Well. we're less than ten days away from the Black Dog 50 Mile Fun Run so per Joel's suggestion I thought I should give you all an update and maybe some specifics for the weekend.
What: I just covered that.
When: Saturday, October 3rd
Where: Luck, WI
This is probably where I should be more specific. We'll meet at Cafe Wren on the North edge of Luck at 6:30am and plan to leave there no later than 7:00am so we can carpool to Timberland Hills Ski Area where we'll start our day.
Everyone should plan to bring your own supplies for the day. This should include the standard stuff like food, bottles, stuff to mix into your water, blister kit, etc, etc. Don't forget your socks or you'll have to wear my stinky synthetic Injinji socks.
I'll be your roving aid station so please have your gear in some sort of easy to transport container so I can load it and unload it at each aid station.
How many aid stations? how many do you want? There are trailheads nearly every 3 miles but that's a little crazy to have aid stations that often so let's plan on something more like every 6 to 10 miles.
I would also appreciate it if you would each bring a few gallons of water or whatever you think you might consume throughout the day. I can't find my ten gallon jug so we'll need to cart water in smaller containers and it would help my water supply in my well if I don't have to fill up enough water jugs for everyone coming.
Oh, you might think about bringing a light as well. We just might be out after dark and it does get dark fast in the woods.
Once we're done running everyone is welcome to join us at my house which is just a few miles from Cafe Wren. We'll have some basic food there for you all....meat and potatoes. BYOB if you want some beer.
Did I forget anything? Probably. Just let me know and I'll probably answer your questions.
Can't wait to see you all!
9.24.2009
9.05.2009
My Favorite Season!
Well, it's that time of year again. The leaves are changing to yellow, soon to be orange. The nights are getting cool, most of the bugs have gone. We haven't found a tick in weeks! I bought my deer hunting license a few days ago and the fall turkey season will begin in just a few more weeks.
But with all those changes, that's not really the time of year I'm talking about. What I'm suggesting is that it's time for the 4th annual 50 mile social run up here in the woods of Northwest Wisconsin. The first year was actually a 40 mile run to celebrate my 40th birthday. That first year my mother and 15 year old nephew joined me along with Joel and Brian. There were also about 8 others that stopped by and ran short sections throughout the day. The second year was one to remember! It was the first time we bumped it to 50 miles and Joel was the only one to show up for what turned out to be a very wet day! It rained virtually every step of the day and at one point it rained so hard that the trail was shin deep in water and had turned into a temporary stream. At one trailhead we came out of the woods wearing very heavy mud boots. Fortunately the next section was nice tall, very wet grass that cleaned the mud off, giving us our shoes back. Last year was a big growth year for the run. We had Joel (of course!), Steve G., Mitch, Molly, and....crap! I can't remember his name! There was this really nice young man that Joel brought along. He had never run more than a couple miles at a shot and he did great! And last but far from least CJBH! We'll just call him Jake. Or Chris. I don't know. Anyway, he was a stellar crew! He showed up at every trailhead and provided entertainment and fuel refills. So, I think that's the crew from last year. Did I miss anyone? Probably. Sorry if I did.
Each year I've changed the name of the run. Year one was 40 on Ice since we ran it in mid-November. This was also during the deer bow hunting season so I made everyone where bright orange. Year two was Premium 50. I sort of stole a logo from a beer company that shall remained un-named...sort of. Last year was PHOUR 50 Mile Fun Run. If I remember correctly it was Psychiatric Hospital for the Obsessed Ultra Runner. I had hoped to have shirts made for everyone each year but have had neither time or money to get the job done.
This year? Time certainly is at a premium. I've taken a job in Bloomington, MN so I am now driving two hours each way to work. This makes for at least 20 hours a week of driving along with at least 40 hours of work. Since I was raised a work-a-holic I rarely cut it off at 40 hours of work. It's a problem I know. I'll probably be entering a 12 step program for it sometime soon. Maybe.
Given my new job and the time commitment that has required I have not really run since we all ran together last fall. Needless to say I will not be running with you all this year. Last year our selfless, dear friend Chris nominated himself as our crew. This year, the selfish Pete will be your crew. I'd like to say I'm doing it for your benefit but the reality is that it's more of a self-preservation issue.
So, what shall we call it this year? I think I knew this before we even began running last year. My dog had just been diagnosed with cancer and was about the only thing I could think about. If you read this blog then you know he died in March so this year we'll run in honor of Tua. Maybe that's why I crew this year. To honor the totally selfless love you receive from a dog. I'll do my best to take care of each of you as you run on what I believe to be some of the best trails in the country at the absolute best time of the year. This year we'll run the Black Dog 50 on Saturday, October 3rd. I'd guess that once again we'll be in the midst of peak fall colors. The day will be crisp and hopefully dry. We will leave from our ending point at Cafe Wren in Luck, WI no later than 6:30 so we can be at our starting point by 7:00. Everyone that runs is responsible for their own dietary needs and they should be placed in some sort of easy to organize container so I can easily load and unload them at each aid station. We have the ability to have an aid station nearly every 3 miles but I find this tends to slow the day down so I'll likely meet you all every other trailhead. Oh, I almost forgot...I don't do any work to mark the trail beyond what the Ice Age Trail Foundation does. I don't go through and clear anything, although it is a well maintained trail. The trail is marked with yellow blazes on trees along with arrows at significant turns. It is possible to get lost so I suppose that's why we've always run as a group. If all goes well there will be at least one runner that's run the route before so they'll act as sort of a tour guide. There are a few short sections of gravel road and a few with pavement. The far majority of the trail is amazing, rolling singletrack through the woods that should be in perfect fall colors. You'll likely spend the day getting rained on my orange and yellow leaves bathed in sunshine.
One last thing....I have a surprise for everyone this year! I'm not going to tell you what it is but I will say that it's something special and you'll be some of the very first people to experience it. I promise it will be one of the highlights of the day! It will come to you at a time when you're feeling low and need something to give you that extra boost to get you through to the end. This is the one reason I wish I was running with you...so I can be there to see your reactions.
So this leaves us with RSVP's. Interested? Send me an e-mail (grimeyrunner@gmail.com) with your contact info and maybe a list of questions you might have. Everyone is welcome, whether you want to run the entire 50 or just sections. This run is whatever you want to make of it. It's not been raced, it's only been casual to this point. At some point I'm sure it will be run fast but until then it should be viewed as a day on the trail with some friends.
We'll gather for some dinner and a few beers at a local restaurant once we're done or depending on what everyone wants to do with their weekends, we can head to my house for a nice big fire and grill some venison or whatever else you might like. If you don't want to drive that night there's plenty of room for everyone to camp on my property and there's always room in the house for a few bodies to pass out.
I hope to see you there for a beautiful day in the woods while they show us all their glory. In my opinion gatherings like this are what trail running is about.
But with all those changes, that's not really the time of year I'm talking about. What I'm suggesting is that it's time for the 4th annual 50 mile social run up here in the woods of Northwest Wisconsin. The first year was actually a 40 mile run to celebrate my 40th birthday. That first year my mother and 15 year old nephew joined me along with Joel and Brian. There were also about 8 others that stopped by and ran short sections throughout the day. The second year was one to remember! It was the first time we bumped it to 50 miles and Joel was the only one to show up for what turned out to be a very wet day! It rained virtually every step of the day and at one point it rained so hard that the trail was shin deep in water and had turned into a temporary stream. At one trailhead we came out of the woods wearing very heavy mud boots. Fortunately the next section was nice tall, very wet grass that cleaned the mud off, giving us our shoes back. Last year was a big growth year for the run. We had Joel (of course!), Steve G., Mitch, Molly, and....crap! I can't remember his name! There was this really nice young man that Joel brought along. He had never run more than a couple miles at a shot and he did great! And last but far from least CJBH! We'll just call him Jake. Or Chris. I don't know. Anyway, he was a stellar crew! He showed up at every trailhead and provided entertainment and fuel refills. So, I think that's the crew from last year. Did I miss anyone? Probably. Sorry if I did.
Each year I've changed the name of the run. Year one was 40 on Ice since we ran it in mid-November. This was also during the deer bow hunting season so I made everyone where bright orange. Year two was Premium 50. I sort of stole a logo from a beer company that shall remained un-named...sort of. Last year was PHOUR 50 Mile Fun Run. If I remember correctly it was Psychiatric Hospital for the Obsessed Ultra Runner. I had hoped to have shirts made for everyone each year but have had neither time or money to get the job done.
This year? Time certainly is at a premium. I've taken a job in Bloomington, MN so I am now driving two hours each way to work. This makes for at least 20 hours a week of driving along with at least 40 hours of work. Since I was raised a work-a-holic I rarely cut it off at 40 hours of work. It's a problem I know. I'll probably be entering a 12 step program for it sometime soon. Maybe.
Given my new job and the time commitment that has required I have not really run since we all ran together last fall. Needless to say I will not be running with you all this year. Last year our selfless, dear friend Chris nominated himself as our crew. This year, the selfish Pete will be your crew. I'd like to say I'm doing it for your benefit but the reality is that it's more of a self-preservation issue.
So, what shall we call it this year? I think I knew this before we even began running last year. My dog had just been diagnosed with cancer and was about the only thing I could think about. If you read this blog then you know he died in March so this year we'll run in honor of Tua. Maybe that's why I crew this year. To honor the totally selfless love you receive from a dog. I'll do my best to take care of each of you as you run on what I believe to be some of the best trails in the country at the absolute best time of the year. This year we'll run the Black Dog 50 on Saturday, October 3rd. I'd guess that once again we'll be in the midst of peak fall colors. The day will be crisp and hopefully dry. We will leave from our ending point at Cafe Wren in Luck, WI no later than 6:30 so we can be at our starting point by 7:00. Everyone that runs is responsible for their own dietary needs and they should be placed in some sort of easy to organize container so I can easily load and unload them at each aid station. We have the ability to have an aid station nearly every 3 miles but I find this tends to slow the day down so I'll likely meet you all every other trailhead. Oh, I almost forgot...I don't do any work to mark the trail beyond what the Ice Age Trail Foundation does. I don't go through and clear anything, although it is a well maintained trail. The trail is marked with yellow blazes on trees along with arrows at significant turns. It is possible to get lost so I suppose that's why we've always run as a group. If all goes well there will be at least one runner that's run the route before so they'll act as sort of a tour guide. There are a few short sections of gravel road and a few with pavement. The far majority of the trail is amazing, rolling singletrack through the woods that should be in perfect fall colors. You'll likely spend the day getting rained on my orange and yellow leaves bathed in sunshine.
One last thing....I have a surprise for everyone this year! I'm not going to tell you what it is but I will say that it's something special and you'll be some of the very first people to experience it. I promise it will be one of the highlights of the day! It will come to you at a time when you're feeling low and need something to give you that extra boost to get you through to the end. This is the one reason I wish I was running with you...so I can be there to see your reactions.
So this leaves us with RSVP's. Interested? Send me an e-mail (grimeyrunner@gmail.com) with your contact info and maybe a list of questions you might have. Everyone is welcome, whether you want to run the entire 50 or just sections. This run is whatever you want to make of it. It's not been raced, it's only been casual to this point. At some point I'm sure it will be run fast but until then it should be viewed as a day on the trail with some friends.
We'll gather for some dinner and a few beers at a local restaurant once we're done or depending on what everyone wants to do with their weekends, we can head to my house for a nice big fire and grill some venison or whatever else you might like. If you don't want to drive that night there's plenty of room for everyone to camp on my property and there's always room in the house for a few bodies to pass out.
I hope to see you there for a beautiful day in the woods while they show us all their glory. In my opinion gatherings like this are what trail running is about.
7.12.2009
OUCH!
I'm sure it won't come as a surprise to anyone but eight months off from running or riding is not a good idea. I have run and ridden a few times since last fall. A couple of them have even been at altitude...whatever that's worth. So this past week I decided it was finally time to get serious about my health again. Sunday and Monday I did a short run (3 miles) each day. I got blisters. Apparently my heels are not used to being in shoes after a few months of nothing but sandals. Since the blister on my right heel prevented me from running and I didn't want to take time off after only two days I got the road bike out and rode 20 miles on Tuesday and Wednesday. Thursday was dinner with some friends so no running or riding just beer and venison. Friday and Saturday I managed shoes again so I went back to my 3 mile runs. I'll get in another 20 miles on the bike tonight and then finish cleaning the house before Jen gets home from her week in Sweden.
I've got a lot of work to do. My speed is decent for so early (8.5 min./mile) and I'm having no soreness to speak of...other than the blisters. I LOVE being back on the bike! I LOVE the hills! The running feels good too but there's something about the smooth rolling speed of the bike that keeps me coming back.
I start my new job tomorrow so I have no idea what my schedule will be for the week. Once I get past this first week I should be able to get in a run every day at lunch. My office sits right on the back side of Hyland Lake Park Reserve so all I have to do is head across the parking lot and onto the trails...no excuses!
Oh, one last thing...so far this year I've collected 50 ticks while running. These are only my running ticks. If I counted the ones I collected during 5 days of turkey hunting I'd probably be somewhere closer to 200.
I've got a lot of work to do. My speed is decent for so early (8.5 min./mile) and I'm having no soreness to speak of...other than the blisters. I LOVE being back on the bike! I LOVE the hills! The running feels good too but there's something about the smooth rolling speed of the bike that keeps me coming back.
I start my new job tomorrow so I have no idea what my schedule will be for the week. Once I get past this first week I should be able to get in a run every day at lunch. My office sits right on the back side of Hyland Lake Park Reserve so all I have to do is head across the parking lot and onto the trails...no excuses!
Oh, one last thing...so far this year I've collected 50 ticks while running. These are only my running ticks. If I counted the ones I collected during 5 days of turkey hunting I'd probably be somewhere closer to 200.
7.01.2009
oops. sorry.
Pure neglect. I have no other excuse.
It is pretty bad to leave that last, sort of depressing post up for so long. It makes it look like I'm that depressed about Tua. It was rough but not that rough. Well, ok maybe it was but I still didn't need to leave that up for so long.
That's about all I've got for you right now. I'm not running but I'm feeling like I'm about to start again. I need to start again. At least that's what my wife says. Apparently I become sort of an ass if I don't exercise. I start a new job in a couple weeks that will allow me to run at lunch. I should try to get going before then but unsure if I will.
Ok, that's really all for now.
I'm sure as I begin running I'll be back to post something of value,
Hope you're all well.
It is pretty bad to leave that last, sort of depressing post up for so long. It makes it look like I'm that depressed about Tua. It was rough but not that rough. Well, ok maybe it was but I still didn't need to leave that up for so long.
That's about all I've got for you right now. I'm not running but I'm feeling like I'm about to start again. I need to start again. At least that's what my wife says. Apparently I become sort of an ass if I don't exercise. I start a new job in a couple weeks that will allow me to run at lunch. I should try to get going before then but unsure if I will.
Ok, that's really all for now.
I'm sure as I begin running I'll be back to post something of value,
Hope you're all well.
3.06.2009
Tua
About 13 years ago while at work one day some friends showed up with a stray dog they had found. The day before they had seen him get rolled under a truck as he darted into traffic in a panic. He was this big black fuzzy thing that was friendly yet timid. Fast movement and loud noise put him in a panic. When they introduced us and asked if I had any interest in taking him I knew immediately I did. I was in no position to be taking a dog and really had no interest prior to this moment in having the responsibility. But the moment I met Tua I absolutely knew I wanted to get to know this wise old soul. I saw something in those scared yet trusting brown eyes. I needed him in my life. I knew there were things he could teach me. I knew he needed someone he could trust.
Since that time he has come to work with me nearly every day. He's traveled with us on climbing and hiking trips all over the country and into Canada. Even while wearing his bright green collar he's been mistaken for a wolf and a bear by strangers on the trail. Everyone has an opinion as to what he his. We call him Black Dog. He understands English. He knows when we spell t-r-e-a-t. He LOVES the ball. He likes to sniff the air that comes out of a new can of tennis balls as it's opened. He's a great judge of character so when he barks at someone, I know to pay attention. He can sound and look mean if he wants but is actually a big wuss. (Don't tell anyone)
He's a great companion in the woods. We've come to know each other well. He'll run with me for miles day after day. He's helped me find other people's lost dogs. He knows things. A few years ago one of our neighbors told me one of there dogs had gone missing a few days earlier and they feared it had been killed by something. I took Tua out and let him lead the way on a walk of their property. After about an hour I noticed he was curious about something ahead of us so I told him to go get it. He led me to a tree up ahead. When I got there he looked concerned about what he had found. I looked around the tree and all I could see was the headless body of a dog. As I got closer I realized it wasn't dead. Then I realized the dog had gone in a hole in the base of the tree while chasing something and had gotten stuck. It was less than a hundred yards from it's home but couldn't get out. Had Tua not found her she would have slowly died within sight of her home. A few weeks later our other neighbor had her two miniature Pincers go missing on a warm winter day. That night we were supposed to get sub-zero temps and a snowstorm. Tua and I went out and spent three hours following little footprints in the snow. We finally came to an open area and he immediately wanted to head for the opposite side. I continued to follow the ever-wandering footprints and eventually caught up with Tua who had already found the two dogs hiding behind a large snowdrift. The three of them became fast friends on the two mile walk home.
Tua is good friends with our cats as well. They occasionally chase his wagging tail and he always looks ashamed when he discovers we're watching.
I've only met a couple of people that didn't like him and frankly, I think they weren't very likable themselves. I've never met another animal that didn't like him. In the fall he'll lay absolutely still on the porch and watch the turkeys walk through the yard. He eventually becomes too curious and needs to go say hello. Turkeys don't want to say hello to dogs.
Today I took Tua for a long walk in the woods. It was just the two of us. He trotted around, ate snow and deer poop. I wish I could get him to stop eating deer poop. He laid in the sun and sniffed the breeze. I sat in the sun and enjoyed watching him.
Two months ago we learned that Tua has cancer. In the past three weeks the tumor in his mouth has become so large that he can no longer eat or drink without our help. Three nights ago he and I were hanging out after Jen and Molly had gone to bed, I looked at him and knew immediately that his time had come. I knew it was coming soon but could tell that he wasn't ready yet. I now think he wasn't ready because he knew I wasn't. I sat with him for an hour and cried until he got fed-up and told me we needed to go be with Jen and Molly in bed. The next day he began to refuse food and water. He now sleeps much of the day and is restless at night. Tomorrow Jen and Molly will join us and we'll go out for one last walk as a family. In the late afternoon our vet will come to the house and this life will be over for Tua. We'll keep the other pets in the house. This isn't something they need to witness. Tua will probably lay in his favorite spot on the porch where he can feel the sun and wind and look over the entire property. I'll hold him, stroke his head gently and be sure he can look me in the eyes. I'll watch the light fade from those kind, gentle brown eyes and in a matter of seconds he'll be gone.
There's something to be said for friends that can't speak. When there are no words we're forced to pay attention to more subtle things. There's a bond that develops that I doubt would be possible otherwise. Words serve as distraction from what is truly going on. They can be used to hide behind. They can be used to hurt. Silence is intimate and therefore frightening for most. My best friends are the ones I can sit with quietly and just be. Tua taught me that.
Since that time he has come to work with me nearly every day. He's traveled with us on climbing and hiking trips all over the country and into Canada. Even while wearing his bright green collar he's been mistaken for a wolf and a bear by strangers on the trail. Everyone has an opinion as to what he his. We call him Black Dog. He understands English. He knows when we spell t-r-e-a-t. He LOVES the ball. He likes to sniff the air that comes out of a new can of tennis balls as it's opened. He's a great judge of character so when he barks at someone, I know to pay attention. He can sound and look mean if he wants but is actually a big wuss. (Don't tell anyone)
He's a great companion in the woods. We've come to know each other well. He'll run with me for miles day after day. He's helped me find other people's lost dogs. He knows things. A few years ago one of our neighbors told me one of there dogs had gone missing a few days earlier and they feared it had been killed by something. I took Tua out and let him lead the way on a walk of their property. After about an hour I noticed he was curious about something ahead of us so I told him to go get it. He led me to a tree up ahead. When I got there he looked concerned about what he had found. I looked around the tree and all I could see was the headless body of a dog. As I got closer I realized it wasn't dead. Then I realized the dog had gone in a hole in the base of the tree while chasing something and had gotten stuck. It was less than a hundred yards from it's home but couldn't get out. Had Tua not found her she would have slowly died within sight of her home. A few weeks later our other neighbor had her two miniature Pincers go missing on a warm winter day. That night we were supposed to get sub-zero temps and a snowstorm. Tua and I went out and spent three hours following little footprints in the snow. We finally came to an open area and he immediately wanted to head for the opposite side. I continued to follow the ever-wandering footprints and eventually caught up with Tua who had already found the two dogs hiding behind a large snowdrift. The three of them became fast friends on the two mile walk home.
Tua is good friends with our cats as well. They occasionally chase his wagging tail and he always looks ashamed when he discovers we're watching.
I've only met a couple of people that didn't like him and frankly, I think they weren't very likable themselves. I've never met another animal that didn't like him. In the fall he'll lay absolutely still on the porch and watch the turkeys walk through the yard. He eventually becomes too curious and needs to go say hello. Turkeys don't want to say hello to dogs.
Today I took Tua for a long walk in the woods. It was just the two of us. He trotted around, ate snow and deer poop. I wish I could get him to stop eating deer poop. He laid in the sun and sniffed the breeze. I sat in the sun and enjoyed watching him.
Two months ago we learned that Tua has cancer. In the past three weeks the tumor in his mouth has become so large that he can no longer eat or drink without our help. Three nights ago he and I were hanging out after Jen and Molly had gone to bed, I looked at him and knew immediately that his time had come. I knew it was coming soon but could tell that he wasn't ready yet. I now think he wasn't ready because he knew I wasn't. I sat with him for an hour and cried until he got fed-up and told me we needed to go be with Jen and Molly in bed. The next day he began to refuse food and water. He now sleeps much of the day and is restless at night. Tomorrow Jen and Molly will join us and we'll go out for one last walk as a family. In the late afternoon our vet will come to the house and this life will be over for Tua. We'll keep the other pets in the house. This isn't something they need to witness. Tua will probably lay in his favorite spot on the porch where he can feel the sun and wind and look over the entire property. I'll hold him, stroke his head gently and be sure he can look me in the eyes. I'll watch the light fade from those kind, gentle brown eyes and in a matter of seconds he'll be gone.
There's something to be said for friends that can't speak. When there are no words we're forced to pay attention to more subtle things. There's a bond that develops that I doubt would be possible otherwise. Words serve as distraction from what is truly going on. They can be used to hide behind. They can be used to hurt. Silence is intimate and therefore frightening for most. My best friends are the ones I can sit with quietly and just be. Tua taught me that.
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