A RAGBRAI-LESS Year

Ragbrai 2009

Well, as I promised.. no Ragbrai for me this year. After doing it for 10 years in a row, and after Last year fiasco with tremendous amount of people's petty stupidity, decided that I had enough and needed a break. Even my own team member came down on me with stupid Sh*t that really amounted to nothing. It is unbelievable how people you know can take things totally out of porpotion and hold you do it forever and ever. Let it go guys and grow up. Life is valuable to be crying over hitches, shower bags and t-shirt and who knows what else.

Well, next year, if everything goes right, I will be going with my girlfriend in style on an RV. I promise you it will be lots of fun. No nonense to deal with that is for sure.

RV for RAGBRAI 2009

Interior

Leadville Marathon Stats

Ok, here are some of the stats of the run in Leadville Trail Marathon... this marathon is not meant for time at all. This marathon is just for survival. You don't run this marathon to get your PR. There is no way. So, you can see that this was difficult as you look at my miliage. But take not, my last mile I kicked it at 8:15 min pace. Finally on flat ground.
You may click on the image to enlarge.

Map

Summary

Per mile

Elevation

Total Elevation

Leadville Colorado Trail Marathon

On The trail of the 2nd Toughest marathon in the Nation

Today July 11th was the big day for the 2nd toughest marathon. The temperature was perfect, the start was around 46 degrees. I have to say it was the toughest thing I have ever done. It was extremely difficult. For me it was more of the terrain then the altitude. The start of the marathon was at 10,200 up to 13,500 ft of elevation. The altitude did not effect me at all, since I have been in Colorado for a week before the marathon and got acclimated to the elevation. The toughest part of the marathon was from mile 10 to mile 13, climbing 3,000 feet in 3 miles. It took me 1 hour and 30 minutes just to do 3 miles. Reaching the summit of Mosquito pass as a storm was passing by. Going down, was much faster but more dangerous.. since the trail was littered by so many rocks. You mis step on one of them and you are down. I feel twice and almost sprain my ankle. A record number of people dropped out. Only 250 people ran this marathon.
This marathon was not only physcially challenging but also mentally challenging.. since you had to have a strong mindset and tremendous will power to continue. Storms started approaching one after another as I was running the second half of the marathon. Towards the last 6 miles.. I was alone. No one in front of me or behind me. On the last 2 miles, I finally approached Leadville and was very happy to run on solid ground. I was so surprised as I started to sprint the last two miles at 8 min mile pace. I can see the Finish line, it looked so lonely in the distance. As I approached the finish line, 8 hours later... I can hear the announcer say my name.

Can't believe, I surivived the 2nd toughest marahon in the nation and to drive the next day to Chicago, a 16 hour drive.

Whew... scractch that one off my bucket list.

Getting ready for the 2nd toughest marathon in the nation

Training run at 10,000 ft in Colorado

Well, i did my test run at 10,000 ft after spending almost a week in Colorado. Did some hiking, mountain biking and road biking and my breathing is good. I can tolerate the high elevation now without a problem. The marathon is tomorrow at 8am and I am not looking for time. I just want to finish it feeling good. This type of marathon is to do it and not for time. There is about an accumlation of 6,000 ft of climb during the marathon, topping at Mosiquito pass at 13,500 ft.

More later.

Mountain biking in Colorado... #1 in the Nation Keystone

It was a tremendous fun mountain biking down the mountain in Keystone at about 10,400 ft of elevation. Even though it is my first full day here, I was still breathing heavy and trying to get acclimated to the high elevation. I did better then Expected. There were a couple of sections that were pretty tough but I manage to escape without any injuries.

Wooo hoooo

Longetivty

I found a great article on the net


http://adventure.nationalgeographic.com/2009/06/live-longer-dan-buettner-text/1


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