Hellgate revisited

One of the "what ifs" has been removed. Now what?

Is it really all up to me?

Hellgate What Ifs

What if I could get out of the funk I am in and convince myself that I really could finish this great race one more time.

What if I could cram months of training into 4 short weeks?

What if I could forget about finishing it fast, and just go out there to have fun and finish?

What if the race director would let me in at the last minute even though the race has been full for weeks?

What if...


Hellgate. It is the only race that I know so well I can visualize almost every mile in my head. I have had some of my best (most fun) times out on that beautiful and challenging course. I've run it fast, and I've run it slow. But I've always run it.

It offers so much. Am I really willing to give it up without a fight? The picture above was from Hellgate 2005. I trainined that year for a sub-three-hour marathon in the fall. That speedwork carried over and allowed me to have my fastest Hellgate in what was perhaps the worst weather year. Footing was hard to find. But what I did find that year was the courage to go out there and do my best.

Maybe muscle memory can help me get back into ultra shape in 4 weeks. If only I could remember where I put my courage.

Run hard out there.

Lifting Weights Improves Running Economy

If you guys don't follow the Conditioning Research blog, you should. The latest post is about a study that shows that weight training improves running economy.

If there is one thing an ultrarunner should want more of, it's running economy. Mine is in recession. But I have a bailout plan...

Run hard out there.

More riding, less running

I was a long distance cyclist before I was an ultrarunner. Getting back to basics for me usually starts with a ride to work or a long ride in the mountains. The breeze is never fully at my back these days, but any ride is a good ride.



I laced up my Lemond Poprad this morning for a ride to work. It was windy, not too cold. A nice reminder of how much I used to enjoy those mornings with 30-miles under my tires before even getting into town. I long for those mornings. They are just around the bend.

Cold ride to work

In an attempt to reclaim my "inner badass," I cleaned up my single speed road bike and decided to start biking to work again. I picked a beautiful, 32-degree morning to start. There's no better way to clear the morning cobwebs.

I love the changing of the seasons, and Fall is just about my favorite time of year. Cool weather, football, apple picking, and turkey roasting.

Enjoy yourselves out there...

Withdrawn from MMTR, Doubtful for Hellgate

I don't really have much to say about it. I had a great first half of the year, ran 100 miles in less than 24 hours for the fifth time, then it has been all uphill from there.

Running used to be my passion, my way of expressing myself and having fun. When the passion is gone, it becomes more work than fun. I hope the passion returns someday. I've taken breaks before, and each time come back stronger. Will this be one of those times?

Best of luck to everyone. Thanks all for reading my blog and my books.

Run hard out there.

-Neal

Congrats to all Grindstone Finishers!

Early predictions were that very few would finish under 24 hours. Nine runners did. Hats off to Harland Peelle, Chris Reed, and Keith Knipling for running such a strong and competitive race. 84 runners and only 12 DNFs! Am I reading that right? This year's Massanutten (MMT) had 55 DNFs out of 156 starters. Hellgate last year had 23 DNFs out of 105 starters, and that was a good weather year. Harland Peelle finished Grindstone 2 hours faster than he did Massanutten. Incredible. It's awesome to see how ultrarunners can step up their game when so much is on the line. Tell us it is impossible, and we will prove you wrong. Tell us it is tough, and we will show you that we are too.

Man, I wish I could have been there... Great job Jay, Sophie, Dan, Marc, Bill (first hundred!), Vicki, Sniper, Rebekah, Mike, and everyone else.

I'm dreaming of Hellgate.