Steve's Wanderings ...

Running 100km

For many years I had a dream - run and finish the Western States Endurance Run (WS100) - a rugged 100-mile (160km) trail run through the Sierra Nevada mountains in California.  Finally in 2004 I did it!  Barely ... Less than 6 minutes under the 30-hour cutoff time (29:54:46).  Finally I managed to overcome several years of grueling training followed by failed attempts to finish the race.

However, that left a void in my running life.  Since then I have never seemed to recapture that zest, energy, and desire I had while training for the WS100.  That is until I was drawn to the Mongolian Sunrise to Sunset 100km.  But just as I was getting my training in high gear - this time supplemented with spinning and cycling workouts - a series of injuries forced me to “step down” to the MS2S marathon (42km).  Even that proved to be a frustration as the nagging injuries kept me from running much of a race at all ...

I have enjoyed being able to help others reach some of the same goals as me - in particular I was thrilled to help my friend Cath Worth overcome her own demons and run to a fabulous WS100 finish in 2007 after a frustrating DNF in the prior year - her finish time?  25:31!

So when I got to know Belle in Mongolia and her desire to run the 100km I not only wanted to help her, but this rekindled my interest in conquering my own frustrations of not being able to run a decent race, let alone run the 100km.  Belle’s experience in Mongolia is not unlike my own experience at the WS100, and I sensed a similar desire to succeed as I saw in myself at that time.  For me this created a strong bond, as I understand these feelings well.

Since then we have become good friends, keeping in frequent contact with each other.  She is now training to run the Berlin Marathon (which I ran some years ago - a wonderful race!); as for me, I don’t have anything on the horizon.  I am in very good condition but this is from cycling and spinning, not running.  Recently I ran a 20-mile (35km) trail run, after which I felt quite trashed - likely made worse due to the fact that fatigue was not a factor in limiting how much I could do.  It is perhaps the lack of a goal that I don’t really feel the motivation to switch back to so much run training ...

Before leaving Mongolia, I promised to help Belle realize her own dream of finishing 100km, and to be there when it happens.  It is my intention to do whatever it takes to keep my promise!  At the very least offer training help and suggestions and be able to support her on the course if possible.  But my own dream is to run the race with her and have us both run and finish together, so we both can realize this dream together as well.  The ultimate dream would be to do this someday in Mongolia, but that remains to be seen ...  We will see how things go in the coming months ahead - perhaps a race in California ...



WS100 site - http://www.ws100.com/

Mongolia Sunrise to Sunset (MS2S) site - http://www.ultramongolia.org/

1. Happy to relight the running fire in you. I will need your ultra distance running experience. And i know you will keep your promise. Next year, we will both finish a 100 km together, either in California or in Mongolia.

   Posted by bella_clava  on  09/02  at  11:34 AM

2. Running tips
   First, you need a good pair of running shoes. And to increase the efficiency of your running, you need to work on your technique. Here are a few tips:
   1. Don’t run on the front of your feet, that will put too much stress on your shins. Try to hit your feet on the ground first then roll your foot and finish by propelling with your toes.
   2. To go faster bring your knees up higher… It will let you increase your stride length.
   3. Control your breath… Try to breathe in through your nose as much as possible and exhale through your mouth, this will teach you how to pace yourself.
   4. STRETCH- I cannot stress this more! You must stretch all parts of your body before running. Try to aim for ten minute of stretching, it will make you more limber and make it fee better when you are running.

   Posted by rolex watches  on  05/19  at  07:51 AM

3. I found a huge parcel on my doorstep last night - sent to me by Belle. Inside were many wonderful goodies - a Chinese-English translator (perfect for my Chinese lessons!), some Chinese language diamondflashcards, CD’s of Mongolian music as well as DVD’s of the Roaring Hooves festival (a music festival held in Mongolia over the past several years), a Beijing Olympic pin (to add to my Olympic pin collection),wholesale body jewelryand finally - Belgian Chocolate!!!!!!

   Posted by jewelry  on  11/13  at  06:30 AM

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   Posted by Cheap shoes  on  04/09  at  10:39 AM

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   Posted by GPS Watch  on  04/30  at  03:11 AM
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