Is running making a come back??

Perhaps a 2010 San Francisco marathon is in the making?? I've mentioned it to a few people...getting closer to buying an entry....

Time to run again?

I've taken quite a break from running (and also have gained a good 30 pounds in the meanwhile.) I think it may be time to get back out there!

Usually not political on here but...

That darn 2nd Amendment seems to be getting interpreted again! I thought, what are the actually words. People have a messy habit of only saying part of a sentence, half of the idea to suit their particular need.

"Amendment II
A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."

Hmmm, interesting. I always seem to hear "The Right to Bear Arms." That seems to be only a portion of the complete sentence. I'm always skeptical of people that only use part of an entire sentence. Sort of like when people use part of a bible verse to back their point. They sometimes forget why it was being said, when it was being said and then apply it to today's world (which doesn't always work well.)

Interpretation is a funny thing. I work in the world of contracts and it's all about interpretation. Believe me, you say one thing and the complete opposite can be done if interpreted as such.

I just ask everyone to take a close look at the full sentence. Remember what sort of country we were when it was written (started in 1776.)

"A well regulated Militia" Does the guy down the street belong to a "regulated Militia"...not that I know of.

"being necessary to the security of a free State". So the Militia's is only necessary when the security and freedom of a State is being threatened.

"the right of the people to keep and bear Arms" Notice it is the people (lowercase) of the Militia (uppercase) that have the right (when "security of a free State" is being threatened) when necessary. When items are in uppercase, it makes them a proper noun. So here, the people would not mean the "People" as citizens, but "people" of the "Militia" (which being in uppercase would mean an official group...hmmm, do I hear "well regulated"?)

"shall not be infringed." Ok, so if it's necessary for a State to protect the security of it's freedom then it can develop a well regulated Militia and those Militia people have the right to have guns.

One last thought:
In 2005, 75% of the 10,100 homicides committed using firearms in the United States were committed using handguns, compared to 4% with rifles, 5% with shotguns, and the rest with a type of firearm not specified. Due to the lethal potential that a gun brings to a situation, the likelihood that a death will result is significantly increased when either the victim or the attacker has a gun. The mortality rate for gunshot wounds to the heart is 84%, compared to 30% for people who sustain stab wounds to the heart.

Hmmm, "Guns don't kill people, People do" Again, it's one of those phrases that I think is missing the FULL Sentence.

"Guns don't kill people, People do, using a gun"

Big Horn 100 mile Complete!

Wow! What a race! That was the hardest thing I have ever done.

Hope to have a race report soon, but wanted to let everyone know I finished and I'm back home...resting!

32 Hours 24 Minutes 47 seconds

81 out of 98 finishers (I think 130 started)

3rd place Men under 30!

Bighorn 100 mile next weekend!

Quick post. Wow! Since Ruth Anderson, I've run Miwok 100k (placed 3rd in Age Group), Ohlone 50k (placed 3rd in Age Group), ran two days at Western States 100 Training runs, San Diego Marathon, and Diablo Trail (32 mile). That's a lot of running! :)

My first 100 mile of the year starts on Friday in the Bighorn Mountains of Wyoming. My running partner, Jeff J. and I leave Tuesday night for the 24 hour drive. (Crazy we are!)

Just thought I would share this little excerpt from their Runner's Packet:

"The runners may be subject to extreme temperatures of heat and cold,
hypothermia, heat stroke, kidney failure, seizures, low blood sugar,
disorientation, injury, falling rock or trees, wild animal or reptile
attack, or even death from their participation in this event."

Kidney Failure, Seizures, Wild Animals & Reptile attacks or Death! Sounds like a good time, eh?

Oh, they have 7 feet of snow on the trail that we'll be running. I think they'll be creating an alternate at that section...hopefully!

Pictures from Ruth Anderson

The beginning of the race. It was COLD and I forgot my gloves! Thank you Jeff for lending me yours after the 1st lap!

After lap 2 or 3, starting to "warm-up" a bit. I couldn't help but laugh when Jeff was taking off his jacket and Rajeev was taking his picture. "No, wait, no yet!"

On my own rounding the 50k mark!

Enjoying the aid station food! Gotta love the potatoes and salt! Thanks to all of the volunteers and especially to a wonderful RD (and photographer!) Rajeev!

Ruth Anderson (Another PR??)

Wow! It was windy...REALLLLLY windy!! I saw that the winds were 25-35mph with gusts to 50 mph. And let me tell you that it was no lie! The sand was really starting to whip up about 7 hours into it. My legs are nice and "exfoliated" now!

I've noticed that with every run that I do, I seem to forget something. This morning, I forgot my gloves. For the first time around the lake, I had my hands in my pockets. Luckily Jeff's hands get warm pretty quick, so I borrowed his. (By the way, THANK YOU, THANK YOU Eldrith for the gloves.) My hands would have been nice a toasty if I remembered them!!

The first few loops went by pretty quickly. Soon, I had reached the marathon point. One more lap to go before the 50k and the choice to stop or move to the 50 Mile race. I was starting to get tired, and I was starting to get tired of the wind. It was really bad on the opposite side from the start/finish line. I got to the start/finish aid station and made the decision to take my time, go to the bathroom and continue on. Jeff had finished a few minutes before me and was walking back from the 50k finish line. I crossed the 50k line about 5:30. If I would have stopped, it would have been a PR for me. (Hmmm, maybe that's not a good thing if I'm going for 50 miles now??)

Everything was in working order. A few minor stomach pains here and there, but everything was ok. I had started using a 10/1 run/walk ratio, but soon found that I was saving my walking time for when I was hitting strong headwinds. I was getting really beat up having to use my muscles to power through the harsh winds, flying sand and running over the accumulating debris. It seemed like every time around, more and more branches, pine cones and nuts were piling up on the ground.

When I had about one more lap to go for the 50 mile, I asked the time keepers how many more laps I would need to do to finish 100k. One of them said 4, the other said let's talk about that when you get back here after this next lap. I fueled up and headed back out.

What's deceptive is that leaving the start/finish line is the only time you really have any sort of tailwind. It's more of a side and sometimes back wind. And it's slightly downhill. Plus after about a mile, there's a nice downward slope that's easy for me to get some speed one. Once I rounded the corner to head to the second aid station, the wind had shifted slightly and I hit the headwind even sooner than in the past. I tried to picture myself as small as possible, picturing the wind moving right around me, not slowing me down. When I was hitting these headwinds, my pace would slow about 1 1/2 to 2 min/mi. And when a strong gust that carried dust and sand, it would nearly stop me. I had to cover my face and ears with my buff to keep it out of my mouth, nose and ears. It was at this point that I started to seriously consider whether or not to continue. I had heard many runners say that they were stopping at 50k because they had enough of the wind.

I decided that I had enough of the wind myself. I started to feel quite defeated. I really wanted that 100k finish, but I guess not enough. I had started to do estimates in my head and the thought having to run in the wind just interrupted the math. When I turned the corner to head back to the start/finish, I had made up my mind and started to drain my system of whatever energy I had left and finish with everything I had. I got right outside of the start/finish area and Jeff was standing there. I took my hand up to my neck and made a slitting motion. I was done. That was it. He cheered me on to let me know that I was still doing great and should be proud of how far I had gone.

I got to the score table, yelled out my number and said I'm finishing at 50 mile, see you in a little bit. I kicked it in. The 50 mile finish is over a mile away from the start/finish area. I pushed and pushed, and then my legs would tell me no more. I would stop for a 10 second walk and start up again. Jeff came by and said that he would pick me up so I didn't have to walk back. I pushed and pushed. I saw my goal, 9:25. I pushed up the slight bit of uphill by the golf course and continued on. I finally saw the finish line and gave everything I had. No need to save anything!

I had a strong finish in 9:23. 1st place male 29 and under, 8th overall. I beat my previous 50 mile PR (set two weeks ago at American River) by 32 minutes. Yes, this is literally the flattest course out there, but that wind created some huge hills to climb, with no downhills.

My legs are tired, I am tired. Getting ready for yet another busy week! Starts tomorrow morning with singing at a church in Lafayette at 10am. Probably should get to sleep so I get up in the morning.

Thank you Jeff for the gloves and running together!