PLAIN 100 Part II : The Texans?

I'm big on firsts.

I had a good friend who is no longer with us once tell me to remember and enjoy all your firsts, because sooner or later you're gonna run out of firsts. Well I'm sure that she thought I'd run out of firsts well before I have, but alas, I think I found another first.

When I signed up for the PLAIN 100 I didn't really worry about anything other than the logistics of such a run. How much water should I carry for the 4,000ft climb in 6 miles. How will I carry 20 hours worth of food. How will I know which trail to take?

Now that I'm slowly growing more confident in those aspects of the race I've realized something else. That I'm going to be the first Texan to hopefully finish Plain. I'm not sure if another Texan has attempted, but I can't find a DNF list anywhere. Being a flatlander has it's disadvantages, but I'm pulled towards the rugged, beautiful mountains of the world like a fish to water. Unfortunately I like to learn my lessons the hard way and I'm sure PLAIN will put on a clinic for this flatlander.

Fortunately I'm headed to Hardrock in July for a week of "frolicking" in the San Juans, followed by pacing a friend at Cascade Crest two weeks before Plain. (Just a short hop, skip, and a jump from the Plain course!)

I'm also planning on heading back up to Arkansas to run on the Athens Big Fork Trail and the Eagle Rock Loop Trail as much as possible. The Athens Big Fork Trail has a few 1,000ft climbs that I can just do repeats on to hopefully tear myself down pretty good. (Then run it a few more times)

(This is one of the videos I took of my run on the Eagle Rock Loop a month or two ago)

My Plain planning/preparation is going well. I've received the pack I'm going to use. (The Nathan HPL 020) That thing is awesome. I was pretty anti-packs for running until I tried that thing on. It's funny, I've always been on the more minimal side of ultra running in terms of gear. I love to carry handhelds cause I hate something bouncing around on my back. I rarely run with a shirt, cause I feel like I cool off faster without one (a no brainer in Texas!) and I hate wearing any kind of waist belt. 

I'm slowly getting better at running with some weight on and have recently started a pretty strenuous core/strength exercise 4X a week to help with my overall strength. Cause we all know I'm gonna need if I'm gonna be on my feet for 35 hours with a pack on my back. I think for a race like Plain, overall body strength will play a huge role in finishing or not, but that's a post for another day. 

I'm still struggling with the fact that I'm not racing as much this year, but I know that I'll be way happier spending a week in the San Juans and doing Plain that I would be doing a bunch of smaller local races. 

Let's just hope it all pays off in Plain, Washington. 

PS- There's still plenty of time to register if you want to "race" me to the line to be the first Texan.... :) 

_Jacob_

PLAIN 100 Part II : Training

So ever since I pretty much left the "triathlon scene" I haven't been a big fan of really structured training. (I'm convinced my uber obsessed Hawaii training left a bitter taste in my legs?) Last summer training for the AT100 was the first time I'd written a plan in probably 3 years.

Since then, I've pretty much just tried to maintain my base, throw in a few "speed" runs and race when I feel like it, or the schedule/wife allows :)

While I'm not specifically training for PLAIN just yet, I am training for certain aspects of the race.

For example, I've borrowed a Nathan hydration pack from a friend and have now done two separate runs with it. Before Sunday, I'd never ONCE run with a hydration pack of any sort. I've always been as minimal as possible, but the PLAIN course will have none of that.

I've decided to start doing 2-3 long runs a month with the hydration pack filled all the way up (70oz) and then carry my handhelds as well. This is to help simulate the 14 mile section of trail that I'll have to cover with no chance for water and a ~5,000ft climb. For that section of trail I'm planning on carrying ~120oz of water, and the pack will be it's heaviest when I start the climb.

Surprisingly, the pack is a delight to run with! After a mile or two it feels completely comfortable, and is (dare I say it) almost comforting?  Once my handheld bottle was empty I stashed it on the back of the pack and it fit perfectly!!!

I plan on trying to nail down the specific equipment I'll be using sometime this summer, and training at least 3-4 months with the exact equipment I plan on doing PLAIN with. No surprises come September 2nd.

The run today was only 18 miles, but I carried all my supplies, stashed no water on the course, and had a wonderful time. Unfortunately it's still really mild in north Texas, but hopefully that will change in a few months and we'll be back in the 100s in no time.

The section of trail I ran today is my hidden little gem. It's the Knob Hills trail connected with the Cross Timbers equestrian trail.

One trail doesn't allow horses, the other trail doesn't allow bikes, but both trails allow foot traffic. That's me! The single track today was fantastic.

My running mileage is still pretty low compared to what I'd like to be doing, but my first week back from injury I logged 36 miles, 51 miles the following week (with a trail marathon), then an easy 41 miles last week. This week I'm looking at logging a little over 60 miles with the 50K I'm racing this weekend.

I'm still really timid and afraid that the extensor tendinitis is going to come roaring back, but for now I'm just gonna keep doing what I do.

More photos from my training adventures here.

Today just reinforced my pure love for running on the trails. The raw nature of running on the grass, dirt, through the creeks, and through the trees. Over the past 2 years running has transformed into something that I never imagined it could be...

_Jacob_

An oldie, but a goodie.

No CC100, so PLAIN 100 it is...

I've always liked challenges. I've always been drawn to the unknown... and the fear of failure.

The Plain 100 instills fear in me. So, of course, when I didn't get into the Cascade Crest 100, I immediately registered for Plain.

Back on February 1st, I signed up for the Cascade Crest 100 (CC100) lottery. Yesterday they posted the results of the lottery and I ended up 82nd on the wait list of around 103. That pretty much sealed my fate. Plain it would be.

I'm happy with the result, because I either wanted to get into CC, or be so far down the wait list I would know I had no chance of getting in. I guess I'll have to keep trying at the CC100. Maybe some day.

Earlier in the week, I'd done a lot of research on Plain and while I was scared beyond belief, I was unbelievably intrigued. Plain is just as the name infers. It's plain. There are no course markings, no aid stations, no race t-shirt, no belt buckle, a $95 entry fee, a 36 hour cutoff, ~21,000ft of climbing and decent, and it's more like ~106 miles... but whose counting right? The only thing I'm counting is the fact that it's a HR100 qualifier and it's just plain tough.

Like I said, I like challenges, and the Plain 100 will be just that. Most likely the biggest challenge I've ever faced. My research has already begun and by the time I get to Plain I will know that course forwards and backwards, not to mention every stream where I can find water.

As my training progresses, I'll update with new developments, etc.

I guess it's time to start training with a pack.

_Jacob_