Once a month we’d like to showcase the races for members courageous enough to spend a few minutes filling out a Google Form, and until we get that sick shout-out from the CEO himself on Twitter or, preferably, Instagram®, we will *NOT* promote Run Gum!
First-placers, mid-packers, sweepers, we want to hear all the tales: heroism, zeroism, and everything in between. And as you see below, your submission can be as brief, or *long* as you’d like!
Are you racing this November? Probably! Here’s an incomplete list of “races” I accept:
Real races! (road, track, trail, relays, obstacle courses, chasing that teen around the track after his friend Todd dared you to race him)
Not really races(?) (stair climbs for cancer research, color runs, certain Mario Kart levels)
Strava CRs! (no bikes)
Strava CR attempts! (definitely no bikes)
Beer Miles (5% abv or even PBR beer miles!)
Beer ultras
In order to receive more reports in the coming months, I’d like to offer the following perks to becoming race reporters!*
I’ll go with you to the nearest QFC and buy you a 6 pack of Leinenkugel.
I’ll go with you to the nearest QFC and you can see what happens when I offer to buy a random #teen a 6 pack of Leinenkugel.
We’ll go to the nearest Target and I’ll ask the nearest non-male cashier if they have “condoms for virgins” and if so “I’ll buy 3.”
I’ll email Ginger Runner over and over until he agrees to check out my Pliny The Elder bottle collection and do a Shoeless Joe interview.
I’ll race in my favorite Big Dogs shirt at whatever the next Rainshadow Running race I’m allowed to enter the lottery for.
Let’s hand it off to OCTOBER 2018’s CAVALCADE OF ONE FUCK*NG BOSS HOSS WHOSE NAME IS BRYAN LION!
🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻
Bryan Hamilton
Member #: 1733 Race name: West Seattle Monster Dash When was this race? 10/27/2018 How did you place?! I won Race website:westseattlemonsterdash.com
At the 7th annual West Seattle Monster Dash, SRC members had a clean sweep with Bryan Hamilton and Kristi Houk nabbing the top spots as The Flash and Batgirl, respectively. Kristi is recovering from a car accident/back injury. Bryan, I am not sure what his excuse is–maybe old age.
Here is my (Bryan’s) account:
After two years of racing this event in Lincoln Park and being beaten by Dan Sloat, I have finally been victorious. I woke up race day. It was a typical Seattle fall morning. The air was crisp, the fog was shining and leaves were blowing in the wind. Oh yeah, and three little birds were by my doorstep. I toe’d the start line, looked around, and there was no sign of Dan Sloat. The start gun went off and still there was no sign of Dan Sloat. I took off like a Flash; I knew this year would be the year. I swung my arms, engaged my glutes, and never looked back until I crossed the finish line.
Did iRunFar interview you before or after the race?: No Race image(s):
Shoeless Joe Sez!
“At the 7th annual West Seattle Monster Dash”
7 years?! If this race has been around *seven* years, I’ll donate my back catalog of WWF Magazines to the local high school (while wearing a Club Northwest singlet, of course)
“After 2 years of racing this event in Lincoln Park and being beaten by Dan Sloat, I have finally been victorious.”
I can confirm that Bryan got jobbed out by Dan Sloat last year, evidenced by this gif of Dan in his gorgeous SRC singlet slash terrible Halloween costume getting ready to SLAY those 8 year-olds in their T-Rex costumes.
Wouldn’t surprise me if he also stole candy from a little girl and (barely) beat up a 10 year-old in the parking lot afterward.
“three little birds were by my doorstep”
One of my favorite Maroon 5 tracks!
“I toe’d the start line, looked around, and there was no sign of Dan Sloat.”
Hard to race 5Ks against 5 year-olds whilst also arguing on your Slack workspace full of run nerds about Strava GPS inaccuracies!
“I swung my arms”
Good thing Dan Sloat wasn’t nearby or you might have grazed him in the arms and given those pipe-cleaners a visible bruise and he woulda said “own my arm!”
Congrats Bryan and Kristi! From the advanced research I did on your photograph, I can say with 95% certainty (and happiness) that it appears you’re *not* chewing Run Gum, so hands in the air!
(Leaves to Google “cheap Maroon 5 concert tickets”)
Once a month we’d like to showcase the races for members courageous enough to spend a few minutes filling out a Google Form, and until we get that sick shout-out from the CEO himself on Twitter or, preferably, Instagram®, we will *NOT* promote Run Gum!
First-placers, mid-packers, sweepers, we want to hear all the tales: heroism, zeroism, and everything in between. And as you see below, your submission can be as brief, or *long* as you’d like!
Are you racing this August? Probably! Here’s an incomplete list of “races” I accept:
Real races! (road, track, trail, relays, obstacle courses, chasing that teen around the track after his friend Todd dared you to race him)
Not really races(?) (stair climbs for cancer research, color runs, certain Mario Kart levels)
Let’s hand it off to July 2018’s, SIGH, FOUR BOSS HOSSES!
🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻
Katelen Phelan
Member #: 1578 Race name: Carnation Run for the Pies 5k When was this race? July 4th How did you place?! 2nd in my age group (aka won my pie) Race website:Run For the Pies 5K Race report:
11 SRC runners turned up at this small town 5k on the 4th. We city slickers came hoping to win pies as one of the top 3 in our various age groups. While scoping out the competition for Club NW folks, I only noticed 3 orange singlets, but also a surplus of a new-to-me running group- ERC (Eastside Running Club). Competition looked high and I was instantly regretting my decision to run a 16 mile trail run with 4,000 ft. elevation gain the day prior. I started my race at a very fast clip, breezing past little kids who ran like zigzagging bumblebees. Noticing my high speed, I turned it down a notch, still managing to pass a CNW runner. The road section transitioned to gravel at a righthand turn. Some (perhaps) well-meaning volunteer decided to walk across the path to cheer folks on from that side just as I was making my turn. A quick “Woah, lady!” slipped out of my mouth. That fury fueled me for the gravel stretch. I finally slid past a teenage runner who had closed me off several times at 2 miles. At 2.4 miles, I passed a few more runners, including a Oiselle lady, then two guys who began a chorus of heavy breathing upon my passing, motivating me to run even faster. The finish line was closing in and I was neck and neck with a young man. Seconds to the finish line I was sure he would beat me, but I kicked it into high gear and beat him by 1 second on the clock… though his chip time was ahead of me by 1 second. Thanks to the flat course, competition, months of high mileage, and promise of a pie, I had myself a 38 second 5k PR! I got my lovely winning pie as 2nd in my age group, along with 7 other SRC runners. I think we have ourselves a new 4th July tradition!
Did iRunFar interview you before or after the race?: No Race image(s):
Shoeless Joe Sez!
“11 SRC runners turned up at this small town 5k on the 4th.”
Nice, look forward to 10 more race reports from this race!
“While scoping out the competition for Club NW folks, I only noticed 3 orange singlets”
The rest of their club was washing my car that day 😏
(Looks around expectantly for a high-five, spills ice cream on shirt)
“I turned it down a notch, still managing to pass a CNW runner.”
“I kicked it into high gear and beat him by 1 second on the clock… though his chip time was ahead of me by 1 second.”
Ugh, the only thing I can think of off the top of my head that is more disappointing than finding out later you got chip-time’d at the finish line is that day you find out as a dad that your #teen son is going through his dog collar phase.
“…and promise of a pie, I had myself a 38 second 5k PR!”
Congrats Katelen; free pie and a PR is great way to start this post off on a high note! I can’t wait for the other 10 members to tell me their tales of glory!
Dan Sloat (also Evan Williams and Joe Kelly and Kevin Lin)
Member #: 1955 Race name: Ragnar NW Passage When was this race? July 13-14 How did you place?! 2nd Overall, 1st Ultra Race website:Ragnar Site Race report:
I’ve been wanting to try out NW Passage for a couple years. I could only find 5 runners and thought “hey, 34 miles isn’t that bad and I hate sleep” so we did an ultra. The team also included SRC members Evan “tempos in crocs” Williams, Joe “Willing to do an ultra on a week’s notice” Kelly, and Kevin Lin!
We started in the last wave and began what would be a 20+ hour struggle for the overall race lead with a 12-person team. Fast forward to 4:30am. Lining up for my third double leg, I contemplated how many more 6 minute miles I had in me. The answer was 9. Unfortunately, it was a 14 mile leg. Check out my Strava if you want to see my gradual descent into death. Shout out to the Club NW guys on the rival team who ran alongside me to give me water as I staggered through an epic bonk.
We held on to the overall race lead as late as 188 miles into the 200 mile race, but sleep deprivation and huge mileage took its toll. We shocked ourselves with our 6:08 average pace – a solid effort all around. The course was beautiful and the race well organized. We had a great time despite (because of?) the suffering. We swore we’ll never do it again, but I’m sure I’ll find myself fighting sleep to drive Evan’s little Honda along a country road while chugging a tailwind and luna bar smoothie again next year.
Heard at an exchange, as Evan flew by shirtless at 5:10 mile pace: “Man, that guy is in way too good of shape. He’s making us look bad.”
Did iRunFar interview you before or after the race?: No Race image(s): ALL TEH RACE IMAGES
Shoeless Joe Sez!
“I contemplated how many more 6 minute miles I had in me. The answer was 9.”
Whoa that’s great! Congrats!
“Unfortunately, it was a 14 mile leg.”
Oh sorry, I suppose I should have read ahead.
“a solid effort all around.”
Don’t be so humble, Dan! “A solid effort all around” is how I describe to QFC employees my cat’s typically-unsuccessful attempts to pee in his litter box. As my 10th grade PE coach would put it, you 6 were the first losers in a 199-mile relay race!
“We swore we’ll never do it again”
I’ve lost track how many times I’ve said this about Hot Pockets and/or Hazy IPAs…
“…while chugging a tailwind and luna bar smoothie again”
It’s just us Dan, you can call it “beer.”
“Heard at an exchange, as Evan flew by shirtless at 5:10 mile pace: ‘Man, that guy is in way too good of shape. He’s making us look bad.'”
Evan used to chew on my farts during races. Now I sit in my underwear and comment on other people’s races on SRC.org while he runs 5min mile repeats in Crocs and elicits this reaction from anyone he runs by:
Last year’s race wasn’t enough of a challenge, especially with the highly crushable, high-octane, beast-unleasher (TM) of Monster Hydro. That’s why this year I put the choke slam on the Enumclaw Safeway’s pesto pasta salad pre-race. Could the relentless climbs of WR50 and butt eruption be enough to hold back the Blonde Beast (unleashed by highly crushable, high-octane Monster Hydro)?
One mile into the race and the rest of the pack was already just a speck in my rear-view mirror, which I had torn off since I don’t care about the past, I only rage forward into the future. By the first aid station, Sage Canaday’s CR split was so far behind me I’d have time to watch all-time Rob Schneider classic, The Benchwarmers, before his ghost caught up. Then, nearing the top of the summit, I reached the area devastated by last year’s fire and had to reassess my priorities. Clearly, who the ultimate competitor was had been proven at this point of the race, but there were plenty of other problems out there to crush; what would Rodney Sacks, CEO of Monster Beverage do?
While the other racers blindly ran on, not yet accepting they’d already lost to the undeniable hydrating flavors and unique energy blend of Monster Hydro, I selflessly did what I could to refertilize the fire-damaged areas around Norse Peak. And because Monster Hydro doesn’t let you quit, even though I never quit, I kept up crushing this service to nature all the way back down the mountain. The rest of the race, which was over in my mind, having won, is history, which I don’t pay attention to since I only rage forward into the future fueled by the chakra-blasting, career-boosting, near-death, best-life experience of Monster Hydro.
Did iRunFar interview you before or after the race?: No Race image(s):
Rodney Sacks, CEO of Monster Energy Sez!
Young man, I don’t know who you are, but my youngest son Bllevyn from my 3rd marriage linked to me to this post and I just wanted to say that I think your exactly what were looking for here at Monster Energy . Fit blond and pony-tailed. Your right, Monster Hydro is non-carbonated and lightly sweetened with natural flavors to make it thirst quenching and easy drinking i’m excited your a fan! If your on Snapgram or Timber like my son Hammyr from my 2nd marriage, I hope your exuding that “to the future!” spirit to the masses as well Only because my eldest son Ron from my 1st marriage tells me these blogs don’t do really do anything for our social media efforts cause noone read’s them they’d rather tap on pics on there phone..speaking of phones call me Olin thanks -Rodney
Adam Hicks
Member #: 2019 Race name: Burning River 100 When was this race? 7/28/2018 How did you place?! 28 OA, 5 AG Race website:Link Race report:
This one is a bit long, but It covers 100 miles, so…
Shortly after running my first 50k last fall, I signed up for a 50 miler as a winter getaway. Of course, I didn’t even wait to experience that before signing up for my first 100 miler: Burning River. At the time, I was still living in Cleveland and could get to any section of the course within a 40 minute drive, so I spent the winter running portions of the course in the snow.
Having about 3 months in Seattle to complete my training made me much stronger on the hills and gave me practice on more technical trails. I’m not sure how much better I am with technical trails, given how much blood I’ve left out on those trails since April…
Race day had nearly perfect weather. It rained overnight and was very humid at the start, but it was only 65 in the early hours and the high for the day was 75 with sun. I started out in road shoes as the first 11 miles were on road with fairly easy trails after that to the first drop bag at mile 21. There were 2 creek crossings in there that required going ankle-deep, so a shoe change was in order by that point anyway. I had a pacing plan for each major section and was doing pretty well. I was very close for the first 11, though I came into mile 21 10 minutes early after misreading the wrist band I had my pacing strategy noted on. I used some of that extra time for my shoe change and a bathroom break without feeling rushed.
The next 20 or so miles were pleasant, running through the woods and sharing miles with other runners when our paces aligned. It was mile 45 where things turned. I was feeling good about my hydration and calorie consumption, but I started getting nauseous and was having trouble taking water. The gels, shot blocs, and sport beans I was carrying suddenly all sounded awful. I had trained with these items up to 33 miles (and used them in my 50 miler), so I was in foreign territory without any experience with fixing tummy issues. I was still about 10 min ahead though and figured I could take it easy into mile 50 with hopes that I would feel better then.
My pacing plan had me finishing around 20 hours, 30 minutes (which was crazy ambitious for hundo #1), but I came into the 50 mile station at 9h30m, having given up my 10 min time bank. Unfortunately, I was still having trouble eating. I took about 20 minutes to slowly try different food and rest. My mind started to despair here, which was probably a mix of mental fatigue and things not going well in a way I wasn’t familiar with. Deep down, I knew I was doing great and even still had a great shot at sub-24hr, but I left the halfway point nearly in tears carrying a Ziploc baggie full of pb&j sandwiches that didn’t really sound any better to eat than gels at that point.
The next 10 miles were a combination of walking and jogging. This was especially brutal as it was a pretty flat portion of the course where even a slow run would have been 4-5 min/mi faster (I was averaging about 16:30/mi here I believe). I was still having trouble drinking and this was the least shade I would have through the middle of the day, compounding my issues. Somewhere in here I also realized that, in my funk at the halfway point, I failed to re-apply Vaseline and get some Tums to see if those might help me.
Around mile 55 the aid station was run by the Cleveland Triathlon Club and I knew some folks volunteering. Their energy was a big mental boost and, when I asked about Tums, a volunteer must have dumped half a bottle into my pb&j baggie. I would munch on those periodically for a while and the helped a little.
At the mile 60 aid station I was surprised to run into a former coworker volunteering. We had a little chat, I got some Vaseline to apply (it was too little too late), and this was the first aid station with GRILLED FREAKING CHEESE!!! This was the first real food I was able to take since mile 45 (over 4 hours ago). I managed some pickle juice as well and went on my way.
On my way to the mile 66 aid station, I got a text that my first pacer, Sean, who had planned to meet me at mile 72 had been following me online and saw I was in trouble, so he drove out to pick me up 6 miles early. The Tums had been helping a little bit, but I was still in rough shape. Knowing that I would have a pacer soon helped me run a little bit more to mile 66 and I had decided there was one last thing I hadn’t tried to help my tummy. I was going to move on to Coke and see if the cola would help.
I rolled into 66 a little bit stronger. I explained to Sean what I was going through and what I had been eating. He suggested that I may have been low on salt as the chewables I was using were much less potent than caplets. I took more salt, had some grilled cheese, ramen, and coke (the most calories in a long time!) and we headed out. It took a little while, but I started feeling much better. Not great, and I was still having trouble eating on the run, but it was the best I had felt in quite a while. We ran more than I had been and I came into mile 72 feeling stronger.
The coke and ramen had gone down best, so I went back to those options again. The grilled cheese wasn’t working for me any more, so I doubled down on what was. I also had pickle juice and green grapes. Over the next 4.5 mile section, I started to feel really strong. I don’t think I realized till later, but I believe the caffeine in the Coke gave me a huge boost. Toward the end of this section, I even ran down a relay runner. As good as I was feeling, Sean and I decided maybe I was going a little too hard with 25 miles to go.
I was a little quicker through the mile 77 aid station. Coke, ramen, pickle juice, grapes. This would pretty much be my go-to at every station from here on out. It was also time to trade in my sunglasses and cap for my headlamp. I also tossed a light wind breaker in my pack and grabbed a Payday bar, which I had packed as a special, salty treat for later in the race.
The sun set between 77 and 82 and it got pretty chilly outside of the woods. It was pretty surprising how much heat the woods retain after sundown! I managed to eat half the Payday bar in this stretch (very slowly) which was my first time taking calories between stations in a long time (and the last, I think). I was also extra motivated to get to the next station as the captain had promised me a beer prior to the race. Chafing became a really big problem around this time.
As we rolled into the next stop, I put my wind breaker on to keep myself warm, which helped a lot and stopped in the bathroom to wedge some TP between my cheeks. It was a last-ditch effort to help the chafing, but it worked perfectly! That problem was completely solved the the rest of the run at least. At this station, I got coke, ramen, pickle juice, a cold Coors Light, and tried grilled cheese again (nope). The beer was a great moral boost going into a hilly 5 mile loop, but I also knew this would be the last really hilly section and I had trained on it a lot so I would know what to expect even when fatigued and in the dark. After some prodding from my pacer we were off.
Early in the race, there were some relatively steep downhills on road that I tried to take easy but ended up using a short choppy stride that I wasn’t used to. By mile 20, I had some discomfort in my right shin that I thought felt like shin splints. It stayed with me all day, so I tried to focus on good form without heel striking. By mile 82, it was starting to really hurt. The hilly section between 82-87 really took it’s toll and I had to be really careful on downhills for the first time. I also started to legitimately worry about serious injury. I had almost 20 miles to go and was in significant pain. I wasn’t sure how it would hold up (though I knew I was well-enough along that I could finish as long as I could walk). With my increased pace since mile 66, I had a decent shot at 23 hours, which Sean kept telling me to stop thinking about. All in all though, my attitude was really positive at this point.
The station at 87 came and went. I had my routine down now: 4 small cups of coke, ramen, pickle juice, some grapes, and go. This 5 mile section was mostly road and then one good hill in the woods. The road was easier on my shin, but just keeping my foot from dropping and dragging on the ground really hurt now. As we entered the wooded section, we heard a coyote. Sean remarked on how cool that was and then we heard another and another and another… Suddenly, up the trail ahead, we heard maybe a dozen coyotes howling… and then fighting. It sounded really vicious. Sean and I were silent for a bit and I had visions of running into some injured, pissed off coyotes on the trail. Luckily, that didn’t happen, though it was an unnerving 2 miles through that section of woods.
Back out on the road, I knew the next aid station was getting close. Now walking hurt about as much as running with the shin pain, so I picked up the pace. I was running people down that I hadn’t seen since mile 60 or before and leaving them in my tracks. At mile 92 I exchanged pacers (my younger sister, Brittany, tagged in) as well as shoes (back to more padded road shoes for the last ~10 miles). This was my only time sitting down the entire race. I did my nutrition routine and we took off. I definitely wasn’t getting the hydration and calories I needed, but I figured I could make it to the end. I needed to average 12/mi to finish under 23 and we headed down the path at a 10/mi pace out of the aid station.
I still had nausea, but the shin pain was getting REALLY bad. A wrong step here or there would result in me crying out in pain and stopping in my tracks. It was even worse trying to get started again after a short break. I was having to crouch down and bounce a little to stretch out my hips, knees, and ankles and then start running as soon as possible to avoid tightening up. I decided at this point that I wouldn’t be able to run for about 8 weeks, so I might as well make the most of this race. I also wanted it to be over as soon as possible. We hit mile 97 and had just 4.3 miles to go.
There was one more section of trail with some small hills and some stairs, but I could taste the finish line already. My watch died around this time and Brittany didn’t have her distance/time worked out to know what we needed to do to get in at 23 hours, so I was just going as hard as I could. We hit a nice, smooth downhill on a road an I had to walk. The pain was searing. I hobbled through the woods and had to use the hand rails to get down the stair cases. When the path ahead flattened out for good, I decided I needed to run the rest if at all possible. Each time I stopped to walk, getting started again hurt more and more.
We were then out on road for the last 1.5 miles. Every step hurt so bad, whether it was walking or running, so I told Brittany that I was going for the finish as fast as I could. Pretty soon she couldn’t keep up and continued to cheer me on from behind. That last mile and a half felt like a sub-8 pace. I was passing other runners on my way in and, when I saw the finish, I was in a dead sprint, crossing the line at 22:50:02.
I was exhausted. I congratulated a few runners that crossed behind me and then sunk into a chair. A volunteer brought me my buckle and Brittany grabbed me a ginger ale. I’m not sure how long I sat there; maybe 20 minutes before I started to get cold and decided to head over to the hotel. I got a hot bath, drank some water, ate a little something, and tried to sleep. I was way too uncomfortable to sleep. My hips ached and my shin burned, so I tossed and turned for about 4 hours. I decided to get up and grab some breakfast before heading back to the finish for the last hour before the cutoff. It was great to see 3 runners beat the cutoff in the last 30 minutes and the runner that came in 15 minutes after clearly wasn’t worried about the official time, she had covered 101.3 miles under her own power and the joy in her accomplishment was clear.
It’s been a week now and I can’t believe how well I’ve recovered! A physical therapist friend took a look at my shin later on Sunday and suggested that I probably just had a strain of the tibialis anterior (a much less serious injury than shin splints), which has proven true as it feels almost 100% 8 days later. I ran 5 miles on Tuesday (which was too much) and then 5 more on Thursday (still too much but manageable). After 2 more days off I ran 20 on the Sunday following my race and felt really strong. I’m excited that I’ll be able to do some more racing this summer and fall!
Did iRunFar interview you before or after the race?: No
Shoeless Joe Sez!
“This one is a bit long…”
“At this station, I got coke, ramen, pickle juice, a cold Coors Light, and tried grilled cheese again”
AKA what you’d get from me for dinner if you dated me between 1998 – 2009.
“and stopped in the bathroom to wedge some TP between my cheeks. It was a last-ditch effort to help the chafing, but it worked perfectly!”
“4 small cups of coke, ramen, pickle juice, some grapes”
My Friend Derek would marry a mason jar of pickle juice if it were socially acceptable, and I don’t think he’s ever talked about pickles as much as you have here.
“A physical therapist friend took a look at my shin later on Sunday and suggested that I probably just had a strain of the tibialis anterior.”
Well yeah, I coulda told you that!
All joking aside, congrats Adam! Despite what the wise souls at LetsRun may type out during their refractory period, running 100 miles will never not be an insane accomplishment that you’ll be able to take with you forever (just not to work; no one at your work will *ever* sincerely care). Though after reading that, I’ve never wanted to run a 100 miler any less than I do right now.
Also, welcome to Seattle! I have a feeling you’ll like the trail running out here.
Katelen Phelan
Member #: 1578 Race name: White River 50 When was this race? July 28th 2018 How did you place?! I made it in before the 14hour cut-off! Race website:whiteriver50.com Race report:
This race started at 6am, meaning I woke up at 4:30 am to drive down to the starting line. Already sleep deprived, but excited for the adventure, I started out strong and optimistic, but smart enough not to push too hard at the start. The first stretch is rolling hills for ~5 miles until the very steep ascent for the next several miles. I ran/hiked by fellow SRC memebers Ellen Lavoie and Jack Rosenfeld (Jack was racing uphill in sandals?!) and saw Uli at an aid station ~10 miles in. The climb continues with breathtaking views along the way. My spirits were still high even as the sun started to peak out and speed racers like SRC runners Keith, Olin, Amon and Martin were breezing past the opposite direction. Their descents looked dicey, especially over loose rock and near steep drop offs. But boy was that decent a treat. Given this day’s total elevation gain of 8,700ft, my technique was to run the flats, manageable downhills and rolling hills, while hiking the steep uphills. I rolled into the Buck Creek Aid Station (mile 27.2) with the joy of running my a hill decent I mostly hiked up and seeing friends. The service was incredible! 3 different SRC volunteers asked what I needed and got right to it! I swapped out my socks, sat down for a bit, then eventually was told to carry on with my race- now or never. The next stretch felt bad. I needed a restroom and ended up using Mother Nature for that. I had minimal desire to run the flats for a bit. The temperature was rising and This part was more exposed than before- just as Herb Sitz told me. I made a push to the next aid station, comforted by the many other miserable runners I met along the trail. From this aid station to the next -Sun Top Mountain (~37.2 miles) I enjoyed the rolling hills, flats, descents, and meeting a new SRC member- Daisy. I saw Aaron and Glen out taking pictures and the view before Sun Top was incredible! Sun Top Mountain was great- Kat treated me with different savory food options (too kind), Andy was out of snow cones (I’ll hunt him down for one later), Ian tainted me by drinking a beer, Brian had great jams to liven the spirits, and there were full bathroom facilities- a great place to explore how bad my chafing situation was! The next 6 mile gravel stretch sucked. By the time I got to the last aid station- Skookum Flats, I was almost in tears from pure misery (chafing, foot pain, knee pain, back pain, boredom). When asked how I was doing, my response was; “I feel terrible”. Aid station folks assured me I had 6.6miles to go and only ~300m once I hit the gravel road. I started walking the flats, then got bored and kicked it up. The hills are rolling and I ran every descent, flat and gentle hill from then on. Once at the road I pushed it out of pure enthusiasm to be done. Then I was! I was handed a finisher’s glass of ice cold water, I waddled over to a chair, learned my time was under the 14 hour cut off, but after my 12 hour goal- 13:22:01 hours. Food tasted great, sitting felt great, a beer was great, my ability to walk like my normal self felt permanently broken. But hey, I just ran my first 50 miles in one go!
Did iRunFar interview you before or after the race?: No Race image(s):
Shoeless Joe Sez!
“and saw Uli at an aid station ~10 miles in.”
#wellactually, it’s about 18.33 kilometres</uli>
“just as Herb Sitz told me”
Herb Sitz gave you advice, huh?! He advised me I would have more success with this feature and maybe get more Pie and 5K finisher reports if I posted these as they came in rather than monthly. Right after he said that (at an FLB Monday group run), my credit card was declined.
“Andy was out of snow cones”
ANDY!
“…and only ~300m once I hit the gravel road.”
#wellactually, it’s about 702 metres</uli>
High five, Katelen! May there be many more 50 milers and 100 milers and race report submissions in your future!
Once a month we’d like to showcase the races for members courageous enough to spend a few minutes filling out a Google Form, and until we get that sick shout-out from the CEO himself on Twitter or, preferably, Instagram®, we will *NOT* promote Run Gum!
First-placers, mid-packers, sweepers, we want to hear all the tales: heroism, zeroism, and everything in between.
You racing this July? Probably! Here’s an incomplete list of “races” I accept:
Real races! (road, track, trail, relays, obstacle course…..is that it?)
Let’s hand it off to June 2018’s BOSS HOSSES!
🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻
Jim Mansen
Member #: 1569 Race name: Bend Beer Chase When was this race? 6/2/2018 How did you place?! Who cares? Race website:Bend Beer Chase Race report:
The Bend Beer Chase always starts in the cool morning hours and then summer heat breaks out almost instantly and turns any porta-potty into a porta-sauna. Team Beerly Running managed to stay cool thanks to the conveniently-located breweries along the exchanges. Our team of 5 was also supporting a solo runner so while we managed to gain several leads into the exchanges, we spent time in the care and feeding of our maniacal friend in his quest to be the solo division champ. A great way to enjoy the run (and brewery) community instead of our likely Men’s Masters champion position. We arranged to keep the finish open so Our Beery Godmother could finish all 56 miles with a roaring crowd and an awaiting champion plaque. Two teams, one race, and free beer. Seems like a win all the way around.
Did iRunFar interview you before or after the race?: No Race image(s):
Shoeless Joe Sez!
Ah, the ol’ BBC. More memories from this race than I have hairs on my back. I’d be remiss to not link once more to my own race report from Bend Oregon, ca 2015. I’m not going to read it again; I’m sure it’s aged quite well, not unlike a well-timed Al Bundy zinger.
…summer heat breaks out almost instantly and turns any porta-potty into a porta-sauna.
The key here, having run this race twice under similarly atrocious conditions, is to forgo the porta-potties altogether and just jerry-rig a fancy functioning jar/bottle setup in the car.
Another solution is to just not drink *any* fluids. Run/sweat hard enough and *boom*….no porta-potty needs for DAYS.
Samir Rahman
Member #: 1968 Race name: Color Run 2k18 When was this race? 06/13/18 How did you place?! Who cares? *Your* website URL:http://www.SponsoredByRunGum.com Race report:
I arrived in the parking lot, used the port-o-potty facilities, and began to embark on my warmup. I was locked in for this extremely competitive race – I had just begun my sponsorship from RunGum and knew that a bad race would put me off to a bad relationship with the organization. I scouted out my competition, but oddly enough, just saw a bunch of guys jogging in baggy t shirts and basketball shorts. “An easier win for me I guess,” I thought to himself.
The starting gun went off and my body was full of adrenaline. I didn’t want to get boxed in, so I went out hard, threw some elbows (knocked down a kid in the process, but oh well) and found myself quickly in the lead. After the first turn, I noticed a bunch of hoodlum teenagers covered in purple clothing trying to throw purple powder at me! I was both perplexed and infuriated, as I had no idea what these kids were doing, but angrier because this distraction was slowing down my running!
I encountered more of these troublesome individuals throughout the race, though each group had a different color (My guess was that the colors corresponded to each group’s gang affiliation). I crossed the finish line, glanced at my watch, and was shocked. “13:44? There’s no way this was a full 5k. Why did I spend 40 bucks on this stupid race?” I asked myself in utter rage.
Suddenly, I found myself in a foreign land. I was lying down, covered in blankets, and my alarm clock was beeping.
“What an odd dream. It’s already starting to get real fuzzy, but I think it was about running or something,” I thought to myself as I groggily got up to brush my teeth. I checked my phone’s calendar and realized I needed to get going quickly for my race later that morning. I was about to race the Color Run 2k18, a classic Seattle road race known for its fierce competition. I rushed to my car stuffing down a Clif bar, and off I went…
Did iRunFar interview you before or after the race?: No
Shoeless Joe Sez!
Since Color Runs don’t have an extensive database of results from their races, I can’t confirm if you actually did run this race and throw elbows and get attacked by gang members or if this is something you wrote for credit at one of Amazon’s inter-office creative writing workshops. As a double-dipper myself, I suppose I’ll allow it.
I had just begun my sponsorship from RunGum
Wait, how did you get this sponsorship? I’ve been emailing them for months now. Did you tell them about this feature? I *have* to assume they’ve seen it by now but you never know…
I checked my phone’s calendar
#HumbleBrag
Martin Criminale
Member #: 1348 Race name: Alaska Mountain Ultrarunning Camp Beer Mile When was this race? 6/13/18 How did you place?! I won Race website:Race Site *Your* website URL:Link Race report:
I beat Dakota Jones! Is there any need to say more?
Did iRunFar interview you before or after the race?: No Race image(s):
Shoeless Joe Sez!
Hate to do this to ya boss, but FYI:
Rufus Park
Member #: 1545 Race name: Hope in the Vineyard 5K When was this race? June 16 2018 How did you place?! 12th overall Race website:Results Race report:
This event was in Benton City at Hedges Winery about 2 miles from my new home. I rode my Stumpjumper on vineyard roads which I discovered are difficult to ride. I was probably the only person that did not come in a car. There were 175 entrants at this wine-themed American Cancer Society fund raiser. The start had a long uphill followed by a long downhill on a paved road with amazing scenery. This was probably the most scenic 5k that I have run, I ran all-out. The course was not marked and there seemed to be some confusion in the directions given by volunteers about half of us ran about 3.5 miles including me. My 3.5mi finish time was 31:06 good enough for 12th overall. I raced with much younger people! I talked with a few people afterwards. A local senior told me about a senior meetup running group in Richland which I will go to some time. This was a fun event for me. Then rode the difficult vineyard roads to home.
Did iRunFar interview you before or after the race?: No Race image(s):
Shoeless Joe Sez!
I rode my Stumpjumper on vineyard roads which I discovered are difficult to ride. I was probably the only person that did not come in a car.
The Ruf, the Ruf, the Ruf is inspired!
He don’t need no carpool let those knobby tires turn!
That pic of you pulling away from that golf cart has earned you a one-month reprieve from me complaining to the QFC cashiers that you insinuated I don’t put women #1 in my life. Congrats! Wine and 5Ks are definitely part of the proper Boston Qualifying marathon training plan, imo!
Aaron Roche
Member #: 1960 Race name: 29th Annual Fall City Day Run 10k When was this race? 9 June 2018 How did you place?! 8th/101 Race website:Link *Your* website URL:Link Race report:
Highlights/lowlights:
I think we passed two (or was it three?) gun stores on the course on the way out of town.
[SHAMLESS NAME DROP ALERT] I looked down at my watch as we came off the bridge with 600m to go, turned to Amber (Morrison of the Bellingham Distance Project) and exclaimed, “Holy Sh!t, we’re gonna break 37!!?
I thought we were out of the nipple bleeding season and that a race of this distance wouldn’t be a problem up there. Nerp. They buh-led. It wasn’t uncomfortable during the race, though it could have been embarrassing had I noticed it while chatting with anyone shortly after the race in my copper-tinged, sky blue Seattle Running Club singlet.
Did iRunFar interview you before or after the race?: No Race image(s):
Shoeless Joe Sez!
Holy Sh!t, we’re gonna break 37!!? I thought we were out of the nipple bleeding season…
I appreciate how you censor yourself on behalf of my younger fans with the dreaded S word, but you chose to *not* censor yourself when reporting about your n!pple bleed!ng.
Nerp. They buh-led.
Yours or Amber’s?
Look Aaron, this is a place for genial race reports (and sure, name dropping [and, I guess if you’re Samir, making up race reports]), not graphic descriptions of blood coming out of your….whatever. Less about the bleeding, more about the….feeding (on gels)? Meeting (of celeb runners)? Beating (of CNW)? Reading (of Dean Karnazeszszzes books)?
Joe Kelly
Member #: 1938 Race name: Cougar 14.5 When was this race? June 9 How did you place?! I lost Race website:Link Race report:
After a pulled hamstring kept me out of the first Cougar race of the year, I was excited to get back onto the trails for some racing. I took the first few miles out easy and settled into a comfortable pace not too far off the lead (that’s the 14.5 mile lead, Evan (Williams) and Brett (Winegar) were way ahead in the 8.2 mile race). I stopped to tie my shoe at aid station 1 and was only a few seconds off the lead pack of 3 as I passed a raucous aid station 2. I caught the leaders near the top of Wilderness Peak and then opened up a small lead on the 1.5 mile decent. I was immediately confused. I never run the downhills well. What was this alternative reality that I had entered? The lead was short lived as former Portland U stud Alex Bowns caught me about halfway up the ensuing ascent. He sat on my shoulder until I inexplicably fell on the uphill when he decided to pass. Little did I know, that would not the only time I would eat trail on this day. The next 5ish or so miles were mostly uneventful. I didn’t see Alex again, I didn’t see 3rd place again, and the DeLeo Wall still hurt a lot. The real action occurred about 2.5 miles from finish line on the last few downhill switchbacks of Marshall’s Hill. My left leg decided not to lift high enough so my toes caught a root driving me straight into the ground. My right knee was pretty banged up and I had scrapes all along my right side. I got up, screamed a few expletives, and jogged toward Quarry. The last 2 miles were uneventful except for the few hikers that I freaked out with my bloody knees.
Did iRunFar interview you before or after the race?: No Race image(s):
Shoeless Joe Sez!
…as I passed a raucous aid station 2.
Shameless sucking up will get you everywhere, Joe!
(Sees pic of Joe’s knees)
Gah! More blood?! You know, children read this web blog! At least that’s what I tell the executive members of this running club’s board. The least you could have done was send me a picture in black & white. Or sepia-toned. In fact, that gives me a cool idea. I’m going to find my favorite gif and add some old-timey sepia toning!
Oh that’s pretty boss! It’s as if Cinnamon Frosted Flakes, milk, and kitchen islands existed in the 1890s!
On a less interesting note, I volunteered at this Cougar race Joe’s reporting from and while jogging around the park afterward, *also* tripped on a rock and ate dirt! Instead of blood though, I merely tore all five ligaments in my left knee 🙁 My vibram-clad feet were happy though!
(Watches that tony the tiger gif loop 7 more times)
Nice 😎
Jim Mansen
Member #: 1569 Race name: Ross Lake Rally 50k When was this race? 6/9/2018 How did you place?! Who cares? Race website:aspireadventurerunning.com Race report:
North Cascades is a spectacular place to run. In the long-long ago when I wasn’t a runner, I used to backpack along Ross Lake every year. Now that I’m often a runner, I’ve wanted to return to those trails. This year Aspire Adventure Running Company hosted a trip with an overnight camp and a boat ride that dropped us mere feet away from Canada. It’s a low-key trip with great folks, really more of a group run than a race and just the way I wanted to ease into 50k season. After a 45 minute boat ride with raging water falls and misty mountain peaks, we ran through a campground only accessible from Canada and incurred some puzzled looks. Nice, soft single-track through mossy woods with lake and creek views; there was no shortage of scenery. My watch suggests I spent 3 hours stopping for the scenery and taking photos, otherwise it was one of my faster 50k runs. It was a good opportunity to practice fueling and pacing, and highlight my first run of the season with a pack (oops). Most everything held up pretty well even though I wasn’t quite ready for the distance yet, but I did learn that when everything starts going South just pick up the pace again for a bit and work through it. So I was able to scream the last 5k downhill and finish strong. Just have to work on my middle game a bit more for the Lake Marlette 50k in August above Lake Tahoe.
Did iRunFar interview you before or after the race? No Race image(s):
Shoeless Joe Sez!
but I did learn that when everything starts going South just pick up the pace again for a bit and work through it.
OH IS THAT ALL YOU HAVE TO DO, JIM?!!?…….I’ll remember that next time my hamstring tears at the 2 mi mark of a 10k xc race and the CNW coach says “Tough luck! At least you guys have enough for a full team…..right?”
we ran through a campground only accessible from Canada and incurred some puzzled looks.
I actually got nothing else for this one…..look at those pics!!
Emma Saarel
Member #: 1947 Race name: Squaw Peak 50 Mi When was this race? 6/2/18 How did you place?! 2nd Place Age Group Race website:squawpeak50.com Race report:
I ran my first official Ultra on June 2nd back in my home state of Utah! 50 miles, 14,000 ft of gain/loss, topping out at 9,300 ft.
Did iRunFar interview you before or after the race? No
Shoeless Joe Sez!
Lose that exclamation point and this is downright Hemingway-esque!
(I just listened to one of his audio books)
(No further questions!)
my home state of Utah
This reminds me of the first time I met Emma and found this out and spent the entire conversation convinced she was Mormon, so I didn’t talk about energy drink’s.
Trisha Steidl
Member #: 328 Race name: Whistler 30k When was this race? June 2, 2018 How did you place?! 2nd woman, 1st masters woman Race website:whistlerhalfmarathon.com/ Race report:
I had a lot of fun racing this course. The first half of the course is primarily paved trails and residential roads, whereas the second half is primarily ski runs/roads, with a short section of single track, finishing back on paved trail.
The half and 30k start together, so it’s difficult to tell who is racing which distance. There is an out-and-back section fairly early on in the race, though, so you can look at the bibs ahead of and behind you to see (distances each have their own colour on the bib).
For the first ~10k of the race I was with a group of women. I felt a great energy running in a group with 5 other women for awhile. I can’t recall the last time I had an experience like that. I savoured it while it lasted.
I also felt like the local ladies were using team tactics on me early in the race. It didn’t pan out as I ended up passing almost all of those ladies later on in the race, but it sure was fun!
One lady had started super fast (and looked strong doing so) and was way out front already by the short out-and-back section and I was able to see she was racing the 30k. Just before the half-way point, all of a sudden I saw a lady ahead of me who looked like that lady. I thought, “Gosh, did she take a wrong turn somehow (virtually impossible as the course is really well marked)? Or did she have to answer the call of nature? Or maybe it’s not the lady who had been in first and just looks like her?” Turned out to be her. No wrong turn, just bonked. HARD.
After that point, it was pretty much me against myself, the clock, and a couple of guys as the now first place lady was fairly far ahead and I knew the third place woman wasn’t going to bounce back without some serious magic happening.
I was able to push fairly well, but took a gel that had 35mg of caffeine in it, which is not something I usually use, which seemed to backfire. It actually made me feel more tired (I have actually had another experience with caffeine making me feel tired, but it was significantly more than this)! That was a bummer, but nothing I could do about it other than keep pushing.
The last 3k+ is back on paved trail and the half-marathoners and 30k runners meet again. The trail isn’t very wide and I spent a lot of energy calling out, “On your left,” and other, similar things. At one point, a lady was in front of me and despite calling out three times, she didn’t move to the side. Since I expected her to move, I hadn’t slowed down at all and by the time I figured out she wasn’t going to move, *I* didn’t have time to move (and there wasn’t anywhere for me to go as there was a small drop off to the left of the path and more people to our right). I put my hands out, grabbed her shoulders and, as gently as possible, but still firmly moved her slightly to the right so I could squeeze by on the left. The weird thing is that she didn’t even seem surprised by it (nor did she apologize…there really wasn’t any response…strange). Crisis averted!
I was able to hold onto second and put ~7 minutes on the third place woman, beating the previous CR, but, of course, that didn’t mean much since the woman who won beat me and bested it by quite a bit.
The best news is that my hammy held up for the most part! There was still a concerning twinge, some discomfort, and I didn’t feel I could fully push the last 5-ish miles, but such a big, positive step forward!! I hope I can go back next year!
Did iRunFar interview you before or after the race? No Race image(s):
Shoeless Joe Sez!
I was able to push fairly well, but took a gel that had 35mg of caffeine in it
Speaking of energy drink’s, I haven’t raced in what feels like 10 years, has Monster or Rockstar or NOS gotten into the ultra distance fuel game yet, with some xtreme gelz that have like full-on GRAMZ of caffeine in em?
I spent a lot of energy calling out, “On your left,” and other, similar things.
For some reason I’m reminded of that Ludacris song that all the #teens in my neighborhood sing at me outside the local Marshall’s even if I’m nowhere near their path and just minding my own business, carrying bologna.
Martin Criminale
Member #: 1348 Race name: Needles 50k When was this race? 6/30/2018 How did you place?! I won my age group and got 9th overall. Race website:facebook.com/needles50k/ *Your* website URL:martin.criminale.com Race report:
This was the 3rd edition of this race and I’m so glad to have finally run it. I usually do better and prefer races with some vertical gain but course takes that to the next level with 10k of climbing. For reference, people were taking about 2 hours longer to finish this than your “average” 50k.
This race starts and finishes in Easton, WA. The first half of this race is remote! Which is cool! You are running through old, big trees, climbing over logs that are 5′ in diameter and you don’t see anyone that isn’t part of this event. Oh yeah, it’s a “Fat Ass” style event so there are only two aid stations which pretty much just have water. Not literally, but pretty much. Plan your nutrition and hydration accordingly.
The second half of this course is more-or-less the last 15 miles of the Cascade Crest 100 course. You climb up to the Thorp Mountain fire lookout and then head back down to Easton.
Everything that goes up must come down and this last descent is a quad buster if you have not been training your descents…
If there is very little aid (and no timing mats, etc.), how does the promoter tell that you really ran the course? Well, they give you a map at the start and there are two hole punches hung on trees along the route. And you need to punch your map with them. For real.
Thanks to fellow SRC member Arthur Martineau for taking the only picture of me actually running in this race.
Did iRunFar interview you before or after the race? No Race image(s):
Shoeless Joe Sez!
how does the promoter tell that you really ran the course?
Hmm. They aske–
They give you a map at the start and there are two hole punches hung on trees along the route.
Oh I see, you were asking rhetorically.
this last descent is a quad buster
Word to the wise: do *not* google “quad buster” on your work computer if you’re at all happy at your job.
Once a month we’d like to showcase the races for members courageous enough to spend a few minutes filling out a Google Form, and until the boxes or $ starts rolling in, we would like to *NOT* promote Run Gum!
First-placers, mid-packers, sweepers, we want to hear all the tales of heroism, zeroism, and everything in between. Let’s celebrate the old fashioned written word to combat this sport’s descent into selfies, IG stories and GoPro madness (that said, selfies, IG stories, and GoPro madness are all happily accepted as part of your reports). I’ll try to provide incisive commentary on races if I feel the urge. #SorryNotSorry if it’s not very witty or informative or useful in any way.
Let’s hear from our inaugural reporters, who raced like BOSS HOSSES this April of 2018!
🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻
Martin Criminale
Member #: 1348 Race name: Yakima Skyline Rim 50k When was this race? 4/21/18 How did you place?! 2nd – Men 50-59 Race website:Link *Your* website URL:Link Race report:
Okay, so this race is not 100% up and down, it’s just about 90% up and down. But luckily most of that flat 10% is rocky. I got what I wanted, a hard 50k. This course took me a little more one hour longer than the Chuckanut 50k for reference. This really fast (because, you know, anyone faster than me must be REALLY, REALLY FAST) guy from MT beat me by 12 minutes. He has beaten me before and I didn’t like it this time either. Amazing views, you could see Mt Adams, Mt Rainier, some mountain that I forgot the name of, and lots of rocks. The tallest plant on this course is about 3′. I fell three times and broke one trekking pole. There is no shade. But there was wind, strong enough to move me sideways on the last descent when both of my feet were off the ground. But there was pizza and beer at the finish. And each time I fell some nice person stopped for a minute to see if I was okay. Each time I lied and carried on. The overall winner ran in a button down shirt. I’m sore today. I should buy more button down shirts.
Did iRunFar interview you before or after the race?: No Race image(s):
Shoeless Joe Sez!
Well, he was #FIRST! so I guess we should start this whole thing off with the club president huh?
“The tallest plant on this course is about 3′.”
I’ve always been kinda interested in running this race, but I’m always wary of reg’ing for races like 9 months in advance when I can’t be sure I’ll ever be healthy for more than 2 weeks at a time. But 3 feet tall plants? COUNT ME IN FOR 2019!
“But there was pizza and beer at the finish.”
This put a smile on my face. I fondly remember back when I was 16 years old, my dad gave me my first sip of beer when the waiter’s back was turned. And I was all “NO THANKS lol 🤢🤮😂” Once I hit my 30s though, something flipped in my brain and now I can easily split a beer with my dad with relatively few problems at reasonably-priced eateries.
😋Flavorful Race of the Month!😋
Spencer Gaddy
Member #: 1874 Race name: Boston When was this race? 16/4/18 How did you place?! I lost *Your* website URL:Link Race report:
I spent the winter gearing up for the Boston Marathon by running cold, dark, and wet ovals during SRC Wednesday Workouts, then logging steady miles by the waterfront on weekends. Fortunately the weather for the race was just as shitty as during the training, so I was ready. As I sheltered from the rain during my morning duties (doodies) in the porta-john on marathon Monday, I thought to myself “It’s nice and dry in here, how long can I stay?”
I shed my warmups and rain cape just minutes before the start as the rain came down, looking forward to running if only for the warmth.
I settled into my rhythm in the first few miles and used the first 6 mostly-downhill miles to easily run at race pace. Through 15 miles I focused on hydrating, eating and running steady but to not expend any unnecessary energy. At mile 16 I was expecting a big downhill and used it not to go faster but to rest for the upcoming ‘Newton hills’.
When the rolling hills came around mile 17 I felt strong, but was careful not to immediately expel all the energy and strength I had worked to save. Over the top of the hills around mile 21 I put in a bit of effort to get back up to speed over the hills. At this point of the race I was reacquainted with my marathon legs, the legs that will not go faster, the brain and heart say “sub 6 minute pace” but the legs say “I don’t know how to do that”. As I struggled to find the speed I knew my legs had, I was snapped back to the moment by another runner yelling ferociously at himself as if vocalizing his motivation would help. A crowd member yelling “F#CK Yeah Seattle!” at me renewed my focus on the race as I drained the rest of the fast out of my legs to push through downtown Boston and cross the finish line in 2:44:58 (chip).
Did iRunFar interview you before or after the race?: No
Shoeless Joe Sez!
“duties (doodies)”
Nice 😎
“I drained the rest of the fast out of my legs to push through downtown Boston and cross the finish line in 2:44:58 (chip).”
Full disclosure: I’ve run workouts with Spencer a few times. He’s a former competitive cyclist, so naturally much of our conversation during rest periods is me making spectacularly-broad negative generalizations about PNW cyclists and him politely going “……yeah, I guess” til the next interval starts. All that to say (no offense Spenc), I had *no* idea this guy could run a 2:44:58 in those atrocious conditions. Until I can manage to beat that time, I will shut up (to him, on Wednesdays, at the Garfield High School track) about idiot cyclists.
Member #: 1938 Race name: Oiselle Tenacious Ten Mile When was this race? 4/21 How did you place?! I won Race website:Link Race report:
I decided two days before the race to sign up for the ten miler (there was also a 10k) because I wanted to do a nice long tempo. I got to Gas Works Park about 45 minutes before the start and immediately had to use the facilities. Those were the cleanest port-o-potties that I have ever seen (I guess that’s what happens when a group of women organize the race – nice work Oiselle!). After a quick warm up, I headed toward the start line to be greeted by Aid Station #2’s Olin Berger who was there cheering on his girlfriend.
Because the 10k had some decent prize money, there were quite a few elite women and Club NW dudes (one of those jokers decided to go shirtless on the 45 degree morning) so I grabbed a spot about 5 rows back. The 10kers were blazing form the start (a couple of sub 31 dudes and a sub 34 female – damn fast!) so I settled in just under 6 minute pace with what seemed to be a mixed pack of 10 milers. At 5 miles, where the two courses split, our pack was down to two – 2 time Olympian Kara Goucher and me. According to her Wikipedia page, all of her PRs are faster than mine except for the 1500. We clipped off a couple 5:50s while passing the dude in second and closing the gap with the leader. I started pulling away at the first hairpin turn around mile 7, much to the dismay of the predominately female field who wanted to see the Oiselle star take the overall W. I overtook the lead with a little over a mile to go and cruised into Gas Works with an 18s victory. Goucher ended up in 5th overall about 30s back. She thanked me for my 3 miles of “pacing” and gave me quite the high five.
I had friends running the Yakima Skyline 50k so I couldn’t stick around for the awards. I Irish goodbye’d out of there and hightailed it to Ellensburg.
Oiselle did a great job organizing the race and I felt pretty great for most of the run. Definitely a win-win.
Did iRunFar interview you before or after the race?: No
Shoeless Joe Sez!
“I got to Gas Works Park about 45 minutes before the start and immediately had to use the facilities.”
When I proposed this feature for the site about 3 years ago, this is more or less the exact example sentence I used for what people could be telling us about their races.
“…and a sub 34 female”
Mel Lawrence. On my interview bucket list. (‘sup, Mel.)
“At 5 miles, where the two courses split, our pack was down to two – 2 time Olympian Kara Goucher and me. According to her Wikipedia page, all of her PRs are faster than mine except for the 1500.”
Oh man, I *really* hope you told her this at some point during the race.
“Goucher ended up in 5th overall about 30s back. She thanked me for my 3 miles of ‘pacing’ and gave me quite the high five.”
Right right, congrats on the hand contact, but did you hand her an SRC membership form or not? I still don’t see her name on our member list.
“I had friends running the Yakima Skyline 50k…”
Nice #humblebrag about having friends. 😒
Max Ferguson
Member #: 1247 Race name: Yakima Skyline 50k When was this race? 4/21/18 How did you place?! 4th Race website:Link Race report:
Regret is not a meal best served cold. Thats revenge. However, regret could be a tex-mex dish served in a curiously expensive food emporium adjacent a Yakima winery. This is a story of the latter.
5:00 am 4/21/18. I awake without the grogginess of pre-evening drinks at The Brick, or of the reefer the cooks at the bar were smoking that evening. The air is cold in Roslyn, the drive to Yakima is longer than I’d like, and the gas station coffee is sufficient. No regrets have yet to occur.
7:00 am 4/21/18. The Italian rimpiangere phase of the race. I manage a nice pre-race constitutional. As does Grete. I regret not bringing more poop bags.
8:01 am 4/21/18. The Albanian keqardhje phase of the race. The race starts. I regret somehow being in the front. For some ungodly reason it is holy ultrarunning scripture to run a near army crawl pace from the gun. I regret this is the only sport I’m half decent at.
8:03 am 4/21/18. The French katua phase of the race. We hit the first uphill. I start walking, the rest of the field behind me does not. I regret taking a prerace dump wishing I could instead crop dust these sand baggers. I do not regret not running more section line repeats. This portion of the race blows goats.
8:35 am 4/21/18. The German bedauern phase of the race. The lead group hits the ridgeline. I begin running. The rest of the leaders seamlessly transition from running up a 60% grade to picking wildflowers at a pace befitting a 90 year old. I do not regret making up all the distance they put on me on the climb with near zero effort. This pacing is Donald Trump-level consistent. Oscillating wildly between extremes.
9:15 am 4/21/18. The Welsh yn ofid phase of the race. After completely destroying ourselves for no reason, then erasing all forms of competitive pace on the flats once more. The lead group hits the first climb. For the first time all day I am running some uphill. I think to myself I am going to “wreck some fools” in an hour or so. I might regret this line of thinking.
9:45 am 4/21/18. The Polish zal phase of the race. I notice my legs are already sunburned. I regret not wearing sunscreen. This will not get better in future phases.
10:15 am 4/21/18. The Spanish lamentar phase of the race. The descent into Buffalo Road has completely decimated what feeling my feet never had. I regret believing any rockplate is worth a damn.
10:25 am 4/21/18. The Dutch betreuren phase of the race. The lead group hits the Buffalo Road aid station. My plan is to run the entire climb out of the aid, then coast on good good good vibrations to a victory. I regret bringing my Nathan softflask, it literally takes multiple people and several minutes just to put the cap on.
10:27 am 4/21/18. The Cebuano ikasubo phase of the race. The cap is not on the softflask. I dont regret the moisture from the leaking bottle at this point in the race. It is nice and cooling. I blame Rob Krar.
11:00 am 4/21/18. The Scottish Gaelic aithreachas phase of the race. I just successfully ran nearly that entire climb. Somehow I’m farther behind Mike Wolfe than when I started the climb. I am also in a world of hurt. I regret that my race plan only had one step to it.
11:30 am 4/21/18. The Corsican rigrettu phase of the race. I am yet farther behind Mike Wolfe. Catching second now seems a desperate proposition. I trip no less than 4 times on this descent and still to this day don’t know how I didnt eat a face full of tumbleweed. I regret not picking my feet up better. This is going to be a very VERY long next hour.
11:55 am 4/21/18. The Afrikaans spyt phase of the race. I am staring up at the final climb. 2nd and 3rd are not far away. They are walking. I however am in full cramped leg lock mode. I am walking sideways up the climb. This is not as efficient. In fact, one could say it’s both stupid, and stupid looking. I am regretting not doing like ONE additional section line repeat.
12:40 pm 4/21/18. The Sudanese kaduhung phase of the race. I have made it to the top of the final climb. I leaked time to both remaining podium positions like a colander. I dreamt of running this final ridgeline with Walmsley-esque form. Unlike Letsrun.com, those dreams are not a reality.
12:20 pm 4/21/18. The English regret phase of the race. I finish the descent back to Umtaneum Canyon. My feet are hamburger. Thinking of this makes me wish I’d eaten a hamburger since the last aid station. Or a gel. Or anything. I arrive at the parking lot and realize we now need to run a quarter mile around it to the finish. To be clear here, my legs cannot move. Running is as much an option for me now as Joe Creighton modeling for L’Oreal. Attempting to hobble to the finish line I regret checking over my shoulder for anyone hot on my tail. I think my best race strategy at that point would be to throw my leaky soft flask at them.
12:27 pm 4/21/18. Finish. I somehow do not regret running the race.
12:28 pm 4/21/18. I regret not bringing a glass for the keg.
6:32 am 4/22/18. I awake. Instantly I regret trail running being the only thing I’m passably competitive at. I should have focused on something less painful like competitive oil painting, or poetry jams.
8:00 am 4/23/18. A friend emails me a link to a race in Idaho. I spend 2 hours investigating it. I have yet to learn from all the phases of these damn races.
“
Did iRunFar interview you before or after the race?: No
Shoeless Joe Sez!
“As does Grete”
You still trying to get this dog over?
“Running is as much an option for me now as Joe Creighton modeling for L’Oreal.”
Another crack like that and next time I’m not gonna spend 20 minutes fixing all your formatting/grammer/spelling issues!,
“Instantly I regret trail running being the only thing I’m passably competitive at.”
“Most Burner Accounts on the LetsRun Message Board” not a competition anymore?
“I regret not bringing a glass for the keg.”
Their post-race keg was “cupless”?? Allow me to use this opportunity to promote the Cougar Mtn Summer Series, which includes Flying Lion Brewing kegs (made-specifically-for-us Cougar Mountain Kolsch available May 12th, post-race!) and hands out drinkin’ hardware when you cross the finish line.
I love Max enough that I read most of his report, but I understand if many of you just don’t have the time. So, tl;dr: he took a nice pre-race dump and got 4th overall.
Martin Criminale
Member #: 1348 Race name: Chirico Tenpeat When was this race? 4/25/2018 How did you place?! 2nd Overall Race website:Link *Your* website URL:Link Race report:
This race is a challenge by choice. You can do 1-10 laps of the Chirico Trail up to Poo Poo Point on Tiger Mt. I tried to do all 10 in 2014 and failed, this time I made it and surprised myself with 2nd place. It’s always on a Wednesday to avoid the weekend hiker traffic. This year it took me TEN HOURS to finish, but on reflection, it would have taken me over 10 hours back in 2014 if I had been able to finish…the event is put on by the Seattle Mountain Running Group Facebook Group (Jess Mullen specifically) and is a massive community effort. Officially there is no aid, no timing, no nothing; but we had the best aid station I have ever experienced, digital timing and loads of support including two event photographers. Wow.
Did iRunFar interview you before or after the race?: No Race image(s):
Shoeless Joe Sez!
“Martin Criminale”
You again?
“This race is a challenge by choice. You can do 1-10 laps of the Chirico Trail up to Poo Poo Point on Tiger Mt.”
“It’s always on a Wednesday to avoid the weekend hiker traffic.”
And look at that start line photo! How do all these people get off work?! If I tried to pull a stunt like this, I’d be fixing typos on my LinkedIn by noon pm.
Ryan Parker
Member #: 1548 Race name: Top Pot 5k When was this race? 4-29-2018 How did you place?! 11th place overall Race website:Link *Your* website URL:Strava Race report:
This was my first race since Thanksgiving so it was painful! My only goals were to run hard, show Samir Rahman who’s the boss, and eat some donuts after. Mission accomplished!
Did iRunFar interview you before or after the race?: No
Shoeless Joe Sez!
“who’s the boss”
Get it? 😀
(Thanks for this paragraph Ryan. Your dollar is in the mail.)
Trisha Steidl
Member #: 328 Race name: Whidbey Island Marathon When was this race? April 22 How did you place?! 3rd woman overall, 1st masters woman Race website:http://runwhidbey.com/run/ Race report:
I didn’t want to run it because I had been dealing with a hamstring injury since Chuckanut and my left leg hasn’t worked normally since, but I knew I could and you never know, maybe today my L leg would surprise me and finally feel ok.
Warmed up, got to the start line, saw there were three fast women there (prizes only go to top three), and almost asked the race folks to drive me to the finish (it’s a point-to-point course). Note: In the past 6 years, the winning time has only been “fast” the two years I’ve run this race.
Gun went off, we ran across the bridge (beautiful), my L leg reminded me that it didn’t like to move normally, but it was just fine enough to not drop out on the other side of the bridge where my friend was standing, taking photos.
L leg finally felt warmed up somewhere between mile 6 and 7, giving me a glimmer of hope.
11 miles in I was 3:30 behind places 1-3 (they were all together). I did some in-race math (not usually a good idea)…That meant that by the end I would be at least 10 mins behind. That was a frustrating prospect.
Most of the rest of the race was spent feeling discomfort and pain move from area to area of my L leg and trying to get it to move with some semblance of normalcy (that glimmer I felt earlier was truly just a glimmer). I also learned that my L leg had zero ability to push off going uphill. The course is very hilly. These two things are not a good combo. (Running an easy effort up a hill in a marathon because your leg doesn’t work and not because you’re dead tired is excruciatingly frustrating.)
Around mile 15 a lady passed me near the top of a hill. That was irritating. Fortunately, there was a downhill right after and I “took off” (taking off is a relative term). Around mile 19 she passed me near the top of another hill (the 5th of 5 in a row). Fortunately, again, there was a downhill soon after and I, again, “took off.”
At mile 20, I figured I only had a little over 6 miles left, so I might as well finish the darn thing (this decision was made harder every time I saw my friend driving by in her van…I really wanted to get in that van).
A little later I could see the 3rd place lady far in the distance and was determined to catch her. I still had 5-6 miles to catch her and since she had been so far ahead, I though I had a pretty decent shot. I caught her with a few miles to go and then was determined that “hill lady” wasn’t going to catch me since I was now in 3rd place.
My L leg felt terrible and I continued to use all the mental strength I had to get it to move into the strong headwind we were now running into.
I could see 2nd place’s (and fellow SRC teammate’s) pink calf sleeves up ahead. Unless she died hard, I wasn’t going to catch her, but you never know what might happen in the last 1.5 miles of a marathon, so I had to stay on it (and I was sure hill lady wasn’t too far behind).
I finished in 3rd place, not that the announcer mentioned anything as I came in and crossed the finish.
It was probably the most mentally taxing race of my life and also high on the list of the most disappointing. What I was proud of was a) how mentally strong I stayed despite all the discomfort in and lack of my leg working and b) to work my way up to 3rd on a bad day made the experience sting just a little less.
Yep, some rough days are really rough. We’ve all had ’em. They’ll make us stronger, even though they suck donkey balls in the moment (especially when that moment lasts a few hours). Keep at it!
Did iRunFar interview you before or after the race?: No
Shoeless Joe Sez!
“I had been dealing with a hamstring injury since Chuckanut and my left leg hasn’t worked normally since…”
I feel like my left leg/hamstring hasn’t worked normally since about 2013!
“It was probably the most mentally taxing race of my life and also high on the list of the most disappointing. What I was proud of was a) how mentally strong I stayed despite all the discomfort in and lack of my leg working and b) to work my way up to 3rd on a bad day made the experience sting just a little less. Yep, some rough days are really rough. We’ve all had ’em. They’ll make us stronger, even though they suck donkey balls in the moment (especially when that moment lasts a few hours).”
As my ankles cry and gray chest hairs threaten to clog up my drain during my Tuesday and Friday night baths, I’m reminded that I might agree to suck on a donkey’s balls if it meant I could pull off one more 3rd place in a marathon! Never don’t be proud of fighting to the end!
It’s almost the end of the year, so it must be time for another really long Shoeless Joe interview! I met Justin Houck awhile back (read: May) and was enamored by his thoughtful intelligence, sparkling wit, and, I’ll just come right out and say it, his elegance. This is a handsome man. I knew he’d be perfect for this interview format, and I think you’ll all agree!
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Shoeless Joe: Hi everybody! I’m so excited to be back with my new favorite runner, Justin Houck (mispronounced)! And I’m not just saying that because I tower over him! I’m a big fan because he has the best house of anyone I’ve interviewed and who also let me into their home. A gorgeous spread overlooking Lake Washington, I admit I was mostly distracted during the interview which is the reason if you think this interview is terrible. But most importantly, Justin is an SRC member and wore an SRC shirt too, so maybe now I won’t be lectured at the next board meeting! Justin Houck (mispronounced), welcome! And thank you for sitting here with me, in person! Justin Houck: Thanks for having me Joe. That’s a great stab at pronouncing my name and sitting with you is an honor. Let the interview begin!
SJ: I’m honored that you are honored! To be honest though I don’t know much about you. All I know is you were a teammate of Uli Steidl at the University of Portland. JH: Well, you’re right in saying that Uli and I went to the same alma mater but he preceded me by quite a few years…eight years, to be exact (Sorry Uli).
SJ: Oh I see. In my defense, I didn’t have any time this morning to do any research. What is your earliest running memory and how did you get enveloped by the sport? JH: I won’t take it personally that you don’t know me, Joe. Even if you did do the research, I’m fairly certain there isn’t too much stuff out there. As to my earliest running memory, I have to go way back in preschool where as a class we were running a 400 meter race.
SJ: Where did you go to preschool? JH: I attended the prestigious North Central Preschool.
SJ: Never heard of it. Go on. JH: I made a tactical error that day by wearing my nicest dress shoes rather than some sneakers. As we rounded the first bend on the track, I was way back and losing ground. My preschool mentor saw this and picked me up on his shoulders and passed all the kids to give me my first track race win. This may have technically been cheating but I basked in the glory of winning and since have never turned back.
SJ: Never? JH: Well maybe a couple times, but I’m still going strong.
SJ: Wait a minute, I’m going to have to back you up a bit and ask you what in the world a “preschool mentor” is. JH: You didn’t have a preschool mentor? Well…that explains a lot.
SJ: Thank you! But did your mentor also happen to be married to your mom? My dad helped me cheat a few times back when I was a kid. JH: My dad wasn’t my preschool mentor in particular, but I definitely looked up to him. He’s not a runner per se, but he had moments that showed he could have been a good runner. I don’t know if my dad helped me cheat, but it’s always a possibility…
SJ: I hear that. Has your dad or your mom or maybe both or maybe other relatives seemed disappointed at your wanting to be a competitive runner? JH: I can’t think of anyone that has been disappointed. At least they haven’t told me to my face. On the flip side, my family closest to me have been overwhelmingly supportive, especially my wife. Although some may get tired of the non-stop conversations about everything running-related. I just can’t help but to bring up another running story.
SJ: Well, it could be worse. My uncle actually left the room the last time I started talking about running. In his defense though it was a pretty dumb story and I don’t know why I brought it up. Got any good recent running stories for us? JH: Recent running stories, hmm…What comes to mind is my father-in-law, who ran the White River 50 mile.
SJ: I’ve run that race! JH: Anyway, during the race, he had several hard falls, but in the end he finished. A truly inspirational story with him completing chemotherapy only months beforehand and then finishing an absolutely epic race. I hope to be just running at age 63!
SJ: Wow, that is intense. I hope to merely be alive at 63. But that reminds me of a question I have…well, let me preface; you’re 33 years old, right? JH: I’m honored you think I’m that mature. I’m actually 28.
SJ: Oh right, 28. You’re welcome! Well my question is regarding running style. Would you say *you* have a running style? Your dad has that…63 year-old, post-chemo ultra style. High schoolers have that eyes-glazed-over, can-barely-dress-themselves-but-think-they-know-everything-cause-they-can-finally-drive-to-the-mall style. College guys think they’re so hip with their tattoos, girlfriends, and cool haircuts. How would you describe your running style? Has it developed and changed over the years? Can you envision your style, say, 20 years from now, when you’re….however old you’ll be? JH: Haha. You’ve totally pegged the high schooler style. I wouldn’t say I have any particular style. As you know styles change and that goes for my running as well. I used to be a peppy toe runner but my body over the years has molded a more efficient gait. More midfoot strike and less back kick. Perfectly suited for some speedy ultramarathoning.
SJ: Well, speaking of speedy, I think you know what it’s time for! JH: I can only imagine.
SJ: Epic FKT thrown down there on the speed round Justin! I have just a few more things I wanted to ask you. Speaking of FKT’s, the one and only Joe Gray is on record stating that those known for them are “no bueno” and “Real athletes r known for competing, not practice” (sic) My question is: do you think you could beat Joe Gray in a beer mile? JH: Hmmm I don’t really see how FKTs and a beer mile throw-down with Joe relate, but yeah I think I could take him.
SJ: Nice! Would you be willing to be our spokesman and challenge Club Northwest to an intergendered Beer Mile to Determine Local Club Dominance at Beer Miling? JH: Most certainly!
SJ: You used to work with the world-famous Joe Grant at Portland Running Company. Any dirt you can share? JH: I don’t remember too much dirt. What I can remember is that he was a cool dude and he told me he was friends with the guy in the movie we kept playing in the store on repeat. The guy I later learned was Anton Krupicka.
SJ: So you’re saying Joe’s a name-dropper. That’s ok though, my name’s also Joe and I’m already doing that with your name! Is his hair real? I admit I’m a little jealous of it. JH: I’m a little jealous of the Amish hat he’s been rocking. Instead of hair, you should rock the hat.
SJ: Before we go, I figured I’d be remiss if I didn’t ask you about White River. That was an incredible performance. Your 6:26 was the fastest Washingtonian time ever, and you still only have 52 twitter followers. At what point during the race did you stop worrying about leading your first-ever 50 miler versus some stout names and start thinking “you know, I can win this and in a pretty damn fast time too!”? JH: To be honest, I came into the race thinking that I could win and with a pretty darn fast time. I projected myself at 6:30 and left Sage’s record for an ultimate goal. During the race I didn’t think much about time until about a few miles left. I did a quick calculation and realized Sage’s time was impossible. I didn’t know Anton’s time but if I did I probably would of gone a little harder at the end…oh well.
SJ: Any plans on increasing that twitter following? JH: Well yeah, as for twitter followers, I thought 52 was good. No plans yet but you definitely have instilled some embarrassment on only having 52–
SJ: I have 132. JH: …
SJ:You handily won the Crystal Mountain Sky Marathon, you placed 4th at the hotly-contested USATF Trail Half Marathon National Championships, and most recently you cake-walked your way to the PNTF XC 10k title at Lower Woodland Park. Where do you predict we’ll be seeing Hawkeye in the months and years to come? JH: If you mean races, I’ll be at the The North Face 50 Mile Endurance Run in San Francisco in December. Maybe a beer mile in January? Boston Marathon? The 2015 Sky Running Ultra Series? Western States and/or UTMB someday. Other than that, you can probably find me running around Seattle.
SJ: Is there anything you’ve always wanted to ask me? JH: I was recently asked on a run if I was completing an FKT. I was a little frustrated by this and told the guy “No, I’m just trying to run up and down the mountain safely.” What do you think of FKTs and Strava? Do you think someone will die from trying to complete an FKT?
Do you think someone will die trying to complete an FKT?
Do you have Twitter? If so, follow Justin! And me!
Call for Support
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Hey everyone! Aren’t we all excited for that Saved By The Bell feature on Lifetime in a couple weeks? While I wait, I sat down for a mini interview with fellow #SRCBrooks member John Wallace! I would beat John in most races that are shorter than 24 hours long (pauses for applause), but I can’t hold a candle to his consistency and longevity. Not only is John *really* old (he has two kids!), he’s run, as of today, 8,999 days in a row! Tomorrow is the big #9,000, so we thought we’d honor his odd addiction with some prime website real estate. Enjoy!
(If you’re not into reading and would rather just run with John, tomorrow he’s inviting anyone/everyone to join him for the 9000th run. Details here.)
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SJ: Hi John, I’m Joe. We met at a couple SRC board meetings, in case you don’t remember me. Win Van Pelt told me to interview you about some “9000 days, 9000 miles” something or other. I could barely decipher his email. Do you know what he’s talking about? JW: Hi Joe, or do you prefer Mr. Creighton?
SJ: Mr. Creighton will be fine. JW: Yes, tomorrow, August 21st, will be my 9000th consecutive day of running.
SJ: 9000 days in a row?! Wow, that’s like…35 years ago right?! You can’t be much older than 40. Did you really start when you were only 5 years old? JW: That’s closing in on 24 full years and year 25 will start on New Year’s Eve. It started on a cold wintery Michigan day; December 31st, 1989. I thought I’d get in some training miles for a New Year’s Day 5 mile race. I started the streak a few days before my 14th birthday, of course not intending to run everyday for a full week or month, much less a couple decades. There isn’t really anything special about the first run. It was just our regular 4 mile loop and I didn’t even take an accurate time. The race went well and I went out again the next day. After a week straight, my dad placed a bet. The first person to miss a day has to pay the other one $20. Another week passed and still going strong. January passed and I wasn’t about to lose $20. Two months, six months and finally a whole year passed. Today, I am the youngest person to get to 9000 straight days. About two years younger then the next guy who is #3 on the active list with 43+ years right now.
SJ: How long before CPS rescued you from your dad? rotflmao! JW: Luckily head of CPS was also a local streak runner. He was actually disappointed I didn’t start earlier.
SJ: What counts as a “running day”? JW: The official definition of a running streak, as adopted by the Streak Runners International, Inc., and United States Running Streak Association, Inc., is to run at least one continuous mile (1.61 kilometers) within each calendar day under one’s own body power (without the utilization of any type of health or mechanical aid other than prosthetic devices).
Running under one’s own body power can occur on either the roads, a track, over hill and dale, or on a treadmill. Running cannot occur through the use of canes, crutches or banisters, or reliance on pools or aquatic devices to create artificial buoyancy.
Technicalities aside, run a complete mile every day without stopping. Watch out for time zones, International Date Lines, and taking naps after 11pm.
SJ: So you started the streak when you were 14 years old. That means it spanned your entire high school tenure. I’m going to go out on a limb and assume you weren’t homecoming king. JW: Correct. Although I had my picture taken with all the homecoming queens (benefits of my father being official school photographer).
SJ: Were there ever any close calls in high school or college? I’m thinking along the lines of…you’re in the back of your dad’s Impala with Susie, and you see it’s 11:47pm and you still haven’t gotten your run in. Are you telling me you actually told Susie to hang tight while you squeezed in a quick mile? JW: A couple of minor updates on the facts: it was a Plymouth Reliant and 11:53pm. Not any extremely close calls. I did miss the end of Twister to get a mall parking lot mile in. I think I missed the end of The Lion King as well but not sure why I was watching that in college anyway. Had an emergency appendectomy my junior year of college and ran 12 hours after that, trying to keep the glue from coming apart on my incision. Everyone that knew about the streak in high school or college would not let me miss a day. They all said “not on my watch.” So it was pretty easy to get in the miles.
SJ: Your friends sound pretty sadistic. Having started so young, you surely learned the hard way about how to best schedule around events and potential emergencies. What was the most recent lesson you learned? JW: Have backup plans for your backup plans. I can’t be leaving my 6-year old to watch my 1-year old while I head out on an easy 10. You generally can find 10-15 minutes in your day to get in a mile. I haven’t had any jeans runs lately so planning must be going well. I have amazing neighbors and family that can help out with the kids in a crunch. It’s actually much tougher to convince my wife to keep them for a six-day run. But that’s another story!
SJ: You obviously have a(n admittedly harmless) form of OCD that you might need to see a therapist about, but can you look into the future and see any potential events or causes that could force your hand and have you end the streak? JW: There are no specific threats but there are things I know I won’t be able to do unless/until the streak ends. Summit Mt. Everest. Space Walk. Command a nuclear submarine (unless there was a treadmill on board). I suppose amputation might be something to worry about. I have heard anecdotal evidence of women running close to or on the days of giving birth. That’s hard core!
SJ: I’m going to guess this isn’t the only “streak” you’re in the midst of…spill the beans John. JW: I had a few mini streaks during the main streak. I ran only in daylight for a full year, which is harder than it sounds. I ran a minimum of 2 miles per day for a year. I ran 4 miles a day and only 4 miles for a whole month. You have to mix things up!
SJ: You sound like a wild man. Based on your experiences growing up and now being a grown adult father, how will you feel if any of your own kids want to follow in dad and grandpa’s footsteps? Would you recommend it to them? JW: My son and I just had to walk 0.3 miles *downhill* from the parking lot to work today.
SJ: Wait, your 6 year old son has a job? Maybe I should call CPS on *you*! JW: If you call playing Jetpack Joyride, organizing Pokemon cards, and sketching Angry Birds then you got me!
SJ: I like Angry Birds! JW: Anyway, he was not happy with that walk and wanted to be dropped off at the front door. I’m not too worried about him yet. He’ll have to ramp up pretty quickly though because there is a guy that started at nine years old erasing all my “youngest to xxxx days” records. He already has a few races under his belt though and likes to be first at everything. It’s not something I’d force on him, but if it came naturally that would be great.
SJ: If I were you, I’d make an event of this 9000th day. Like a group run or something, followed by cake. You ever consider that? JW: Great idea. 5:30am. Corner of California Ave SW and SW Alaska St in West Seattle (Map. 5-6 miles. If you’re not in the Seattle area, I’m looking for folks to combine all their mileage run on that day in the hopes of reaching 9000. Obligatory Facebook Event Page here: https://www.facebook.com/events/927089323984849/
SJ: On a scale of 1-10, how much do you *really* believe that your dad doesn’t owe you $20? JW: So it’s $20 per year, which will be $500 at the end of this year. As there is definitely no fame or fortune involved in this endeavor, I’d give it a solid 10. Let me reread that poorly worded question…I’ll just say that I believe he’s run all 8999 days in a row as well and we’ll both see how 9000 goes tomorrow!
SJ: Final question. With your ability to stay healthy, I bet people would love to know what your favorite pair of Vibrams are! JW: I do have a great pair of hiking boots with Vibram outsole. For running I love the Brooks Launch, Ghost and want to try out the new Grits.
SJ: Good enough! Any Plans for the 10,000th day? JW: Take a day off? 🙂
Maybe take another crack at the fastest run across America?
Maybe a 10k with my almost 10 year old?
Day 20,000 or 25,000 will be a big celebration!
Maybe cake…?
SJ: I like cake!
Prior Episodes (warning: much longer and harder to get through)
Hello everyone! Welcome to a special “Where Are They Now?” edition of the Shoeless Joe Interview! I took all those awesome souls who let me into their lives and invited them to sit at a round table inside a Starbucks in Greenwood. Then I conducted mini interviews with them all, one at a time. Then I asked them to pull out their phone and txt message me a pic or two or ten and voila! After the Starbucks lady asked me to leave, I put it all together into this package. Sit back, perhaps in a Starbucks, and find out what everyone’s been up to!
Happy Holidays, and to all a great 2014! <3
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JODEE ADAMS-MOORE
Date of original interview: April 9, 2013
Dirty Dancing or Pretty Woman: Labyrinth
Interview number: 5/6 SJ: I recently stopped by UltraSignup for my weekly ogling at your 99.5% score and saw you’ve signed up for White River 50 next July! Are my eyes deceiving me? Will you pleeeaaase chick me? Jodee Adams-Moore: Chick me? Not sure what you mean by that but…I am now running for Scott and as they put on this grand event they would like me to run it. It’s about time I try a 50 miler and in my own back yard even better!
SJ: Speaking of, any #fun reactions you can recall getting from guys as you fly by them during a race? JAM: I can’t think of any but I usually just start out fast and try to stay there, so there isn’t much passing anyhow.
SJ: What would you need to get out of the deal to allow me to tell people “My running is sponsored by Jodee Adams-Moore” because I totally haven’t done that already. JAM: A nice little cabin with a wood stove and a bunch of windows dripping with crystal prisms.
SJ: :\ What do you hope to have learned and/or accomplished in the upcoming year, running or otherwise? JAM: I’d like to go further into the space of floating – longer and at even more peace. I just want to further my practice of dancing within the ring of fire. I hope this ring travels to Europe. I hope this ring floats over to Isla de La Palma sometime around May 10th, 2014.
SJ: Besides your new Scott Sports sponsorship, what other doors have opened to you as a result of our interview? JAM: Well the tap dancing has really just taken off, but I’m afraid I can’t talk about that now.
(ABBREVIATED) SPEED ROUND!!
SJ: This one is a request from a fan of mine (or maybe yours?) named “Max F.” that was so good I had to include it: “Least favorite way to open a beer?” JAM: With my teeth.
SJ: What amount of annual salary would convince you to accept a job as a meter maid? JAM: Good question Joe! I’m gonna have to meditate real hard on that one for quite some time.
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SAGE CANADAY
Website :: Twitter
Date of original interview: November 13, 2012
Dirty Dancing or Pretty Woman: Pretty Woman
Interview number: 3/6 SJ: Most of our previous interview centered around the fact that you were borderline undateable but still pining for a cute runner girlfriend. And shortly after our interview you suddenly had one. Coincidence? What other factors were involved there? Sage Canaday: I got really lucky! It just so happened that my dream girl came along and decided to put up with my shenanigans! We have a ton in common and she’s my ideal adventure partner. Dreams really do come true!
SJ: You’ve spent quite a bit of time traveling the world this year. Seen anything cool? SC: There was this cool bird in New Zealand called the “Kiwi.” It’s like their national bird there and it’s endangered. I got to see one in captivity and it was really funny looking…kind of like a chicken with a super long beak.
SJ: What do you hope to have learned and/or accomplished in the upcoming year? SC: I’ve learned that I have a lot more to learn when it comes to mountain-ultra-trail running. So far I think the White River 50 was my best 50-mile race ever…it’s kind of been all downhill from there. In the long-term though I want to be competing for the win in every ultra I enter.
SJ: What other doors have opened to you as a result of our interview, besides your improved roommate situation? SC: Well the improved roommate situation was huge! I’d have to say the luxury of getting to travel from New Zealand to La Palma to Switzerland all in a year was pretty sweet. I really owe that to our first interview (you know, getting the word out there for my sponsors too). I also officially have Avery Brewing as my beer sponsor now (major plug).
(ABBREVIATED) SPEED ROUND!!
SJ: You mentioned getting “Plain Cheese Canaday” as a(n awful) nickname during your time at Hansons. Do you have a new, better nickname now? SC: I’d like to be known as a “MUT Runner.” It’s also the title of a film project I’m working on.
SJ: What amount of annual salary would convince you to accept a job as a meter maid? SC: Hmmmm. Can my title be “Meter Man?” That job sounds pretty priceless. It would have to be at least quadruple what I make as a pro ultra-runner!
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GREG CROWTHER
Website :: Twitter
Date of original interview: July 24, 2012
Dirty Dancing or Pretty Woman: Dirty Dancing
Interview number: 2/6 SJ: Last time we spoke, you were nursing a long-suffering achilles injury. What is the status on that? Do you still like running? Greg Crowther: I’m currently running about 50 miles a week, including some speedwork, and my Achilles seems fine. I’m enjoying the chance to train for races again, as opposed to being a fitness jogger. I guess I’m like a lot of people in that I have to be training for something.
SJ: You recently turned 40 and became a Masters runner. Has that caused you to think about your own mortality? GC: Nope — I was already thinking about it. Has it caused YOU to think about my mortality?
SJ: Not often. What do you hope to have learned and/or accomplished in the year 2014? GC: Running-wise, I hope to return to ultramarathons, starting with the Bridle Trails 50K in January. Perhaps the Mad City 100K and/or the White River 50 after that, if all goes well.
SJ: What doors have opened to you as a result of our interview? GC: Well, my paper “Cofactor-independent phosphoglycerate mutase from nematodes has limited druggability, as revealed by two high-throughput screens” was accepted for publication by the journal PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases. Coincidence?
(ABBREVIATED) SPEED ROUND!!
SJ: Christmas is fast approaching. Wait, are you Jewish? GC: No.
SJ: Ok good! What is one thing on Greg Crowther’s wish list this holiday season? GC: A light running backpack for commuting. (Deuter Race x Air or something similar.) And some packs of those Honey Stingers for ultras. My friend Pam Smith (Western States champ) recommended them as being easier to chew than Clif Shot Bloks, and she’s right!
SJ: I agree, I love Shot Bloks! What amount of annual salary would convince you to accept a job as a meter maid? GC: Joe, I gotta go. Happy holidays.
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MARTIN MUDRY
Website
Date of original interview: December 3, 2013
Dirty Dancing or Pretty Woman: forgot to ask but probably Pretty Woman
Interview number: 6/6 SJ: Have you showed your girlfriend or boss or parents or other family members our most excellent interview, particularly the video speed round? What were their thoughts? Martin Mudry: I got the following e-mail from a friend I rarely hear from: “My mom just sent me a link to an interview you did. Maybe she saw it on Facebook…I don’t understand the world anymore. Looked like good stuff.”
SJ: As a public service, what words of wisdom/advice/encouragement would you give future interview subjects of mine before we get started? MM: Be ready to be in it for the long haul.
SJ: What do you hope to have learned and/or accomplished in the upcoming year? MM: I feel like that is such an important question, and sadly I’m not sure I have an answer yet.
SJ: What doors have opened to you as a result of our interview? MM: Still waiting, at this point I’d be happy with even a window or two.
(ABBREVIATED) SPEED ROUND!!
SJ: What was the best (non-video game) christmas gift you’ve ever received? What’s the worst you’ve ever given? MM: There were few feelings that matched the anticipation from wait for a battery to charge up in order to use a new remote control car.
I’m pretty bad about giving gifts, but think when I go for it they’re usually not too bad. Maybe some sort of art related thing that I end up liking more than the recipient?
SJ: What amount of annual salary would convince you to accept a job as a meter maid? MM: I saw an opening for a position in the spring and remember thinking I’d consider it if it was $18/hour or more. Now I’d probably take 115k or more a year, but ya never know–life changes fast.
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SARAH ROBINSON
Website :: Twitter
Date of original interview: December 17, 2012
Dirty Dancing or Pretty Woman: Dirty Dancing
Interview number: 4/6 SJ: Since our interview, you kinda blew up. You ran a 1:18 half and tho you fell short of your ultimate goal in the Chicago Marathon (Olympic Trials qualification), you still ran a 2:47 in just your 2nd serious marathon attempt. First off, you’re welcome 😀 Secondly, I guess my question is what happened to my Oiselle Rundies Model application? I never got a call-back! 🙁 SR: Blew up in more ways than one, I suppose. Yeah…we found someone a little less…ummm…
SJ: Oiselle is also blowing up. What is it like to pretty much be accomplishing things 24 hours a day? SR: So much blowing up! Yeah when I look at short comings in Chicago, I also remember how much else is going on in life. The picture is bigger than finish lines. This summer was a dream…on location photoshoot in Bend starring Lauren Fleshman, walking the runway in NYC, launching an amazing F13 line on Oiselle.com. I have a good life.
SJ: What do you hope to have learned and/or accomplished in the upcoming year, running or otherwise? SR: How to enjoy the process and respect the accomplishments along the way. I’m an all or nothing person, that can be dangerous…especially when you find yourself on the nothing side. My glass is never half full or empty. That thing is either spilling over or bone dry.
SJ: What other doors have opened to you as a result of our interview? SR: So many! I’m guest starring on a past episode of 30 Rock as Liz Lemon’s BFF.
(ABBREVIATED) SPEED ROUND!!
SJ: Christmas Movie Sequel Showdown FMK! Elf vs. Christmas Story vs. Home Alone SR: Write in vote: National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. Although I do share Buddy’s love of sugar.
SJ: What amount of annual salary would convince you to accept a job as a meter maid? SR: Solid gold bars and Apple stock.
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ULI STEIDL
Date of original interview: May 1, 2012
Dirty Dancing or Pretty Woman: Pretty Woman
Interview number: 1/6 SJ: You recently jumped into and won the Seattle Marathon for the 10th time. What are all your competitors doing wrong? How come no one can beat a bald 41 year-old? Uli Steidl: Clearly, my competitors are running too slow. They could run faster by either increasing their stride frequency or stride length, or both. It is actually pretty simple.
And less hair means less weight, and less air resistance. That definitely helped at this year’s race, as anyone who ran it this year can confirm.
SJ: You’re going to turn 42 next year. What worries do you have about degeneration of your muscles and joints from all this running? What if you’re in a wheelchair at 50?! US: Why do you feel it is necessary to point out my age in both your first and second question? Is that because you’re as bald as I am, even though you are 8 years younger?
Muscle degeneration???!!?!? Have you SEEN my legs??? Those are the best looking legs in town. Why do you think I always wear short shorts?
I will not be in a wheelchair at 50 from too much running. If you think I will, I happily take a bet with $XXX,XXX.00 wager.
SJ: What do you hope to have learned and/or accomplished in the upcoming year? US: There are a few things I would like to accomplish next year, but I don’t want to talk about them publicly. I’d rather accomplish something first, and then others can talk about it if they want to.
SJ: What doors have opened to you as a result of our interview? US: Sadly, none to date. Although I had quite a few people tell me they “read the interview with you by Shoeless Joe.” That was usually followed by comments like “Is this guy for real?” or “This guy is nuts!” or “You’re really patient. How did you not walk out this interview after the third question?” And those were the PG comments…
(ABBREVIATED) SPEED ROUND!!
SJ: I’m running my first ever beer mile in early January. US: Congratulations! How is you training going? I know your time at Chico State prepared you well for the drinking part – only a Wazzu education could have prepared you better…but the running part needs some work.
SJ: Have you ever run one? If not, what do you think you could run one in? US: No, I have not done one. Based on the official rules, a beer mile would require me to drink more than my average monthly beer consumption within a 5 – 6 minute period.
SJ: Would you be interested in participating in my beer mile? US: Possibly. Over the years quite a few people said they would pay good money to see me get drunk. If there is a way to monetize this beer mile, I’m interested.
SJ: What amount of annual salary would convince you to accept a job as a meter maid? US: About $50,000. Plus benefits. That’s $25 per hour for 40 hours per week for 50 weeks. plus benefits. It would be boring, though. But still more entertaining than, say, updating websites all the time.
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Call for Comments
Look at Uli’s hair! 😀
How much salary would you require to become a meter maid?
Predict my inaugural beer mile time!
Call for Support
Did you enjoy this? Are you already a club member? If not, consider becoming a member! Our partner stores (Balanced Athlete and Fleet Feet) also accept cash and most major credit cards and are chock full of great xmas gift ideas!
It’s been a whole bunch of months, which must mean it’s time for another Shoeless Joe Interview! Martin Mudry is a local runner and filmmaker, so I look forward to hearing what he thinks of my cool footwear!
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Shoeless Joe: Hi everybody! And thanks for all the kind words for my interview with Jodee Adams-Moore. I was actually reprimanded though at the most recent SRC board meeting and told under no circumstances was I to submit a 4th consecutive interview without a card-carrying Seattle Running Club member. (I was also told to stop talking about being reprimanded at SRC board meetings, so this will be the last time, apologies).
I found a cool dude who’s not only worn the pretty blue singlet, but is an actual filmmaker. Martin Mudry has worn our colors the past couple XC seasons and he’s the co-director of a new documentary, “Where Dreams Don’t Fade” which follows three hopeful distance runners in their respective quests to make a living as a runner in the ultra-competitive running town of Kenya.
Martin, thanks for talking to me!
Martin Mudry: Glad to be here.
SJ: Cool! I know I said “talking” but this time we’re actually *writing* each other via email! Martin lives way over in the college district so I haven’t found the time to get out there from West Seattle. Why fight technology?! Who knows, maybe it’ll be easier this way!
So Martin, one of the things I’ve learned is that despite having worn the hallowed blue singlet, you’re actually relatively new to the area. Care to give us a comprehensive list of reasons why Seattle won out, and who she was up against?
MM: Seattle was up against some tough competition. Last summer I moved to Philadelphia to work on the TV show Political Animals. Prior to that I had been living in smaller towns (Colorado Springs; Iten, Kenya) and I really liked being in a big city again. But I also really missed the mountains. So as much as I liked Philly, I knew I would be heading west again.
SJ: So how did you get up here?
MM: Basically I drove up the coast–Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland, and Seattle. I lived in LA in 2009-2010 and had spent a fair amount of time in San Francisco, but the Pacific Northwest was completely new. In fact I’m still getting used to the mountains here. When I was driving and first saw Mt. Shasta, I thought it must be a cloud because it was way too big to be a mountain. Rainier still seems bafflingly large when it comes out for the first time in a while. In the end Seattle was new, big, and within striking distance of plenty of trails and peaks. Plus the outdoor culture here is pretty cool. Los Angeles is closer to the mountains than Denver and yet most people in LA don’t even realize there are mountains near by.
SJ: Yeah, they’re too busy surfing or adding avocado to their fish tacos! On your drive up north did you happen to pass through Chico, California?
MM:(looks up Chico on google) I guess I technically passed it but I drove on I-5 straight from Davis, CA to Portland. I remember when I entered Oregon I got yelled at for pumping my own gas.
SJ: Ugh, don’t get me started! Next time just politely remind them that they had 13% more crystal meth-related “incidents” in 2012 than Washington did (nine versus eight!) despite having almost half the population. Then tip the guy 13 pennies and speed off singing “Black Hole Sun” as loud as possible.
MM: …
SJ: How long after reaching Seattle did you find the Seattle Running Club?
MM: I found the group pretty quick. In Philly I had three months where I ran completely alone and I wanted to be sure that I made an effort to find other runners this time around. I tried a few different groups via MeetUp but picked SRC since the Tuesday night runs attract some quick people and the group is more trail-focused.
SJ: Did you run alone in Philly because the people there are intolerable Eagles/Phillies/Flyers fans? And did you learn how to make a proper cheesesteak?
MM: Being allergic to milk (since birth) meant no Philly cheesesteaks and no famous pretzels. And speaking of cake, surprisingly, Philadelphia, being a rough and tough kind of city, had amazing vegan desserts everywhere. Which made life OK. In terms of why I ran alone, I just didn’t do a good job of reaching out to meet new people. Plus I was working 60-80 hour weeks so it would be pretty hard to schedule runs at 11pm or 6am, which is often when I would run.
SJ: So if I read between the lines, what you’re saying is that for you, so far, Seattle destroys Philly…except maybe in terms of vegan desserts?
MM: Seattle is a pretty amazing place in its own right, and I’m slowly figuring out the vegan dessert crisis (PCC in Fremont has really good chocolate chip cookies for $1). But part of me really fell in love with Philadelphia. I describe it as Detroit meets NYC. It has both a super busy and dense downtown area and then all these burrow like neighborhoods of NYC but also has tons of crumbling ruin porn houses and factories, ala Detroit. It’s like the wild west. Guys on ATVs and dirt bikes will just fly around the not-so-great neighborhoods. Even the police acknowledged they have a non-pursuit policy since many of the drivers are under 18 and can out-speed the cops anyway on the narrow streets. So they just fly around at 60 mph. I also think of Philly as the LA of the East Coast in that it’s very patchwork-like; you’ll have a beautiful old building that no one even thinks twice about next to a generic piece of junk stucco strip mall. In any other city in the US, the old building would be preserved and highlighted, but since they have tons of stuff from the 19th and 18th century, it just get squeezed in with the next utilitarian design.
SJ: Wow that’s surprising! Everything I had previously known about Philadelphia came from this video, which admittedly made Philly seem pretty cool. Your pics paint a slightly different picture.
MM: I think that video embodies all my ambitions as a filmmaker. In fact, between knowing that music video exists and reflecting on Where Dreams Don’t Fade, I’ll probably throw in the towel on this whole film thing.
SJ: Speaking of your documentary, it’s a great inside look at what it means to train in a running-rich town like Kenya. How did you come to the idea of making this film?
MM: The idea for the film came when I traveled to the country of Kenya in 2007 to train with a group of professional Kenyan runners. I had the chance to live and train with former steeplechase WR holder Wilson Boit Kipketer and once I was there realized how little we (the West) knew about Kenyan running.
Even before I went, all I could find were tidbits here and there about running to school, running barefoot and training as a “way out of poverty.” The truth is much more complex and interesting than all that, both playing into some of the stereotypes and in other ways flipping things 180 degrees.
SJ: Yeah it was definitely much more “real world” than other things I’ve seen on the subject. Not to spoil, but one guy barely runs a step! That’s the real world though, right? So was it a worry of yours whether your subjects would be able to get you good footage, and tell their story coherently? Did you mail them the cameras with instructions & such? That sounds like a potential headache! I bet part of you wished you were there instead.
MM:(fake laughter) It would have been interesting to see what they would have come up with if we had them shoot the footage. But no, Alex Nichols (co-director) and I lived in Kenya for over 3 months shooting what turned out to be 42 hours of footage. We also did just a tiny bit of running; I think I averaged over 100 mpw for the 14 weeks we were there. Basically we would get up, film, run, maybe travel to another location by bus then walk a few miles, film, walk/bus back and run again, cook Ugali, upload footage, and call it a day.
SJ: Oh wow, you went there to film it too?! I did a little video editing in college (awful, self-satisfied look on face) and I couldn’t imagine flying out to Kenya at that age–24? 25?–and making a documentary that actually *looks* like a documentary and not some college project shot with a camcorder. How did the opportunity evolve and how did you and Alex go about choosing the three main subjects you ended up choosing?
MM: I met Alex on the Colorado College XC team. I was the only freshman on what turned out to be a pretty strange and talented team. Before I got on campus, I signed on to the team’s online training log (RIP runorgy.com) and thought it was a joke when I saw future teammate Tony (Anton Krupicka) logging 180-220 mile weeks.
My freshman year in general was a mixed experience and ultimately I transferred to Macalester College which is where the Kenya connection began. A teammate there was studying and volunteering in Kenya (unrelated to running) and literally bumped into some guys he thought might be runners. Turns out one was the Frankfurt Marathon Champion, another Berlin Marathon winner, and not to be left out – Wilson Boit Kipketer. Long story short, they invited him to train with them and when I arrived at Macalester I grilled this guy all about the experience. My sophomore year ended with me traveling to Kenya for the summer to live/train with Wilson’s group and ultimately the idea to come back and make a film.
I continued to keep in touch with the Colorado College crew and in 2010 with both Alex and I working various jobs in the film industry, we decided to plan our exit strategies and make the film in 2011.
SJ: Wow I have so many questions now and I know Win will yell at me if I go over my word count limit 🙁 So let me see how succinct I can be: Haze you? If so, how? First summer typical day? Cross fit? Food/energy drinks? How they train? Yes?
MM: No real hazing, but when I told people my 5k PR on my first day (15:11), they would outright laugh. Then they would sincerely ask if I was training for the World Championships in 2 months. That kinda sums up Kenya right there, the fact that a 15:00 5k is considered quite slow, and yet even runners who had run sub-13:00 didn’t think it was unreasonable for someone of my current ability to be aiming for the world stage.
Typical Kenyan training day: up at 5:45am, start running in the dark at 6am at 12 minute mile pace. At 6:15 it’s like someone threw a light switch as it goes from night to day; the sunrise is extremely quick on the equator. The pace would progressively speed up but depending on the day might only get down to 7-8 minute miles if an easy run, or I might be at race-pace effort (mid to low 5 minute miles) and dropped by the group 20 minutes in if they were going harder. If the morning run was just an easy run, then often there’d be a track or interval workout at 10am. And finally jogging in the evening at around 5pm.
One big thing in Kenya was having to learn to run slow. Sometimes an evening run would average at 9-10 min mile pace, and this is with a 2:07 marathoner and world record holder. The big thing is on a daily and weekly basis the runners would both run a lot slower and a lot faster than most runners do here in the US.
Cross fit had me laugh, but they *do* do some wacky workouts now and again, but most people did them sporadically after runs and not as a dedicated daily routine or anything. Food wise: a mostly vegetarian diet with lots of fresh fruits and vegetables. Tons of chai tea with lots of whole milk. Nothing extraordinary although they would claim that Ugali (a corn flour and water mix) is key.
SJ: Do you know what it’s time for??
MM: I can only imagine…
SJ: Thanks Martin, and way to go on the Speed Round! Can I ask you though…off the record, don’t worry–unless you answer a certain way and then it’s on the record–please tell me you’re at least sort of aware of the show Saved by the Bell.
MM: Not only am I aware of the show Saved by the Bell, I regrettably am all too familiar with being compared to a certain character. Of all the people in the world someone could say “Do you know who you look like…” I get Shia Labeouf (only if my hair’s short)…and Screech. That is all.
SJ: Haha! At least you can take solace in Screech being a genius who built a talking robot when he was like 12 years old! Who then…used that genius in ensuing years being Mr. Belding’s toadie in SBTB: The New Class. So…nevermind. But hey nice work in the speed round, Martin!
Getting back to more normal things, I still want to discuss your film aspirations as it’s one thing I can at least hold my own in conversationally, since I’ve used Adobe Premiere before and have watched people use Final Cut. After your experience in Kenya and the experience of editing a feature-length documentary, what do you want to do next? Another running-related subject, a new topic altogether, or are you completely burned out on film and you never want to work on another project ever again?
MM: Going into Where Dreams Don’t Fade, one of my biggest concerns was getting pegged as a running filmmaker. Alex and I talked a lot about what type of film we wanted to make and we both were clear that this time (opposed to Alex’s other film Indulgence: 1000 Miles Under the Colorado Sky on Anton Krupicka) we wanted to make a documentary for a general audience that happened to be on runners, and not a “running film.”
Before the film festivals I was told by other filmmakers to be ready for the question “What’s your next project?” as festivals can be a way to secure funding for a second film.
SJ: Like I just did!
MM: …right. I did not have an answer to that question then and still do not now. I was pretty clear that I did not want to simply make another film for its own sake. And while I wouldn’t rule out ever making a film related to running, it’s not currently on my horizon. If I have another idea I’m interested in then I may try to direct, or more likely produce another film some day, but if not I got a lot out of film between working on big films/TV shows in Hollywood and going through the whole process myself on Dreams. Currently I’m looking forward to moving in a different direction career-wise but supporting projects and young up-and-coming filmmakers in other ways.
That being said, we’re not done with Where Dreams Don’t Fade. We are teaming up with Kourage Athletics which is a Kenyan-produced running brand to do a tour of the film in the US. We’ve also had interest to screen the film in Holland and Kenya. A free public screening in Kenya has always been one of our goals so we’re really looking forward to making that happen in the next year or so. Finally I keep trying to pay it forward; I’ve already helped one stranger through Letsrun.com live and train in Kenya like I did, and am currently helping a Canadian runner do the same later this year. The film and my time in Kenya over all has been quite important to me and it all started by a few people willing to share their world with me. I look forward to continue doing the same.
SJ: That’s really big of you to help people on Letsrun, I can’t fathom being that friendly. Africa is a crazy mysterious country I hope to someday visit! How do you think your buddies in Kenya would take to me? Once I get over this surely-not Vibrams-related injury I would love to someday jog with them in the morning before getting dropped like a bag of wet doorknobs.
MM: I think they’d take to you just fine, minus your geography skills perhaps. They might suggest some motion control shoes though.
MM: I would love to see some elite Kenyans reactions to Hokas. Maybe that’s what they need to take to trail running; most don’t like pushing on the downhills.
SJ: Is there anything you wanted to ask me? (raises eyebrows, smiles obnoxiously)
MM: “Wait, we’re not actually almost done are we?”
SJ: Now we are!
My gratitude goes out to Martin for his patience and willingness and, in terms of the video portion, trust. I recently had the honor of being beaten by him in an XC race, but I was simply thrilled we were wearing the same singlet. Well, not the same one, that would be weird. We wore the same desig–you know what, nevermind.
I also thank my brother Terry for doing most of the heavy lifting with the above video as well as the as-usual photos, all for a cheap bottle of bourbon that he didn’t ask for.
Call for Comments
Which is your favorite African country?
Favorite American Gladiator?
Dreams are a funny thing, aren’t they? Have you ever dreamed about me and/or Martin? Do tell!
Call for Support
Did you enjoy this? Are you already a club member? If not, consider becoming a member! Our partner stores (Balanced Athlete and Fleet Feet) also accept cash and most major credit cards and are chock full of great xmas gift ideas!
Jodee Adams-Moore has been a (well, to now) relatively anonymous name on the trail-running circuit. A local high school phenom who later wore spikes out east at Georgetown U, she now relishes the trail and is routinely posting times that are slowly dropping more and more jaws. I broached this little kernel of an idea to her in January, and now I find myself rushing to get this out before iRunFar makes her a household name. To those who know her, you probably already love her. For everyone else, allow me to (obnoxiously, of course) introduce you to Jodee Adams-Moore.
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Shoeless Joe: Hi everybody and welcome to 2013! After some hemming and hawing from Win Van Pelt and a particularly testy round of emails with the SRC board of directors, I’ve been put on probation but thankfully have finally been approved for another round of in-depth runner interviews! This time I am honored and privileged to be speaking with Jodee Adams-Moore! I met Jodee for a few seconds over a year ago at the 2012 Chuckanut 50k when she passed me at mile 1ish. Do you remember me, Jodee? I had a blue shirt on.
JAM: Well, I can’t say I remember you specifically Joe, but did you have fun in the race?
SJ: I did! Well, for most of it. Parts of it, really. Very few, small parts. I don’t get to run in snow very often so I’m quite not good at it. Did you have fun?
JAM: I had fun for a while but there came a time–somewhere in the vicinity of Lost Lake–that I kinda lost it and had to ride the fumes of hallucinatory mayhem of the mind. Mantras popped into my head from seemingly nowhere. One was even in Spanish. What once was a flat and friendly Interurban Trail looks completely different to me now.
SJ: Wow that sounds like a lot of fun! Speaking of hallucinatory mayhem, I thought my eyes were broken when I saw you had a 99.5% UltraSignup score. In fact your runner-up finish at that 2012 Chuckanut is the only blemish so far. And this year you seemed to figure out the Interurban Trail part. How else did the 2013 race differ from 2012?
JAM: My mind was sharper and my body stronger this year. I’ve been practicing. I felt more floaty.
SJ: The only other things I’ve learned about you from extensive googling is a) you were a local high school runner and you ran track and XC at Georgetown b) you enjoy pottery and other art and c) your college transcripts. When did your interest in trail running begin, and why?
Jodee Adams-Moore: I grew up on the east side not too far from Tiger and Cougar Mountains, so I’ve been hitting up the trails since I was 14. Saw me a few black bears in those little mountains. Even at Georgetown I ran lots in the trails that weave throughout DC and always felt more invigorated running through the woods than running on the pavement.
SJ: I have only anecdotal evidence to back this up, but it seems a good amount of Division 1 collegiate runners either move on to the road running circuit or stop competing altogether, at least for awhile. What was your experience going from Georgetown to where you are now? Long break from hard training & racing? Jump right back into and embrace racing?
JAM: The transition from the running I did at Georgetown to the running I do now has been a seven-year evolution of finding where and how running needs to be in my life for me to be balanced and happy.I never stopped running after Georgetown and I raced a little bit with Club Northwest and ran road races in the area, but that energy slowly puttered out and I just ran during all those years just as my daily medicine. The more time spent running in the woods the more I craved it so the whole trail racing thing kinda happened organically. I met James Varner of Rainshadow Running one February at a time when I was isolated from any running community (other than my training buddy Pablo, the dog). I was living on an old dairy farm property in rural Snohomish County and running on Pilchuck Tree Farm trails. He urged me to try his races. That June I drove out to the Methow and ran my first 25k at Sun Mountain and loved the energy of the event; more like a picnic party in a beautiful setting with, oh maybe a 25k or 50k or 50m thrown in just for fun! I thought that would be the longest I’d want to run but over time my body grew stronger and longer runs in the trails naturally evolved. Recently, in a coffee shop in San Luis Obispo I stumbled upon a book, The Zen of Running, by Fred Rohe. This excerpt opens the book (alongside a black and white photo of a snowy mountain stream reflecting sunlight):
“This experience is a newly discovered form of meditation or one more way for you to discover you. So I suggest you joyfully, exuberantly, take a short run. (Short might be 10 yards or 10 blocks, that’s your own private affair.)”
The simplicity and joy in Rohe’s relationship with running reminds me how I experience running now. I don’t “train” anymore. The running of now is closer to a meditation, one blending the nature of the forest and the nature of my body, this amazing machine that is so very receptive to how I treat it as a whole. Do I run hard? Yes, sometimes I want to sprint up the street or up the hill! But I don’t log workouts, I don’t wear a watch and I don’t ever force myself out. More often than not though I find myself running up steep forested hills, happily.
SJ: Wow, that’s surprising. I know (of) a number of people who look at running in a similar light but none of them could ever dream of running Orcas in five hours, or Chuckanut in four. I had three followup questions about GPS watches but now I guess I won’t be asking you those. Umm. Does this mean you run without goals or planning of any kind? Race days like Orcas or Chuckanut are just little diversions on a schedule otherwise filled with whatever you feel like doing? And whatever happens on race day, happens?
JAM: Yes! Pretty much! Every day is its own little adventure. Some days more awesome than others…but all with little bits of awesomeness. Running is part of this. My last run’s awesomeness was similar to a strong dark beer–higher percentage awesome content.
SJ: Please tell me you at least get an occasional old, weak, watered down 3.8% abv beer cruddy day.
JAM: I do, I do.
SJ: I’m gonna go ahead and steal that and call those my “Michelob Ultra” days from now on if you don’t mind. Now, is it a compromise at all in terms of your speed? Maybe you *could* get even faster with some specific training, but you wouldn’t really enjoy it? Or is a happy Jodee also a faster Jodee?
JAM: For me happiness is the ultimate goal and most things should fall into place thereafter.
SJ: So what about running makes you happy? Is it something I can learn? Please?
JAM: Enjoying the inner nature and outer nature and realizing the connectedness of both. Often it feels like a meditation and ritual and that is soothing to me.
SJ: Does the same go for races? Or do those require a slight mental re-tooling?
JAM: Some races are wonderful and I feel super high the whole time but sometimes these thoughts go through my mind: “I just don’t care, I don’t care at all and I’m gonna stop. Soon I’m gonna just stop. My body hurts. This is not good for my body. F IT!” But I haven’t stopped yet.
SJ: Us runners can be slaves to finishing our beers, even those Michelob Ultras! I personally like to think about the cookies I will eat after runs. Before runs I like to plan out exactly how I will obtain said cookies, so that there’s minimal wasted motion. I also consider complementary food items. Will I eat them with milk? Coffee? Perhaps both? Umm. Yeah, so do you like cookies?
JAM: Yeah I like cookies. All sorts.
SJ: Cool me too! If you’re ready I think it’s time for the now-unsponsored Lightning Speed Round! I have a guy who wants to open a bakery in Seattle and he said he’ll sponsor it but he hasn’t opened it yet. Maybe he’ll have cookies! Anyway, I’m going to ask you some questions real fast-like and you’re gonna show everyone how fast you truly are. Jodee….I hope you’re ready for a little interval training.Favorite Metallica album?
JAM: I don’t listen to Metallica, never have.
SJ: We’re road trippin’ but the tank’s on E. What are you getting at the AM/PM?
JAM: Spicy bloody mary mix and some peanuts.
SJ: Describe, in as much detail as you’re comfortable and no less, your preferred PB&J sandwich?
JAM: Any PB&J I scarf at mile 18 and above in any race is a winner.
SJ: Fine, let me get to the heart of the matter. All things equal, and not late in a race: chunky or smooth?
JAM: (C)HUNKY!
SJ: I’m holding steady next to you in a race, and I start chatting. Do you a) return the favor b) run ahead of me or c) fake an injury?
JAM: B.
SJ: Sunrise or sunset?
JAM: Sunrise
SJ: Any past or current boyfriends/husbands/significant others ever spell your name wrong on a valentine or birthday card?
JAM: I dont think so.
SJ: Best cereal?
JAM: Puffins with granola on top.
SJ: With milk, water, oj, or dry?
JAM: Milk of vanilla hemp cow
SJ: I sit next to you on a fairly crowded bus. Eventually we’re the only two left. Should I move?
JAM: Yeah.
SJ: If you were on the outside seat, would *you* move? Even if it would probably hurt my feelings?
SJ: Wow! The bar has been set folks, I think we just witnessed a new land speed record in the speed round! I won’t pretend I’m not a little concerned about your bloody mary/peanuts mix but there’s no denying your speed Mrs. Adams-Moore!
SJ: I’d like to finally learn about how you *became* a runner. When did you start, and why?
Jodee Adams-Moore: I started running in 8th grade when I realized I could beat most of the boys in my gym class. Before running I’d been the average suburban child athlete. You know, swimming on the “B” team and being the back-up midfielder on the soccer team. I liked being good at something and it seemed the more effort and love I put into the running, the faster I became. I would get off the bus after school and run 12 laps around the dirt track most afternoons. I was crazy. Luckily, I found myself in a great HS Cross Country program led by a stellar (and speedy) couple, Mindy and Mitch Leffler.Running was definitely a mixed bag of positive and negative for me back then. I was obsessed with the sport and while that led to success as a high school athlete there was a dark side. Food issues and growing up issues and depression were mixed in throughout the early years and into college. The evolution of running in my life parallels my own growth. Happiness and overall wellness in life leads to better running. And by better I mean days and runs speckled with bliss. I read this quote last night from Fred Rohe’s “Zen of Running”:
“Remember: we create our world(s) with our mind(s). So let your mind say ‘look, I’m running and all runners do this beautiful dance, each stride a leap thru space–ho! what fun!'”
SJ: That’s one reason I wince sometimes at the glorifying of young, early/mid teenage athletes; to be that good at something, especially running, oftentimes means an unhealthy singular obsession at an age where one should maybe instead be exploring all kinds of different things. At least though you ended up focused on an activity that you continue to enjoy today…albeit somewhat differently, it sounds. What kind of sage advice would today’s Jodee give her younger self, or any other young runner? Besides to wear Vibrams, of course.
JAM: Life moves sooooo fast. Be brave and follow your bliss.
SJ: Shades of Ferris Bueller, I like it. Though I think you may want to add in something about avoiding boys with teardrop tattoos. Or beach cuts. I get the feeling you take your running one day at a time, but is there anything you’d like to achieve or simply just *do* with your two feet on this planet that you’ve yet to do, before it’s all said and done?
JAM: I’ve said it all!
SJ: Well Jodee you are a delight and I am envious of you in many ways. Mostlythoughbecauseyou’refasterthanme. Is there anything you’d like to ask me?
JAM: Nope!
SJ: Have you been courted yet by any companies or persons (myself not included) to endorse their products or lifestyles or energy ion bracelets or websites (not including seattlerunningclub.org)? Have you had to make any potentially tough decisions in that regard?
Jodee Adams-Moore: No, but if you know any companies that want to support my lifestyle, please by all means get them in contact with me!
SJ: Sorry, I do not. The only person to contact me was a guy who owned a t-shirt company…and he ended being my dad, playing a prank on me. I think you’ll be fine though. All in due time. That begs the question though, what *is* your lifestyle? How goes a day in the life of Jodee Adams-Moore?
JAM: • Wake up around 8 am and look out my basement window towards the light.
• Brew up some strong cofffee (cream and sugar, of course) on the stove and head back into the basement, aka “The Art Zone,” and get down with some clay and music for a few hours.
• Maybe go to a yoga class.
• Maybe go work a shift at the Skagit Valley Food Co Op.
• Look for jobs in Bellingham on Craigslist.
• Run in trails in the afternoon.
• Make dinner and kick it with the housemates, including two rad kiddos every other week.
• Check out some music and grab a beer in town if I’m feelin’ it.
• Bed time.
• Do it all again the next day.Sometimes I like to dance and write poems and also I play the kalimba.
SJ: Right on! I know a bartender at Sierra Nevada Brewery in Chico, CA; I will get you and Sage Canaday both beer sponsorships. Since this interview is live and in person and I’m nowhere near my googleable laptop, can you tell me what exactly a kalimba is? Is it a board game?
JAM: Don’t you see it right here in my hands, Joe? It’s a thumb piano! Also known as an Mbira!
SJ: Ohhh, yes of course, a….mbira! I…love those! Did you bring that as a gift for me? I don’t have anything for you. 🙁
JAM: No it’s not for you, but you can obtain your own Hugh Tracey Kalimba at www.kalimbamagic.com (!)
SJ: My brother used to play the drums, so you could say I have an ear for music. Can you play me a tune?
JAM: (plays) Did you like it?
SJ: (slow clap) That was pretty great, Jodee. Was that Styx? The next time someone insists to me that you are not multi-talented I will definitely set them straight. I also think that’s a great segue into the Hugh Tracey Lightning Speed Round! By now you’re probably aware how this goes. I ask you the tough questions, and you answer quickly. Race pace!Hottest US President ever?
JAM: Abe Lincoln
SJ: If you were ever going to become a hoarder, what would you hoard and would you ever then agree to go on the hit VH1 show Hoarders?
JAM: I don’t know, and I’m not into pop culture tv shows…sorry.
SJ: Ok that’s fine. Don’t apologize ever again for not watching Hoarders. What would you hoard though? Maybe…Kalimbas (mispronounced)?
JAM: Kalimbas would be a pretty nice thing to hoard! Thanks for the idea.
SJ: Please tell me you are familiar with Saved By The Bell.
JAM: Ditto.
SJ: John, Paul, George, or Ringo?
JAM: Yoko.
SJ: On a scale of 1-10, how loud do you snore?
JAM: Ask my ex.
SJ: Why? Oh, I get it. Most relatable Sesame Street character?
SJ: Dr Pepper or Mr Pipp or Dr Thunder or Dr Chill or Dr Skipper or Dr Shasta or Mr Pig or Dr Riffic or Dr Buzz or Dr Bold or Dr A+?
JAM: Mr. Pipp.
SJ: (hands Jodee a paper and pen) Could you please draw me a picture in one minute?
JAM:
SJ: Dirty Dancing or Pretty Woman, and why?
JAM: Neither! I don’t like these sorts of films, sorry! They depress me.
SJ: I personally find Dirty Dancing to be powerfully inspirational, but to each their own. Can you name a movie *you* find inspirational?
JAM: Inspirational movie…hmm. I have seen maybe three movies in the last year, that is how much I watch movies. I know, it’s crazy. If I think of one I will let you know. Oh! This movie called “Babies” was pretty interesting. It’s about babies from different countries and how differently they are raised. I liked it.
SJ: Great speedy job in the speed round, Jodee! Even faster than I was expecting!
SJ: I’ve heard of that baby movie but have not seen it on Netflix Instant yet. It’s interesting, huh? Have you ever had a baby?
JAM: No I have not.
SJ: Me neither. Do you think you ever will? I could see a baby enjoying the hell out of that kalimba.
JAM: Oh babies love kalimba. I just dreamt I was at the DMV and all of us waiting started an open mic. I was so excited because I had my kalimba and I got up there and started in with my spoken-word poetry–backed by kalimba–and even though many people were talking, when I started in with this poem about primal fear and the lioness, the crowd kinda hushed. But then I forgot some words and I looked over at this guy I was dating and he was sleeping. WTF?! Here is the poem I performed at the dream DMV:
fortune flavor fortune flavor
perched atop a toothy saber
dark and empty in the house
in the line
it calls me out
waltz the line of sleepy stranger
behind door
lingers danger
knoby hand to the knob
crack
the lioness
the throb
She the dark the primal one
She the fire
She the sun
at the disco death arrives
fancy dancing with alive
SJ: Wow that was great Jodee, thank you for sharing! I’m not a licensed psychiatrist but I think it’s pretty obvious your dream means we should step up to the mic, so to speak, and not be afraid to put ourselves out there. The sleeping boyfriend reminds us that, even if we miss a line, it doesn’t really matter and likely no one will notice. The important thing is to take the leap! Either that or it just means your boyfriend is a jerk! lol Have you been writing for a long time or was this a one-time deal in a dream?
JAM: I have a whole batch of poems I’ve written since August! I even recorded an album!
SJ: I want a copy! Name your price! How can I get it?! I used to be in a band back when I was 10 or so. We didn’t play any instruments, just wrote lyrics and sang them acapella. We were called The Bandits. I wrote all the “achieve your goals” inspirational songs while my friend Scott wrote all the “Baby I wanna get witchoo” love songs. Nothing much came of it, and I lost the tapes. Maybe if we had you with us, on the kalimba.
JAM: …
SJ: Ahem, well I’m certainly impressed by your wide swath of interests and talents beyond running, Jodee! I was worried we’d spend the whole time talking about gps watches or Gu. This was fun! Is there anything you’d like to ask me?
JAM: Not that I can think of right now.
**********
SJ: Ok, so you pick Labyrinth over Pretty Woman or Dirty Dancing. I am sad to say I have not seen that movie since prom night my junior year of high school. Why does the movie resonate so strongly with you?
Jodee Adams-Moore: David Bowie as king of the goblins, Jim Henson muppets and the quest for the baby… what more do you need Joe?
SJ: Hey I’m with ya! My only problem is David Bowie’s wig. Or at least what I hope is a wig. It just…breaks me and distracts me to no end. Or maybe I’m just jealous, I dunno.
JAM: I think the crotch is more distracting than the wig, but to each his own.
SJ: Ha. Not saying that crotch of his *isn’t* distracting, but hey thanks a lot now it will be even moreso for the rest of my life. Do you have any non-Goblin King feelings about David Bowie? His was the very first concert I ever went to.
JAM: Awesome! After the race the first thing I did when I got home was made up a bath with epsom salt and cranked the Best of Bowie…I’m not a die hard fan but it just seemed appropriate.
SJ: That makes me legitimately happy to hear. Ok then Jodee, to wrap this up, let’s each pick a Bowie song/video to send home with the readers. One of my favorites is Ashes to Ashes.
What say you?
JAM: Here is a trailer for an inspiring movie! Bruce Bickford is the man. I’m soooo over Bowie.
SJ: Wow that was fast! Just like you! Thank you for your time Jodee, this has been a blast. Is there anything you wanted to ask me?
JAM: Nah.
SJ: A little bird* told me recently that you are actually quite talented with pottery. How long have you been working/playing with clay and why clay of all things?
*”Little bird” meaning google when I was stalking** you before this interview. **”Stalking” meaning researching my interview subject.
Jodee Adams-Moore: I always loved art making and in primary school the clay day (which was once a school year) always was my favorite. Georgetown U didn’t offer ceramics but I had this dream that one day I would live in the woods and all my dishware would be handmade. A few years after college I was ready to commit to throwing (using the wheel) and my folks gave me a ceramic class for Christmas. The love affair began. www.batcavepottery.weebly.com
SJ: And do you live in the woods with all handmade dishware?
JAM: Kinda! Lotsa handmade cups and mugs and bowls to use and I live up against Galbraith Mountain!
SJ: How might someone, hypothetically, procure product? Just knock on doors around Galbraith Mountain?
SJ: You express yourself artistically in many ways, as I’ve learned in our in-person interview here. Pottery, music, writing. Perhaps even more. Steve Prefontaine looked at his running as an artistic expression. Would you consider YOUR running to be an artistic expression of any kind? Is destroying the field at Chuckanut an expression of creativity?
JAM: Yes. Life is one big art project, Joe! Thats why it’s so awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SJ: Wow, and right in my ear! I will have to add more than a couple exclamation points, I think! Before I get out of your hair, I feel I should inquire about any other artful expressions you indulge in that perhaps we never got around to. Or have we covered the gamut?
JAM: My oil paintings are on display at Lighthouse Coffee in upper Fremont through April. But yeah I think we pretty much covered it.
SJ: What about dancing?
JAM: I like to tap dance on occasion…
SJ: I knew it! I was just gonna say “you dance, don’t you?” Well there ya have it folks. This woman is better than you. Jodee, I feel inspired. You’ve shown me there’s (slightly) more to life than Zack and A.C. Where might folks find you next, wearing a race bib?
JAM: I’m still working on that.
SJ: Are there any questions you wanted to ask me? (leans forward, expectantly)
JAM: Joe, I’ve been meaning to ask you… Would you like to learn how to shuffle-ball-change?
**********
I want to thank Jodee for welcoming me into her home and studio and backyard and almost her garage and taking part in the longest interview to date, by far. She didn’t need to trust me but she did. It was an honor to hang out with her and Pablo for the first time, and my only regret is I brought my brother along and thus could not go run some trail with her for a little bit afterward. I don’t know where Jodee is running next, but I know I’ll be pulling for her to beat everybody. In the meantime, you can see her paintings in Ballard through April, and gawk at or buy her rad pottery in a varietyofplaces. Or just find her on a trail near Bellingham. Listen for the kalimba.
Wow look I’m back again already! I’m definitely feeling the love, so I figured “why not give SRC’s fans a little holiday treat?” And…since I only have some of your home addresses, the only thing I could think of was another interview! This time though you may have noticed I scored a woman, and I’m gonna let her close out the 2012 Shoeless Joe season!
Sarah Robinson (formerly Sarah MacKay) is a very fast local running talent. Even faster than me. She’s knocking on the sub-17:00 5k door, she recently bettered 1:20 in the half, and she’s one of the leaders at Oiselle, the local women’s running apparel company based out of Greenlake. So if you frequent ye olde loop, perhaps you’ve seen her gliding by, making it look easy (that said, the woman knows how to bring the pain on race days). She also twitters and has a wonderful blog, which is where I realized she’d probably be a good fit for something absurd like this. Enjoy, and I’ll hopefully see you in 2013 with another batch of nonsense, assuming Win doesn’t deactivate my admin access to this site.
********
Shoeless Joe: Good evening folks! Today I am sitting here with Sarah Mackay (pronounced “Mackey”), an actual woman! Sarah…umm…(glances at paper) works at “Oiselle” (pronounced “Oy-sel”), a local womens running apparel company. She is a model and blogger and twitterer and is a surprisingly fast runner herself! Welcome Sarah!
Sarah MacKay: Actually my name is Sarah Robinson, or it will be once I get my personal assistant to file the appropriate paperwork. Thanks for getting the MacKay pronunciation right though…Massachusetts-style. The hard A sound in *Mackey* really gives it that delicate touch.
SJ: You’re welcome! My first question should be obvious: can you get me a job at Oiselle?
Sarah Robinson: A job as what? We are currently hiring Rundies models.
SJ: I don’t know what a Rundies model is but sure, that sounds fun!
SR: Rundies are days of the week underpants for runners. So instead of Sunday you wear ‘Long Run’, or Tuesday you might wear ‘Fartlek’ or ‘Track’. It’s for the dedicated yet forgetful runner.
SJ: Ahh, now I get it! That’s very clever! I don’t have a phone at the moment but I can tweet you my references and social security number after this if that’ll help grease the hiring process. I did do some modeling back in the day.
SR: Also please Tweet your credit card information. It’s just part of the application process.
SJ: Ok! Now I gathered from your website that Oiselle is mostly for women runners, right? You only seem to have a few items a man might wear. Can you guys make more stuff for men? Your designs are very good and I don’t think it’s fair that us guys have to keep wearing the same Nike shirts, which are all either weird, dishonest, or aggressively hostile & threatening. Just because I watch pro wrestling all the time doesn’t mean I want to dress like it!
SR: Yikes.
SJ: But I digress. Let’s talk about you. I did research so I know a lot about you, but the reader might not. When and why did you get into running?
SR: I was given my first Nike waffles as a baby.
SJ: Wait, huh?
SR: Yeah. It was clear to me that my parents were sending a message. Something was expected of MacKays….and truth be told I did feel lazy after 11 months of simply lolling around, eating. I knew it was time to stop crying and start making something of myself. It was hard work, but with some good coaching I went from crawling to running before my first birthday.
SJ: Wait a minute, how do you even *coach* a baby?! Are you exaggerating?
SR: Yeah, I mean my story is the typical one. I started running when my gym class had to run the mile in 4th grade. I beat everyone except one boy. I think I let him beat me because I had a crush on him. I beat everyone while wearing a jean skirt, white Keds and my favorite white and blue striped boatneck top. I know this because that day is also the day I left school early to fly to Florida to visit my uncle and go to Disney World. Also it’s true that running makes you smarter. I have a memory like an elephant, but I can even add up mile splits. Hmmm actually, maybe it doesn’t.
SJ: Disney World, huh?!
SR: Anyway, after that run I was invited to participate in a city-wide elementary school track meet of sorts. It was a big deal. My whole family was there to cheer. My little brother even drew a big poster board sign for me. But I stopped part way through the mile because some chick near me started having an asthma attack. I helped her off the track and made sure she was okay, then jumped back in. My mom was yelling “Get back on the track!!! JUST GO!!!” and that’s the day I realized my mom was crazy. And also that running is a dog-eat-dog kind of sport.
SJ: Wow, that’s very similar to my beginning as a runner! I knew I had a lot of talent when I ran my first “off campus mile” during 7th grade gym and I beat some of the guys in my class and almost all the girls. My gym teacher said “good effort!” and I knew I’d found my calling.
SR: …
SJ: So…I’m guessing with that speed and that mom, you ran in high school?
SR: Sure, despite my attempts at cheerleading, volleyball, basketball, acting, flute…it turned out I was a one trick pony.
SJ: But you must have been pretty good at that one trick…I saw a picture on your website of you in a college cross country uniform. They don’t just hand those out at freshman orientation. Well, I don’t think. Have you been running ever since?
SR: I wish.
SJ: Ahh (nods knowingly), I can relate. What was your undoing? Boys? Narcotics? Shin splints?
SR: All of the above, except the boys…and narcotics. And change the “shin splits” to “broken back.”
SJ: Broken back? (winces) Did that hurt? How did that happen…did you break it while running?
SR:(glares) Not funny.
SJ: Huh? No, no, I’m serious! (holds up four fingers) Scout’s honor! Do you not want to talk about it?
SR:(glares)
SJ: Ohhhkay…so, no. (rifles through notebook) Totally understand, I wouldn’t want to talk about it either! Let’s see. Well let’s just skip a few years I guess. Why and when did you move to Seattle?
SR: I think it was 2007. I heard it was sunny!
SJ: Wow, that’s wildly incorrect, whoever told you that! I’m surprised you’re still here. When did you resume a regular running regimen? See, for me, I was jobless and pathetic and needed something to get me out of the house. So I decided to run a marathon. Now I run all the time but I’m often injured.
SR: I was so jobless when I got here that I would take weeks off of running when I knew I couldn’t afford the amount food I’d need for my training Wow…that sounds sad out loud.
SJ: Yes it does 🙁
SR: I guess I started running consistently again in spring 2011. Twenty five miles a week or so. After the D1 running experience and so much injury, I was 100% against running seriously ever again. I guess the Beibs has it right: Never say never.
SJ: Was it just an influx of pay checks that got you doing consistent mileage? You could afford Powerbars now?
SR: Yeah, and getting the right job. It’s hard to NOT run when you work for Oiselle. I think it’s in my contract.
SJ: Did the competitive juices come back quickly? And how are those juices different, if at all, than they were in high school & college? Also what is your favorite Powerbar flavor?!
SR: It took a tutu to bring my competitive side back.
SJ: Interesting! Ok Sarah, you’ve done great so far! If it’s ok with you I’d like to move on to the renamed Balanced Athlete Big Acting Lightning Round, sponsored by my close personal friend Eric Sach of The Balanced Athlete in Renton! I’m guessing you’d rather not wear this mask to aid focus? SR: No thanks, only Oiselle’s elite fabric can touch my skin or I break out in hives.
SJ: Yeah that’s what I figured :\ Ok first things first, seriously what’s your favorite Powerbar flavor? SR: At one time it was the Berry one. Now, whatever is free. They should bring banana back though.
SJ: Yeah, wildberry! I used to have this friend back in high school whose parents always had a box of Powerbars in the pantry. Some runs would end at his house and assuming the parents were gone I would always immediately head to the pantry and help myself to one (or as he referred to it, “steal”). As you know, they were out of most 17 year olds’ price range. But they’d almost always just have apple cinnamon, and I grew tired of them. Every *once in awhile* though they would have a box of wildberry and it was like Christmas morning! SR:(nodding vacantly)
SJ: (ahem) Angry bicyclists on the Burke Gilman Trail…what’s their deal? SR: There are bicyclists on the Burke? I have my headphones on; I guess I never notice them.
SJ: Lucky you. Bananas: runner superfood or vile, sorry excuse for a fruit? SR: Better as a Runt. But when covered in peanut butter, a decent food.
SJ: Covered in peanut butter? Like, a whole banana…enveloped by peanut butter? Do you eat it with your hands? SR: Actually to get technical, I guess the banana covers the peanut butter. I slice it and fill it with peanut butter, like a banana peanut butter sandwich where the bread is the banana…this is getting confusing.
SJ: I agree! I was told this was a good question so I’m just going to repeat it. If you could only run one more race in your life, which specific one would it be? SR: Chicago Marathon.
SJ: Why Chicago? SR: I need redemption for my only marathon.
SJ: You have to marry one of these guys and spend the rest of your life with them in an 800 sq ft home: Zack, Slater, Screech, Belding, or Mr. Tuttle? Show your work! SR: Who? Are those runners?
SJ: What?! Saved By The Bell’s leading men! First Sage, now you?! I believe Zack was a member of more or less every sports team at Bayside…and I have to assume Slater was a track star. C’mon you’re not THAT young. SR: I was one of those ‘we aren’t allowed to watch tv’ kids. My childhood is missing huge chunks of pop culture. HUGE. It was humiliating. Thanks for bringing it up.
SJ: Biggest pet peeve committed by other runners, either in the act of running or in general? SR: Racing with earbuds. Also: leaking terrible, nervous runner farts at starting lines.
SJ: Haha, WHOA! We might have to edit that one a little, but ok! SR: Haha really!? Dude, sneaky runner farts are the WORST.
SJ: OK moving on before I get fired from SRC! Do you think you could beat me in a 400m race, and why not? SR: No. Maybe. I don’t know. I have one pace: slow and steady.
SJ: Would you rather be blind, deaf, mute, or paralyzed from the waist down? And why? SR: Mute. I think people might like me more.
SJ: The 2012 Summer Olympics will be upon us in a couple months. Any sports or events or athlete scandals you’re looking forward to? SR: I’m looking forward to watching Galen Rupp and Usain Bolt race…each other…in a pudding eating contest.
SJ: If I were lucky enough to take you to a movie–any movie, not just new releases–which movie would you like to see and when should I pick you up? SR: I’ll assume this is to find out my favorite movie, not looking for a date. Royal Tenenbaums or….Superbabies: Baby Genuises 2.
SJ: Ok great! And umm…if it…*was* me looking for a date? SR: Married. (waves bling finger)
SJ: Oh. On that note. I have (pulls out a few bills and change)…3 dollars and…27 cents. Will you please run XC for the Seattle Running Club in 2013? SR: Hmmm. Nope.
SJ: Please? I’m not allowed back on the board of directors if I don’t put you in a singlet. SR: Are you any good with Photoshop?
SJ: Pretty Woman or Dirty Dancing? And explain. SR: Dirty Dancing. There’s only so much of Julia Roberts’ laugh a person can endure.
SJ: I agree, she’s horrible!
SJ: Ok that’s a wrap! Sarah, aside from the excessive cursing and the fact you have no idea who AC Slater is, I thought you handled yourself extremely well in the Balanced AthleteBig Awesome Lightning Round, and why not, co-sponsored by Oiselle Running Apparel! Especially considering you’re a woman!
Before I let you go though I wanted to touch on a couple other topics. You recently ran the Hood To Coast Relay right? What did you think of this event and would you recommend it to other runners who haven’t yet experienced running at 3am or surviving a weekend from port-o-potty to port-o-potty?
SR: I recommend Hood To Coast to anyone. But if you are too type A, you better take your anti-anxiety meds or pack yourself a friggin’ drink. Things are going to get out of your control. And there is no room for cwanky in a van. Also if you have an A race in September, don’t do it. It will take some time to recover.
SJ: I’m usually not cranky and I don’t ever have A races. Can I be on your team next year?
SR: I’m a girl’s girl. Is that a thing? If this bird flies to the coast again it will be with Team Oiselle. Although if I went the mixed van route…yes, for sure. I think I’ve heard you’re good at beer ultras, so basically the same thing.
SJ: Well, fingers crossed my Rundies model application finds its way to…well, whoever hires the Rundies models! Speaking of Oiselle, do you have any personal favorite Oiselle products? Any tips for people shopping for their runner friends, wives, coworkers, baristas, strangers they’d like to meet, etc?
SJ: My bus is gonna be here any minute, but I wanted to ask if you had any long-term running goals…ones that you feel comfortable putting on the record? Distances, races, times, etc? Or do you just move one race at a time, day by day? Or should I mind my own business?
SR: Oh lordy, I’m giving myself until July to get some serious times in the books. I have a coach now! Like a real live runner, so I’m just seeing if my training with him gets me to the next level. I’d love to run the USA half marathon championships in June…but I need to get under 1:19. So that. I suppose.
SJ: Wow! That’s about as fast as I was…about 20 pounds ago. I’m sure you’ll do great! And I look forward to photoshopping an SRC singlet onto your half marathon championship race pictures!
Are there any questions you wanted to ask me?
SR: I guess the only question I have for you…is…aren’t you supposed to be SHOELESS? What in the name of kittens are those moon boots?
SJ: Oh yeah, aren’t they cool? I’m excited to announce a new supporter of the Shoeless Joe interview series: Hoka One One! They must have seen some of the sweet action Vibram is getting from my support and wanted a piece! So they sent me a pair of shoes! They’re pretty beat up, but you can’t beat free shoes. I look forward to working them into my rotation, as soon as I get over this achilles injury. Thanks again, Hoka One One!
Gracious thanks to Sarah for trusting me and taking the time to give us what the people have been clamoring for: an interview with a real-life woman! I highly recommend her blog for an ideal brand of self-aware runner humor that can be hard to come by. She’s also really fast, if that matters to you. Even though I couldn’t sell her on either Vibrams or Hokas, watch out for her in 2013 and beyond.
Call for Comments
Not letting your child or college son watch Saved By The Bell: child abuse?
Should Oiselle hire Shoeless Joe to model Rundies?
Favorite Powerbar flavor?
Call for Support
Did you enjoy this? Are you already a club member? If not, consider becoming a member, or getting one for that special someone for Xmas or New Years or whatever you like to celebrate! I’m hard-pressed to think of a better gift for the holidays…aside from Oiselle clothing of course!
Nice, look forward to 10 more race reports from this race!
