape is within you.

The astonishing, 13,000-feet Tetons themselves were formed by slippages and earthquakes caused by the Teton Fault. The mountains had been hidden underground in the high plains until they cracked through the earth’s crust, rumbling their way into this dimension.

Thousands of years of glacial ice then sculpted the range’s finer details.

Beauty like this doesn’t come gently or easily; it’s hard-earned, created by epochs of dramatic tectonic force and glacial pressure.

David and I hook up with local trail runner, Zach Barnett, for an afternoon run along the Valley View Trail stretching along the base of the Tetons. Barnett, who is co-director of Grand Teton Races along with ultrarunners Lisa Smith-Batchen (see Making Tracks, page 14) and Jay Batchen, frequents the Valley View Trail as a training ground for the annual three-race event.

“Last year [during the races] we had the most incredibly rough conditions: sleet, hail, rain, bears in the middle of the night,” says Barnett.

“It was really exciting; everything that could go wrong weather-wise did go wrong.” The lanky, uber-fit Barnett laughs almost gleefully as he bounds up the trail, hardly sweating. Strawberry-haired and

charismatic, Barnett appears like the Robert Redford of the Rockies, vibrating with an intensity matching the cascading creek alongside the trail.

We’re headed toward Death Canyon, a 10-mile round trip jaunt through old-growth pine and aspen groves. From the occasional clearings, we catch glimpses of the gently sloping, emerald-forested Gros Ventre range across the valley, as well as the lumbering Snake River.

I’m starving, having run out of reserves trying to keep up with the relentless Barnett.

Somehow, David is managing to keep pace while lugging heavy camera equipment. I’ve forgotten how hardcore the outdoor culture is here; I’ve been an ocean dweller long enough that my rhythm now moves more gently, like the tides. Every so often I hit pockets of fallen, sun-seared pine needles, their sweetness satiating me like thick ambrosia, warming the pit of my stomach and soothing the jagged, hunger edge.

I come loping around a bend, fi xated on a yellow swallowtail butterfly gently floating upward and nearly flatten Zach, who’s halted mid-stride, hand held up in warning. I follow his gaze to a young cow moose (my fifth moose sighting today) chewing on willow as God rays beam down, highlighting her horse-like snout and the yellow arrowleaf balsamroot blooming around her. The Grand Teton, also known as Elder Brother to the Shoshone tribe, stands behind her protectively while thick-trunked aspens sashay in the breeze.

Later that night, I receive a call from my younger brother, Josh Mahan, from his home in Missoula. He and his marathoner girlfriend, Jennifer Sauer, are anxious to do some running in the Gros Ventre, where Josh and I have worked countless backpacking trips with our folks over the years.

“I’ve been looking at maps all week,” Josh says, “and I think we should do Cache Creek to Granite Hot Springs.”

This is an ambitious intention, considering

the Cache Creek trailhead is in town and Granite Hot Springs is an hour and a half drive up the Hoback to the south.

“Is there even a trail that links them?” I ask dubiously.

“Howie used to winter-ski it in an afternoon.

I remember picking him up at Granite.”

Howie Wolke is our stepfather and a man widely known for undertaking epic wilderness journeys—usually solo—over vast chunks of seldom-trod land. Drop Howie naked in the middle of grizzly country, and he would emerge months later well-fed and thriving.

“Yeah, but do you see a trail on the map?”

I ask my brother, who, like me, has learned most of his wilderness skills (including map reading) from Howie.

“We may be on game trails but, yeah, there’s a route. It’s about 13 miles over the ridge. If we get an early start we can make it in time to soak in the hot springs.”

I have no reason not to believe him. We make plans to meet up the next morning at Granite Creek to set the shuttle.

David and I whiz along the southern end of the valley through grey and yellow shards of early morning light. We pass by the home where Josh and I grew up: our sledding hill by the Snake, the cottonwood grove where we built forts and gathered morel mushrooms. David is a good sport, humoring my memory-lane monologue.

“My mom used to load us up and take us to Granite Hot Springs.

My brother loved to play this game, Blind Man, in the pool there,” I say. “He’d walk around aimlessly with his eyes closed, trusting that someone would point him in the right direction—someone usually meaning me. He was so cute with his long eyelashes wet and poking out like a baby elk, I couldn’t let him just smash into the pool wall.”

Josh and Jenn are ready to go when we arrive at their Granite Creek campsite. We leave a car and head back to town, stopping in at Bubba’s Barbeque to carbo-load before entering the Gros Ventre, named for the Gros Ventre Indians who now live in north-central Montana. The French trappers mistakenly called the Gros Ventre Indians the “Big Bellies” because of the stomach-rubbing hand signal used by other tribes to represent the mountains. The Gros Ventre call themselves the White Clay People, believing that

“YOU ARE NO LONGER IN

THE LANDSCAPE, BUT, RATHER, THE LANDSCAPE IS WITHIN YOU.”

38 TRAILRUNNERMAG.COM | NOVEMBER 2006

they were originally created from the earth found below water.

Our small group arrives at Cache Creek, a local trailhead well-loved by mountain bikers and runners for its easy access. Five minutes from the town square where RVs vie for parking spots and we are in an expansive 455,000-acre wilderness paradise. With luscious sub-alpine meadows, spongy, moss-lined springs and stunning limestone peaks, this pristine area supports grizzlies, black bears, moose, elk and mountain lions.

“I brought bear spray,” my brother volunteers as we load up our gear. Jenn, her long blond hair glistening in the midday sun, sports a delicate fanny pack while checking her GPS somewhat anxiously.

David fi lls his pack with lenses, fi lters and a water bottle. Josh and I both don unwieldy, overstuffed day packs.

“What do you have in that thing?” David snorts as he hands my pack to me.

“First aid. Food. Supplies for evacuation.”

“I doubt we’ll be doing any evacuating,” says David, laughing.

“Girl Scout motto: ‘Be Prepared’,” I counter and start up the trail, lagging behind the wonder couple who, like antelope, have disappeared from view with a few hops.

We ascend snow-covered ridgeline after ridgeline, stopping every so often. Josh checks the map while Jenn reports the mileage from her GPS.

TRAILHEAD:

With the sun setting, Mahan, Sauer and the author making the best of the remaining daylight on their “13-mile” epic outing.

JACKSON HOLE VALLEY, WYOMING

» GETTING THERE. Fly directly into Jackson Hole Airport or drive in from the south through the Snake River canyon (Highway 89) or the Hoback canyon (Highway 189). From the north and Yellowstone National Park, use Highway 89. You can also access Jackson Hole from Victor, Idaho, to the east on Highway 22.

end of Cache Creek Road). Hagen to the Putt Putt Trail (7.6 miles) is a great afternoon cruiser. Connect Cache Creek and Game Creek for a more substantial 18.6-mile loop. Cache Creek over the ridgeline to Granite Creek (23.5 miles with 3000 feet of climbing) puts you at Granite Hot Springs (contact 307-739-5400; www.granitehotsprings.net).

» SEASON. Mid-June to October, depending on snow conditions. Check with Grand Teton National Park (307-739-3300; www.nps.gov/grte) or Bridger-Teton National Forest, the governing agency for the Gros Ventre Wilderness (307-739-5500; www.fs.fed. us/r4/btnf/recreation/grosventre.shtml) for trail closures and updates.

» RECOMMENDED TRAILS. In Grand Teton National Park, check out the 6.6-mile Jenny Lake Loop trail. Take the ferry across the lake and shave off 2.4 miles. “We usually run with a bear bell,” says ferry concessionaire, Doug Colonel, who laps the lake three of four times a week. “We don’t often see bear but we do see elk and moose. It’s a delightful run.” Pick up the idyllic Valley View Trail at Granite Creek south of Jenny Lake and build your own mileage with several dreamy singletrack options.

Right from town there’s easy trail access in and near the Gros Ventre from the Cache Creek trailhead (at the

Wilderness. Bridger-Teton NF—Buffalo, Jackson topographical map by the USDA Forest Service is essential for Granite Creek trails.

» WEATHER. Check with the National Weather Service (www.crh.noaa.gov/forecast) for local weather before heading out. Treacherous storms blow in swiftly; always be prepared.

» ACCOMMODATIONS. Granite Creek campground and hot springs (307-739-5400; www.fs.fed.us/r4/btnf/ recreation/grosventre.shtml) outside of Jackson is close to trails. Jenny Lake Lodge (800-628-9988; www.gtlc.com/lodgeJen.aspx) puts you inside Grand Teton National Park. Triangle X Ranch (307-733-2183; www.trianglex.com) outside of Moose, Wyoming, is a fantastic basecamp adjacent to the Park; the ranch offers a host of activities and services.

» GUIDEBOOKS. Check out Lonely Planet’s Guidebook to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks,

by Bradley Mayhew, Andrew Dean Nystrom and Amy Marr for general information on the area and comprehensive trail listings. Teton Trails: A Guide to the Trails of Grand Teton National Park, by Kathy Duffy and Darwin Wile gives trail details. The Big Outside, by Howie Wolke and Dave Foreman includes an overview and inventory of the Gros Ventre

» ACTIVITIES.

Whitewater or scenic rafting trips on the Snake River are a thrilling option for rest days (contact Barker-Ewing River Trips 800-448-4202; www. barker-ewing.com, or Triangle X Ranch 307-733-2183; www.trianglex.com). Triangle X also offers fishing and horsepacking trips.

» RACES. The second annual Grand Teton Races took place near Grand Targhee Resort on September 2-3, 2006, with 100-mile, 50-mile and marathon distances (208-787-2077; www.tetonraces.com). The ongoing series is scheduled every Labor Day weekend.

2006 NOVEMBER | TRAILRUNNERMAG.COM 39

Below: Co-director of the Grand Teton Races, Zach Barnett takes a breather on the Valley View Trail.

“Nine miles,” she says as we chew on jerky. We’re laughing. This is delightful: views of the monolithic, ice-covered Tetons tower behind us, gurgling creeks fi lled with snowmelt. Josh and Jenn even glimpse a black bear in a meadow below.

The path all but disappears and we’re threading our way along game trails, hugging the limestone cliffs. The light starts to scatter as the sun dips down.

“Fifteen miles.” We’re muddy and our lips are sunburned. Sweat has drenched and dried on us more times than we can count. Jenn nervously declares that she does not intend to run in the dark.

My little brother hands me the topo map, as if it were a jar with a lid in need of loosening. I spread the map out in the twilight, matching contours to features. There’s a perceptible shift inside of me, a rumbling knowledge of what’s about to unfold and the level of intensity required to survive it.

“This way!” I take to a faint trail spurring high along the base of the limestone cirque. We have been pretending that it’s not dark for several miles now. Josh and I break out headlamps from our giant daypacks.

“Are we going to spend the night out here?” asks Jenn, as Josh gives her his light.

“I’ve got a space blanket,” Josh reassures her.

“Let’s keep going.” I’m all business.

Miles pass, marked by the movement of infinite stars, more coming into focus the further into night we venture. David follows closely behind me, gleaning what he can from my dimming light. The trail becomes blocked by downed trees, which we strain to bypass, losing 40 TRAILRUNNERMAG.COM | NOVEMBER 2006

our trail in the process. I pause, opening wide that space inside my core that is this land, this place formed by hardship and drama.

Over here, the aspen trees whisper through the darkness, leading me instinctively back to our path.

“How are you seeing the trail?” David asks me after we lose and recover it several times.

He’s perplexed since my light has all but died.

“I’m not so much seeing it as feeling it,” I explain.

We push on past midnight, until we finally arrive to the steep switchback descent. Lights across Granite Creek come into view.

“Look, there are the lights of my old Girl Scout camp,” I point out.

Jenn informs us that, according to her GPS, our 13-mile adventure is actually more like 23 and a half. “I’m ready to be out of here,” she says.

I touch the luminescent bark of an aspen as gently as a loved one and know that even if I am out of this place, it will never be out of me.

“EVEN IF I AM OUT OF THIS PLACE, IT WILL NEVER BE OUT OF ME.”

Left: Crocker on the Cache Creek-Granite Hot Springs adventure, Gros Ventre Wilderness.

B R I D G E T C R O C K E R is a freelance outdoor travel writer and adventure guide based in Ventura, California. More of her work can be seen at www.bridgetcrocker.com.

2006 GoLite USARA Adventure Race National Championships ™

November 3-4 Santa Barbara, California Regional Sponsorship Program: The 1st place coed team from each regional qualifying race will receive a $400 sponsorship, provided by the regional qualifying race, to be applied to the teams entry fee for the 2006 GoLite USARA Adventure Race National Championship™. If the 1st place team does not attend, the sponsorship will roll down to the 2nd place team, etc.

Presented by:

West Regional Qualifiers

Central Regional Qualifiers

East Regional Qualifiers

Big Blue Adventure — April 29, 2006 www.bigblueadventure.com

Eco-Lonestar Adventure Race — March 11, 2006 www.terrafirmapromo.com

Odyssey 1-Day Extreme — February 11, 2006 www.oarevents.com

Cal Eco Adventure Series — June 3, 2006 www.csmevents.com

Ozark Challenge Adventure Race — April 7, 2006 www.ozarkchallenge.com

Swamp Stomp — February 18, 2006 www.wecefar.com

AdventureXstream Durango — June 10, 2006 www.gravityplay.com

Go Big or Go Home — April 29, 2006 www.gbghar.com

North Georgia Adventure Race — March 24, 2006 www.ngar.org

Trioba 12 Hour Adventure Race — July 15, 2006 www.trioba.com

Mighty MO Expedition Race — May 4, 2006 www.mightymoexpedition.com

Natchez Trace Adventure Race — April 1, 2006 www.s2fevents.com

Quest for Fire — July 15, 2006 www.nmarc.org

Mission on the Muscatatuck — May 27, 2006 www.dinoseries.com

NOC Subaru 8 Hour Adventure Race — April 1, 2006 www.noc.com

Beaver Creek 6 Hour Adventure Race — July 16, 2006 www.beavercreek.com

Sylamore Hardcore Adventure Race — August 26, 2006 www.sylamore-hardcore.com

Blue Ridge Mountain Adventure Race — April 8, 2006 www.adventureracega.com

AdventureXstream Breckenridge — July 22, 2006 www.gravityplay.com

Fontainebleau Dusk To Dawn — September 16, 2006 www.laadventureracing.com

Endorphin FIX Adventure Race — April 22, 2006 www.oarevents.com

Silicon Valley Series — August 4, 2006 www.shootingstaradventures.com

Wild Adventure Adventure Race — September 16, 2006 www.wildadventurerace.com

Save the World Adventure Race — May 6, 2006 www.s-t-w.org

Trioba 24 Hour Adventure Race — September 9, 2006 www.trioba.com

Midwest Monster Adventure Race — September 23, 2006 www.monsteradventure.com

Mountain Sports Festival — May 7, 2006 www.oarevents.com

Cal Eco Adventure Series — September 15, 2006 www.csmevents.com

Berryman Adventure Race — September 23, 2006 www.berrymanadventure.com

Florida Coast to Coast Challenge — May 26, 2006 www.adventurousconcepts.com

Bushwak This! — September 16, 2006 www.egadsalaska.com

Terra Firma Adventure Race — September 30, 2006 www.terrafirmapromo.com

Adventure 24 — June 10, 2006 www.cpadventures.com

Silicon Valley Series — September 29,2006 www.shootingstaradventures.com

The Thunder Rolls Adventure Race — October 7, 2006 www.thethunderrolls.org

The Cradle of Liberty Adventure Race — June 10, 2006 www.goalsara.org

Big Blue Adventure — October 7, 2006 www.bigblueadventure.com

Raid the Rock Urban Adventure Race — October 21, 2006 www.raidtherock.com

Longest Day Adventure Race — June 10, 2006 www.nyara.org New England AR Series #2 — July 16, 2006 www.racing ahead.com Atlantic Coast Conquest — July 29, 2006 www.mycfar.com Midnight Rush Adventure Race — August 5, 2006 www.midnightrush.trailblazerar.com Krista Griesacker Memorial Race — August 6, 2006 www.goalsara.org Bear Adventure Race — September 3, 2006 www.performancemultisports.com

Zanfel and Spyder are proud to donate $100.00 each towards the entry fee to the GoLite USARA Adventure Race National Championships to the winning teams from each Regional Qualifying Event.

The 2006 GoLite USARA Adventure Race National Championship team will receive free entry to all 2007 Regional Qualifying Events. (see website for details)

www.USARAnationals.com

New England AR Series #3 — September 16, 2006 www.racing ahead.com Hound Dog Adventure Race — September 30, 2006 www.s2sevents.com NOC 30-Hour Adventure Race — September 30, 2006 www.noc.com NYARA 24-Hour Adventure Race — September 30, 2006 www.nyara.org Howl at the Moon — October 28, 2006 www.adventurousconcepts.com

REPEAT OFFENDERS HARDROCK 100’S MOST HARDENED COMPETITORS RETURN YEAR AFTER YEAR TO ONE OF TRAIL RUNNING’S MOST PUNISHING RACES.

The brave souls making an annual pilgrimage to the Hardrock 100-Mile Endurance Run do so knowing that they will again ascend and descend 66,000 feet, reaching as high as 14,048 feet above sea level at Handies Peak.

The grueling 101.7-mile loop course begins and ends in the historic mining town of Silverton, Colorado, stringing together a series of treacherous mountain passes and traveling through Telluride and Ouray. Reversing direction each year, the 2006 course ran clockwise.

This year’s Hardrock had 81 burly finishers out of 131 starters, the most ever, thanks to an increasing number of returning runners heeding lessons from previous Hardrocks. “Shared suffering is what brings Hardrockers together,” says Race Director Dale Garland. “They wear it like a badge of honor, and the first-time racers really

Photos David Clifford

42 TRAILRUNNERMAG.COM | NOVEMBER 2006

respect those who’ve finished the race multiple times.”

At the weekend’s hottest point, the sun’s blazing rays slowly baked runners as they spent two to three hours making the leg-burning ascent along endless switchbacks of an abandoned mining road to Oscar’s Pass. Though not the most technical section of the course, the heat and sustained climb, combined with petulant flies, sapped racers’ energy. A short time later, runners made another agonizing climb up Virginius Pass.

The mountain passes are generally snow-covered, giving runners an opportunity to glissade or butt-slide downhill, but this year’s heat left no such cushion, instead requiring dangerous descents on sharp, loose scree.

These faces belong to a selection of the 2006 event’s top-finishing repeat offenders.

ROCH

HORTON STATS AGE 49 HOME Salt Lake City, Utah OCCUPATION Sales Manager, Black Diamond Equipment TIME 32:28:38

A fixture on the ultrarunning circuit, Horton runners like no other.” Asked how many ultras he’s run, Horton says, “If I had a penny for every was elated with his sixth Hardrock finish, cutting 30 minutes off his previous best time. Asked how one, I might be able to buy a cheap cup of coffee.” he did it, Horton quickly credits others. “My His most memorable Hardrock experience? pacers, Krissy Moehl and Jim Anderson, kept “Singing a song alongside John Dewalt at this me going,” says Horton. “Krissy was a non-stop year’s awards ceremony. John had just finished his little waitress—she fed me and kept me hydrated.” 11th Hardrock a few hours earlier, and had been up for more than 54 hours. The thin mountain Asked why he keeps coming back, Horton responds: air had toasted his vocal chords but he might as “A daunting and beautiful course like no other, a well have been Pavarotti. By the way, John is 70.” race director like no other, and a community of

PLACE 6th HARDROCK FINISHES 6

2006 NOVEMBER | TRAILRUNNERMAG.COM 43

BETSY

KALMEYER STATS AGE 45 HOME Steamboat Springs, Colorado OCCUPATION Physician assistant TIME 31:53:51 PLACE 3rd overall, 1st woman HARDROCK FINISHES 8

THIS YEAR I WAS MOTIVATED TO GET THE WIN

44 TRAILRUNNERMAG.COM | NOVEMBER 2006

2006 marked Betsy Kalmeyer’s eighth Hardrock finish in eight attempts. She placed third overall and first among women. In fact, she has won the women’s race five times, and in 2001 became the first and only woman to break the 30-hour mark, which has only been accomplished 10 other times (four of those by Karl Meltzer).

“It was a big goal to come back and do well as a 45-year-old,” said Kalmeyer at the finish line.

“My knees are getting louder, and to get one more win is special. Last year was not a good race. This year I was motivated to get the win.”

So what drives this veteran of around 20 100-milers to keep returning to the most savage of them all? Says Kalmeyer, “The beauty and ruggedness of the San Juans, the caring attitude

of the race committee and other runners, the feeling of trying to improve on past performances and the feeling of going to a family reunion every year.”

While Kalmeyer has had many memorable experiences at Hardrock, one of the most lasting came in 2001. “At the finish line I heard Carolyn Erdman [an ultrarunner from Silverton who is on the Hardrock Committee] just screaming and screaming,” says Kalmeyer. “It took awhile for me to realize that no one was hurt or dead, but that she was screaming for me because a woman had gone under 30 hours! With the course changing every year and getting more singletrack and eliminating roads, it is hard to compare times, but I’m proud of that run.”

KARL

MELTZER STATS AGE 39 HOME Sandy, Utah OCCUPATION Bartender, Snowbird Ski Resort TIME 27:07:55 PLACE 1st HARDROCK FINISHES 4

IT’S THE TOUGHEST ONE IN THE WORLD, AND IT SUITS MY STRENGTHS

Karl “Mountain Goat” Meltzer has 36 ultra races to his credit and holds the four fastest finishing times at Hardrock, out of six starts.

When asked why he returns year after year, he says, “It’s the toughest one in the world, and it suits my strengths.”

“This year, every time I got above 12,000 feet I got nauseated, but I knew everyone else was feeling the same, so I told myself to just deal with it,” says Meltzer. “When I started going downhill, it was gone.”

Though stomach problems have proved Meltzer’s undoing at two previous Hardrock attempts, he had better luck this year, consuming nothing but PowerGels. “My stomach was just about perfect, same as when I ran 26:39 [a

course record in 2001]. Everything clicked that day, too,” he says.

The real secret to his success is the music blasting through his trademark headphones.

“I listen to the jam band called Strange Folk.

They are sort of a mix between Phish and the Grateful Dead. The beats are good. When the tempo gets faster, I run faster. The music goes with my footsteps.”

George Foster, owner of the Silverton’s Grand Imperial Hotel and die-hard Hardrock fan, enthusiastically greeted Meltzer at the finish line with a hot, juicy cheeseburger. The tradition began the first time Meltzer won Hardrock and declared his hankering for a cheeseburger. “I sure appreciate the thought,” says Meltzer.

2006 NOVEMBER | TRAILRUNNERMAG.COM 45

TOM

GARRISON STATS AGE 48 HOME Ojo Caliente, New Mexico OCCUPATION Computer data engineer TIME 32:35:04 PLACE 7th HARDROCK FINISHES 4

I KEEP COMING BACK BECAUSE IT’S A CONTINUING CHALLENGE

46 TRAILRUNNERMAG.COM | NOVEMBER 2006

Sporting 18 body piercings and donning his favorite post-race attire, a black “Utilikilt,” a Seattle-based niche-market kilt brand, Tom Garrison’s unique personal style stands out among the finish-line crowd. “I’m a pretty unique guy with my own style, and I like to make a statement,” he says.

“I first came to Hardrock in 1997 to see what it was all about and volunteer. After that I knew I had to come back and race it,” says Garrison. “Since then, we have turned Hardrock into an annual family vacation. I keep coming back because it’s a continuing challenge. You can’t train enough for a 100-miler of this difficulty in this extreme mountain environment. You just have to come

here and race it year after year, because it’s the only way to improve.”

Garrison’s dedication to improve on past Hardrock performances paid off this year when he finished with a personal-best finishing time.

“The hardest challenge in this race for me is going down Boulder Gulch—the steeps are pretty scary. The fact that we climb a 14,000-foot peak is wild,” says Garrison. “Breathing was hard at times from the elevation. I knew that everyone had to deal with it, but I also have asthma.”

“I was happy to get a personal record this year, especially considering that at the start I had forgotten a water bottle and had to run against the starting line traffic to retrieve it.”

BETSY

NYE STATS AGE 42 HOME Truckee, California OCCUPATION Massage therapist, waitress and mother TIME 32:52:09 PLACE 9th overall, 2nd woman HARDROCK FINISHES 6

IT’S NOT REALLY A RUN; IT’S AN ADVENTURE

Since Hardrock’s inception, finishing times in the women’s field have improved dramatically.

At the inaugural race in 1992, Nancy Hamilton (Ouray, Colorado) was the first woman to cross the finish line in 45 hours 47 minutes. Since then, a friendly rivalry between Nye, Betsy Kalmeyer (Steamboat Springs, Colorado) and Sue Johnston (Waterford, Vermont) has raised the competitive bar, improving the women’s course record by a staggering 14 hours.

“If I focused too much on competing with Betsy and Sue then I wouldn’t race as well,” says Nye. “It’s fun to consider the possibility of chasing them down, but really my race strategy is based how I feel that day. This year I started

out slower than normal, and it paid off because I broke 33 hours, and set a PR,” says Nye. “I felt so great nearing the finish that I picked up the pace for the last three miles as though it was a cross-country race.”

“I’ve been training and doing Pilates since having a child 21 months ago. I did the Western States 100 three weeks ago, which prepared me for the heat in this year’s race,” says Nye. “I won Hardrock in 2003, which was a hot year, too.

“Hardrock is my favorite race because we cheer and support one another. It’s not really a run; it’s an adventure. It gets prettier and prettier, especially high in the mountains where you have a 360-degree view. It’s like a scene from The Sound of Music.”

2006 NOVEMBER | TRAILRUNNERMAG.COM 47

“Climb the mountains and get their good tidings.

Nature’s peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees.

The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves.”

—John Muir

Running through Colorado’s legendary fall splendor, Engineer Trail, Durango.

PHOTO BY PATITUCCIPHOTO

TR AIL TEST E D

by MICHAEL BENGE and ELINOR FISH

» photo by DUANE RALEIGH

O

Over the summer, Trail Runner’s trusty team of shoe testers hit the trails in this fall’s new off-road kicks. Ranging from a feathery 10.9 ounces to a hefty 15 ounces and from super-pliable to tough-to-bend, the shoes offer solid choices for all runners.

At this year’s Leadville Trail 100 race,

Anton Krupicka, 23, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, ran to a first-place finish in a pair of shoes he altered for the event by cutting out the tongue and heel outsole to save weight. But with today’s choices, you don’t need to cut up a perfectly good pair if lightweight shoes are your preference.

Remember, though, shoe weight is only one element of the purchasing equation.

Our review also includes beefier models for runners looking for the ultimate combination of cushioning, stability and durability. Waterproof uppers can offer great protection from nasty autumn conditions, but do add weight. And if aes-

The Dirty Dozen OUR FINDINGS ON THE BEST NEW TRAIL SHOES

thetics are important to you, many new models offer color options beyond the traditional grey or black.

ASICS GEL-TRABUCO IX, 13.7 oz, $90 www.asicsamerica.com Final Word: A redesign of the venerable Trabuco, version IX is a cushy trail companion, with a new, stiffer midsole and outsole featuring a more aggressive lug pattern and sticky rubber strips.

Although relatively heavy, the shoe rewarded wearers with resilient GEL cushioning and stable ride. The generous fit favors medium to wide feet, and suits those looking for comfort and a long-haul shoe.

Tester-monial: “These are the shoes my feet have been crying out for. I’m going to go buy two more pairs.”

—Gregory Annis, Yelm, WA ( ALL SHOE WEIGHTS 50 TRAILRUNNERMAG.COM | NOVEMBER 2006

REFLECT MEN ’ S SIZE 9.5)

PRODUCT PHOTOS BY DAVID CLIFFORD

KEEN HUMBOLDT, 13.0 oz, $100 www.keenfootwear.com Final Word: One of the most comfortable shoes in the review, the Humboldt offered a plush, stable ride, with a wide yet form-fitting heel. They performed like a Cadillac on smooth trails and carriage roads, but because of the soft forefoot and midsole, faltered on rocky, off-camber terrain. The single-piece tongue and upper offers nice feel out of the box but was difficult to lace down tight.

The mesh upper offered great breathability on hot days.

Tester-monial: “It’s flexible, which is hard to find in a trail shoe, and with its one-piece upper, it is super comfortable.”

—Andrea Smythe, Cary, NC

trail tested «

MERRELL OVERDRIVE WATERPROOF, 15.0 oz, $100 www.merrellboot.com Final Word: Going into winter, runners often seek a shoe that can handle the cold, wet, mud and other hardships, which is what Merrell addressed with the Overdrive. Adventure racers and off-trail nuts will appreciate the waterproof-breathable lining, super-stiff midsole, gusseted tongue and gaiter compatibility. The Vibram outsole offered great grip on rocks and scree. The speed-lacing system is a convenient touch, but not as refined as others, such as Salomon’s. The Kevlar laces can be swapped for regular laces.

Tester-monial: “They gripped like crampons while running uphill, and the heel cup held my ankle and controlled my overpronation.”

—Tim Englund, Ellensburg, WA GARMONT NASTY, 14.7 oz, $100 www.gusa.stores.yahoo.net Final Word: Who would name their shoe “Nasty”? A company confident its product would handle the most rugged terrain.

Judging by its wide platform, mega wraparound rubber coverage and burly treads, the Nasty has that look. This heavy-duty shoe is actually a hike/run hybrid, perfect for tearing up rough ground, but not lightweight or ventilated enough for long, continuous runs. A choice of footbeds allows you to customize the fit of this roomy shoe.

Tester-monial: “The traction was great for running on rocks and scree, and the shoe was very stable with lots of support.”

—Savanna Stepp, Colorado Springs, CO

-8

INOV MUDCLAW 330 ‘O’, 10.9 oz, $90 www.inov-8.com Final Word: A beefed-up version of its Mudclaw 270, the 330 offers typical Inov-8 light weight and low-to-ground profile.

The two-layer mesh upper offers protection and surprising breathability. The super deep lugs gave superior traction on mud and grassy surfaces. Inov-8 shoes work on the philosophy that the shoes allow the foot to move in harmony with the trail, giving the wearer a barefoot feel. For this reason, the shoe is recommended for runners not requiring pronation control.

Tester-monial: “They’re the lightest trail shoes I’ve ever had plus they have awesome traction.”

—Aaron Coe, Prunedale, CA SAUCONY GRID LABYRINTH, 13.3 oz, $85 www.saucony.com Final Word: The Grid Labyrinth is a departure from previous Saucony models, with its booty construction featuring an interlaced cord system that gave the shoe gave an instep-hugging fit.

However, one tester experienced rubbing on her instep due to a lack of tongue padding. This shoe performed well on soft, smooth surfaces, but some testers found it rolled easily on rougher trails, perhaps due to the low-profile heel cup and soft upper. The Grid Labyrinth is intended for runners needing a neutral to light-stability model. The outsole material overlaps the forefoot upper to protect toes from rock, sticks and other trail hazards.

Tester-monial: “I liked the gusseted tongue for keeping dirt out and providing a sock-like fit.”

—Jon Houk, Spokane, WA 2006 NOVEMBER | TRAILRUNNERMAG.COM 51

» trail tested

SCARPA GALACTIC, 13.6 oz, $89 www.scarpa.com Final Word: New to the U.S. trail-running market, Scarpa makes its entry with the Galactic, a beefy model with good cushioning.

It weighs in on the heavy side, but the shoe surprised testers with its nimbleness. The toe rand provides durability and toe-stubbing protection, while the highly breathable mesh upper makes it a cool performer. A highly supportive, reinforced heel cup provided solid stability. Padding on the tongue and around the ankle gave a secure, cushy fit and the generous toe box offered superb comfort. Testers found the Galactic a solid all-rounder.

Tester-monial: “The shoe is relatively heavy but didn’t feel clunky. It provided superior traction on slick rocks.”

—Jesse Stevick, Spokane, WA

NIKE SHOX JUNGA, 14.1 oz, $110 www.nikerunning.com Final Word: Introduced to its road shoes in 2000, the Nike Shox Technology, with its multiple-coiled heel design, allows independent shock absorption in the heel area. The Junga is Nike’s first trail shoe featuring Shox Technology, which provides a surprisingly solid heel platform along with plenty of cushioning. To some testers, the heel felt elevated and rolled on rockier terrain. The space between the heel coils collected trail debris, though it didn’t hinder the shoe’s performance. The upper’s super-breathable mesh provided a cool ride and great drainage in the rain. A compact, lightweight Zoom Air unit cushions the forefoot.

Tester-monial: “I like the versatility of the shoe since my preference for running surfaces is diverse.”

—Brad Smythe, Canton, NC THE NORTH FACE ARNUVA 50 BOA, 12.4 oz, $120 www.thenorthface.com Final Word: Named after a stop on Europe’s Tour de Mont Blanc ultramarathon, the Arnuva 50 Boa is constructed to go long and endure. The twist-knob Boa lacing system pleased testers, who liked being able to secure their feet without cutting off blood flow or worrying about untied laces. The Arnuva’s ample cushioning and durability made it ideal for long runs and the grippy outsoles performed flawlessly on rough, rocky ground. This shoe best fits medium-width and high-volume feet.

Tester-monial: “The shoes were wonderfully light. I could hardly feel them on my feet, and I loved the twist-tightener lacing.”

—Kate Fuller, Beaverton, OR BROOKS CASCADIA 2, 12.5 oz, $95 www.brooksrunning.com Final Word: Seven-time Western States champion, Scott Jurek, advised the company’s shoe designers on this overhauled version of the 2005 model, resulting in innovative features such as an upper-reinforcing suede overlay and the midfoot’s Pivot Posts for pronation control. The Cascadia 2 outsole is made from environmentally friendly HPR Green, a non-petroleum-based compound. Also new is the Ballistic Rock Shield, a protective midsole plate that disperses impacts from sharp objects.

Tester-monial: “The Cascadia 2 is a sturdy, well-gripping shoe that is fun on trails. It wasn’t as heavy as I expected judging by its beefy look.”

—Heather Thomsen, Shoreline, WA 52 TRAILRUNNERMAG.COM | NOVEMBER 2006

trail tested «

Lacing Up Fine tuning your new shoes’ fit After purchasing a fancy new pair of shoes, you are keen to hit the trails. The shoes felt great in the running store’s tame, carpeted environment, but hitting the rocky trails for the first time, you notice your heel slips a bit, forefoot feels

a bit pinched or your big toe hits the front of the shoe.

Before slinking back to the local running store with muddy shoes in hand and asking for an exchange, try these clever lacing techniques to fine-tune your shoes’ fit.

GET LOOPED

MONTRAIL CONTINENTAL DIVIDE, 13.8 oz, $105 www.montrail.com Final Word: Based on the old Leona Divide (we know runners who bought several pairs in fear their favorite model would be discontinued), the Continental Divide is a great upgrade. With a wide stable platform and close fit, the shoe eats up the most rugged terrain. Testers found the shoes very runable, offering good breathability, comfort and protection. Its burly, durable construction makes this a great shoe for short, tough runs all the way to ultras. The low volume fit and lacing system make it customizable to even narrow feet.

Tester-monial: “This shoe eats technical trails for breakfast. It is well-heeled to handle rocky, wet terrain.”

—Penn Newhard, Carbondale, CO “These are like light, little tanks, ready to crush anything in their path, but they’re also not too heavy.”

—Aaron Coe, Prunedale, CA

Loop lacing works wonders for snugging up a shoe’s overall profile, especially if you have narrow heels, or, when running downhill, your toes hit the front of the toebox.

Take the laces from the second-last eyelet and feed them back through the top eyelet on the same side, creating a small loop on the top of each shoe. Then cross the laces over your foot and feed them through the loop on the opposite side. Pull on the lace ends to snug up the loops over the laces, enough to secure your heel.

SPACE OUT This technique will help trail runners who have a high arch, wide forefoot or bunions or a “hotspot” resulting from inflamed nerves in the foot.

Unlace your shoes either to the midfoot or all the way to the forefoot, depending on where you need the extra space. Then, instead of passing the laces across your foot, feed them through the eyelet on the same side, leaving a gap over the wider or bulging area of the foot. Then finish by cross-lacing as usual.

LOCK AND LOAD

NEW BALANCE 872, 12.1 oz, $90 www.newbalance.com Final Word: The updated 872 features New Balance’s Abzorb midsole cushioning in the forefoot and heel, which gives this lightweight trainer a surprisingly soft, smooth ride. Some testers said the 872 had a low-to-the-ground, racing-flat feel.

On side-slopes and rocky terrain, this flexy shoe rolled on the foot, and the mildly aggressive tread pattern tended to slip.

Tester-monial: “This was a fantastically versatile shoe providing good traction on the trails, cushioning on the roads, and was lightweight and flexible enough to want to wear all the time.”

—Jenny Stevick, Spokane, WA

If you find loop lacing puts too much pressure on the top of your foot, another way to snug up the fit is to use an overhand knot, crossing the lace over itself three times (also called a Surgeon’s Knot), and pulling it snug to secure the foot.

Combine this knot with the hitch-lacing technique to keep a secure fit despite the looser lacing below it.

This technique is also effective for locking down the heel in shoes that don’t offer twin eyelets suitable for loop lacing.

2006 NOVEMBER | TRAILRUNNERMAG.COM 53

OUTFITTERS LIST YOUR STORE! • JON HERRERA • 1-877-762-5423 ext. 17 • retail@bigstonepub.com ALABAMA

CANADA

MARYLAND

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

GORD’S RUNNING STORE 919 Centre St. NW Calgary, AB T2E2P6 403-270-8606 • F 403-283-8341 www.gordsrunningstore.com info@gordsrunningstore.com

FALLS ROAD RUNNING STORE 6247 Falls Rd Baltimore, MD 21209 410-296-5050 www.baltimorerunning.com jim@baltimorerunning.com

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

MASSACHUSETTS

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FLEET FEET TUCSON 6538 E. Tanque Verde Road Tucson, AZ 85715 • 520-886-7800

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

RUNNING SHOP 3055 N Campbell #153 Tucson, AZ 85719 520-325-5097 www.runningshopaz.com

COLORADO

SCOTTSDALE RUNNING COMPANY 6941 N. Hayden Rd. #B-4 Scottsdale, AZ 85250 480-948 4436 • F 480-948 4435 1-800-948-4436 www.scottsdalerunningco.com mflynn@scottsdalerunningco.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 CALIFORNIA

ADVENTURE 16 11161 W. Pico Blvd.

West Los Angeles, CA 90064 310-473-4574 for other SO CAL locations see: www.adventure16.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 RUNNING REVOLUTION 511 E Campbell Ave Campbell, CA 95008 408-374-9310 www.runningrevolution.com info@runningrevolution.com

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

CARABINERS INDOOR CLIMBING INC 328 Parker Street New Bedford, MA 02740 508-984-0808 - Gym Phone F 508-984-7577 www.carabiners.com philp@carabiners.com MINNESOTA

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

FLEET FEET SPORTS 448 East Main Street 1A Bozeman, MT 59715 406-587-1135 • F 406-587-2532 www.FleetFeetBozeman.com staff@FleetFeetBozeman.com SCHNEES BOOTS & SHOES 121 West Main St Bozeman, MT 59715 406-587-0981 • F 406-577-7789 800-922-1562 www.schnees.com les@schnees.com NEVADA

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

TAOS MOUNTAIN OUTFITTERS 114 S Plaza Taos, NM 87571 505-758-9292 www.taosmountainoutfitters.com info@taosmountainoutfitters.com NEW YORK

FINGER LAKES RUNNING COMPANY 138 West State Street Ithaca, NY 14850 607-275-3572 • F 607-275-3571 rube76@hotmail.com

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

www.fingerlakesrunningcompany.com

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

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

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

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

CAMPMOR 810 Route 17 N Paramus, NJ 07652 201-445-5000 800-CAMPMOR (226-7667) www.campmor.com customerservice@campmor.com

TENNESSEE

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

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 2200 Hamilton Place Blvd Hamilton Crossing Chattanooga, TN 37421 423-485-8775 www.RockCreek.com info@RockCreek.com RUNNER’S MARKET 4443 Kingston Pike Knoxville, TN 37919 865-588-1650 www.runnersmarket.com runnersmarket@nxs.net UTAH

WASATCH RUNNING CENTER 8946 S State St. Sandy, UT 84070 801-566-8786 www.wasatchrunningcenter.com info@wasatchrunningcenter.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

RUN AMOK

by BRIAN METZLER

» Illustration by JEREMY COLLINS

Snakes on a Run SHOULD WE BE AFRAID OF SNAKES OR SHOULD THEY FEAR US?

D

Did you catch Snakes on a Plane? The flick is about a gaggle of poisonous snakes getting loose on a commercial flight full of unknowing travelers. Even without seeing the movie, you can sense the anxiety from the title and realize some very bad things happen in a very thin plot.

How does that compare to snakes on a trail run? I don’t know about you, but some kind of internal panic button goes off whenever I see a snake, no matter how insignificant it might be, on a trail.

Most trail runners see snakes. Lately, for whatever reason, I’ve seen a lot of them.

It’s not that I’m scared of snakes—er, maybe a little—it’s really that they tend to startle the bejeebers out of me when I’m locked into that peaceful zen that feels like you’re floating over the trail.

And that’s why my freaked-out, cartoonish reaction is always the same.

I skid to a stop and yell something

intelligent like, “Aaaggh ... Snake!” My body tenses up and a chill runs down my spine.

Recently, I leaped over a two-foot milk snake on a very quiet early morning run.

That’s the snake that looks like the deadly coral snake, with a vivid red, black and yellow striping pattern. It’s a non-venomous species known as a lampropeltis triangulum, but at the time it was more like a scarethecrapus outofmeum.

A week earlier I had stopped dead in my tracks for a coiled and hissing rattlesnake on the edge of a trail. Rationally, I know a rattler can only lunge about half the length of its body, and that the opposite side of the trail should have been

plenty far enough, but as I crept around it, I wondered what the heck I would do if this one was the über-exception.

For the rest of the run, I imagined that every twisted stick I saw was another snake ready to swipe at my ankles.

Paranoid? You bet, but how long would it be before someone found me collapsed on the trail, foaming at the mouth?

Part of my fear stems from a story I heard about an ultrarunner who was bitten in the Sierra Nevada near Camino, California. Apparently, he bent down and the snake bit him in the face!

Yeeeooowwwch! He was taken to the local hospital and immediately treated with antivenin and steroids, but he was in horrible pain and drooling, and his face swelled up like that of SpongeBob SquarePants.

A few years ago, some of my local running buddies were stopped on a trail looking at a rattler when a mountainrunning speed demon, Scott Elliott (and his dog), nearly stepped on it. He had been running so fast, he didn’t want to slow down to figure out what the commotion was.

Having lately seen four snakes in the span of three weeks, I had to ask myself, what’s with all of the snakes?

Some Native American cultures believe snakes are signs of imminent evil. In a metaphysical context, seeing snakes is often considered a metaphor for change.

In other cases, snakes represent the fear of failure.

Do snakes symbolize the stress of the world I’m trying to escape when I run?

Am I fearing change? Or is some evil person plotting against me?

The way I see it, my snake encounters are just random occurrences of nature that I’ve been lucky enough to experience. And a reminder that, when we’re trail running, we’re treading on sacred ground inhabited by thousands of wild species, most of which are rarely seen.

But you can bet they see, smell, hear and sense us.

Thinking of it that way, I’m actually looking forward to my next chance meeting with a snake. But I really hope I never see one on an airplane.

Brian Metzler is the founding editor of Trail Runner. Long before he started running, he used to collect earthworms in a coffee can.

2006 NOVEMBER | TRAILRUNNERMAG.COM 55

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