2015 Race Schedule

     After careful culling, and some bad luck with lotteries and entries I have a 2015 race schedule.  Ultimately I have quite a bunch of bills to pay off from 2014 so this is driving some of my decisions.  I hope to see lots of friends out there!

RACE                      DATE              GOAL
BANDERA 100K    10-Jan              12:00:00
SCHERTZ 5K          17-Jan              19:15
RODEO 4 MILE      14-Feb              24:40
NUECES 50K          28-Feb              4:10:00
LST 96 MILE           14-Mar             24:00:00
TIR 200 SOLO*       28-Mar             48 HOURS
VERMONT 888K    23-May            164 HOURS
VOL STATE                9-Jul              100 HOURS
NOLANS 14              AUG*              57 HOURS
BIG BACKYARD    17-Oct               72 HOURS*

     There may be some other races that jump in there.  I've had to reconsider Ronda Dels Cims, Born To Run 50K, and Spartathlon.  Also, I may pass on a Grand Canyon trip this year.  But there may be an event I will put on in December 2015  -  El Camino de la Vaca.  Additionally the SnowDrop 55 hour would be a cool event for nex December as well.  Stay Tuned.

An Elliptical Revolution - 100K in 2 Mile Loops

     Vincent and I were out at the Houston Running Festival on Saturday.  This event has a half-marathon, marathon, 50K, 50M, 100K, 100M, 12HR, or 24HR categories.  I was signed up for the 100K and Vincent the 50K.  The course is a 2 mile loop in Bear Creek Park on the westside of Houston.  
      My goal last year in 2013 was to run this 100K in 10hrs30min so that I could qualify for Spartathlon.  However I ended up getting the flu on Christmas day and was unable to make it.  No so this year.  I've been training very consistently since August of 2013.  I have been averaging about 136 heart rate at a 8:49 pace so I thought if all went well, my chances for a qualifying time were pretty good. Based on the new qualifying standards, I just barely qualified.  I may have to wait through a lottery process.  Which is fine for me.  No worries.   
     This course is a two mile looped course.  Logistics are easy if you can get over the fact that you are spending nine to ten hours running around in circles and with very tight margins of time. There would be little to no walking for me.  I put about two and a half scoops of a mixture of tailwind/carbopro/skratch in my hand held bottles.  I had eight, sixteen ounce Ultimate direction bottles all lined up for nutrition, and also about 4 gels at the ready.  My plan was one bottle per hour.
      Nothing ever goes according to plan.  The day started overcast at 70 degress with 100% humidity.  What a bunch of bullshit.  That went on for 4 hours.  My water usage rate went up quite a bit, but was still manageable.  After four hours the cold front blew in and cooled things off but, it rained quite a bit as well.  So it got pretty dammed cold.  My 50K split was about 4:30, which I figured for me to make a nine hour 100K would be almost impossible.
     At mile 38 my Garmin died and you can see from my results, my pace immediately started slowing down and from mile 48/50 on I was averaging about 10 minute miles.  Oh well.  Isn't that how it goes some times?  I ended up running a 9:45:58 according to these results.  I was first in the 100K which was nice, but I do not think the other competitors were there to tear up the course.  This event was really low key. 
     Why a revolution?   This is huge advancement for me in terms of total running, blocking out boredom, the elements, and managing my race nutrition.  I've never actually run that many miles in a race, ever.  All total I ran at least 61 miles of the 62.  My energy levels felt great most of the race.  I didn't let the weather get to me, and generally ran my ass off.  What a huge confidence booster for me.  I really hit a tough spot between miles 40 to 50, but was able to push through that mental barrier.  The last 12 miles were basically run at a 10min pace.  I'll take that. 
     I have some pain on the inside of my left knee and my right achilles is a bit tight.  I've been icing the knee and did some foam rolling last night and this morning.  I should be good to go by Friday.  I even have very little muscle soreness, as compared to previous events.  I really do feel like I hit this one out of the park, even though I was 46 minutes over the time I was trying to run.
     If you are reading this, thanks for indulging me and allowing me to gloat.  Let's go for a run!!!

Barkley Fall Classic Poem

I put together a small poem in villanelle form to commemorate my experience at the Barkley Fall Classic back in September.  

A thousand yard stare, eyes with tears glare.
No labor hath Hercules known, no deed can atone.
Walk with wanton abandon in hopeless despair.

Victims of treachery have become our fate.
Without remorse, Sisyphus rolls his stone.
A thousand yard stare, eyes with tears glare.

Running the course in our minds a debate.
The briars we bemoan, but condone.
Walk with wanton abandon in hopeless despair.

Passing Rat Jaw straights, in shoes blood collates.
Many trips over stones, nary a talent shone.
A thousand yard stare, eyes with tears glare.

Please, please where is the nearest interstate?
It would be best to just leave this all alone.
Walk with wanton abandon in hopeless despair.

Please allow me to recriminate, desecrate.
The final reckoning shan’t be postponed.
A thousand yard stare, eyes with tears glare.
Walk with wanton abandon in hopeless despair.

Measured Indifference: A Backyard Odyssey

     What is an odyssey?  Webster's Online says: a series of experiences that give knowledge or understanding to someone.   The Big Backyard Ultra was such an experience.  The Ultrasign up description says, "The concept is brutally simple. Race until every runner, save one, surrenders." And you can click on the link above for the rest of the details.
     Even though Doug told me about the event back at Hardrock, I didn't sign up or make any plans for this event until the Barkley Fall Classic.  Gina and I were having a smoke with Gary after packet pickup closed and he mentioned it.  Once I got back home I signed up on the wait list and Gina and I made our flight arrangements.  We were not sure I'd be able to run, but figured if not, we'd get drunk and party. 
     Lo and behold, I made it off the wait list.  Yippie!  I get to run 4.166 mile loops till I die.  Great.  We arrived in Nashville the Friday before the race, picked up supplies, and headed to Bell Buckle.  The race venue was laid back.  We checked in with Laz and tried to make friends with Big.  Charlie Engle was there which was cool because I had seen his movie, Running the Sahara, and hoped I'd get a chance to meet him one day!  We talked a bit and headed back into town for some pizza and beer.
     At dinner we meet up with Mike, Kelly,  and also Joe Fejes the American 6 day record holder.  Stories were told and a few beers consumed in the typical ultrarunning fashion.  Always wanting one more, but knowing we have work in the AM, we paid the tab and headed back to our tent at Gary's house.
     We got off to an easy start at 7AM.  No worries, 4.16 miles and an hour to do it in. Listening to advice from Mike, Marcy, and Kelly I made a mental note of waypoints on the course and at what minute of the hour I hit them.  As we completed the first loop at about 55 minutes, I mentioned to Marcy how it seemed a bit stressful that at 57 minutes Laz blew the whistle 3 times, at 58 - 2 times, and at 59 minutes 1 time and at the top of the hour he rang the bell.  Marcy casually replied, "It's only stressful if you make it."  Great advice Marcy.
     Gina crewed the shit out of me.  She had all the right things I needed at all the right times.  She alleviated the boredom between loops by swapping stories and jokes with Mike, Mike, and Gary.   She had her bikini top on with her cowboy boots!  Of course!
     We went round-n-round every hour, on the hour.  At hour 12 it was the last loop on trail before we moved to the road, but you hit night time during this loop.  A few drops were expected.  I'm not sure how many there were.  However we hit the next 12 road loops with about 20 or so runners, maybe just 16 but I don't know for sure.  While some folks, mostly Kelly, said I was real talkative, I actually felt like I didn't talk much at all.  Her and I did talk on loop 2 and maybe 3.
     In the middle of the night, probably loop 20 I really wanted to quit.  Gina urged me to go on, and I kinda knew I would not quit at that time, but got dammed, I wanted too.  I kept saying, okay dammit one more loop.  And plus there were 16 people left on the course. Geeze, I can't quit now!  
     This is where the poker game started.  Okay, how many folks can drop before me.  :)  Each loop I was like, "Got dammit, I hope one of these fuckers quit!!!!"  But they just didn't quit.  On loop 25 we moved back onto the trail.  A few drops were expected on this loop and the odds makers were not let down.  At loop 27 there were 6 runners left.
     After loop 29 I dropped. Runner 6.  By loop 32 there were only 3 men standing.  Loop 37, 2 men remained, and after loop 48 the last two men both stopped.  What a chivalrous end too an epic adventure.
     I stopped after loop 29 for one reason.  I took the pain personal.  I ran the short road section, before we hit the trail portion of the loop and the pain really grabbed me.  I had been having this conversation over the last two loops as the pain would torment me, "Okay John, think about something else right now."  This strategy was effective.  I'd been using it since loop 20.  I even thought to myself. "Imagine this is the last loop, of the last race, you'd ever run in your life, would the pain be so personal then? Would it matter how bad it hurt if you knew in 10 minutes you'd never run again?"
     I knew the answer to the question already, "No, the pain would not matter."  However this still did not stop the pain from overwhelming my mental capacity to push it away. It's as if you need to view yourself at point A and the pain at point B.  You are not the pain and the pain is not you.  You exist and the pain exists, but the pain isn't taking this out on you like a school yard bully.  To love the pain or to hate the pain  is to acknowledge the pain and let it control you a bit.  If you consider the pain with a "measured indifference" then it becomes manageable, controllable. 
     So thank you to Laz and the volunteers and especially to my crew chief Gina for providing the venue and support that helped me learn this valuable lesson.  When Epictetus wrote his Enchridion, he could have just entitled it, "Measured Indifference" .  The path to realizing the principles of the chief philosophy which I espouse, has just become more clear.
    

Big Dream Came True

     I'm behind on my posts from the Barkley Fall Classic and La Ultra the High.  I've got a bunch of work to do.  I guess I'll get caught up, eventually.  I got off my ass and created a small personal run coaching business.  I've been wanting to do this since 2010, but lacked confidence and experience.  Whether I have the requisite experience or not now, it doesn't matter.
     This new endeavor is a project for me in an number of capacities.  Aside from learning how to coach someone other than myself, it's an exercise in methodology, marketing, social media presence, accounting, management, empathy, motivation, among other things.  It's generally understood that physical achievement is tied closely to mental outlook.  So it's also a project in philosophy and psychology.
     The business is Sharp Coaching. I'll be working with clients, motivating them, providing training schedules, nutrition advice, and necessary advice/guidance to help them tackle any dream they have in the running space.  5K to 10K to 26.2 to 100miles, road or trail.  Running is simple, that's my ultimate idea.   Let's un-muddy the waters so you can focus on being a runner, not a scientist or psychologist. 
     Most importantly, I want to do this on my own terms.  I'm me.  It would be a violation of my personal ethic to present myself in this endeavor as someone other than my authentic self.  I'm "required" to do this in my professional position.  When I'm working in my personal, passionate  space, authenticity must be paramount.  However, the client is due professional service, and diligent dedication to your commitment to their goals.  My intention is to provide this.
   
              Let's run, let's have fun, let's change the world! 
   
    

Hardrock 2014 Race Report - Esse Quam Videri

      This year was my 4th time to stand on the start line since 2009 and I had never been more prepared.  If you are friends with me on Facebook then you know that I have been training seriously since October 2013.   You can see my training log here: JOHNSHARPTRAINIG
      The pre-race hiking and acclimatization days went well as I used some of these times to help me feel confident about what splits were achievable and about what type of shape I was in.  This year was pretty special, some days I hiked alone and some days I went with friends.  My "parents" came and stayed the first week and on 3 July Samantha and Tony showed up. The 4th of July was epic with a 2nd place finish in the beer mile in 10:08 at 9,300ft elevation. 

      Also I got to carry the Hardrock banner in the parade. Scott and Melanie threw a tent up in the yard of the house we rented and it started feeling like Sturgis.   
     One of the biggest changes this year was having a crew and more pacers.  Before, Joyce would crew because Joe and I would be about the same speed and in 2012 Brian Ricketts paced me.  However, this year I had Joe as my main crew with Samantha O'Brien and then three pacers: Brooks Williams, Tony Russ, and Gina Chupka.  Additionally, after consultation with a 9 time Hardrock finisher Billy Simpson, I decided to cut my water in half.  The 3 previous starts, I started with about 110oz.  This year 52oz.  This made a big difference.  I had a pretty solid fueling strategy with Tailwind and VFUEL.  Lastly, even with the late snow melt and predicted rain, I knew my feet would be bullet proof because I was using Trail Toes anti-chafing/anti-blister cream.
     On the Wednesday before the race,  I sat down with Joe and based on some guessing we planned a 33:30 finish time using splits from Billy's 2012 round.  See the link for our mockup: HARDROCK_SPLITS.  This has my 2014 actual splits as well.  This 33:30 guess was also based on conversations and feedback from Billy.  The race check-in went well.  I packed drop bags and we waited.
     Race morning I got dressed and went over to the gym and started working on my video:

     At this point there is nothing to be worried about, just go run and have fun.  The early miles went as expected.  Strong climbs up to Grant Pass and Oscars.  Got some pretty good rain coming into Telluride, but I never slowed down.  As necessary I would drink water from the streams when my water would run out. My first bit of struggle was going up to Kroger's Canteen aid station out of Telluride.
     Before I cleared timberline I had to stop and throw up a few times.  I didn't know why at the time but I was mixing my Tailwind too strong.  I was putting 2 scoops per 16oz in my chest bottles.  After 8 hours I am guessing this was too much on the stomach.  I just wanted to try and get 300 calories an hour.  So I'd drink a bottle and take a gel.  I reached Kroger's pretty low so Roch and Megan gave me an O'Doul's to drink and some soda.

    Since I had low blood sugar, going down the 3 pitches to the road was slower than expected, but by the time I hit the road I felt much better and I hauled ass all the way to Ouray. 
      In Ouray I met my crew the second time, pretty pumped up.  I got to wear my sombrero I picked up at Clines Corners. 

    The crew fed me grilled cheese and chicken soup. I picked up Tony as my first pacer and we reached the Grizzly bear mine before we had to pull out our head lamps.  It started raining again when the sun went down, but by the time we reached Engineer aid station it stopped.  Tony was soaking wet because his jacket was shitty, but I was good.  We peaked and hit the road to Grouse Gulch aid station.  About a mile out, my IT band on my right knee was killing me.  Turns out my Hokas were causing me to pronate excessively and making my IT band hurt.  Paul Schmidt came to the rescue with his piece of panty hose trick.
     Here I picked up Brooks and we high tailed it up to the top of Handies Peak.  We made this section in 2hr50min and in the pre-hiking I made it in 2hr30min so I felt pretty good about how things were going.  I did push a bit going up, so the going down took a tad longer than I expected.  However, once we hit Burrows Park we hauled ass into Sherman and passed a few runners.
     Basically, everything went as planned until about 2 miles out of Pole Creek aid station.  I didn't have a hat or a buff to protect me from the sun.  Dammit.  I basically got overheated and my body started slowing down.  Looking back I should have laid in a stream for 5 minutes, got chilled and got my butt up and start running my tail off.  It's always a double edged sword though.  What if you got wet and chilled and a storm blows in?  We got in and out of Maggie's and made our way to Cunningham.  At the top of the first climb out of Maggie's we ran into a bit of sleet and hail, but nothing major.  It was a God send because it cooled me off and I was able to function a bit more efficiently.
     Brooks was doing a great job keeping me moving, taking selfies, regular pics, and throwing up!

     As we rolled into Cunningham, I was okay but pretty exhausted.  I knew that sub 35 at this point could be attainable, but I'd have to work really, really hard.  My first goal of finishing in the day light, I knew I would make.  I decided I'd take my time getting to the finish.  Does it really matter?   Yea, it does to some extent, but I was happy and satisfied. 
     I picked up Gina as my last pacer and we climbed up to the top of the final climb.  We got a bit of hail on us, but nothing to write home about.  Just kind of cooled us off.  Once we started heading downhill, the last seven or so miles into town I sat down on a rock.  I get a bit nostalgic at the end of events sometimes.  All this struggle, the labor, it will be over soon.  I wanted to hold on to it a bit longer.  Scotty Mills and his pacer went by.  I figured I should get moving.  We walked it in to town.
     As we approached the ski lodge, Bill Dooper met us.  That was a real treat.  He is ultrarunning's biggest fan and I enjoy seeing him at the races and chatting.  Coming down the final stretch on Reese Street,  I could see my crew standing in the middle of the road. For some reason Joe was walking Samantha's dog.  It was comical.  Here is us at the rock:

Reflections: Mostly I feel grateful and thankful.  For standing at the start line 4 times, for my friends who were there crewing me, pacing me, and bringing me to the finish line.  For a great mentor, coach, and friend who's made these Hardrock finishes possible. For the race itself.  That there is an event which demands all you've got.  For the ability to endure.  


               Esse quam videri  - To be, rather than to seem to be".

Chuy's To Chuy's Walk 2014

      Why would anyone want to walk from the Chuy's Mexican food restaurant in Selma, TX to the Chuy's restaurant in Austin, TX at Barton Springs?  Why not.  My friend Thomas Orf started this event about 4 years ago and has asked me numerous times to take part.  I never have.  In May, I saw him finish his walk from Austin to Selma with 3 other friends and then ride their bicycles home.  They looked really gassed.  As we were having a cold beer and sharing a meal at the Chuy's, I said, "Man this looks cool.  I'm going to do this as well." 
      That's how it all started. I went home and created a Facebook event and invited friends to take part on July 26th.  Pretty simple.  As the week came upon us, Jorge asked if we were really still going to do this, "Yes bro!"   Vincent Antunez from Trail Toes sponsored us and also took part. 
     The rules are simple.  Walk to Chuy's.  No running, no hotels.  The spirit of the event is for all participants to start and finish together.  We had a great time.  It took us 23 hours.   We left about 1430 on Saturday and finished at 1330 on Sunday.  No sleeping.  All went well for me except for my shoes were kinda dead after Hardrock. 

Here are my reflections from the Walk:

-Don't do it, WiFi on will kill battery in GoPro, my singing isn't as good as I thought, Hardrock kills Hokas, if you get an offer to ride the party bus you should take it, its really hot in Texas in July, jalapeños and 100k don't mix, I've got great friends, and Austin looks a lot closer on the map.

And Jorge's:

- John's jokes don't get better as time progress
- trim your damn nails before walking 100k (and calluses)
- San Marcos looks better from a car (at 70mph) but they do apparently thrown killer parties
- they need a gas station between San Marcos and Kyle damn it!
- never understimate a guy with short legs, even after 50 miles and having done a 100 miler 2 weeks prior
- For all the Hoka OneOne love I always hear, pretty clear that I should stick with Pearl Izumi/Running
- John and Vincent kick ass
- never say never

 And Vincent's: 

-I now realize you don't need bling to make an event an event
-Doing any distance over 26.2 may in fact make you an ultra marathoner if it can be verified by others
-Saturday night drivers have a tendency to drive toward the light rather than away from it.
-John can only remember the some of the words to a lot of very old and very country, western songs but he knows all the lines to tombstone, young guns, and good will hunting
-No matter how dead an animal is it still stinks
-There is now at least one 7-11 gas station attend that at least knows the name Mises, and because of that I didn't get my much needed ten minute nap
-I can now say I know how it feels to walk a mile in John Sharps shoes
-Jorge has a great stride and makes it look effortless and no matter how hard I tried I could never keep up
-My wife is incredibly forgiving and accommodating and Isabella is cute as hell when placed in front of a camera
-My boy Phillip is a great soul who is in the process of becoming a better man, but even he thinks it is crazy to leave the house at 1000 pm to bring his father another pair of shoes, because the ones he was wearing hurt his feet (help you understand some of the statements above)
-Finally, 62 miles is a long way to walk for Salsa and beer, because that was about all I could tolerate after we started eating.
I do also want to thank Bill who called for a table at Chuy's so we didn't have to wait too long and also helped in other ways, you are a good man my friend

Vincent cried a bit :) about not getting any bling, so made him a finisher certificate:

Then I made a YouTube video: 

      Next year we'll go with the main group with Thomas leading.  Maybe try and get about 20 of us to participate.  That will be fun.  You don't need an official organized event to challenge yourself.  Create your own adventure.  Thanks Thomas.