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.
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