Great Moments in Spelling (Part VI)

It’s sometimes said that one of the most difficult feats in sports is to win when you’re expected to.

When all you hear in the days leading up the event is how the victory is yours to lose; when all of your competitors acknowledge you as the person to beat; when everybody in the stadium fully expects you to coast to the championship; those are the times when following through with all the predictions can be quite daunting – especially when the margin of error is razor thin. As thin as a single letter, for instance.

With that in mind, we’ll start the recap of the 2009 Scripps National Spelling Bee, which will be remembered as the story of one girl’s quest to fulfill the burden of expectations under the most intense pressure imaginable. Kavya Shivashankar, a 4-time NSB participant who placed 4th in last year’s event, was everybody’s pick to win – but in the past several years, every other kid who has entered the contest as the prohibitive favorite has gone home empty handed. Would Kavya capture that elusive combination of skill, savvy, and luck to finally grab the title? We’d have to wait until prime time to find out.


In the meantime, there were seven preliminary rounds to survive just to make the evening’s main event. Some highlights from the morning rounds:

(As usual, all indicated times are from the PDT broadcast, and all pictures courtesy of Reuters …)

7:04 AM: 41 spellers begin Round 4, the first round to be televised on ESPN – which speaks to the brutality of this competition. Nearly 300 spellers – all of whom are unquestionably, immensely talented kids – take part in the first three rounds, which means that barely 15% of them will ever see the lights of national TV during the preliminary rounds. I think you’d have a better percentage chance of making the finals of American Idol than Round 4 of the NSB.

7:15: ESPN made us wait 15 whole minutes before our first Erin Andrews appearance. She attended the pre-Bee barbecue where the kids do all kinds of fun activities and have races and play games against each other. Whenever they show the kids playing team events like softball, I’m always curious as to what names the opposite sides come up with: Consonants vs Vowels? Gerunds vs Participles? Dipthongs vs Schwas? I’m sure these brainiacs must invent some pretty clever names.

Dr Bailly

7:18: So far, the most pleasant surprise at this year’s Bee are the sentences that seem like they were written by the Tonight Show staff. Whenever a contestant asks for the word to be used in a sentence, judge Jacques Bailly has something witty teed up. For kinetosis (motion sickness) he had, “The first annual Spelling Bee at Sea was also the last after the chaos caused by the spellers’ kinetosis.” For Beckmesser (a teacher of music overly reliant on rules or minutiae) the sentence was, "Kid Rock was seen leaving the club with a Beckmesser on each arm, demanding he practice more." I mean … did you ever think you’d hear a Kid Rock reference at the NSB? If they could somehow hire the Jonas Brothers as the house band to take us into commercial breaks, the ratings for this thing would be blockbuster.

8:09: Erin Andrews is interviewing a kid eating a cookie. Here’s the deal: I don’t know what kind of player 9-year-old Sriram Hathwar is with the ladies at his local elementary school, but of this much I feel quite certain: when Erin Freaking Andrews is talking to you, swallow your cookie, kid! Or at least offer to share. On the plus side, this kid is the envy of about 10 million high-school and college-aged guys right now.

8:56: O Canada, Where Art Thou? At the risk of offending anybody, I’ll just ask: what the heck happened to Canada? In previous years they sent large contingents of spellers who made it deep into the competition, with Canadian spellers even finishing as runners-up in 2006 and 2007. The Canucks were such a threatening force that I concocted this whole notion of the Maple Leaf Project taking place across our northern border, dedicated to intellectual domination of the United States. It added a new geopolitical dimension to the Bee that was equal parts exciting and terrifying.

Veronica Penny

The 2008 NSB saw the Canadian Massacre, where seven straight Canadian contestants were dinged out of the competition in Round 5 – so this year, I figured they’d return with a vengeance. However, in this year’s Round 5, the Canadians are again cut down like timber: Claudine Broussard misses eurystomatous (having a broad mouth), Canadian champ Laura Newcombe misses hyalithe (an opaque glass), and Veronica Penny misses macle (a flat diamond) – and just like that, our neighbors to the north are swept from the contest.

The Maple Leaf Project has clearly fallen on hard times (perhaps a victim of the economy?). Although I’m as patriotic as the next guy, this makes me kind of sad - in some ways I kind of miss the old rivalry. So step it up next year, Canada … for all of our sakes.

10:34: For an event where each person’s fate hinges on a single letter or syllable spoken incorrectly, this year’s Bee has been remarkably predictable through the morning rounds. Nearly all of the favorites - including Kavya - have made it to the prime-time telecast that begins with Round 7 later this evening.

Kavya looking strong

8:01 PM: Prime time! For some reason, each year ABC feels compelled to replace the morning round host – the very competent Chris McKendry – with Tom Bergeron for the evening session. I’m almost 100% certain that viewers aren’t tuning in to this event because of Bergeron’s star power - and somehow, having the “Funniest Home Videos” guy as master of ceremonies just reinforces the idea that good spellers are all nerds. Or maybe I’m just overly sensitive about this. At least they’ve kept Erin Andrews around for the sex appeal factor.

8:03: I often make hockey analogies during these Bee recaps, because the NSB usually takes place during the Stanley Cup finals, and because it often involves some US/Canada drama (or at least, it did, back when Canada used to be good at spelling). Hockey players are known for being freaks about superstition, and one of the highest commandments is that you NEVER touch the Stanley Cup unless you have won it. It’s disrespectful to the hockey gods, and it brings terrible karma upon your team.

I’m reminded of this during the opening montage featuring each kid holding the NSB trophy while he or she is introduced. There’s only one of the 11 finalists who sits next to the statue without touching it: Kavya Shivashankar. File this point away for future reference.

Neetu celebrates

8:25: Every year there seems to be one kid in the finals whose excitement and enthusiasm are contagious; this year, that kid is 13-year-old Neetu Chandak. After spelling ophelimity (economic satisfaction) correctly, she beams and pumps her arms and acts like the happiest kid in the world. Especially in comparison to the kids who gnash their teeth or cower behind their placards between rounds, it’s very delightful to watch.

Kennyi having some fun

8:30: We’re off to a fairly gentle start: Ten out of eleven contestants spell their Round 7 word correctly, Dr Bailly keeps bringing down the house with one-liner sentences, and Kennyi Aouad has won the crowd’s hearts by wearing a pair of fake glasses onstage in honor of Dr Bailly. Good times all around – it almost makes you forget that the night will end in heartbreak for all but one of these kids …

Sidharth struggling

8:53: … and the hammer falls suddenly: To most observers, the biggest challenge to Kavya winning this year’s title would be Sidharth Chand, who was runner-up in last year’s Bee. So it’s the biggest shock of the evening when Sidharth stumbles over apodyterium (a dressing room in an ancient Greek gymnasium) in Round 8 - and just like that, the path to victory seems a whole lot clearer for Kavya.

For the record, here’s an interesting NSB fact: no runner-up has ever won the Bee the following year. It’s like how the losing Super Bowl team never makes it back to the championship game, only this streak goes back twice as many years. There has to be some sociological hypothesis to draw from this – we need to get Malcolm Gladwell on the case.

8:54: Immediately after Sidharth gets taken out, happy-go-lucky Neetu gets bounced by derriengue (a paralytic disease affecting livestock). Upbeat to the end, she says “Ding!” to the judge before hearing the bell that seals her fate.

This Bee has gotten a whole lot meaner. Seven spellers remain at the end of Round 8.

9:04: Kavya’s now the clear favorite to win, but she’s going to have to earn it: every speller gets their Round 9 word correct. From this point on, every word is a battle.

9:07: Kyle Mou (right) has been the most soft-spoken contestant of the evening, and he looks to weigh about 70 pounds dripping wet - but he’s carrying a big stick thus far at the Bee. He’s also very familiar with words of French origin: in successive rounds, he nails avoirdupois (a unit of weight), plaidoyer (a plea made in court), and oeillade (a coquettish glance).

9:35: Unbelievable! All seven spellers sail through Round 10 as well. These aren’t sissy words, either: if you tell me you’ve ever heard of cretonne (an unglazed linen fabric), xebec (a Mediterranean sailing ship), or huisache (a thorny shrub), I’ll call you a liar.

9:51: That’s more like it: three spellers are finally eliminated in Round 11, and we’ve got our final four. Although the pressure is mounting, Kavya hasn’t blinked - she breezes through ecossaise (a lively dance tune) to make it to round 12.

9:58: Kyle Mou’s French karma runs out, as he runs into the “Greek to Latin to International Scientific to English combining form” schizaffin (slender and slight), and we’re down to three.

The stage gets lonlier

10:06: No one’s giving an inch: All three spellers nail their Round 13 words. Since we’ve officially gone over the allotted time, Tom Bergeron reassures us that we’ll still get to see the scheduled re-run of Gray’s Anatomy in its entirety. Good to know.

10:15: Just like that, the door opens: In Round 14, Aishwarya Pastapur misses menhir (a prehistoric monolith), and Tim Ruiter misses Maecenas (a generous benefactor), while Kavya coolly knocks out phoresy (a non-parasitic relationship between animals for transportation). She’s at the crest of the mountaintop – one more word will get her there.

10:16: Kavya’s a fantastic speller, but a terrible poker player: As soon as she hears the word Laodicean (indifferent in religion or politics), a small but very noticeable grin forms on Kavya’s face. She asks a couple of questions as a matter of formality, and to gain her composure before spelling the word correctly to win the championship.

10:17: Almost before she even finishes the word, Kavya’s dad leaps from his chair and rushes over to hug his daughter. The CEO of the Scripps Company comes over to congratulate her, and then – finally – Kavya takes hold of the trophy she’s pursued for four long years. It’s hers now, to visit relatives with, to take to parties, or to guzzle champagne from (oops, sorry – I’m thinking of hockey players again).

For any of us on the outside, it’s impossible to know the dedication these kids possess from day to day, month to month, and year after year in hopes of having a moment like this on the NSB stage. (On a related note: how come nobody has thought to create an extended-run reality TV show about these spellers? I’m almost positive that people would watch this.) What’s obvious, though, is how much they enjoy the practice, the camaraderie of their peers, and the competition of the Bee itself. Only one kid takes home the trophy, but everyone is better for having taken part.

If those aspects sound similar to ultras or triathlons, that’s probably not a coincidence – and maybe that’s why I like this event so much.


* See previous editions of this series on sidebar at right.

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Fuzzy Math

Admin note: I'm going to need another day or two for a National Spelling Bee recap; I'm finding it quite challenging to sit through seven hours of taped coverage when I'm only averaging about four and a half hours of sleep per night. Sometimes the body just wins. In the meantime, another fatigue-related post ...

**
Actual e-mail exchange between a running partner and me during the middle of last week:

Him: How many miles are you running over these two weeks?

Me: I’m hoping for 80 this week, and 65-70 next week before tapering. I’m a little tired lately.

I usually track my weekly mileage from Monday to Sunday - for no significant reason other than that’s the way I decided to do it many years ago – and I generally don’t spend too much time worrying about reaching a certain number from week to week. I just figure that if I run as much as I’m able to from one day to the next, and one week to another, the numbers will work out where I need them to be.

That’s why it took me by surprise when my oxygen-depleted brain started rearranging days and numbers and mileage in the midst of a slow two-hour run on Friday. Maybe it was trying to make sense of how tired I felt, and why this week became exponentially harder to drag myself out the door with each passing morning.

And it took me by even greater surprise when I started doing the math: If I switched the days around and counted the week from Saturday to Friday, my mileage total was a bit higher than I expected.

It was higher than 80. Even higher than 90. And 100. During that seven day stretch, I ran 108 miles.

At first I was certain that I was counting the numbers incorrectly - that it must have been some fuzzy math that was a byproduct of chronically fatigued gray matter. So I recounted after I came home, and again in the middle of my work day, and again during a long set of my swim workout (Like how I threw that in there? I'm still swimming a couple of days per week, too). Every time, the numbers came out the same.

So, um ... did I say I was a little tired lately? I should probably clarify that to say that I'm a LOT tired. Exhausted, really. That's not to say that there's anything wrong, or that I'm in a situation I'd rather not be. It's simply a means I've chosen to accomplish the result I'm going after at the end of June.

The funny thing is, having full awareness of the mileage I'm posting seemed to make me even more tired than I was before knowing - like the way you don't fully notice the pain from a sunburn until people start saying, "Wow, you're really getting burned!" This whole training period has been a slow boil of sorts, building so gradually that you might not notice except when it becomes highly dangerous.

I only have a couple more weeks of heavy training ahead of me, so the light is definitely glimmering at the end of this particular tunnel (I know, that's three consecutive sentence analogies - but sometimes I just can't help it). However, to ensure that I get there in one piece, I'm making a couple of modifications to my training plans: I'm going back to my Monday to Sunday schedule, and I'm going to try not to count the mileage anymore.

It probably won't give me any more energy, but I think it might make me happier - because this feels like one of those situations where ignorance is bliss.

**
Footnote: The following song doesn't have anything to do with the post, but I'm posting it for a couple of reasons: 1) I'm LOVING the new Green Day album, and 2) I'm just feeling generous. Here's a live version of one of my favorites, "The Static Age" (click to play):

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Nathan HPL 020 Hydration Vest Review

Of all the hydration packs I’m testing, I was most eager to review the Nathan HPL 020.

A couple of years ago, I started noticing Nathan vests more and more frequently at races, and shortly concluded that they were the brand of choice among ultrarunners. (Since I’ve been paying closer attention this spring, I’d now say it’s a two-horse race between Nathan and Ultimate Direction – but I’d still give the edge to Nathan at this point.) You don’t see the same product at race after race simply because it has a slick marketing campaign – so I knew there must be something compelling about this vest.

One reason for ultrarunners’ attraction to this product is that the HPL 020 was created specifically to race in ultras. It doesn’t pretend to be any kind of backpack or mountain biking hybrid – its sole purpose is to get you through a 100-mile footrace. If you want something for multiple activities, this probably isn’t the product for you. However, if you’re looking for an ideal blend of hydration and cargo storage for your multi-hour trail runs, this vest should suit your needs perfectly.

The HPL 020’s ultrarunning focus comes naturally - it was designed and tested by Dana Miller, a 16-time finisher (and 5-time winner) of the Wasatch 100. Miller (nicknamed “Mud n’ Guts”) is one half of Nathan’s product development team, sharing responsibilities with Bryce Thatcher, an adventure racer and speed climber. The two of them have worked together for more than 20 years, and as Nathan's About Us page makes clear, you won’t find a more badass pair of outdoor athletes to put new products to the test.

(And before we go any further, I’ll answer the obvious question – HPL stands for Human Propulsion Laboratories. According to the website, the HPL “conducts brutal product experiments with the help of dozens of top-level athletes … the HPL Series includes the products inspired by and named for their respective athletes.” It sounds both hardcore and scientific - so if these products don’t work for you, maybe it’s not Nathan’s fault … you’re probably just not good enough.)

So there’s your background – let’s look at some details of the vest.

You’ll notice two things almost immediately when you pick up the HPL 020: the first is how lightweight it feels. The vest weighs just 14oz when empty; except for the hydration unit itself, the entire piece is composed of a lightweight mesh material that is very comfortable and breathable, and weighs next to nothing.

The second distinction is the fit of the HPL 020 compared to traditional hydration packs. You’ll notice that I’ve been using the word “vest” instead of “pack” to describe this product so far – that’s an intentional distinction indicating that the HPL 020 is meant to be worn differently than other packs. The vest intentionally has a loose fit - the information tag describes it as “more like a hug than a weight on your back” – that is anchored by a 3-way propulsion harness device in back. The harness is like a pulley system that articulates back and forth with the small (but normal) movements of your upper torso while running, and allows each of the shoulder straps to move independently. The front of the vest has one simple sternum strap (which doubles as a drink tube clip) to hold the left and right sides together.

At first, it’s a strange sensation to feel the pack shifting while running - your first instinct will be to look for a strap to tighten – but the net result of this design is a very minimal vertical or lateral movement of the hydration pack.

Fighting the heat at Diablo

The looseness of the HPL 020 also helps with air movement and prevents the vest from feeling too warm against your body. This is the vest I wore at Diablo in April, where temperatures were in the 90s for much of the day; although I was suffering general heat-related issues like everybody else there, at no time did the vest feel uncomfortable, or like it contributed to increased body heat. In those conditions, I suspect that a larger, heavier, or more snug-fitting pack might have caused some unwanted problems.

The front of the vest consists of mesh storage compartments: one has a zipper, one has a drawstring, and one is a holster with an elastic border on top. The zipper compartment is roomy enough for a headlamp or small flashlight, and the elastic pocket on top of it is the perfect size for my camera. The drawstring compartment is great for gels or energy bars. Since all of these pockets are in front of you, they are extremely easy to access on the run. The largest storage areas on the HPL 020 are two rear zipper compartments above the hydration unit, bringing the total storage capacity to 100 cubic inches.

Like other models in this category, the fluid capacity of the HPL 020 is 70 oz, with a screw-top reservoir that is very easy to open and close. Compared to other brands, the Nathan reservoir isn’t particularly remarkable – but it is the source of my one critique of the vest.

I found the drink nozzle to be a bit problematic, in that it’s not a typical bite valve – it’s a “pull out and bite” valve, which is supposed to decrease leakage. However, the pullout part isn’t easily done; you have to really get a good grip on it, and in my experience, almost every time I successfully pulled the nozzle out, the pressure of my fingers caused a few drops of fluid to splash out. You also have to careful about which part you’re pulling, as the plastic cover of the valve can detach from its base – a feature that is provided to facilitate cleaning the tube, but caused some frustration when I accidentally detached it on the trail a few times.

Aside from that, the HPL 020 very much earns its lofty status in the ultra community. Some summary bullets:

Strengths:
• Extremely lightweight
• Loose fit is very comfortable, even in severe heat
• Harness systems prevent excess movement of fluid reservoir
• Front storage areas provide quick access and enough space for essentials
• Rear storage and shock cord for carrying larger items
• Gender specific models (see below)

Drawbacks:
• Since the vest is so minimalist, there aren’t any adjustments to make aside from the sternum strap – but this is a potential liability as well. If you don’t happen to like the fit, there’s not much adaptability to play with.
• The drink nozzle issues mentioned above were an inconvenience, especially in light of everything else being so simple and effective.
• Probably not suited for activities besides long-distance trail running.

Additionally, Nathan makes a women’s model of the HPL 020 called the Intensity, with the propulsion harness system designed for a shorter torso length; it retails for $73 from Amazon.com. The men's HPL 020 is available at a killer discount from Amazon, where it retails for just $56, which is definitely the best deal you'll find anywhere. If you’re a dedicated trail runner looking to make longer distances easier, the HPL 020 makes an excellent choice.

*If you’ve used this product, please weigh in with a comment to agree, disagree, or share your experience.

**See other product reviews on sidebar at right. If you have a product you’d like reviewed, contact me at info@runningandrambling.com

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Drymax Lite Trail Socks

Admin note: It’s National Spelling Bee day! Clear out your TiVos for Thursday’s prime-time broadcast, or – if you’re crazy obsessive like me – set aside a half-day to watch the preliminary rounds on ESPN before the evening’s main event. Check back here on Monday or Tuesday for a recap – and until then, feel free to browse through previous years’ editions on the sidebar at right.

And now back to the running stuff: I’m interrupting the regularly scheduled gear review to bring you … another gear review of sorts. Actually, it’s an update about a company and products I’ve already raved about in the past: Drymax socks.

Last Saturday’s 32-mile run on the Western States course was an experiment of sorts in what conditions my feet would be able to tolerate on race day. Specifically, I was concerned about immersing myself in the rivers, and being able to run comfortably up the canyons on the other side.

No worries with Drymax socks!

As you can see, I didn’t bother with taking off shoes, socks, or gaiters during my river plunges. Four separate times, I dunked myself at least waist deep (two of which, as evidenced above, were head deep), then hopped out of the river and kept running – no shoe (Montrail Hardrock, if you’re curious) or sock changes necessary. After seven hours of running, my feet were in almost perfect condition.

One more note on the socks: I was wearing a new Drymax model called the Version 4 Lite Trail Running sock. It’s a bit thinner than the standard Drymax trail sock, but it performs just as well – so if you’re someone who prefers a very thin, lightweight sock, you’ll probably love the Lite Trail. It’s not available online yet, but probably will be within a few weeks - just in time for some hot summer trail running. They are are available at Wilderness Running Company for $11.00, minus a 10% discount if you use coupon code R&R10.

I’ll probably stick with the standard Drymax trail sock at Western States, and I’ve got great confidence that they’ll be up to the task. And I’m totally looking forward to diving into those river crossings again.

*See other product reviews - including my previous Drymax review - on sidebar at right. If you have a product you'd like reviewed, contact me at info@runningandrambling.com.

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Western States Training Camp Report

As strange as it may sound, on some level I was a bit reluctant to visit the Western States course before race day.

Part of what pulls me through long trail races are the series of continual “Oh, wow!” moments as I’m traveling down a new path, taking in all the sights like a wide-eyed toddler going around Disneyland for the first time. I was afraid that some of that race-day luster might fade if I was revisiting places and reliving experiences that I had already been through before.

On a related note … have I mentioned that I’m an idiot?

Of COURSE it was a good idea for me to go to Western States camp – and the more I thought about it, the less sense my little “faded luster” theory made. After all, if you are lucky enough to see the pyramids twice, or visit the Sistine Chapel twice, they would be equally wonderful and impressive both times, right? I figure that the same can be said of the Western States trail – because it’s probably as beautiful and inspiring a creation as you’ll ever see. Throw in the fact that it’s a perfect opportunity to get familiar with the challenges that await you on race day, and it was kind of a no-brainer that I needed to be there.

However, I’m not going to post too many trail photos here or do a standard course review, because I’m filing most of what I gathered away for a race report in 5 weeks. What I will share, though, are some of the more prominent thoughts I brought home after spending 32 miles on the course last weekend.

Western States trail sign

1) These people are crazy

You know the old expression, “In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king”? Well, at Western States camp, that can be modified to read “In the land of a 3-day, 70-mile trail run, the man who only runs one day is a sissy.”

I only planned on doing Saturday’s run, which featured the most mileage and covered the signature climbs of the course, and then returning home to balance out the rest of the weekend being a Dad and getting some chores done. It worked out just fine for me, but I found I was in a very small minority of single-day runners.

Just about everyone was staying for back-to-back long runs on at least two days – and by the end of Saturday's run, I got tired of saying “No, I’m just here for the day.” As challenging as the run was, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was taking the easy way out. I wonder what obsessive-compulsive people did before ultrarunning was invented?

2) These people are fun

Without a doubt, my favorite memory of the run will be the impromptu beach parties that took place at the bottom of Deadwood and El Dorado canyons. Temperatures weren’t even that severe – probably about 80 degrees, which is quite mild by WS standards – but refreshing our legs in the cool water proved to be the perfect prelude to the killer climbs that awaited on the other sides of the rivers. The atmosphere at these crossings was a blast, with everybody marveling at how good the water felt, how glad we were that we stopped, and how fortunate we were to be enjoying this day.

Scott Dunlap kneeling by the river

Some of us grabbed a little more enjoyment than others:

Chilling in the water: photo courtesy of Scott Dunlap

Is there a Western States duathlon? Because I felt like could have swam laps in that water all afternoon. Unfortunately, there were still about 10 miles of trail that we needed to knock out, so I eventually dragged myself out of the river.


3) These people are awesome

Given that this was a training run, there was absolutely no pressure on anybody to post a certain time, maintain a given speed, or keep up with anybody else. Consequently, there were some extremely good runners interspersed throughout the course with the rest of us, and people got to spend more time than usual socializing on the trail. Western States veterans shared information about the course, and the newbies kept peppering them with questions.

Lots of time for picture taking: photo courtesy of Sunshine Girl

Throughout the day, I probably had extended conversations with about 20 different people – trust me, this is a HUGE number for a guy who typically keeps his head down and mouth shut in the midst of a 50K. Bloggers and non-bloggers, familiar faces and strangers, runners and volunteers – everybody was fair game for a little bit of socializing.

Best of all, this was clearly a group of people who shared a common passion for the Western States trail, which underscored the camaraderie we enjoyed throughout the day. The next time we’re here, most of us will be worried about course conditions, pace times, and various physical ailments – so it was nice to see that this group of crazy obsessive-compulsives also knows how to get along with each other so well.

4) This is really happening!

The thought that struck me most frequently during my day on the Western States trail was, Hey - I’m actually here! The point was reinforced a bit stronger almost every time I saw a sign.

I suspect that most folks who do Western States for the first time have a similar experience: at first, the race is just a crazy event in some kind of parallel universe. Then you start learning about the race, and hearing about places like Michigan Bluff and Foresthill and No Hands Bridge, and they begin to take on some vague meaning. When you’re entered in the race, you start studying maps, and the names of different sections of the course become increasingly important landmarks: Last Chance. Dusty Corners. Deadwood. Devil’s Thumb. El Dorado. You burn them into your brain, even though you have no idea what they look like up close.

Notice the shoes?

However, it’s one thing to memorize these places on a map, and an entirely different feeling to actually see those names on signs everywhere you look. For me, this weekend was when the idea finally started sinking in: This is where it takes place – and now I’m here. This thing is really happening. And if that doesn’t make your heart race a little bit faster … I guess there’s not much else I can say.

So let’s mark the countdown timer at T-minus five weeks until I get to return to this beautiful area, to share a life-shaping experience with some of the best (as well as craziest) people in the world. I suspect that between now and then, it might be hard for me to concentrate on anything else.

See you soon!

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National Running Day

Admin note: This is a potentially crazy week in Running and Rambling Land. I'm still sifting through photos and thoughts from my time at the Western States camp on Saturday, which will be the topic of the next post. I've got two more hydration pack reviews to bang out, and there's this little event on Thursday called the National Spelling Bee that - in case you're a newcomer to the blog since last year - I'm an absolute freak about (see the right sidebar for evidence of this). Oh, and by the way - I'm also in the middle of my two highest-volume training weeks in preparation for running 100 straight miles next month.

Accordingly, over the next several days, one of the following things is likely to happen: 1) I'll push the physiological limits of sleep deprivation and Diet Pepsi tolerance to crank out the miles and reviews and reports, or 2) I'll completely burn out, have a nervous breakdown, and some stranger will find me walking naked on the streets of Carmel Valley at 3AM muttering things like "Devil's Thumb ... Ultimate Direction ... Jacques Bailly" incoherently over and over. Honestly, it could go either way.

Regardless, it promises to be interesting. To get us rolling, though, I'm keeping things fairly down to Earth, with an article from last week's Monterey Herald.

*
Call me a cynic, but I've never been a fan of the myriad designated "national days" intended to make us healthier in one way or another. For example, the Great American Smokeout has been going every November for over 30 years - but I suspect its contribution to the decreased smoking rate is rather miniscule compared to measures like legislative bans (widespread no-smoking areas, etc) and enormous taxation that impact people every single day.

It often seems to me that the national day designation is a kind of last-ditch attempt to raise awareness of an issue when the organizing group has completely run out of other promotional strategies - and the effectiveness of such a ploy is generally limited to a subset of people who go, "Oh, really? They have a day for that?" before resuming their normal lifestyle for the next 364 days.

Already in 2009, we've had National Give Kids a Smile Day, National Wear Red Day (for heart health), National Black HIV Awareness Day, National Donor Day, National Kidney Day, National Women's HIV Awareness Day (meaning that if you're a black woman, you've already had two HIV awareness days to observe), National Native American HIV Awareness Day (boy, the HIV lobby loves those awareness days, don't they?), National Diabetes Alert Day, National Tubercolosis Day, National Alcohol Screening Day, and so on. (I'm not linking to them ... but go ahead and Google any of those if you think I'm exaggerating.)

What's more, the "national days" are only the tip of the iceberg compared to the number of "awareness months" for just about every health related issue you can imagine. The sheer volume of good causes and healthy habits is so overwhelming that it seems hard for any one of them to capture anyone's attention in a manner that leads to long-term improvement. That's not to say that any of these aren't worthy causes; it's just that the idea of creating an awareness day to permanently change behavior seems like a longshot.

So you can imagine my reaction when I learned about National Running Day.

My first instinct was to ignore the event, dismissing it as another gimmicky ploy - but then I remembered that I'm the author of a newspaper column about running. If nothing else, the idea gave me something to fill my usual allotment of column space - and who knows, maybe the day will actually inspire somebody. I can't say that I'm confident of that happening, though - and you can probably sense my ambivalence in the Monterey Herald column that follows below.

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Running Life 05/21/09 “National Running Day”

Are you getting excited for National Running Day yet?

If you’ve never heard of National Running Day, don’t feel bad – neither had we until recently. That’s because this is the first annual event – and it’s taking place on Wednesday, June 3rd.

Of course, regular runners already recognize the many gifts that running provides. However, National Running Day is a great chance to get the word out and help our friends and co-workers get started. If you’re not a runner, this is a golden opportunity to give it a try – use this occasion as your first day to get out and run.

National Running Day is a grassroots effort to promote the benefits of running as a healthy, fun, easy, accessible, and inexpensive form of exercise. Across the country, the day will celebrate the benefits of running as an integral part of a healthy and active lifestyle.

The foremost race organizations in the country, including the Big Sur Marathon, are encouraging everyone of all ages and fitness levels to get out and run. Big Sur Race Director Wally Kastner says the message of the day is that “Everyone can run.”

Anybody can join in the National Running Day festivities simply by going for a run. A website has been created at www.runningday.org with advice for beginners and activity ideas for June 3. You can even download an “I’m a Runner/I Ran Today” Facebook button - because as everyone knows, it’s not a real party until someone puts it on Facebook.

Your responsibility as a runner is to find one non-runner and get them started. Provide advice to one person, or schedule an informal run at work and encourage sedentary co-workers to get involved. Teachers or administrators can have their students run that day as part of relays or other fun activities. Look at justrun.org for great running related activities for kids.

If you manage or own a business, make it a priority for your employees to schedule a run that day. Give them time off in the middle of the day and encourage them to start a healthy lifestyle. It will save you medical costs and raise employee energy and morale.

If you have a retail or food service business you can provide special discounts to runners on that day. How do you know who is a runner? By the smile on their face and the sweat on their brow when they ask you for the discount. Or just check their shoes.

Our two local running stores are both providing great deals. The Treadmill in the Carmel Crossroads is providing a 25% discount on running shoes on National Running Day and will throw in a free pair of socks as well. Fleet Feet at Del Monte Center is providing a 10% discount on shoes from now through June 3rd as an incentive to get started – just mention our article and say that you’re a new runner. Fleet Feet also has programs to help new runners train for local races.

Doug Logan, CEO of USA Track and Field, says, “This is a day to celebrate the most universal of all sports. You might be running toward a goal, running with a purpose, or even just running away from your problems. Any reason is a good reason to run, especially on National Running Day.”

We encourage you to get out and run on June 3rd. Wave and smile to others who are doing the same thing. Remember, if you get someone started, it’s the best gift you can give to a friend.

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My Personal Jesus

“Your own personal Jesus -
Someone to hear your prayers, someone who’s there.”
- Depeche Mode, “Personal Jesus” (video after post)
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Here is the “tease” for this weekend’s sermon at a local church:

It just spoke to me, like … like … it was some kind of sign or something. And I figured that since they asked … I should go ahead and offer a couple of answers. Just what IS my Jesus like, anyway?

Almost immediately, I thought of the ridiculous Sports Jesus statues (often referred to jokingly as "Jesus Got Game" and other silly monikers) that have become a bit of an Internet laughingstock, and the goofy thought that came to mind was this: my Jesus is a trail runner.

Ultra Jesus!

I mean ... you know Jesus would be awesome at it, right? He’s probably got leg strength and lung capacity that’s completely off the charts. He’s not much for frills – in fact, he’s content to run with long hair and sandals like the Tarahumara runners who once visited (and dominated) the Leadville 100 in the early 1990s in nothing more than shorts and leather huaraches. I can run beside him like a child; he runs alongside me like an eternal pacer, able to pull me through the toughest, darkest sections of any adventure.

Granted, my example is kind of corny - and the statue is patently absurd - but there’s actually an element of seriousness to such thoughts for me. As it happens, this same topic came up in a small group discussion a couple of weeks ago, where I made a statement that might be somewhat objectionable: namely, that I get far more spiritual meaning out of a multi-hour trail run than I do while sitting in church.

If I ever begin to wonder about the presence of some divine hand in my life, I usually need look no further than the trails I travel day after day. The easiest way to for me restore my faith is to become immersed in the beauty of God’s creation - and there’s no more effective way for me to do that than to experience humility on the slopes of a high mountain, in the depths of a forest, or through a vast open countryside.

These are the moments where I marvel at the grand design; these are the places of beautiful seclusion where I sense God’s presence most acutely. I’m reminded that I’m another one of His creations, just as fearfully and wonderfully made as the most majestic surroundings I’ll ever encounter. It’s humbling, and inspiring, and the most compelling path to worship that I’ve ever known.

So yeah, as corny as it sounds … my Jesus is a trail runner. I’m not sure if that’s the answer the pastor has in mind on Sunday, but it’s the one that works for me. I’m hoping that’s all that matters.

*P.S. This Saturday, my Jesus and I will be taking in the sights of the Western States trail, at the first day of the WS training camp. The 32-mile run will be my first taste of the challenge that awaits in (gulp!) a mere five weeks – and it should give me lots of material to pray about.

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“Ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds of the air, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish of the sea inform you. Which of all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this?”
- Job 12:7-9 (New International Version)

**
“Reach out and touch faith.”
- Depeche Mode, “Personal Jesus” (click to play)


(P.P.S. I actually like Marilyn Manson's version of this song a lot better ... but those guys are WAY too creepy for me. So you're getting the original, which is still pretty darn cool.)

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