Trail Runner/Ultra Junkie Thread

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John M

climber
Aug 21, 2018 - 12:26pm PT
you guys are dredging up old memories. Good ones, but I sure miss it. The late 90s was the last time that I could run long distance. The Sierra Nevada mountains are amazing to run in and backpack in. I sort of ran in my own bubble as I started running to help with problems with depression. It was a great high. I believe that I was pretty fast, but I never tested myself in any race. I wasn't even aware of long distance mountain races. I swam in college and knew that world, but didn't take up running until my 30s.
Bale

Mountain climber
UT
Aug 21, 2018 - 05:35pm PT
I actually love trail running, just not ultra distances. Those are some well-worn shoes BC!
Sierra Ledge Rat

Mountain climber
Old and Broken Down in Appalachia
Aug 22, 2018 - 05:50pm PT
I used to run trail ultras, 34 miles max.

Hardest was Mosquito Marathon, Leadville, Colorado. Twenty nine miles, between 10,200 feet to 13,400 feet, with 6,000 feet elevation gain.

My daily run was 20 miles on the Road Apple Trail in the Four Corners area, or the Incline in Manitou Springs, or the La Luz Trail in Albuquerque.

Thanks to all this running I am getting my knee replaced in a month.

atchafalaya

Boulder climber
Aug 22, 2018 - 10:41pm PT

Lots of miles in the mountains, and sunrises and sunsets makes all the suffering worth it. Roughster, 8 hours plus change at dick Collins is flying! Nice job.

Sierra Ledge Rat

Mountain climber
Old and Broken Down in Appalachia
Aug 23, 2018 - 02:49am PT
Running trails & ultras certainly made me a strong MB. One summer I spent a couple of weeks riding with some pros in Moab. I had a shitty $300 MB with no shocks but I had no trouble hanging with the pros. I was so strong BITD.....

It's humbling to get old and watch your body fall apart, after having done so much when you were young. Now when I go for a hike, I have to decide if I should turn around after 200 yards, or if I can push it to 300 yards and still manage to get back to the car.

:(
neebee

Social climber
calif/texas
Aug 23, 2018 - 03:08am PT
hey there say, sierra ledge rat...

oh my... :(


just do what you can, and do the best you can...

:) and-- the rest, will be what is best for you...


:)


happy good eve...
or good morning, as the case now is, :)
Jaybro

Social climber
Wolf City, Wyoming
Aug 23, 2018 - 04:12am PT
49 marathons and ultras here, mostly trail, guess it Is in my blood....
For my book, Climbing California's mtn's ( Falcon, 2003) I did a lot of the peaks as trail runs, and left hints and clues of those and further adventures in the book,

Still running, but seasonally now, it's too hot in the summer here in Moab ( esp since guiding hours Tend to coincide with early morning run opportunities, for me. But I get after it, after a fashion, in the off season.

Also, at 62 I may have less bounce in my step. But I have managed to average one or more half marathon length trail runs, per month since Dec, '11. And I'm not stopping now.
High Fructose Corn Spirit

Gym climber
Aug 23, 2018 - 07:45am PT
Jaybro, that's great!

Curious, at 62 and after all that running, do you knees (sometimes) crack, pop or catch some?

For the first time ever in my life, I might be developing a knee issue. No pain (not yet?) but occasional popping/cracking (crepitus, I guess) during or right after (e.g., flight of stairs).

Is this your experience at all?

I catch myself thinking whenever my knee cracks if this is the beginning of the end. At other times not so much when I'm reminded other joints (foot, shoulder, elbow) sometimes crack with no consequence.

Mindful of this, for the last year or so, I know I've cut back on some running lengths and talus jumping, etc. It's too bad because I still have the want to do this (the aggressive tromping, etc.)

...

Curious, at 62 and after all that running, do you knees (sometimes) crack, pop or catch some?

and if so, do you take countermeasures or just pay it no mind?
Mike Honcho

Trad climber
Glenwood Springs, CO
Aug 23, 2018 - 07:55am PT
We go as hard as we can, but with Donkeys!
A brutal and fantastic sport.
High Fructose Corn Spirit

Gym climber
Aug 23, 2018 - 07:56am PT
That's great, wish I had the type of lifestyle to encompass that, I'm so jealous! :)
mooch

Trad climber
Tribal Base Camp (Riverkern Annex)
Topic Author's Reply - Aug 23, 2018 - 08:21am PT
I used to be part of this event every year until 2008. Life took a few turns and drifted away from doing it. But if you love trail running and peak bagging, I recommend the Sierra Challenge.

http://snwburd.com/bob/challenge/2018/
Mike Honcho

Trad climber
Glenwood Springs, CO
Aug 23, 2018 - 08:28am PT

Also, at 62 I may have less bounce in my step. But I have managed to average one or more half marathon length trail runs, per month since Dec, '11. And I'm not stopping now.

That's rad Jaybro. The guy who won the Pack Burro Racing Triple Crown this year is 56, he's won the World Championships 3 or 4 times now.

Fairplay, CO -29 miles
Leadville, CO -22 miles
Buena Vista, -15 miles
All in consecutive weekends, so I'm hoping for another good 10 years.. fingers crossed!!!
Bale

Mountain climber
UT
Aug 23, 2018 - 12:24pm PT
The human body is amazing, it strengthens and adapts under stress. What machine can do that? There are limits, however; 26,000ft? 100mi? 72hrs no sleep?
I really admire those who push human endurance as far as possible.
Jaybro

Social climber
Wolf City, Wyoming
Aug 23, 2018 - 04:13pm PT
Inter species cooperation to have fun and achieve goals is commendable, and where it’s at!

HFCS I do have occasional pops and crackles, but pretty minor. My knees and legs are generally stiff in the mornings. I move around and stretch before I do anything. I’ve really cut back on jumping down or between rocks. Sometimes I feel something in my hips, I thought for a while I was leading into trouble there. But a friend ( Shanti) showed me an exercise where you sort of side step with an elastic band stretched between both ankles and that seems to have cleared it right up and has become part of my daily routine. I have a ladder up to my loft like sleeping area and I have a number of stretches and exercises I do on that on several ascents, descents a day.

I always feel it when I stand up from sitting any length of time. Driving especially. But in all cases motion seems to be the cure!

Stemming is harder than it used to be, but I did a passable top rope victory lap on Devils tower’s El Matador a few weeks back with no ill affects. Again I thing the motion is key!
PinkTaco

Mountain climber
Utah
Aug 23, 2018 - 04:42pm PT
I've done many ultra's and many alpine routes, they loosely relate in terms of endurance and nutrition, and certainly cross over nicely. There is nothing like the the confidence you get going into a serious alpine situation knowing that just a few weeks earlier you finished a 30+ hour mountain run.

Corollary with bonus:
there is nothing like going into an ultra knowing that you just survived an alpine epic with actual objective danger, it's like a vacation. You loosely get the same feeling without the stress!

On the other hand, rock climbing and ultra's simply don't mix.
I can't tell you how many times I have overstuffed my luggage on route to an ultra with climbing gear, and days later still not be able to get my rock shoes on over the blistered sausages! I've learned to separate the seasons. It's like having a lover and a mistress, probably safer to just keep surfing instead.
atchafalaya

Boulder climber
Aug 23, 2018 - 07:07pm PT
Races in Europe make a lot of the American races seem tame. There are some big climbs over there. Btw, f$&@ Hardrock.
High Fructose Corn Spirit

Gym climber
Aug 23, 2018 - 07:58pm PT
"in all cases motion seems to be the cure!"


Jaybro, thanks for the feedback.

I'll add your words then to the encouragement to keep moving.

"If you rest, you rust." Thanks!
Sierra Ledge Rat

Mountain climber
Old and Broken Down in Appalachia
Aug 24, 2018 - 07:23am PT
...blistered sausages...
I never had any blisters or foot problems. I carried an extra pair of socks, and changed into dry socks when needed. The old pair dried on my fanny pack until they were needed again.
Clint Cummins

Trad climber
SF Bay area, CA
Aug 28, 2018 - 03:47am PT
[Click to View YouTube Video]
UTMB coming up on 8/31.
https://www.walmsleyruns.com/
mooch

Trad climber
Tribal Base Camp (Riverkern Annex)
Topic Author's Reply - Aug 28, 2018 - 01:55pm PT
The Barkely Marathon ('marathon' being tongue and cheek): The Trail That Eats Its Young

http://www.barkleymovie.com

[Click to View YouTube Video]
Messages 21 - 40 of total 89 in this topic << First  |  < Previous  |  Show All  |  Next >  |  Last >>
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