My Big Run

[Ron61]

Hey, anyone heard from Mike lately? Hope that he is doing well. Maybe he can have a movie made. You know, like Forest Grump and Run Forest Run!

Ron

[392cobra]

Ron,
I wonder if Mike hasn't made a raft,Mark Twain style,and is getting in a 10 day vacation floating down the Mississippi fishin'.

[392cobra]

Either there aren't any cellphone towers around the part of the river he is at right now or he's taking a nap after fishin' all morning.

No answer at the phone number he gave us.

[Ron61]

Fred,

If I had been doing all of that running I wouldn't be answering any phones either. I ran 3 blocks this morning at a slow run. Does that count?

Ron

[FWB]

3 blocks ron?
cinder blocks?

[Ron61]

Yes, but they were big ones.

Ron

[bomelia]

Hey guys... made it to 125 miles. This was my first attempt. Learned a lot. My left foot failed me. Gawd awful blister problem. I will post an account soon, lets just say I had big time and can't wait for next year's attempt.

Mike

[Joe Wicked]

125 miles is a long way to run. Congrats on making it that far Mike. Now that the bar is set, raise it for next year. Set a goal that is reasonable and go for it. I like to set goals that make it easy to surpass the goal, yet require extra effort to be applied. By making it easy to reach and surpass, it gives the confidence boost you need to keep going.

When I was a tech lead I used to tell my techs that their goal was 1 more repair than the previous day. That was it. Just 1 more. No one felt overwhelmed and within 6 months we went from averaging 8 repairs/shift/person to 45 repairs/shift/person. I knew we could get there, but trying to do it all at once none of the techs believed they could do it. Just 1 more was an easy target to go for.

[4RE KLR]

Congrats Mike, that is no small feat!

Not many here could do that, me included. Of coarse I am smart enough to not try Just kidding man

[Ron61]

Mike,

Congratulations on making it that far on your first try. I hope the blisters heal quickly. That is a long ways to run on the first attempt. Maybe you can use something on your feet before next years run to help toughen them up so they won't blister to easily. My bones would have turned to dust before I got half that distance.

Ron

[427 S/O]

Mike, where are you, if your way off I'm headn' to Huntsville and see if I can scrounge me up a 428......

[bomelia]

Perry, I live in Hampton Cove (Huntsville)

Mike

[bomelia]

Well, I have a confession to make. I never had 10 days to invest for this race. Last year, I ran on a relay team... wanted to get to know the course. This year, I set out solo, unaided, the way I trully want to do it. I was hopefull of getting to Natchez Trace by Sunday. Sunday was my intended last day. I did not make it quite that far (half way). My left foot got a nasty blister that slowed me to a crawl. I did however go out with the intention of discovering tactics and proper equipment. I learned a lot. I have not yet summarized my experience yet, but when I do, you can (if you care) read about it at ultraadventures.blogspot.com.

I made it to 125 miles, 25 short of my goal. Trust me when I say that 125 was as far as I could physically go without entering serious damage territory.

The good news is this: I now understand my equipment, I understand my tactics, and I now have a solid plan for next year. Photos of Castle Rock in 2009 will be available soon after my finish.

Find a way to live on the edge.

Peace,

Mike

[4RE KLR]

Congrats Mike.

You have done what many of us could not have done.

[Sharroll Celby]

Congrats as well from me, Mike. I know I COULDNT RUN 125 miles!

Now, with a better plan for next year, we know you can make it all the way!

[bomelia]

Well, one thing I learned is that I need running shoes that can accept my feet when the swell to the size of grapefriuts. No kidding. One can run on swollen feet, and swollen feet are a fact of life in long runs, but if the shoes cannot accomodate, the pressure will create blisters. I found the shoes I wanna try, but they cost $319. Can you believe that? They are designed sort of like Birkenstocks (which I love since I have wide feet). I don't have big feet (size 9.5) but they are way wide.

Mike

[Ron61]

Mike,

The price I can easily believe. Do those shoes change to accept the swelling of your feet, or just how do they work?

Ron

[bomelia]

http://high-performance-running.com/

BAR shoes. They are kind of built like Birkenstocks. Wide in the toe area. Neutral heel height (most shoes today have the heel higher than the toes). What I would do is buy a size or so larger and wear extra socks till my feet swelled, then start removing sock layers.

These shoes have been featured two years in a row at badwater and the runners are really starting to warm to them. Fewer blisters, less fatigue.

Or you can do like the old school folks and just cut the top of the toe box off when your feet get too big!

Mike

[Ron61]

Cutting the top[ of the toe box works until you stub your toe on something. I have did that to an old pair of shoes when I had an ingrown toenail and I swear every other step I took, I managed to hit that toe. Your idea of the socks sounds much better.

Ron