day 23- rough start

The best thing I can say about day 23 is it's over.  I started to feel bad yesterday about 2:30 or 3 o'clock after the run and got progressively worse until I went to bed about 8:30.  My stomach was very upset, I didn't really feel like puking, but if given some money probably could have produced something.  This morning at breakfast I still didn't have an appetite but forced down a little breakfast.  We made the starting line by about 7:10 and Mike and I walked for the 1st 20 minutes or so.  My left ankle was still sore from the tendonitis, but my lower back was better from the strain yesterday.  We started to run and Jen was out ahead of us by a little over a mile.  Our 1st 8 miles was south on US-89 and then a left on 294.  I made it to the van while jen was still there and tried to eat a muffin.  my stomach still felt off, but was the same walking or running.  I was tired most of the day and my stomach didn't want anything in it most of the day.  I think that I ate a muffin, yogurt, bananna, and a gatorade all day.  Heidi gave me a ginger candy about 10:30 or 11 which helped and around noon my stomach was feeling better, but I still felt sluggish.  During this whole time my plan was to try and plod along until noon- 5 hours in, and then walk whatever was left.   At noon with about 18 miles left I changed plans and ran 10 min/walked 5.  That continued to the finish.  All day long Jen and I battled back and forth, never more than 0.5 miles apart and always at the aid stations together.  If it wasn't for her being close I don't think that I would have finished as well as I did today.  This morning my plan was for a 12 hour day, with her pushing me and Margaret there for aid it turned into an 8 hour day.

Day 17

 Arlee, MT

It was a beautiful sunny day today.  Montana 200 is a long road to say the least.  We were on it all day today, only one turn at mile 30, a right to merge onto US 93/MT-200.  Bright with a cool breeze the mountains continued on, in the distance they were still heavily covered with snow.  I backed off a little today, after a fast day yesterday there is no need to push hard so early in the run, but I ran an even steady pace and felt comfortable all day.  Jen was walking a lot today, Mike was running well.  We met a couple on MT 200 when we were crewing for Jen who gave us some Cinnamon Bear Jerky.  It didn’t taste too bad.  We are staying in Missoula tonight and then Lincoln tomorrow.

Late Entry Day 16

Today was awesome.  I woke up last night about 1 am with Adam snoring again, not a big deal.  I put in some ear plugs and that helped the noise.  My right ankle was extremely painful; I probably had the most pain I have had since it began swelling, probably from all the downhill yesterday.  I finally got back to sleep and woke up this morning with my left ankle and hamstring felt much better and the right ankle was much better after the compression hose all night.  Tape and compression hose on both legs, 3 English muffins with peanut butter and 3 donuts later we were ready to run.  The morning started cool about 45 degrees and very foggy.  The 1^st 90 minutes was on a frontage road near I-90.  Near mile 6 I dropped my jacket, turned east and ran up old Mullen road into the Lolo national forest.  The sun broke the fog and the mountains were all around me.  I was feeling good and met Adam 11.5 miles in.  We turned on to some single track trail and headed down into the forest but I didn’t get to see any wildlife.  We got back to old Mullen road and into St. Regis around mile 19.  The legs were feeling good and turning over well without any pain at all.  Just a little tiredness from the climbing yesterday.  Next we turned down Montana 135 and headed down the Clark Fork River next to the train tracks.  The road seemed as though it would never end.  There were great views around every turn but after about 35 miles I just wanted to finish.  The sun was out and it was getting a little warm, only about 70 but no breeze.  Nothing compared to what we will encounter soon.  I turned in a time of 6:41 for the day without any pain. I got home iced the legs and ate a big dinner.  Hopefully the worst of the swelling and injuries are behind me. 

A long time

I just looked at the blog and realized that its been a long time since I posted anything.  The last few days have been getting better.  Everyone is getting stronger and their injuries are improving.  My hamstring actually feels better when i am running, although I am now taping both ankles but I have been able to run that way.  I think I should tape them for another week or so and hopefully they are back to normal.  Adam got in to Spokane on the 9th and crewed yesterday and today with out to many problems, only one late aid station arrival. 
The run on june 9th was pretty miserable, we ended up doing about 38 miles on rough loose rocky trail.  it was also about 55 and rainy.  It's done and the weather is now much better. 


Today was a big day, we crossed  into Idaho.

The scenery was amazing, we went from this...

To this...

Tough to say which is better.

Tomorrow is going to be a great day.  a little longer than we have been going-44 miles, but we start right outside the hotel, the temps are in the 70's and we are on the same trail all day long which means no turns and no extra miles. 

a mixed day

I thought today was going to be an easy one.  only 30 miles, out of the mountains and clear skys to start sounded pretty good.  It was windy again but from the west so it pushed us all day long. 

the start lead us through central washington university and then back on to the JWPT.  10 more miles along the trail with great views of the kittitas valley and the stuart range.  we were even treated to a view of mt rainier.



the sun came out and it really warmed up, maybe in to the upper 60's which is the warmest its been since we started.  Marty helped again today, but i didnt need to much, 2 water bottles, a PBJ and 1/2 a cookie.  the road section started about mile 10 and the hill started about mile 19.  to be more correct the downhill started around mile 19.  with the combination of sun, wind at your back and a nice 11 mile down hill section should spell a FAST finish.  but my ankle was acting up, it started a few days ago and has been off and on since then.  early today it was nice and stable, a little painful but stable.  during the down hill section it really started to act up and began to hurt more and more.  the last 2 miles were pretty rough with the combo of down hill and gusting winds.  During the last section i thought a lot about the start last week and all the weather we have run through, the scenery, the bear encounter, and running over the snoqualamie pass.  its been a busy week and quite an experience.  I hope my ankle turns around and then next few days go by with everyone healthy and happy.

Kittitas Valley

Me about mile 11

Week one is complete.  We had 4 starters and 3 finishers for the first week.
the mileage was close to 260, increasing later in the run. 
today was cool and very windy with gusts from the west at about 25mph a very nice tailwind.
Jen has a vastis medialis that is bothering her,  i hope the ice and NSAIDS kick in and she is feeling better for tomorrow.
Today was the first day without katie, i think its going to be a long few weeks without her, but marty stepped up and did a great job today.
now its time to sleep in the van, a short day tomorrow and a longer post to follow.

Feeling good.

Found pictures!

Weekly diary of foot fotos

Week one:

more to come...