JFK Countdown...

Some tapering trail running in Rock Creek Park Yesterday

Rock Creek Park- Photos by Janie

more JFK training

The C&O tow path heading north to Harper's Ferry

View of the Potomac River form the tow path near Harper's Ferry

After visiting Harper's Ferry and a jog around town back on the tow path (hour 7) heading back south to the AT

Back on the AT near the car after about 8 hours

Columbus Day- Photos by Janie Part I

AT type trail- near Capitol

On the trail

On the trail again...

Near Capitol

Columbus Day in DC-Photos by Janie

On the Capitol grounds

Me and the man of the day-Chistopher Columbus himself- in front of Union Station (near the Capitol)

A reflecting pond just north of the Capitol

Again on the Capitol grounds...

The Montrail Brotherhood

As I was on a relatively hilly and technical section of the trail near the end of the first of two 12 mile loops yesterday in Rock Creek Park I heard a young man say to me, "Hey, Montrail's best!", as he came running up behind me. He noticed I was wearing Montrail's Vitesse (he was running in Montrail's Continental Divide). I replied, "How are you doing?" He said, "Great brother"! I then watched as he and his dog quickly skimmed the rocks and were soon out of sight. It put a smile on my face and a quickened step in my pace.
www.montrail.com

I Love Trail Running...

I ran 26 miles on the trails in Rock Creek Park map today. I felt pretty good. I had a lot left. If I had more fluids and fuel I could have gone further if I needed to. I was breaking in a new pair of Montrail Vitesse for the JFK. My feet were happy.

I talked to Scott on the phone when I was about 3 hours into the run. He was getting ready for his 50 Miles for Michelle. I was hoping to run it with him but we couldn't work it out. He and Michelle have been and will be on my mind throughout the day and night. Good luck Scott and Happy Birthday!!

Fun Training Run on the AT

Just a little rocky coming out of the AT at Weaverton, Maryland near Harper's Ferry, West Virginia at the end of the 15 mile run.

Ready to hit the trail near Boonesboro, Maryland.

Careful to pick my way through the "mine field".

A fww stretches are very runnable. The entire run was gorgeous! I can't wait to run this with Scott at the JFK 50 November 17th!

Scott's First Ultra!!

Congratulation on Scott's awesome first Ultra, the tough Cle Elum 50K in the mountains of Washington State. Check out his blog for the race report.
http://www.ikeeprunning.blogspot.com/

Here are a few photos of him at 2.5 miles and 21 miles.
http://www.pbase.com/gtach/image/85777524
http://www.pbase.com/gtach/image/85786658

Big Foot...

I guess I over trained these past few weeks. My right foot is swollen. So I decided to rest it this weekend. I spent all day waiting for the race report from my son, Scott. He ran his first ultra marathon. The Cle Elum 50 K in Washington. He finally called with a great report. He finished in 7 hours and 15 minutes. He said it was tough. But he never gave up. I'm very proud of him.

Running Home From Work

School started this week at Washington Latin http://www.washingtonlatin.org/ . I love it. I metro and walk (a little over a mile walk) to school each morning. And then I change and stuff my work clothes in the backpack and run home. Usually 1.5- 2 hours. I love it. Next week cross country starts up so I will see how the running home thing works out. So far so good. The JFK 50 miler is sneaking up on Scott and I. I can't wait. It sounds like Scott's knee is better. He is still planning a 50 K in two weeks and then the Portland marathon mext month. Both as warm-ups to the JFK.

An Evening Run on the National Mall

Valley Trail, Rock Creek Park, Washington DC: a trailrunner's delight

What a great trail run today! I spent about 4 hours in Rock Creek Park mostly on the Valley Trail. There are several other trails that intersect it that I explored as well. These trails have such a wonderful variety, from gnarly technical inclines/declines to awesome cruising trails. Wildlife is plentiful (deer, birds - no cougars or bears, I assume). Much of the trail is next to and above the creek with it's whirling water music. There are many bikers, joggers and runners on the bike paths in the park. The dirt trails are much less populated. A great get away only 7.5 miles from home with metro access! And a perfect training run for the JFK 50 or any other tail run.

JFK Preview- Appalachian Trail

I had an interesting day on our little AT section of the race. 13 miles in 5 hrs 15 mins. I was planning on doing a slow 3.5 -4 hr exploring run/hike. I started out great. Then I went up and up and up an incline that seemed to last for ever. I was wiped out. It was at the 3.5-5.5 mile marker of the course that they said was on pavement during the race. I saw a road but I went on the AT at that section. Maybe the road part is easier. I hope. Some of the trail is very runnable. Most is extremely technical. I will have rocks in my dreams for nights. I fell bad once. Thankfully I missed all the rocks. A huge thunderstorm hit the mountain that almost wiped me out. Tree branches were falling everywhere. I got hit in the head by small branches. I finally had to stop and hide next to a big sturdy tree that had few branches on it to wait out the storm. I'm glad I did. There were several big trees that fell on the trail where I was headed. After the storm the trail was pretty much flooded and unrunnable. I slipped and slid on in with a good "time on feet" workout. The trail is beautiful, but I'm just a little nervous about some of the ridiculous rocky sections. That 26 miles on the tow path may be welcomed after all.

Coming off the trail at Weverton (about the 15 mile mark of the JFK50)

In My Mind I'm Going to Carolina

AJ and I drove to Lisa's yesterday. 8 hours! We listened to Pearl Jam (mine), Slipnot and Avenged Sevenfold (AJ's) and The Beatles (any guesses). Reminds me of the time I drove across country with my Dad when I was still a teenager. We listened to Beethoven (Dad's) and The Beatles (mine). He said he actually liked The Beatles if he didn't have to look at them :)



I had a good 9 mile run in Mauldin before we headed up to Charlotte to visit Melanie, Mike and little Zoe.

I've Been Running on the Railraod...

Denver is a great place to run. We visited Boulder and Royal Gorge. Photos are coming. But I did my running on or next to a railroad track north of Denver. Now I'm back in Dc and the weather is hot, hot, hot.

The JFK 50 Miler November 17th

My son Scott and I have signed up for the JFK 50 miler. It will be his first ultra and my first 50 miler. We both are anxiously engaged in training for it.

This week's runs have been light compared to last week. I feel much refreshed. And now with the motivation for the JFK all my training runs are different. Fear of pain and failure can do that.

This is from the JFK website http://www.jfk50mile.org/ :
Event History

For those who did not know all of the history surrounding the event, as they say, here is the rest of the story.

The JFK 50 Mile was first held in the spring of 1963. It was one of numerous such 50 mile events held around the country as part of President John F. Kennedy's push to bring the country back to physical fitness.

When Kennedy was assassinated in November of 1963, most of these events were never held again. The one here in Washington County, MD changed it's name from the JFK 50 Mile Challenge to the JFK 50 Mile Memorial in 1964. The JFK 50 Mile in Washington County, MD is the only original JFK 50 Mile Challenge event to be held every year for the last 44 years. The 45th Annual JFK 50 Mile will be held on November 17, 2007.

Although open to the public, the JFK 50 Mile is in spirit a military race. It always has been and always will be. In 1963, the initial inspiration behind the event came from then President John F. Kennedy challenging his military officers to meet the requirements that Teddy Roosevelt had set for his own military officers at the dawn of the 20th Century. That Roosevelt requirement was for all military officers to be able to cover 50 miles on foot in 20 hours to maintain their commissions. When word got out about the "Kennedy Challenge", non-commissioned military personnel also wanted to take the test themselves as did certain robust members of the civilian population.
Of the many awards presented at the JFK 50 Mile each year, the most prestigious is the Kennedy Cup, which is awarded to the top-finishing military team. Each military team can have a maximum of 10 participants with the finishing times from the top-five finishers combined for the team time. Like golf and cross country, the low (time) score wins.
The military personnel that take part in the JFK 50 Mile are extremely well-prepared, disciplined and (even when greatly fatigued) always courteous to everyone involved with organizing and/or supporting the event. It is always a true honor --and pleasure-- to host U.S. Military personnel at the JFK 50 Mile.

Mike Spinnler
JFK 50 Mile Participant 1971-90
JFK 50 Mile Winner 1982 & 1983
JFK 50 Mile Director 1993-present

Philly Cheese Steaks and "Rocky" Runs...

I went to Philadelphia with Janie this week for her national conference. We had a great time. I was able to get out and see the city form the viewpoint of my running shoes. I love the energy of running in any cities downtown, Philly was no exception. I also enjoyed running over to the Museum of Art and up its famous "Rocky" stairs. I particularly loved running along the Schuylkill River. A great running city!