Season Ender

Well, It's been quite a while since I have posted. Not that I'm a consistent blogger or anything. It's just been a tough season with some health issues and finding something really motivating to write about has been a challenge. But here is an update for the few that do read my blog.
As November approaches, I have been battling a mystery knee problem for almost a year. I was able to race this season with some OK results but was unable to run any ultras or do any long training runs in the back country with my buddies. That is more of a bummer than not racing.
So I decided a few weeks ago after my second MRI in ten months, which only showed knee history and a "gray, unconvincing spot" and total frustration with my situation to get my knee scoped. My Doc was focusing on the entire knee but had a gut feeling that I probably had a meniscus root tear, posterior. The plan was set in motion. Worst case with a root tear repair would be six weeks non weight bearing and possibly running again in 3 months.
I arrived at surgery yesterday morning and was on the table at 7:30 sharp. The next thing I know is that I'm waking up in recovery. The first thing I asked was what time it was? 11:30 am. Right then I knew I had a tear and that they fixed it. A few minutes past, my wife showed up and then the Doc. He started explaining what he had found. It then turned to shit!
In 2002 I suffered a full ACL tear in the same knee. That ACL had a "10% tear" spot on it. He fixed it. That's good. He found signs of arthritis. This is to be expected, I suffered juvenile rheumatoid arthritis as a young child in both knees, I was just hoping it wouldn't start to show up until later in life. He then got to the real shitty news. He confirmed that yes the meniscus root had torn and that he repaired it with three sutures (for added strength). He and the other Ortho assisting him felt they had nailed it. They then did a range of motion test, a simple flex of the knee to an angle common of spinning on a bike, and all three sutures ripped through the meniscus. This then resulted in meniscus removal. I'm still pretty groggy as he is explaining this to me but awake enough to know that I'm fucked. He backed all this information up with photos of the procedure. Not that I didn't believe him, but it was good to see the pictures.
My Doc explain to me that this tear was most likely a result of my ACL tear from 2002 and that for the last seven years I was hammering it with the running and that it wasn't until a year ago that it finally got so fucked up I finally started feeling the pain. He did give great credit to my ACL Ortho but told me that seven years ago, they weren't looking for tears like this with an ACL tear. But that now, it's standard practice with an ACL tear to look for meniscus root tears. That's the short story.
So, of course the question was will I run again. He said yes, to my surprise. Will I run another ultra? Most likely not. Will I run another road marathon? Absolutely not, no road running at all. He told me I will be able to run, but that I need to take a more focused approach to my training and save the efforts for racing. He also very clearly warned of downhill running that that is where I will experience the most discomfort and do the most bone damage. What do you think of when you hear that? True mountain running! Euro style - Climb, Climb, Climb! We also chatted about the arthritis developing in my knee and that hard pounding efforts is just going to speed up that process. We even discussed using cadaver meniscus to do a full replacement. In all honesty, as much as I love to run, that is not a route I'm crazy about taking. I may have a different feeling about that idea if I was a collegiate star looking at a pro career.
So, my season comes to an end. I now need to recover from the knee intrusion and get on some rehab and back to the strength training. Time to start researching mountain bikes - maybe do some endurance mountain bike racing? Nordic season is right around the corner and that's always fun. And as soon as the La Sportiva Mountain Cup races get posted for 2010, it'll be time to make a plan. I'm also undertaking race directing for 2010. Check out www.sunvalleyrunning.com for some new Sun Valley area races. Starting to ramble - enjoy the fall, be sure to get out and do something!

My Wasatch Experience

Not a race experience but a crewing experience. I was originally on the entrants list but had to pull due to a knee problem which prohibited any type of ultra training. I then felt good enough to offer my services as a pacer to friend and training partner Hank Dart. This would also cut AJW's pacing leg in half. I was jazzed. Training was going well and I was confident I would be able to take Hank from Lambs to Brighton for the hand-off to AJW. Well, on our last outing together, the Saturday before the big day, my knee went south and never recovered. Feeling horrible to have to pull from my pacing commitment a few days before the race, I felt at least I could come down and crew for He and AJW. A new plan was hatched.
I went to SLC with Hank on Thursday, did all the pre-race "stuff" and finalized my plan on how to best help Hank through the aid stations in a timely manner.

Aid one - Big Mountain - funny, I was anxious. Did I have everything he might need? Should I have more. Can I take pictures and still assist (no!). What kind of condition is he going to be in? Lots of questions. Hanging and waiting at Big Mountain was fun, even using the Little Dell Interim lot was fun. Everybody doing the same thing - last checks of drop bag stuff.
Hank came into Big Mountain and was looking great considering a rough start. We got him topped off with refills and he was off in a matter of a couple of minutes. All the hype and it took all of a few minutes to get him going. Next stop Lambs.

Lambs was interesting. A huge viewing point for many yet the area was being guarded by want-to-be Police Officer EMT's. While I understand the job they had to do at times they took it a little far. One EMT actually threatened to pull second place Mandy due to the fact that there were poeple cheering for her that were not in the designated area. Give me a break! Lambs was a long waiting game and the point where AJW was going to pick up Hank. Andy and I had our plan on how to limit the time in Lambs to the minimum and it worked just fine. Hank came in, no time wasted, and he and Andy were gone.

I then traveled back to SLC to grab some food. I was actually looking for coffee, but pizza sounded good too. After dealing with the unorganized pizza folks and worrying I was going to miss Hank and Andy at Mill Creek, I finally made it to the top of Millcreek with about five minutes to spare before they would arrive. Again - it was quick - they came in, no sitting, grab some warmer layers, top everything off and they were gone. Next stop would be Brighton.

Down Millcreek and over to Brighton. By now I'm tired and I haven't run a step. I arrived at Brighton and got set up. Actually moved the car about four times so I could be close to the hill leading to the check in point. Out plan (Hank didn't know this at the time) was to crew Hank outside of the lodge so he wouldn't get sucked into the "comfort" of Brighton then bring him in to check in and grab some food - then get out quick. A few hours passed and around 11:15ish they arrived, a few minutes later they would be gone and I would be heading back down Big Cottonwood Canyon toward SLC. My plan - go back to the hotel and get about two hours of sleep before heading back through Parleys Canyon to the Homestead Resort - the finish!
My alarm sounded at 3:15am - that sucked! Jumped in the car and made my way to the finish. I actually got there pretty quick and was able to sneak another hour nap before Hank and AJW would come in.

Hank crossed the line in 25:34ish! Very cool to witness, a job well done!
It was a completely different perspective not being the racer. I now have a new understanding of what the crews go through. Would I crew again - you bet. Do I want to race more than crew - absolutely!

from the “SHOP TO THE TOP”

This past Saturday marked the end of the La Sportiva Mountain Cup with the running of the Sop to the Top in little Ketchum, Idaho. This race is largely known as a locals race which takes the race class from the Elephants Perch store to the base of River Run at Bald Mountain where the runners pick up the Bald Mountain trail. This trail is a traversing trail gaining 3100′ in five miles, all of which is 100% runnable.

Being a local, I am quite familiar with this trail and the race. I know the caliber of the local weekend warriors and I was anticipating some of the point leaders in the Mountain Cup to be here as well. All this added up to the simple fact that this years run was going to be fast and super competitive! For me, my goal was to be up front and run under an hour. For that to happen I was going to have to have a great day on the trail.

Rumors were flying around about who was going to be at this race. I stopped by the Perch on Friday to register and bumped into Bob Rosso (Perch owner and RD). Bob asked if I knew any of “these names: Simon Gutierrez, Bernie Boettcher, Lisa Goldsmith (Lisa’s flights got messed up and she had to drop), Megan Kimmel”, “oh yea”, I replied. At that point I knew the race was on. I also knew Luke Nelson was coming over. On race morning all was confirmed with the addition of Matt Byrne, Susan Nunez, and Tom Broshel being added to the entry list! The field was deep even without the local talent. Game on!

My strategy for the day, if I had any hope of running well, was to go out fast on the first mile of pavement. I was anticipating sub six minute/mile pace to the trail head. Once at the trailhead, I was going to step down a bit and run the first mile of trail somewhat conservative. This first mile consists of traversing rolling terrain with some high steps and short shot climbs. I know that if I run this too hard, then by mile four of the trail I would start to slow. After the first mile, I would start to pick up the pace and try to hit mile four under forty eight minutes.

As the clock grew closer to eight, we received last minute instructions. We filtered onto the street in front of the Perch where Nappy would give the signal and ride lead bike to the trail head. Right at eight o’clock we were off. Sure enough it was quick from the gun. I stayed up front with Luke and a few others as Simon and Matt lead the way. Approaching the River Run base area, Simon and Matt had pulled ahead, I was in third as we hit the single track trail. I down shifted and settled in to the rollers. In no time at all, Luke cruised by me along with Ryan (from Driggs, Idaho). They were moving pretty well. I sat back and let them go. Passing the one mile mark (trail mile), Bernie passed me. I fully expected that! At that point I also realized that Luke and Ryan were not pulling ahead. I stayed patient and kept my cadence quick.
We motored on passing the “overlook” at which time one gets a good look back down the trail. Kevin Tuck (from SLC) was the next runner. At 50+ years young, Kevin is a good climber. But I had a good gap on him and was also slowly pulling Luke back to me. Passing Luke before mile two (trail mile), I started to focus on Ryan and would pass him before mile three (trail mile). Now I could see Bernie and was focused on him but he had a good gap on me.

Knowing there was a water station approaching, I attempted to suck down a gel. I probably got half of it in, hit the aid for a gulp of water and was told Bernie was right in front of me. Well, he was in front but he was also increasing his gap. Trail marker three went by and then trail marker four. I was right on my pace for sub one hour. Bernie kept increasing his gap which was leading me to believe either I was slowing or he was picking it up. Now it was time to make sure I didn’t get passed in the last mile.

I didn’t get passed but I didn’t break an hour. Finishing in 1:00:50ish put me in fourth place. I was quite pleased. It was an all out effort and when you can honestly say you gave it your all, what more can you ask for. As for the top three, Simon broke the longstanding course record running :53:??, Matt Byrne ran :54:??, and Bernie came in under an hour. On the women’s side, Megan Kimmel would take first with a 1:07:??, about a minute off course record pace. Rachael Cieslewicz would finish second and Suan Nunez would finish third.

We ended the morning with a brief cool down at 9000′ on top of Bald Mountain, sat around on the patio while Bob did the awards, and had Mike Newby (the La Sportiva Rep for the area) take some group photos. Once again Team La Sportiva was well represented. The color yellow was everywhere. I (and I’m sure others) was receiving a lot of questions about the product. So, it was great to have Mike there with a shade tent and lots of product to check out.
The La Sportiva Cup has come to an end. While I only ran two of the races, it was a great series to watch unfold. A huge thanks goes out to La Sportiva, Gore-Tex, and Fleet Feet Sports of Boulder for putting this series together and drawing even more positive attention to our sport! Can’t wait to see the line up for next year!

Now get out and do something!