expensive trail run/not feeling well

I did the shellburg falls trail run a couple of weekends ago. It was a blast! Gary Terlecki from www.runwildadventures.com did a great job organizing and setting this race up - The Pain Train was invaluable in getting this race off the ground. It was a free race which appeals to my frugal nature and I was very a happy about the lack of cost.

On the way home from the race I had to drive my VW Jetta over a bunch of gravel any my skid plate ended up acting like a scoop and scooped up a ton of the gravel. Any way, got home and parked the car for a sec so Jess could run in and grab something, she came back out and we backed out of the driveway and there was a small oil spot on the driveway. We drove around for about a half hour then came home, parked the car and forgot about it. Three hours later we had to go somewhere and we got out to the car and there was an enormous oil puddle under the car.

Long story short, we had the car towed to AJs in Salem and the "free" race ended up costing me $907 in car repairs! Wow. It was still a great race though.

Ive not been feeling well lately, lots of cold symptoms - head congestion, sore throat, coughing/sneezing. It sucks. Its impeded my training quite a bit. Hope to be on the mend soon. Hope all is well with everyone out there!!

Seatbelts.

Polar Plunge!

Hello loyal readers! This is Kurtis and I am seeking donations for the upcoming Special Olympics Oregon Polar Plunge. Jess and I have been volunteers with Special Olympics for almost 5 years and we love it. Due to the oh-so-tough economic times, Special Olympics has had to severely cut programming and staff.

I would really like to raise $1000 for Special Olympics through this event!

If anyone is willing to sponsor me for this years Polar Plunge, please let me know and I will get you the info on how to donate.

Thanks!!

Kurtis

PCT Ultra Pics

For some reason, these all got posted in reverse of what I wanted.... Anyway, here are some pics from the event. What a day. Official Time: 12:15:00 I think I ended up in 97th place. I will take it!










Seatbelts.

50 Mile Finish Line!

I finished! The PCT Ultra was an amazing experience. It was a great race with awesome helpers/volunteers, and fellow runners. I wasnt sure how I would do with it all, but it was a very do-able race. I took it one mile at a time and just kept putting one foot in front of the other. I walked alot of the uphills, and ran most/all of the downhill portions. I wasnt out there to win, I was out to finish. My friend Mitch crewed for me and that was a great help. Just knowing he was gonna be at the aid stations kept me going. Also, I didnt want to DNF because he had sacrificed his whole day to help me and I wanted to make it worth his time! Around mile 34 or so I felt the best I felt the whole day, It was on a down hill portion and I was belting out Kenny Rogers while running downhill! :) it was alot of fun. The only physical problem I encountered was a blister (big) with 4 miles to go. I just ignored it and kept moving. It hurts like crazy now, but it will heal soon enough. The finish line was a sweet sweet feeling. Jess, Ari, Jolene, Katie and Mitch were all there cheering and that was awesome.

A special thanks to The Pain Train, Mike Luvin', Mike Studer, Doug Slama, and Mitch Duke for all their encouragement and prompting during the race, and during all the training (or lack thereof).

There is another 50 miler in October and I am considering it - mostly because of the fresh belt buckle you get if you finish, and I will definately plan on running the PCT again next year. I have a better handle on how to train, I know I can finish and I know I will do better all the way around.

William (pain train) said that he definately considers a 50K an ultra, but once you run a 50 Miler, you really feel like an ultrarunner - He was correct. I very much feel like an official ultrarunner. I will feel even more offical after I do a second one!

I will post some pics from the race very soon. *--Luvin', I told my buddy Mitch to get some pics of you - but you were too quick (or I was too slow) and he missed you at all the aid stations... sorry dude!

Seatbelts.

not giving up...

well, with the encouragement (via blog comment) from William and Mike, as well as the encouragement of Mike Studer, I am at least gonna show up to the PCT Ultra. I dont know what will happen there, but I will be there giving it a shot.

Thanks Mike and William for the nice comments and encouragement. I appreciate it alot!

Seatbelts

still a wanna be.

well... its been quite some time since my last post. back in january I registered for the PCT Ultra 50 miler. prior to my registration for that race, I was hit by a car on my way to work and had a hip injury that really derailed my training. well, i got orthotics that have really helped my biomechanics and has eliminated my hip pain. that is a plus. however, i just havent been able to get on track with my training. my motivation is in the toilet. thinking about july 25th and the pct ultra fills me with dread. currently, I am in absolutely, no uncertain terms, no way ready for this race and will not be ready by the time it rolls around. my fear is that I am going to show up, and end with a big fat DNF by my name. i'd honestly rather that not happen. but I know i cant finish the race. this past weekend jess and I were in Maui (awesome) and I decided not to run the race. when I made that decision, i was filled with a sense of peace and relief. I definitely want to do a 50 miler, and am looking at the october race. I feel like that gives me enough time to get my training back on track and get ready for it all. backing out of this race sucks, I know, but i think its the right decision for me right now.

seatbelts.

orthotics

I finally got my new orthotics today. But no worries, I have still been running despite my pathetic lack of blog entries. I feel like I have really been trying to renew my commitment to the 50 miler in july. I did a good 20 miler this past weekend and that capped off a 51 mile week for me. I need to get up to probably 60 to 65 miles per week by May and then 70 to 75 by June, then back it off a bit in July. I feel like I have a good grasp of what is up ahead and how to get there. I am hoping that the orthotics help my hip and knee pain. It really should.

Here is a fun tidbit. Jess and I are going to Hawaii at the end of May for memorial day weekend. We are stoked. I cant wait to go running there, ive been looking at different trails in the area. It could be awesome.

Another fun tidbit. We catered our first event tonight, the salem tri-club held its annual running analysis event at Northwest Rehab Assoc. and Mike, the owner of NWRA asked us to cater it. We are also catering his medical open house this Thursday. That event will be a much bigger deal. I am super pumped for it.

Seatbelts.