Monday, December 19, 2011
Monday, December 12, 2011
Alternate Chili Run Race Recap
Factor out kids, wife, family, and friends and there is nothing I enjoy more than running in the woods with my dog. Saturday morning at Wyandotte County Park in Kansas City, Kansas was nearly the perfect morning for me. All that was missing for me was the dog aspect of this equation but that is not because I lack for the dog. Charlotte is going to be a formidable trail companion but due to her age and occasional lack of well developed coordination I left her home this time.
The aptly named, "Alternate Chili Run" takes place once a year on the same day as the "Chili Run". MARA (Mid-America Running Association) is the organization that puts on the Chili Run to raise money, take running shoe donations, and further the growth of running and healthy lifestyles in the Midwest, a laudable goal to say the least. The Trail Nerds, a local group of avid trail runners and maintainers hosts a cornucopia of races each year. I try my hand at the 50K's with numerous DNF's from these as badges of honor. I have three DNF's in my racing career all at the hands of Bad Ben and his wicked trail runs. I love it. Here is a snipet from the website with FAQ's about this "run".
How much is the run?
$5, which the Trail Nerds will donate to ERTA, a trail-building organization.
Why aren't there bib numbers?
Because it's a fun run not a race.
Where does this start?In parking lot.
Is it timed?No
How will I know where I'm going?
You won't so you better follow someone who does.
The last line is the best but so true. Finally, the last words of wisdom Bad Ben hands out before the run starts deals with pacing. He asks how many people haven't ran out here before. Numerous hands go up. He then proceeds to tell them that if they run a seven minute mile for a half marathon be prepared to run a nine minute mile and if they can pull that off, that's really good. You can hear the trail virgins exchanging remarks like this.
"Nine minute mile is good? No way man I can smoke that."
"Add two minutes to my pace and that is good, man we will be going slow."
Oh wait and see, just wait and see.
As we all started out on a picturesque morning, twenty degrees, clear blue sky, slight breeze, perfect running weather two gentlemen were out in front of me. I was amazed that I was so close to the front. While this is just a "run" it is hard for anyone to not "race" just a little. After about two minutes one guy had already fallen back so it was just one in front. One minute later after rounding a sharp downhill turn he asked me if I have ran out here before. This is like my home when it comes to running so I said yep and he asked me to lead. Three minutes in and I'm out in front. This is a mixed blessing, my intention was to run hard but not all out. Now I found myself pacing a newcomer to this trail and didn't want to let him down. We screamed around that ten mile loop. I blasted down the hills and tried to use that momentum to get up the other side. This is partially impossible due to the aggressive nature of the downhill and the wicked slope of the uphill.
The most enjoyable part of the whole run was the fact that if this guy would have been by himself he would have been lost. It's nice to be counted on and this trail and it's light marking make it nearly unfollowable if it's your first time. There is one section called Fester's Wanderer (it was created by a dog, I'm serious) that you can literally get lost ten yards in; it's fantastic. We whipped around that section and managed to come out blazing. At last we made it to the final three hill section that just flat out kicks your ass and I had to walk about 20 yards at the top, the guy behind me says to me, "thank God this is killing me."
The whole time I was afraid I would let him down by not going fast enough and he was secretly wishing I would slow up. Sometimes a simple, "how are you feeling" would do wonders. As we rounded the top of the final hill you could see the rows of cars parked at our start shelter.
"That's a welcome sight," says the young man behind me.
"Indeed."
I managed a 1:28:01 for a ten mile loop which is my fastest loop ever. I hopped in my car, rode home, and had a fantastic rest of my day. The rewards of hard work for me are as simple as sitting on my couch and playing with the kids. Relaxing feels so much better after a hard race, excuse me, hard run.
The aptly named, "Alternate Chili Run" takes place once a year on the same day as the "Chili Run". MARA (Mid-America Running Association) is the organization that puts on the Chili Run to raise money, take running shoe donations, and further the growth of running and healthy lifestyles in the Midwest, a laudable goal to say the least. The Trail Nerds, a local group of avid trail runners and maintainers hosts a cornucopia of races each year. I try my hand at the 50K's with numerous DNF's from these as badges of honor. I have three DNF's in my racing career all at the hands of Bad Ben and his wicked trail runs. I love it. Here is a snipet from the website with FAQ's about this "run".
How much is the run?
$5, which the Trail Nerds will donate to ERTA, a trail-building organization.
Why aren't there bib numbers?
Because it's a fun run not a race.
Where does this start?In parking lot.
Is it timed?No
How will I know where I'm going?
You won't so you better follow someone who does.
The last line is the best but so true. Finally, the last words of wisdom Bad Ben hands out before the run starts deals with pacing. He asks how many people haven't ran out here before. Numerous hands go up. He then proceeds to tell them that if they run a seven minute mile for a half marathon be prepared to run a nine minute mile and if they can pull that off, that's really good. You can hear the trail virgins exchanging remarks like this.
"Nine minute mile is good? No way man I can smoke that."
"Add two minutes to my pace and that is good, man we will be going slow."
Oh wait and see, just wait and see.
As we all started out on a picturesque morning, twenty degrees, clear blue sky, slight breeze, perfect running weather two gentlemen were out in front of me. I was amazed that I was so close to the front. While this is just a "run" it is hard for anyone to not "race" just a little. After about two minutes one guy had already fallen back so it was just one in front. One minute later after rounding a sharp downhill turn he asked me if I have ran out here before. This is like my home when it comes to running so I said yep and he asked me to lead. Three minutes in and I'm out in front. This is a mixed blessing, my intention was to run hard but not all out. Now I found myself pacing a newcomer to this trail and didn't want to let him down. We screamed around that ten mile loop. I blasted down the hills and tried to use that momentum to get up the other side. This is partially impossible due to the aggressive nature of the downhill and the wicked slope of the uphill.
The whole time I was afraid I would let him down by not going fast enough and he was secretly wishing I would slow up. Sometimes a simple, "how are you feeling" would do wonders. As we rounded the top of the final hill you could see the rows of cars parked at our start shelter.
"That's a welcome sight," says the young man behind me.
"Indeed."
I managed a 1:28:01 for a ten mile loop which is my fastest loop ever. I hopped in my car, rode home, and had a fantastic rest of my day. The rewards of hard work for me are as simple as sitting on my couch and playing with the kids. Relaxing feels so much better after a hard race, excuse me, hard run.
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Roller Skating: Feels Like 1986
Kansas City is like a giant amoeba spread out over a vast distance spilling it's shape in every direction. In those interesting shapes lay interesting cities. One of those cities has an amazing new slogan, "wake up on the right side...Riverside." When I first saw the billboard plastered in front of the Broadway Bridge headed to the Northland in Kansas City I laughed out loud.
You see Riverside as a bit of a reputation as a dichotomy in and of itself. You have a tremendous tax base consisting mainly of the Argosy Casino which allows for no property tax, fantastic public works, and a sliver of high income homes and businesses. On the other hand you have tremendous poverty, a higher crime rate than the surrounding area, the firework stand epicenter of Kansas City, and Red X. For more on the fireworks see my previous post Fireworks, Riverside, and Second Degree Burns
What Riverside also has is the River City Roll Skate Center a roller staking rink that is stuck in 1986 but making great memories in 2011. For the past four months my oldest daughter has been guilting me regularly to let you go the PTA skate party they host once a month. She has been unable to go because she has soccer practice on Wednesday nights and when you make a commitment you stick to it (thanks Pujols). Last night was the first time that she was able to go this year and we had a blast. Come to find out my youngest thinks skating is pretty badass too. She killed it in her Fisher Price skates and only came to say hello when she wanted something to drink. The fiercely independent nature of my kids always astounds me when they try something new and don't want any help.
From the carpet, to the arcade games, to the snack bar, skate rental, black lights, backward skate, limbo, dice game, and the dirty derby roller team smoking outside waiting for the kids to leave, it was like I was right back home. The only difference is the music which is pop hits from today. For nine bucks both girls were able to skate for two hours and get exhausted. I would certainly recommend the local rink for a good time.
You see Riverside as a bit of a reputation as a dichotomy in and of itself. You have a tremendous tax base consisting mainly of the Argosy Casino which allows for no property tax, fantastic public works, and a sliver of high income homes and businesses. On the other hand you have tremendous poverty, a higher crime rate than the surrounding area, the firework stand epicenter of Kansas City, and Red X. For more on the fireworks see my previous post Fireworks, Riverside, and Second Degree Burns
What Riverside also has is the River City Roll Skate Center a roller staking rink that is stuck in 1986 but making great memories in 2011. For the past four months my oldest daughter has been guilting me regularly to let you go the PTA skate party they host once a month. She has been unable to go because she has soccer practice on Wednesday nights and when you make a commitment you stick to it (thanks Pujols). Last night was the first time that she was able to go this year and we had a blast. Come to find out my youngest thinks skating is pretty badass too. She killed it in her Fisher Price skates and only came to say hello when she wanted something to drink. The fiercely independent nature of my kids always astounds me when they try something new and don't want any help.
From the carpet, to the arcade games, to the snack bar, skate rental, black lights, backward skate, limbo, dice game, and the dirty derby roller team smoking outside waiting for the kids to leave, it was like I was right back home. The only difference is the music which is pop hits from today. For nine bucks both girls were able to skate for two hours and get exhausted. I would certainly recommend the local rink for a good time.
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