SIX MILE MOUNTAIN HIKE (Swan Range)

None of these pictures are actually of Six Mile Mountain, but we took the trail that would have led to the peak of Six Mile Mountain if we weren't blocked by snow. I'm guessing we could have made our way up through the snow if we were dedicated but we got a late start and Zeke doesn't like sliding around in snow.
It was a pretty day if a little hot. It's nice to get out and hike with Ted and the dogs. With no significantly huge races on the horizon it's tough to find the motivation to go do mega-trail runs, especially when I can instead spend time with my sweetie (Ted) on the trail.

Zeke (my other sweetie) seems really enjoy trail outings. He's getting a little older but is still a great trail dog.

Too cute

My birthday was Tuesday -- but we did cake today at work. This was my cake. It has the running shoes, trail and bear laying in wait.

Bighorn 100 video

WYO 048
Originally uploaded by darcomatic

Here is the video of Leslie and Johnny from Columbia, MO (originally from Texas) and all the flowers.

SOME BIGHORN 100 PICTURES

The full report is the next post down. But, if you're not interested in my lengthy essay on eating my way through the Bighorns, I'll summarize. I paced Leslie Gerein at the Bighorn 100, from mile 48 to mile 95. I was generally useless to my friend but snapped some pictures and enjoyed myself. Being there gave me the fever to sign up for more ultras, yet I've switched to the relay at Devil's Backbone and will only run 25 miles rather than all 50. It's a dichotomy, or something like that. Anyhow, I also have a couple movies I made during the run but they don't want to upload so you'll have to wait for those.


This (above) was in the middle of the day on Saturday. It clouded over but this was welcome given the level of heat when the sun blasted on us. Below is nearish the finish.
Below is Leslie as the sun was rising. The sunrise (and the sunset) were sights to behold.
Below is Leslie and I taking a picture/lollygag break. I am taking a self-portrait of Leslie taking a self-portrait. Awesome.
Below is the sunrise as it was beginning to rise, which was really really early.
Below is me and Leslie at Porcupine Ranger station which is where I began my journey with Leslie. This picture was taken around midnight-ish I think.
Below is another picture of Leslie around sunrise.
Below are pictures from the sunset as I was driving up to the aid station where I met Leslie. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. We don't get sunsets like this in NW Montana. Probably because the mountains block the action.

Pacing at Bighorn 100

Y'all are going to have to wait for the pictures seeing how I forgot to bring a USB cable for my camera, but I have pictures and a couple movies! Check back. I wanted to write up my report before I become all-consumed by preparing for a big hearing I have on Tuesday. This report is a little disjointed but I think I'm still loopy from the sleeplessness of the weekend.

So, to summarize, I paced my friend Leslie at the Bighorn 100 this weekend and it was really fun. Pacing is where you run with someone at the end of 100 to make sure they don't wander off alone into the woods to throw themselves off a cliff. And you make sure they eat and prod them along and stuff (in theory, though with Leslie who is pretty self-sufficient and tough I didn't need to do much and didn't figure I had all that much credibility anyhow to make her do stuff).

I am pretty sure I haven't been to Wyoming since I was little, so it was fun to head to Sheridan Wyoming, which is only 2 hours or so from Billings. I knew Sheridan was supposed to be a cute town and it was. Driving to Sheridan and seeing mountains all around I was non-plussed since I live in such a spectacular place. But let me tell you, the Bighorn mountains, and the course of this race, was some of the most beautiful and scenic country I've ever seen in my whole life. I hope my pictures capture even a little of the beauty because it was overwhelmingly beautiful.

I was to meet Leslie to begin pacing duties at mile 48 at the Porcupine Ranger Station. I drove to the race from Kalispell on Friday and got to the aid station around 9:30 p.m. -- I wasn't expecting Leslie until 1 a.m. and knew I should have tried to nap but had a lot to see -- I wanted to see Ronda come through, as well as my friend Vishal who I worked with at my old law firm in Chicago and my friend Emily in Bozeman (who ended up second woman). I saw Ronda and Vishal but somehow missed Emily. It was fun hanging out at the pacer-waiting-area-campfire and chit-chatting. One of the things I love about ultras is that the coolest people are in and around these things.

Leslie came in around midnight, which didn't surprise me in many ways but was a little ahead of schedule. I knew the course was muddy and difficult so the fact that she rolled in early should have raised red flags. She informed me promptly that she was "damaged goods" and was the down-est I've ever seen Leslie. She and Keith (her delightful husband) make fun of me for having one emotion/facial expression (flat-line) and I think the same could be said of Leslie, except her constant emotion/facial expression is excitement and joy. To see her cranky and self-doubting was strange. But it was refreshing to see that she's human and she actually does, as it turns out, get blisters :p There's a first time for everything.

We ambled down the mud and chatted with the other cranky zombies. When the sun began to rise I was overwhelmed by the beauty of our surroundings. I spent a lot of time thinking about how much Ted would love it there -- there's something about that landscape that is very Ted. Anyhow, as it became brighter so did Leslie and before I knew it she was back in typical Leslie spirits. Which also meant she started hammering, which was a little jolting. You see, aside from the 50k I did in Spokane awhile back, I haven't run more than 15 miles in recent history. So this idea of running 52 miles was probably a little ambitious. . . and when Leslie started running she was running. She's a strong runner and much more of an athlete than I am. She made me work.

Back to the scenery. The wildflowers. Oh the wildflowers. I was reminded of a childhood fantasy that I'd completely forgotten and hadn't told anyone (that I remember) until I recounted it to Leslie. I used to imagine that my bedroom was a big lush field with a stream and I didn't have to sleep in a bed and could sleep under the stars in the cool grass by the stream. We ran through so many areas that reminded me of this childhood fantasy -- except there were no unicorns in Wyoming only other ungulates (are unicorns ungulates?) It was dreamy.

I have to mention the food. This was a moving buffet for me. There's nothing better for someone like me (a piglet) than pacing in an ultra. The combination of feeling good and unlimited access to junk food + an excuse to eat it (ostensibly) is heaven. This race has great aid station food (if you're not feeling ill). I had lots of bacon, dill shrimp, noodles, baked goods and sandwiches. I am convinced I took in more calories than I burned. If I didn't, I have now I (Sunday night) gone into a ridiculous calorie excess. I'm thinking it's time for a day off food so I can digest and recover from all the eatin'.

I also have to mention this local woman we ran with some who was puking her way through her first 100. She told us very matter-of-factly: "this is the worst thing I've ever done." I love it.

At around mile 8o something (um, yeah, 30 something for me) I thought I might have to DNF as a pacer. It's shameful. Thankfully there was a lot of great food and the calories perked me right up. But I was really sort of ashamed by the fact that Leslie was doing better than me. Some pacer I am!

The end of the race was even more beautiful yet. I wish I was a better writer so I could make you cry with my words over how beautiful it was. Unfortunately you are going to have to take my word for it and wait for the pictures, which probably won't do it justice. And, now that I've talked it up you won't even think it's that pretty -- I think I was so awe-struck because I had low expectations for anything that close to Billings :p Much of the end part was downhill. I am a horrible downhill runner. Leslie is a great downhill runner. She got ahead and the distance grew and grew until she was gone (which I had encouraged her to do). So, when I came in to the last aid station I figured it was silly for me to run on alone so I hitched a ride with these women who had volunteered and they gave me beer and were really fun.

The finish at Bighorn is fantastic -- a huge picnic in the park along the river. More food. Leslie finished in about 31:30 and looked great. What a fun fun fun fun time. I got in 47 miles and a lot of time on my feet which should be good preparation for whatever it is I decide to do this summer/fall. I would really like to run the 50 miler there next year -- I encourage anyone thinking about Bighorn to sign up. It was well organized and a great run.

Two Bears and a Moose

It was a beautiful sunny weekend here in the Flathead Valley. A much needed respite from rain rain and more rain. Today we returned to the scene of Tom's fateful bear encounter one year ago to remember -- and run. There were seven of us and we all had bear spray. Which was a good thing because we saw two humongous black bears (that were brown). The second was bounding down the trail right towards Deb, who was leading the group back to the beginning of our run. It was pretty exciting in the safety of our numbers.
We stopped along the way and Tom recounted his encounter. With props.

Here (above) is the first bear sighting. This was about 2 feet into our run. We had barely left our cars when Iris (who I was super stoked was in town and came with us and has better pictures on her blog of this run than I do) kept saying "bear, bear, bear, no you guys BEAR!" It was pretty funny. Especially Tom's response, which was like he was going to personally give it a talking to.

Saturday, Ted and I roadtripped to Fernie, B.C. (that's in Canadia :p) and hiked up to the Island Lake Lodge right outside town. It was really pretty and a lot of fun.

Ted spotted this moose. It was pretty close.

I think rain is supposed to be back in the forecast so I'm really glad we had this incredible summery weekend. Next weekend I am going to Wyoming to pace Leslie at the Bighorn 100. It's going to be really fun!

Bowman Lake to Quartz Lake (GNP Trail Run)

A friend and I did a 13 mile loop in the Park -- up the "North Fork" (of the Flathead River, near Polebridge) on Saturday that was great. It was pretty runnable and there were some nice views. Above is Bowman lake.
There were ladyslippers everywhere! Gorgeous little flowers.
Above is a glimpse of upper Quartz lake coming down the ridge.
This is Bowman Lake again. It was overcast or drizzling for most of the run so the pictures weren't that awesome. But it was a lovely run.

In other news, Sonja continues to show us new ways in which she can be expensive. She bit an elderly little pomeranium at the dog park on Sunday, who required a visit to the vet. Thankfully the little doggie should be fine, but ugh.

A MUSING ALONG THE ROAD TO SELF-IMPROVEMENT

In a couple weeks I turn 35, which is a minor landmark age I think. It’s half way to 40 (the new 30). I like reflecting on “where I am” in my life when I hit these milestones big and small. Turning 30 was fantastic – I embraced the notion that I got a visit from the “f off fairy” upon turning 30 and could be a happier more secure person. This was true, even if only because I made it true.

So where am I at 35 that is different than when I was 30? There are many things that are different, and one has to do with my relationship with weight and food. I thought of this because my “blog friend” Sea Legs Girl often posts about weight and running and her struggles with wanting to be really skinny. She recently posted about BMI and running. Personally, I think she has evolved since I’ve been reading her blog into a more reasonable person on this topic, but her posts are typically easy to dismiss as insane or eating disordered. But then, probably most of us have to admit to being conscious of our weight and occassionally making ourselves crazy over it. Who hasn’t stepped on the scale and allowed the number to affect our mood at some time or another? Hopefully most or many of us have found some sort of peace with our bodies, the scale and our relationship with food. I feel like I have come much closer to a permanent treaty, which might not be totally obvious if you hear me make jokes about being morbidly obese etc., but old habits die hard, right? And what’s funnier than self-deprecation? I thought I would share some of the “eureka” moment type realizations I’ve come to, and hope stay with me as I continue on in my 30s and closer to the new 30.

1) Most of these realizations must be credited to my friend Cheryl who is now a Registered Dietician. In learning about how incredibly smart our bodies are at getting their way (to put it simply), she (and thus me) has learned that to some extent obsessing is a losing battle anyhow.

2) Cheryl has a good friend, who I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know, who is anorexic. Knowing someone and seeing someone in person who is truly anorexic helps put things in perspective. Being healthy and able to do the things we love is what matters. Strong bones, strong muscles and a healthy attitude don’t get enough props. Check out my friend Corey, below, with her overhead squat -- pretty awesome.



3) I was overweight in law school and did need to lose that weight – I did so (lost about 35 pounds total) and was about 10 pounds lighter than I am now for a while but have hovered at my current weight more or less (+/- 5 pounds) for the past 5-6 years. And yet I constantly have this idea that I should diet or do something to lose X pounds in X months. And how is that working for me? J What a colossal waste of time. The things we do every day or over the course of an average week for all our life are what affect our weight in the long run. Sure, extra holiday weight should be shed so as to not let it pile on year after year, but on the whole, a diet is a complete waste if the weight cannot be maintained. That’s the tough part. I cannot maintain at 115 pounds. I’m done bothering with that nonsense.

4) My athletic performance is dictated by my training. Yes, with all else being equal I am faster when I am skinnier, but all else is never equal with me because being skinnier usually means I’m not eating enough to train really well. Seeing how no one is paying me to run or Crossfit, I’m not going to beat myself up over failing to reach my highest potential as an “athlete.” I’ll take the low-hanging fruit in terms of victories :p Not that others shouldn’t make this a priority even if it’s a hobby – I’m all for that. Me, I have other priorities too that don’t jive with peak performance.


5) No one cares how much I weigh so long as it’s healthy.

6) I am not happier when I weigh 5 pounds less. I’m the same only lighter and probably hangry (hunger = angry).

7) If I do not obsess about calories or WW points and just use basic common sense in my eating, I don’t feel as hungry and don’t gain weight. At this moment I know I could have a piece of that chocolate cake if I wanted it. I don’t want it because I’m not hungry. Thus, I won’t eat it. My brain doesn’t work this way when chronically calorie deprived. My brain and my stomach instruct that I binge on the cake. . . then I feel sad and must starve and the cycle continues.


8) If I eat more fat like nuts and load up on veggies I’m pretty full anyhow.

These are all the things I can think of for now. No, I’m not holier than thou and I do not claim to never feel bad about my weight anymore. But for the most part I can’t conjur up that much care over the topic anymore. It’s good for me to try to keep things in check, but I can’t spend the rest of my 30s worrying about 5 pounds. There are other things to worry about. Like beargate.