Keeping My Eye on the Prize

Pastor Frank Colacurcio has been an influential man in my life since 2005.  He is the senior pastor at the church Sara and I attend in Rocklin called Mosaic Christian Church - a non-denominational, bible-based church.  I don't know exactly, but over the past year or so I have noticed a callousness in my heart which has undoubtedly hindered my growth as a follower of Jesus.  This past weekend, as Sara and I were driving back from South Lake Tahoe, we prayed together, simply sharing issues and burdens on our hearts.  Not realizing it at the time, but through sharing my heart with Sara and God, I believe some chains were broken.  I realized this at church this past Sunday as Pastor Frank played a little game of "Charades" with us from the platform.  He wanted us to guess what he was acting out.  The act he performed was a celebratory dance, but nobody exactly knew what he was trying to communicate.  He then had us close our eyes and when we opened them, he was wearing a Kobe Bryant jersey.  After that, we all knew he was a Lakers fan, celebrating their championship victory.  But the truth the metaphor was trying to portray is that as followers of Christ, if we don't clothe ourselves with Christ (in the same way he clothed himself as a Lakers fan) how are people going to know the source?  And as believers, if God doesn't get the glory he deserves, then who does?

It was extremely convicting for me because far too often either I take all the credit for something God does in my life or I don't give him any credit at all.  In all honesty, I try to play "god" too much in my life and if you saw a layout on paper of the choices I have made in the past or continue to make, you'd probably laugh at most of my decisions or be appalled.  The life-changing choice I have made by God working in my heart is to give him the glory he deserves in all aspects of my life.  I'm sharing this because I believe in being transparent (with wisdom and boundaries of course) and this blog is not just about my journey of running, but of my life as well.       

I am definitely thankful to God for the gift of running.  Not only to experience, but watch as well.  This past weekend was inspirational watching Tony Krupicka and Geoff Roes power through the Sierra Nevada's en-route to a new course record with Geoff's 15:07 and Tony's 15:13 for second place.  Their performance has inspired me to give the 2011 Western States 100 a shot.  It is not a certainty I will be allowed to participate nor is it a certainty I will be ready!  But in all honesty, I want to run for God's glory and keep Him the focus of this endeavor and see what He does through this process and journey; in me and through me.  The tentative schedule I have written in my head in preparation for States is the Way Too Cool 50k in March and the Miwok 100k in May (And some fun shorter races along the way).  I may be getting way ahead of myself, possibly pretentious, or even quite a bit naive, but I truly believe this desire is pure and God-given.  But the funny thing about God is that the desire may be true, but his timing or plans may not be according to our plans because in reality, he sees the bigger picture at-hand and knows what's best (as a loving Father should!).  So I will be preparing this next year idealistically hoping to run States, but realistically expecting it to be 2012 or later.  Either way, all I care about is honoring God and having some darn fun out on the trails.

Speaking of a rootin-tootin-gosh-darn-fun-time,  I met my bro, friend, mentor, former roommate, and current USA Triathlon elite-level coach, Brian Priddin for a run this morning.  We headed up Foresthill Road to Devil's Thumb.  From Devil's Thumb, the plan was to run down to El Dorado Creek and up other side to Michigan Bluff and back - 16 miles round-trip, with 6 miles of climbing.  Heading into the run, my hamstrings and quads were a little sore from introducing core-strengthening exercises, squats, lunges, and wall-sits into my routine.  The start from Devil's thumb is really smooth and slightly downhill until you get to Deadwood cemetery.  From there, the Western States Trail descends for roughly 3.5 miles to El Dorado creek in which you cross over a small bridge.  Keep in mind however, I brought very little water and food. 

After crossing over the bridge, the trail kicks up pretty well and it is a 2.5 mile climb up to Michigan Bluff.  After a casual start to the run and some easy downhill running, I made sure to stash my water bottle in the creek so that it was nice and fresh for the final climb back up to Devil's Thumb.  My quads felt every step on the descent and I wasn't quite sure how my climbing legs would perform today.  Prior to the run, I made sure to check Tony Krupicka's split from El Dorado Creek to Michigan Bluff - he did it in 40 minutes (14:17/mile).  So after departing from my bottle, I engaged into the climb.  It was definitely the toughest initially and I wasn't sure how long I could keep climbing at this gradient.  It was tough.  Sweat poured down my body from the heat, although the trail was mostly shaded which I was thankful for.  I didn't try to push this climb in the least because I knew there was still the 3.5 mile climb up to Deadwood.  After the trail eased up a little, I started feeling really good, my legs were stoked to be climbing.  I focused on keeping a consistent tempo and keeping my turnover and arm-swing quick.  As I crested Michigan Bluff and turned right on the paved road and stopped at the monument, I looked down at my watch which read 36 minutes.  I beat Tony! ha ha. No, I really didn't due to the fact I hadn't run 40 some-odd miles prior to the climb and didn't have almost 50 miles to go, but I still reveled in the fact I had a quicker split than the studs who dominated this trail not more than 3 days prior. 

As I descended Michigan Bluff back to El Dorado Creek, I was so thirsty!  I could not wait to down the rest of my Cytomax when I reached El Dorado Creek.  As I came to the creek, I figured why the heck not sit in the creek for a few minutes and get my core body temperature down before this last climb.  Let me tell ya, it felt amazing to bask in this not-as-cold-as-I-had-expected creek.  It felt very refreshing though. 

As I headed back for this final showdown, I still felt thirsty and was getting a little hungry.  The cool thing was, Brian was going to drive my truck back to Deadwood and supply me with some water or see if I wanted to stop or continue the final two miles back to Devil's Thumb.  The climb back felt pretty good initially, it was a lot like Michigan Bluff in the sense that the gradient was steepest coming out of the creek.  I kept a pretty chill pace and just wanted to get back.

Two hours and fifteen minutes into the run, those same warning signs that I received during my 30k started to kick in.  Uh-oh!  I was only twenty minutes into the climb and knew I had at least fifteen minutes to go.  Five minutes later I bonked and bonked hard!  I was a half mile away from Deadwood and had to walk/jog the remaining distance.  I was so thankful to see Brian waiting with some much needed water, shot blocks, and a PB & J.  I devoured the food, drank the water, but still felt thirsty.  I didn't realize how much sweat and water I had lost within the two-hours and thirty minutes I ran.  Thankfully, as we drove back, Brian spotted a green water pump.  I refilled my nalgene, threw in a cytomax packet and felt at-ease (except for my thrashed legs!) 

Today was the longest I have run since the CIM in terms of time.  It felt great (until the bonk) and was very thankful to get 6 miles of solid climbing in.  Upon returning home, Brian suggested doing "contrast therapy" in which you sit in an ice bath for 5 minutes and then sit in a hot bath for 5 miles, repeating 2-3 times (check it out if you want to learn more about this recovery technique).  It is in those times I am very thankful I have keys to the WJU training room and there are two whirlpools.  Contrast therapy has rejuvenated my legs and they feel much better.

Thank you God for running and for friends who have the nourishment my body needed after slamming into the ill-begotten wall!  Had a blast today!        

Sweet Runs

Although Summer hasn't officially begun, the 80+ degree weather this past week or so has indicated warm weather has finally arrived.  I have been very thankful for not only great weather, but different trails I have been fortunate enough to experience the past few weeks.  After much time and distance put in along the Western States Trail (due to the possibility I was to be a pacer for States, but that plan was laid to rest when Bruce from Connecticut informed me his buddy would do the job; I wish him the best of luck and may even bump into him prior to the race), I figured it was time for a change of scenery. 

This past Tuesday, Jason and I cruised further up the hill to check out "Stevens Trail" in Colfax, a trail I had heard about two years ago from my group home kids I was working with at Koinonia.  The trail as a whole is gorgeous, it covers a variety of terrain and the panoramic views of the American River are breathtaking.  As for running, it wasn't too challenging; I was honestly expecting a tougher incline.  In short, the trail meanders 4.5 miles down to the North Fork of the American River and there are only a few stretches that hit 6%-10% gradient.  Other than that, I would say the average gradient overall lies within the 3-5% range.  Stagecoach alone averages about 6-8% for the entire 2 mile stretch.  We made it down to the river in 31 minutes and I made it back up in 36 minutes, only pushing it the last mile.

This past Friday, I wanted to check out a section of the Pioneer Express Trail I hadn't seen yet -Rattlesnake Bar heading toward Horseshoe Bar.  I've run from Rattlesnake toward Auburn and with Connor from Cavitt to Horseshoe Bar, but that section from Horseshoe Bar to Rattlesnake remained a mystery.  I will say that this particular section is now my favorite.  The 3.5+ mile stretch out is almost all single-track, forestry/woodsy trail.  I love running single-track for the sole purpose that it reminds me of being on a windy roller coaster; and with no foreknowledge of what is ahead, you simply let yourself be free and enjoy the ride.  This was my longest run to date in my Vibrams (approx. 7.3 miles) and certain feet muscles were definitely sore.

This next week I hope to bump up my Tuesday long run into the 2-hour range and enjoy time on the trails with friends.  I put in 37.5 miles this week just having fun and not worrying about mileage, but hope to increase my volume a little this next week, but all the while still have fun and not take myself or running so serious.