#38 Ultramarathon Completed!

After a fairly long break and an injury after my last Ultra, I decided to try and capture another
100 by 100 run for Alzheimer's.  The race took place in the St. George area where I live, and I know the race director so I wanted to support his race.  The race was held on December 2, 2017 and started at 12:00 pm.  We had perfect weather, a cool night, and a super moon to help light our way when it started to get dark.  The race was called The Capstone 50K, had a total of 5000 ft. of elevation gain and held in the very rocky mountain mesas south of town. My time was 8:15 - which was slower than some of my other ones - due to a wrong wrong turn I made which costs me around 20 minutes, and my very last loop I was in darkness so I had to rely on my headlamp for light.

Lori was there and Shady to greet me for the last 2 loops which was a great inspiration.  Thank you again Lori!  After the race my feet were really sore due to the amount of rocks we had to navigate around and run over.  Afterwards Lori and I had beer with the race director and Hayden Hawks, who is now a superstar in the world of ultra running.  We were all very relaxed and had a great time by a roaring fire.  A beautiful day all around for sure!  I'm so thankful I can continue in my quest in helping Alzheimer's.  Thank you all for your support!

Here are some pictures!  Merry Christmas!

$100.00 Donated to Alzheimer's research on 12/3/17

100 by 100 adds #37 Ultra Marathon!

Hi everyone!  I am proud to announce that a new ultra marathon has now been completed for
100 by 100 and Alzheimer's!  Another $100.00 donated to the research of Alzheimer's!  The race was held on April 29, 2017 and called Lost Boys 50 - a 50 miler in San Diego, Ca.  Momma Joan Lyle was guiding me the whole way so all I had to do was put one foot in front of another and never stop!  A fantastic day in the way of the weather and wind had us all speechless all day!  We were lucky, for sure.  The flowers were all out and cactus's were blooming everywhere.  Outstanding!

I had a friend and buddy, Joey Schrichte run the race as well and he took 4th overall! He is training for the San Diego 100 in June and is a great ultra runner, and great guy.  I also had some very critical help that influenced a great outcome for my performance at this race.  BJ Haeck, a San Diego resident,  gave me some awesome workout routines to do in preparation for this particular race.  BJ also ran with me for a bit near the end and gave me a lot of encouragement as well.  I am so glad I took his advise because it really paid off in the end.  I was way stronger the entire race and felt better than a lot of my previous 50 milers.  So a huge shout out and an "extra special thanks" to BJ, my friend, and ultra running compadre!  Thanks again BJ!  You the man!

The race basically starts on the desert floor - east of San Diego, and the course runs southwest over 3 big mountain passes and ending at Cuyamaca Lake.  We had non stop sun, cool breezes at our back the whole way, and fantastic views.  I covered the course in 13:36.  There was 9000 ft. of elevation gain, so I'm so glad I practiced a lot of my power hiking to make it up those passes at a decent speed.

It also helped to see some other friends helping out at aid stations too.  I even got to meet the legendary, Scotty Mills who is an icon in the sport of ultra running.  That was a highlight as well!

Well, I could go on and on.  But here are some photos of the race course, BJ, Joey, and myself running.  I felt proud to finish this hard race as well as I did.

Thanks again for reading and for the support everyone!

Another $100.00 donated to Alzheimer's Research on May 2, 2017

Joey and I at the finishJoey 

Middle part of the course

a little blood never hurt anybody

BJ showing off his power legs

BJ and I

Bryce Traverse Ultramarathon Done - #36-

Yes!  #36 Ultra is now in the books!  In beautiful Bryce National Park, my buddies Joey, BJ, and Rich  completed the Rim Trail (and then some) on Tax Day, April 15th, 2017.  Wow and what a day it was!  Sunny the whole day with a cool breeze.  We couldn't have done it AGAIN without my lovely Lori Lyle who gave us our food and drink at specific spots!  Thank you so much again my Lor!

Each of us did slightly different mileage because of certain factors including in two weeks Joey and I have a 50 mile Ultramarathon to complete in San Diego - so we don't want to do too much before that.  It turns out that I ran 27 miles in 7 hours.  I hopped into the Rim Trail at Whiteman Trailhead and met the others there then ran north with everyone.  Rich ran the most miles of 46, then BJ did around 44, then Joey ran 31 miles.  All in all we had a fantastic time.

We are already conjuring up other traverses to do around the country so it will be exciting running with this crew.  Just a great bunch of guys running together, and enjoying what God has created all day!  What could be better!

Here are some pics.

Thanks again for the support for 100 by 100 everyone!

$100.00 donated to the Shiley - Marcos Disease Research Center on 4/17/17

#35 (Training) Ultra Marathon Completed!

Since I'm training for a hard 50 miler coming up, I needed to run one last good long run.  And, why not make it an ultra since I'll be out there for 7 hours!  Well, that's what I did yesterday and came up with a 28 mile long ultra run.  It counts as an Ultra!  Yes!

I ran up Leeds canyon in Leeds, Utah on a beautiful 73 degree day.  The route I took was just a gravel road going up to the highest point and back.  Since it was only 2 miles up to the pass, I would run down to where I started - 7 times!  It wasn't as bad as it sounds - it's a beautiful canyon so I had great views the entire time.  I got a good amount of elevation training in which turned out to be like 5400 ft. of gain.  So, I'm happy overall.

Lori and Shady came to greet me when I was nearing 20 miles so that really helped my spirits.  Thank you so much Lor!  I'm good and tired now and now (hopefully) prepared for my 50 miler and next is Bryce Canyon Traverse!  Yes!

$100.00 Donated to Shiley Marcos Alzheimer's Disease Research Center 4/3/17

Here are some pics!

Just Added! 6 old ultra (training runs) not ever counted! Why not!

Since this is my blog and since this is REALLY about spreading the word on the devastating disease of Alzheimer's, I've decided now to add my old training run ultra marathon runs to my total to
100 by 100.  Most of these runs were in preparation for 50 mile or 100 mile actual "races.

So, ever since 2011 when I first started running ultra marathons, I have run 6 ultra marathons on my own in preparation for races.

An "ultra marathon" is defined as: any footrace that is longer than the traditional marathon length of 26.2 miles)  I view that these 6 runs I did on my own would qualify to be included in the
100 by 100 count since they are all over 26.2 miles.  All runs will be included from now on - whether they are actual "races" I sign up for, or just long runs over the traditional marathon length.

These runs are:

4/20/12  -  26.46  Miles  -  5:09 hrs  -   (Prep for Ice Age 50 Miler)
4/20/13  -  27.58  Miles  -  5:33 hrs  -   (Prep for 100K High Sierra)
4/27/13  -  29.61  Miles  -  6:03 hrs  -   (Prep for 100K High Sierra)
9/14/13  -  27.18  Miles  -  5:03 hrs  -   (Prep for Dick Collins Firetrails 50)
9/21/13  -  26.83  Miles  -  5:04 hrs  -  (Prep for Dick Collins Firetrails 50)
7/27/14  -  30.13  Miles  -  7:25 hrs  -  (Prep for Lean Horse 100 Mile)

I now have been updated to a total of 34 Ultra Marathons run since 2011.

Thank you all for your continued support in 100 by 100!


$600.00 Donated to the Shiley Marcos Alzheimer's Disease Research Center  3/28/17

100 by 100 Red Mountain 55K Trail Race!

I am proud to announce the completion of 100 by 100's,  28th Ultra Marathon.  Held in the desert mountain trails of St. George, Utah, the 34 mile run is now written in the books!  Designed in a "clover leaf"pattern, the course is set up real easy for the trail runner to check back into the only aid station and his or her drop bag every 6 miles or so.  It is very convenient for the runner.  Beautiful desert mountain views were constant all day and we had a day in the 70's with a nice breeze.  Perfect conditions!

My particular run had some trials and tribulations that were mainly centered around constant on and off cramping in my calves and inner thighs almost all day!  It got a little old after while, but the body gets used to it and you do what you half to do to ease it during the run.  I survived and did a reasonable good job of trying to think of positive things and staying happy.  My time was 20 minutes slower than last year due to the cramping, I believe.  (8:14)  I also did my share of tripping and falling!  Geeez!  I got bloody knees and hands - the sign of a true ultra runner!

Lori and Shady met me on the course and ran with me for awhile about 27 miles into the race which really helped my attitude and made me happy.  Lori also met me about 32 miles into it also and we ran it home to the finish line.  The course had only about 4500 feet of elevation gain, but it sure felt like a lot more because of the constant up and down.

We had a great time and dinner with folks and friends from the St. George Running Center at Ricardo's.  Great conversation too!  I met Cory Reese (writer for Ultra Running Magazine) again and Hayden Hawks who officially set the course record.   Hayden is a rising star in the ultra world now setting records all over the place!  I'm very excited to see him do well in the future.

Well here are some pictures of the great day.  Thank you all for your support of 100 by 100 and Alzheimer's!

$100.00  Donated 3/5/17

 an end to a perfect day!

 Ricardo's dinner!