Grand Island Marathon 2010

August first, after flying to Milwaukee and driving to Munising Michigan in the Upper Peninsula, we boarded the ferry the morning of the race.

Mike Gase and I arrived at the starting line 20-minutes after the gun fired for the marathon. Angela, Kathy, David and Matt all opted for the early start so they had miles behind them by this point. Sunrise on the island.

Mike in the first miles.

The views were spectacular.

Most of the course was two track, fire roads. For this reason, I won't likely run this race again.

Two sections of the race were on the beach. Looks nice but not all that runable.

Again, the views made it a worthwhile race to do at least once.

Me, dragging into the finish at 4:12.

Mike Gase at the finish line.

Our group.

The next day - me, my son Miles and his cousin Caden rented kayaks and toured Pictured Rocks on Lake Superior. Really cool.





Good trip.

The boys Spring Triathlon

This is my current favorite photo. Me the spectator and my six year old son Ty the athlete. This is Ty's first triathlon.

Miles at the gun, starting his swim.

My son Miles and my brother Matt's son Caden. They started 10-seconds apart and this is them at the end of the swim. And no - neither had intentions of swimming, biking, running or finishing together. These are 11-year old, male, cousins - both at the top of their games in their respective sports. This was all about competition. Love it.

Their arms looked like rubber when they lifted out of the pool.

They stayed neck and neck through the bike.

Then came the run.

Meanwhile, Ty was all nerves and seriousness preparing for his event. Notice the aerodynamic swimming goggles.

Caden lost his breakfast in the first lap of the run and still went on to finish strong. That is when I was honestly and truly impressed with this young man. This is true grit and the making of greatness.

Miles had his share of pain too.

T-bone was an absolute stud.

Dimensions of pride at the finish line.

The bonds built of heat, sweat, pain, (vomit?) and tough competition are like no other. For life.

Life is good. Energy creates energy!

Ty time: 40:02. Place 19th of 38 8-year old boys. 100 yard swim, 3-mile bike, 1 mile run.

Miles time: 45:22. Place 12th of 32 boys 11 and 12 years old. 200 yard swim, 5-mile bike, 1.5 mile run.

2010 Western States Training Camp

My third year at training camp. This trail is special - my first mountain 100.
You never forget your first kiss.

Unexpectedly met up with Greg Burger and Brian Pawley. Greg is running Western States this year and left me no reason to believe he won't finish with a silver buckle. Brian is a 2:29 marathoner....nuf said. This is Pucker Point - appropriately named. There is like a million foot drop behind us that a photo can never capture.

Greg on the move, coming down Devils Thumb

Water crossing

I ran two days and was totally spent. Might have a stress fracture. Greg and Brian ran all three - studs. I set out for Training Camp with a plan which was "if I'm strong and feel good afterward, I might attempt Leadville this year". I'm rethinking that plan. Taking a couple weeks off and getting back on the tandem with my Daughter Kaylan. Better plan.

Trail Hawk Marathon

My toughest marathon to date. Mud and high water crossings. From left to right are Tim Hazlett, Me, Pete Leon, Scott Schaeuble, John Fralick and Chris Nicely. I think this is also the order of finishers in our group coincidentally.

This picture describes much of the run. There were some runable sections but not many.

John Fralick. Multiple marathoner and ultra runner.

Me and Tim at a water crossing.

Pete Leon. Welcome back Pete!

Scott Schaueble wonder what we signed him up for.

Chris Nicely, multiple road and trail marathoner.

Slick rock.

In front is me after offering to assist the guy in black. In the photo, he is temporarily paralyzed by cramping due to heat and the cold water hitting him. This is normally a very rocky technical section along the lakes edge. Saturday it was a technical rocky section in the lake. We heard word that another runner was injured by waves pushing knocking her into the rocks.

Well done Scott.

Hardest I ever worked for a 5:10 finish!

Tim and I took first and second place overall, nine minutes apart. We ran together until roughly mile 22 where I fell apart for a few miles. Tim never missed a beat. Luckily I managed to stay ahead of whomever was in third but never caught back up to Tim.

At the starting line I looked around and told Tim "you could win this today" Tim says "I'm just here to have fun, run with you and enjoy the day" I actually believed him for the first half of the run, before he brought the hammer down.

This is a stud.