Bryon Powell book promo

from Olga: Bryon, a.k.a. a Trail Goat, is a long term good friend of mine, and while I haven't read the book (yet, anyway), I trust he's done an awesome job on compiling the knowledge of his own and all of us, ultrarunners, combined. Thus, my endorsement is genuine, and I get no benefits from it.

Bryon Powell:
Dear friends,

We’re all part of the running community that greatly adds to our enjoyment of running. While those of us who’ve discovered ultramarathons have been able to learn from those around us, there’s yet to be a comprehensive guide to training and racing ultramarathons to fill our community’s need. That’s why I’ve spent the past year and a half working on Relentless Forward Progress: A Guide to Running Ultramarathons. More than a dozen others, who represent the top ultrarunners and experts, also recognized our community’s need and graciously contributed to make book as helpful to you and your friends as possible.


By reducing ultrarunning’s steep learning curve, Relentless Forward Progress: A Guide to Running Ultramarathons aims to have you or your friends spending more time enjoying running and its camaraderie and less time suffering unnecessarily. If you want to inspire others in our community of runners who might be looking for a new running challenge or to ease the path of those who have already started their ultramarathon journey, please get the word out about this book.

Here are some easy ways to enjoy the book as well as to help other runners learn of this new resource:


Order Relentless Forward Progress: A Guide to Running Ultramarathons today. (Go nuts and order a copy to help a friend!) Know that a big surge of initial orders will catch the eyes of both bookstores and the media, which will help give even more runners access to the book.

Mention the book on Facebook or Twitter.

If you have a blog, write a post about Relentless Forward Progress: A Guide to Running Ultramarathons.

I’m so thankful to have the running community be such a big part of my life. Today is the book's official launch day and it's one of my happiest days in that this once in a lifetime accomplishment (or least one that feels that way) is something that benefits our tribe. It’s my hope that you’ll pass this news along to anyone you think would benefit from the book. Please let me know if there’s any thing I can do to help you or those you care about.

Happy trails,

Bryon

Ps. Keep running. You’re awesome!


Bryon Powell

Editor-in-Chief, iRunFar
Author, Relentless Forward Progress: A Guide to Running Ultramarathons

Life at full force.

Just because most of us don't break Fastest Known Times on any trails (for example, like Krissy and Devon did with R2R2R, and you should definitely go read their account on it!), doesn't mean life stays still. Although, comparing to these feats, or Zion crossing, or Zane Grey race, or so many other things...well, lets not get sobby here and just try and squeeze out of what we have every drop of fun, busy-ness and positive fulfillness. Every day, we continue to make choices - and then make sure that stranger we face in the mirror (occasionally for some of us, more often for others) will look straight back at us and not turn eyes away.

I took 3 full days off after Oregon trip. That's in terms of training. I wasn't sore, but I needed a mental break and to recoup. Thursday, I went for a run...and things came full circle. My business is flourishing, probably due to the spring time, when first of all we all want to take better care of ourselves, and secondly, it is a midst of the running season, and muscles need TLC and injuries need healing and we are so much more aware of where we are...I am loving it and getting frustrated for not having enough hours in a day. And as usual, when things get tight on time, something has to give - and most often than I want to, it's my yoga practice, what I call "my time for me". I am sad, but for the past month I could only practise once a week. Summer, I tell myself, once my first-half-of-the-year racing is over, I will be back. I am just so afraid to loose hard earned results.



Hoggs Hunt and Rock Climbing

 Friday night through Saturday the week before I had 3 boys to entertain - Stephen, Harrison and Hesham, while Larry and Eman were getting ready for Hoggs Hunt races. They all were on their best behavior! I managed to get them up before dawn and shove them in the car before 6 am for a 3 hr drive to Huntsville Park, in time to see Hesham's mom and my best friend Eman finish the 25k in a new PR of 3:02, Larry finish 50k in 4th place in 4:17, and Meredith win 50k for ladies in 4:26. Speedy folks! I - simply had more massages to give:) and take kids (Harrison and Hesham) to run trails on Sunday locally - can't believe I am not finding pictures I took, and I ran them to the ground, and they did awesome!

That following Sunday I had taken a test and had officially become an NCSF Certified Personal Trainer. A passing, again! One more thing for my future "retirement plan" - RRCA weekend to become a Certified Running Coach - is on agenda for the last weekend of April in Austin, and I am so dreaming of all the things I could do! Not to mention, looks like we might have picked the place to do just that - Flagstaff, AZ, and we are going to visit it and do some backpacking and running on Memorial Day weekend.

Anyhow, this past week was my last chance to get some more or less serious miles in, as the following will be intensely occupied with massage clients (after regular job, of course) and that RRCA 8am-5pm Sat-Sun running clinic. So, I begged my body and the clock to let me do that. I killed the gym, ran trails and roads, did a hardest track so far and hardest hill repeats this season, or in Austin, for that matter (is it possible I used to do 2x45min hills back in a days?).

And today Larry and I found a new favorite trail in Austin! We heard of it, we talked of it, we envied those who used it - and now was the day we were able to squeeze it in! It was beautiful, tough, awesome, best built, lots of climb, great quad buster and agility teacher, and at only 6 miles round-trip, it is the best place to go to. And it's called "Staircase"!

Staircase trail

Late afternoon brought us to rock-climbing gym and for me - down memory line. Tomorrow - Bastrop park, 15M, next week more training, last long run, and off to taper for San Diego 50. I am getting excited for it, and weirdly enough, for Old Dominion 100M as well. While there will be no mountains I love (really, hills ain't all that), and lots of dirt road instead of single track, I can't wait for it to come - it is a special challenge, when there is lots of running involved, even more of heat and humidity, old history, local cheer with aid off the back of the truck, few runners and a sweet buckle at the end...

p.s. we are back from the run, and truly, as I say time and again, there is only one muscle that needs exercising - your brain. Running is all mental. You tell yourself to do it, and you do it. Everything in life comes from the head and from the heart, the physical limitations do not exist.

A humbling experience in falling apart gracefully.

The REAL reason of my visit to PDX

The PNW had THE most beautiful weather I don't remember. From the moment my plane made a wave to Mt. Hood on Friday to the after-race food-eating on Sunday, there was not a drop of rain - and even sun! I couldn't wish for more...or, wait, I could! I spent two full days with Alex! My older son, my one and only, that special person in my life who thought me more lessons than the rest of my life...and I can not even try to rely to you what those couple of days meant to me, and how it was. I wasn't a mom. He was my long-lost old friend. He was me. I know it sounds silly, and he may have acted at times not according to the values, but he's got them - and it was like talking to myself, understanding from half-breath, laughing crazy, punching when saying same things simultaneously, and sharing life - past, present and future. No matter what, somewhere along the way, I raised a son, my son, the way I wanted to. The rest is up to him...

Of course, I visited my friends. I stayed at Anna's first night, ran with Gail in Forest Park next morning and dropped by her family, stayed with Monika and Stan and their kids next night, visited with Oleg and Mara, and it was a whirlpool of emotions - and thus far all positive!

However, it also meant I wasn't eating, or hydrating, or resting. Mike Bushwhacker picked me up at 4am Sunday morning, and we made 3 hr drive down to Sisters, OR, for a Ready to Rumble 40M! And - I wasn't ready:) But seeing all my friends in one place was such a paradise! I heard non-stop "Olga is back, are you moving? how's Texas?" and hugs were numerous. Good thing, because smiles and hugs ended as soon as the race began...

I am officially over raced. Or over trained. Or not taking proper care of myself in-between and pretending to be young and resilient. Some of us get concussions when being stupid, me - I just had to figure out how to run on an empty tank. And it wasn't pretty:)

The first hour and half was ok. Best-kept trails in perfect dry conditions, views that take your breath away, soft dirt single track...I made a wrong turn (of course) with a couple of guys, but we were yelled at and retraced back in a minute. And right after that I deflated. Like - puff, and no air inside my tires. Nothing hurts, I am still running, but kind of, well, I don't even know how to explain. And the train of passing people began...crazy long train, when everyone and their mother passed me. Thank God there was a loop with out-n-back when the whole race, seems like, cheered me on, and I did so back. At least that 45 min was fun:) Then I was alternating between getting into sour mood and snapping myself back to life by telling not to pay attention and do the best I can and never give up. That continued all the way to the turn where 20 milers and 40M runners split - and I had to bargain to continue of least favorite 6 mile climb on a red-gravel-dust road. At least it wasn't beating sunny like 3 years ago! When I reached Curt and his AS at mile 30, he later was saying I felt like a big black cloud. I barked something at him, and he stepped away...far away (didn't help I was out of water or gels for the last hour and haven't pee'd the whole race). But - I had 10 miles left, and I was mad. Angry, disgusted with myself, stupefyingly mad, and I took off. Gotta be honest - 70% of last 10 miles are single-track twisted downhill, my all-time best running grounds. I was fuming, and I was running. And I actually was passing. Not "excuse me, may I" passing, but basically elbowing and flying by. When last AS where Amy, Darla and Chris were, came at mile 35, and they wanted to hug me, my only thought was I will break apart, cry in their shoulders and will not be able to run strong. So I pushed them away. Literally. And ran like mad again...

Photo curtesy Cheri Redwine

Well, I surpassed my goal by a good measure (6:52), but the course is quite easy, and so did 3/4 of the field (actually, I have no clue about results). I bet there were 2 dozens of girls ahead of me, and it was nuts. Told you, Oregon breads runners. Real runners. Welcome back to the world:)

Sean Meissner, of course, made up for me a "first Russian", and even "first Texan". And the middle school had hot showers. And as always, Drymax socks and Crosslites (LaSportiva) rocked out on my feet! And since I finished a full hour earlier, we didn't need to speed up, and I spent some time socializing. And then it was back to Portland - airport - red eye - back to work. And thus the life goes on. There are ups, and there are downs. Otherwise, we wouldn't know how to be alive.

p.s. turned out life is not as bad as I thought - I was 10th female, so I did crack the top 10! Just kidding:)

RESULTS

Interviews and sponsors.

I had been interviewed by a couple of places last week, so check out one of the webistes which already posted my views on Texas running: RunPals.com.

Another story is going to be in May issue of Inside Texas Running (website and magazine) per Joe Prusaitis request (from Tejas Trails). I'll let you know now that I shared I used to be 184 lbs, what I love to run and why, what my favorite gear is (LaSportiva and Drymax!), who my real-life inspirations are and a couple of stories my readers are familiar with but which have quite a place in my memory lane.

Also, a shout out that Wasatch Goat Team is alive, their website is revived, and we are going strong on our 4th year! The affiliation of the team with best companies we love and support (and you know me, I never brag unless I believe) continues! Since inception, we have our main sponsor La Sportiva shoes with many varieties for all kinds of terrain (and they have a blog as well), we have Drymax to keep our feet happy, Patagonia to provide us with this year's "skins", First Endurance for fueling and Backcountry.com for general outdoor stuff discount.

A short weekend blurb

I had a very trying week, to say the least. This job thing is killing me!!! I cried, like, for 2 days, I was so messed up! What would I do without a routine of scheduled workouts???

Those were good. Those were really good. Each and every one of them. I use a 1 week taper, so I am not supposed to be there before tomorrow (for my next race at Peterson Rumble 40M), and thus I floated through all weights and intervals and hills, straight into Friday - when I slept in till 6:45!!! And then the work thing turned around and produced results! And then I went to Bikram yoga and was able to do a Standing Head to Knee full version, yay, after so many years I am coming back! And if anyone ever decides to think Yoga is not a sport, watch these video clips from my studio.

Anyway, there was a Hells Hills event an hour SouthEast of Austin, where I ran 50M last year, and I figured it's nice to put in last longish training run with other folks around, on trails that remind me of Wildwood (yes, they do, in the trees, covered in pine needles, soft and cushy). So, I did 25 km.

Took off after the guys, fooled in my mind by the fact that is where I usually run in a 50 miler. In a mile and change realized it is a 15M run, and those people are honking it, and I am not. Pulled back, settled in, enjoyed the morning (with all its 90% humidity, 75F, but cloudy, so at least no sun). I don't think this weather can do more damage to me than I endured at Grasslands, but I was thrilled that I was done and when the sun showed up past noon, I didn't have to be out there.

I flew a Superman somewhere mid-run, big time, while passing a slower 50k lady (from the earlier start), and no, I do not know how to tuck and roll, so when I fall, it's smack plant all body down, dirt eating, always right knee bleeding, and cussing. Couldn't swear too much, I think I scared the heck out of that woman just by falling and then being loud. Had to stop and shake off, while yelling (me: don't worry, honey, it's not that it hurts, it just helps me emotionally to deal with hurt. A-A-A!!!). Walked a minute. Limped another two. Started back running. You know, as usual...

Made sure to chat with friends who volunteered (them: why are you in a "mini"??). My long-time "catch me if you can" Chris Russel passed shortly after second AS (mile 7?). I kinda calculated it's a 3hr run for me, and ate gels accordingly. I still had a gel I was just about to take at 2:35 in, when a guy running backwards at us yelled "0.76M to the finish, almost done!". I was like, WTH? I even took the gel, thinking he said 1.76M, or may be 2.76, and I didn't hear behind the music. I was still taking it easy since at about 2 hrs into this whole thing I figured I am tired and deserve to relax and glide, and I thought I'd pick it up after last gel. Well, I picked it up. And rounded a corner into the finish. Great...

2:42, 5th female, I think Joe said 1st master, but since I always refuse awards at his races (I don't have a house, we live in an apartment, and Tejas Trails awards are rather special...), I may have to wait till official results. Not that I care.

They had showers!!! Hot! Tried to clean my knee, but was a wuss, and left it with grit. Hung out, was sent out for extra ice on Joyce's truck, bunged my head on it. Brought ice back. Hung out some more, gave grief to runners, laughed a lot, talked a storm (like: why are so tan? whatdayathink, I just ran at Grassland!). You know, as usual. 3 hrs post-race all together...

Came home by 2pm (ain't short races nice???), sent out email to local runners:

Well, it is ongoing and going, but for the news Paul Terranova, the intrepid in anything below 50k and famous Austin marathon pacer and 1st place finishers at Rocky 100 pacer (along with Meredith, who at this event marked the course the night before) ventured into 50M distance! We can thank huge rains in Northern CA for cancelling Lake Sonoma there (his target race) which allowed us to witness this dude to chase sub-7 (missed by a minute) in his first 50 miler. He looked good done too! And yes, he did the push ups. And wow, he said he'll do some more of those (50milers, not push ups, though push ups for sure)!
Steve Moore was 3rd in 7:34. No clue who that young kid was as 1st, but he had quite serious bloody blisters (Drymax, baby!).
I don't know much more. I mean, I was there, pretending to help after practicing a short run, but from what I remember Derek P. was 2nd, Flash was 3rd in 50k, Josue 4th and John R. 5th. Nobody broke 4 hrs. It was kinda humid, but till noon under the clouds, so I thought was survivable (not to everyone, though).
Famous Liza Howard played paramedic (while her son Asa played Firefighter) and pretended to use her wilderness skills she teaches on a couple of guys with sprained ankles and a few more with some mild dehydration. We chatted and both decided we don't do well as volunteers as we don't have all that much pity:) It's a joke, chill. New Balance has a new shoe coming out, and it may make our little treasure even more famous (see, I didn't say all the details!).
I let Chris Russel beat me in 25k, it was his only chance to find me at uncomfortable distance between my "more up my valley" races. I blame my spectacular Superman fall..nah, all his, clear and steer.
The course was in great shape, and I liked the new section replacing some of miles towards the end.
The $10 parking fee gave you a use of a HOT shower, and it was totally worth the money.
Aid Stations were manned by newlyweds Cheri and Jeff and by Mr. Hobbs and Crash on the course, as well as Juliana, Marc and more usual suspects at the start.
Joe and Joyce. The heart they put into these events is huge and pounding. Thank you. Makes up for the fact it's in Texas and prevents me from knitting full time:)
 
No, really, Tejas Trails are awesome! Anyhow, I am taking a taper week. I was playing with my knee at home, and I actually cried (more because I felt sorry for myself and the fact that Larry didn't express pity, you know, like you're tough, suck it up). Figured, would be nice to heal up before Oregon trip. Just in case. It might be wet out there, you know.
 
Tomorrow I am taking Harrison and my running club's friend's kids for a hike, to let them do their short run and to let Larry do a planned 20 mile run. Slacking. Wonder how this knee will work during squats, huh? Or Bikram? Anyhow, flying out Friday morning, meet with Alex, hang out 2 days doing mommy thing. Meet up with a few girlfriends. Drive with Bushwhacker on Sunday at 4am to Sisters and try and represent Texas. You know, may be get, like in top 10? Oregon is a tough crowd, they breed speedsters...I am pulling your leg, folks. I'll do my best for a given day, but I will mostly enjoy my old stomping grounds and hope for a good day. I always do. The rest - we shall see...
 

p.s. I'll add more PHOTOS once I steal them from Josh, official dude. May be he'll even send them to me? :)