GARLAND RANCH REGIONAL PARK

On Saturday, 1/24 I did a 3 hour run in Garland Ranch Regional Park, Carmel Valley. A map of the park can be found here: http://www.mprpd.org/parks/garland.htm Andrew McClellan, Dave Pratt and I met at my house and carpooled to the Running Iron in Carmel Valley, the meeting point for the run. There we met up with 4 other guys at 5:30am and set off for a 3 hour cruise in wet conditions. There is something about being out on the trails at this time of day that I really dig. I guess it has to do with knowing a lot of runners probably passed due to the early, wet conditions so you feel like you're getting a leg up on the competition. I wonder where that term "getting a leg up" came from? I bet my Jack Russell terrier Chico could tell me. =)

This was my first time running with this group which is comprised of a few sub 3 hour marathon runners and a sub 24 hour 100 mile finisher (Wed Night Laundry guys... http://www.wnlr.org/) so I was lightly concerned with my ability to stay with everyone. As it turns out, they took it easy on me and I never dropped out of shouting distance of the front guys. These dudes can flat out climb! Or should I say STRAIGHT UP CLIMB! It made me glad that I have been putting in some miles and that I jumped in in January when some of them are still coming out of their winter hibernation otherwise I would have suffered big time. It was dark for the first 90 minutes with a light rain/mist so a headlamp was mandatory. Trail conditions were fine though with only a few slippery sections - good footing most of the way.

I'm really happy I went on this run as I got to meet and run with new ultra runners which is one of my 2009 goals (to make new running friends and be more open and sociable) and it also gave me a chance to get more familiar with Garland Ranch. The run finished up at 8:30am, 13 miles and what I guess was about 3200 feet of climbing. I bid a few of my new friends farewell and then Andrew, Dave and I stopped into the breakfast place next to the Running Iron for coffee and pastries. A great morning on the trails!

Run Log Relocated

For simplicity's sake, (read; I'm lazy) I have moved my run log to Attackpoint.org

I really like this site because it tracks a lot of the information I was tracking manually, automatically. I found it while checking out Andy Jones Wilkins site and swiped the idea. If you have never been to his site you should check it out. Good writer and a better runner!

The Results

Hi RAMFD’rs

If you are receiving this email it’s because you are one of the generous people that made a donation to the Run A Mile For Dan fundraiser. I want to say thank you very much for stepping up to help a friend in need. I have to confess that I underestimated your generosity. When deciding to do something for Dan, I thought that if I could get everyone in, $500 would be in the range of possibilities. With our current economy I wasn’t sure but I thought it could be done. It turns out we more than doubled that figure. Our total contribution was $1,050.00 and all was sent in on Monday with a couple follow up checks being sent in later today.

I have attached an email received from Dan today to bring you up to speed on his progress. I feel like I need to tell you that I feel blown away by your willingness to help someone you don’t even know just because you recognized he needed help. It’s humbling. It just is.

Thank you,

Bill

Dan,

There you are! Great to hear from you. Bald head? Nice. Actually, a couple years ago I used to clipper mine to the nub and loved it. However, my appearance scared the crap out of some folks and my wife didn’t dig it too much either. Given our physical similarities, I’m guessing your attracting reactions in kind. Talk about simplicity though.

It was a group effort. Happy to help – it’s the least we could do. I’m fortunate to have compassionate friends that want to step up. Great people, all of them. Glad you’re home. Bill

From: auburnrunningco@sbcglobal.net [mailto:auburnrunningco@sbcglobal.net] Sent: Friday, January 16, 2009 9:37 AMTo: Bill CottonSubject: RE: Checking on you

Hey man, were you in town?? Sorry I missed you, I was sent home on Friday and have been gearing up for the next treatment, which starts middle of next week. And where did all those funds come from?? Bill, I can’t thank you enough. Your kindness and generosity are beyond what anyone could hope for. Thank you very much. This will go a long way when that final bill comes in, and it’s coming. The sooner I’m done with this the sooner I can get on with my life.

The fundraiser in general was incredible, I just never would have imagined such a response. First of all I didn’t realize I knew so many people, and then underestimated how close this running community really is. Folks I don’t even know contributing! What do you say? Day after day my wife and I are in amazement from all this. So many people came together to make this happen, I can only hope I get the opportunity to pay it forward and be there for someone else one day.

Thanks again Bill, you have gone above and beyond my friend. Unless you’ve shaved your head, I doubt anyone would think we look alike now!

Take care,
Dan

From: Bill Cotton [mailto:William.Cotton@darrigo.com] Sent: Tuesday, January 13, 2009 10:34 AMTo: auburnrunningco@sbcglobal.netSubject: Checking on you

Dan,

Just sending off an email here to say hello and see how you’re doing. I have to tell you that the Run A Mile For Dan event was really something awesome to be a part of. You have a huge amount of people that are really pulling for you bro so just do your thing while you’re stuck there, stay positive, patient and I know all will work out fine.

Take care Dan.

Bill

Week Log:

Sun 1/11, 0
Mon 1/12, 45 min work loop @ moderate pace with Scherpinski.
Tue 1/13, 55 min work loop solo w/20 min @ TH, lift legs.
Wed 1/14, 0
Thu 1/15, 45 min work loop solo @ moderate pace.
Fri 1/16, 1:30 Fort Ord loop with Chico @ moderate pace.
Sat 1/17, 2:00 Fort Ord loop with Scherpinski @ moderate pace.
Total 5:55 , 1/11 weight 178

A decent week with a couple of longer efforts and a tempo run. 1 session of lifting and then I will be taking 3 days off completely. I developed slight tenderness in my left knee so it's time to give the legs a break. So far so good as far as my fitness is going. I found out this week that I was selected in the Miwok 100k lottery so now the fear factor has been added to the training calendar which should add a bit more motivation short term =) I am also moving my training log to Attackpoint.org (sidebar link) so all training records will be posted there now instead of on this blog. My weight is now at the point where 1 solid week of workouts and intake control will put me right at 175 pounds.

Run A Mile For Dan (postscript)

Dan's a friend of mine.

Not the type of friend I call or see everyday or have over for holidays or my daughters birthday party but a good friend just the same. Truth is, I'm not sure he knows my daughters names - still, a good friend. But isn't that the way it is with many of the friends we have in ultra running? We run into each other at different events or share a few miles together during a race and then we part ways, hoping to remember each others names and looking forward to the time when our paths cross again sometime in the future. Well, that's the way it is for me anyway. I have to say though that during those times when our paths do cross, I feel a closeness to my ultra running friends that I have found difficult to duplicate with my friends and acquaintances of the non running variety. We may only see each other once or twice a year but to me we are still very close...family.

In ultras, I believe all the meaningless stuff that makes up our day to day lives is chipped away and we share with each other in a more meaningful way...our true selves..the best and sometimes the worst (but mostly the best). We get the opportunity to see each other for what we are. I think that's what resonates with me more than anything else. That is what makes running ultras special to me. Dan and a few others are that to me. Yep, Dan is definitely a friend of mine.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The "Run A Mile For Dan" fundraiser was held last Saturday at the Placer High School track. The purpose of the event was to raise money to help pay the medical expenses not covered under Dan's insurance. Dan Moores is the proprietor of the Auburn Running Company and is currently in the hospital undergoing treatment for leukemia. Dan is a friend and a great guy so when I received an email from my friend Glenn asking what I knew about Dans health, I knew something was up and sent Dan a short email to check in. Needless to say, when Dan wrote back I was surprised and saddened to hear of his challenge. Matt Keyes of ARC contacted me and got the ball rolling on the fundraiser. Once the date was set, I cleared the calendar, called/emailed everyone I knew who owed me a favor and started the fundraising machine. Believe me, I have bought every gift wrap/cookie dough/tri tip bbq ticket my friends have ever thrown on my desk so now it was their turn to reciprocate. With Greg Soderlund and Tim Tweitmeier helping with the organization and handling the event day details at the track, Saturday was a done deal. And I need to mention that the pumpkin ginger soup being served at the finish line was beyond description. I need to figure out a way to carry some of that with me on long runs...but I digress.

For those of you not familiar with Auburn, CA or the Sierra Nevada foothills, the track at Placer High is hallowed ground in that each June it serves as the finish for the Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run. On January 3rd, about 400 people got up early on a very cold Saturday morning to be a part of this worthy event. Some ran a lap and then headed off for Robie Point and the Western States Trail. Others, like me, were raising donations by the mile and were bound to the track for purposes of accuracy. It was a wonderfully heartfelt event with everyone from kids and grandparents to newbies and ultra legends taking the track with one single purpose..helping out a friend. The mission was to run as many laps as possible from 8:00am to noon. After my dnf in 2006, it was fun to visualize crossing the WS100 finish line 100 times.

With all the well wishers and positive energy on the track Saturday morning, I feel very good about Dan's chances for recovery. Actually, I have never doubted Dan's chances for recovery. The moment I heard of his condition, I just had an overwhelminly certain feeling that I would see Dan back out on the trails again. Hopefully it will be soon.

Nice work in getting this awesome fundraiser organized Matt. You're a good man and a good friend as well.

Happy New Year everybody. BBB

Week Log:

Sun 1/4, 2:20 @ easy pace. Fort Ord loop with Chico. Legs a little tired but felt great being on trail again.
Mon 1/5, 0
Tue 1/6, 1:20 tempo TM
Wed 1/7, 47 min work loop @ moderate pace with scherpinski. Felt great. 15 min TM warmup, Lifted legs.
Thu 1/8, 1:20 TM @ easy pace.
Fri 1/9, 0
Sat 1/10, 0
Total 5:00 , 1/4 Weight 181

3 zero days but overall a pretty good week. I got a semi long run in and a tempo day. Friday, Saturday and Sunday were spent at a coaching clinic in the bay area so I took the opportunity to rest my legs and take an easy week. I found out on Saturday that I was picked in the Miwok 100k lottery so that is on for sure. This will be my first attempt at Miwok and my first 100k attempt as well. Not being concerned with my finish time, my goal will be to run it in control and finish. With Miwok now on the calendar, my running calendar is full through May. Nothing like a fear component added to the race calendar to create focus in your training. Back to work tomorrow morning.