My latest musical exploration...

I took an existing song of mine, "Intensity 1: How it has to be", and decided to change some of the sounds and see what happened. From there, the new and altered version took on a life of its own.

While only planning on editing the 3-4 minute original song, it ended up turning into a 20+ minute piece.

20+ minutes is a lot to digest, so I broke it down into 10 'easy to handle' smaller pieces.

It's hard for me to single out specific songs as 'favorites' or 'have to hear' type songs. They are all so unique and full of twists and turns. Each song deserves its own spotlight to shine.




How it could have been

Original song "Intesity 1: How it has to be"
Intensity 1: How it has to be

Intensity

When I started this song a few days ago, I decided not to get to caught up and worried about song structure and format too much. So I just let the music keep layering and layering upon itself.

I kept doing a 'pass the torch' kinda thing...where I take one sound/riff and tweak it, spice it up or isolate a particular sound and turn it into something completely different, yet feeling like it was meant to be there.

After awhile, the song started to form a very intense sound...very strong and driving. It just felt right calling the work as a whole "Intensity." But that title alone wouldn't be enough to explain the different sections within the song.

I tried to divide the sections up evenly and interestingly. Each needed to pass the test if played solo. I think they do. They all have very unique feelings and intensities.

I'm really excited with how all of this came out.
Spent a good amount of time composing the music...medium amount of time arranging it all...and zero post production, balance, EQing... I heard the song so many times that it became the way the song "should sound"...so I decided to leave it be.

Full version.




A playlist with the songs broken down into the 5 individual parts

Billy's Jeans I-IV

This endeavor was quite interesting. 4 different songs, sharing similar traits, yet each with a different feel to it. This was not the planned course, but just how it all worked out. As usual, each instrument, sound effect, noise, etc is just a musical place holder of the notes. They can be changed out for any number of different sounds to make the song into whatever it needs to be.

I'm very shocked and pleased with how this turned out. These 4 tracks came together in less than a days time. Everything flowed right to were it needed to be. Its hard to put this into a genre of music. It really does touch on many different styles. Kind of a mini showcase of what can be done.

Just a personal opinion, but I think the last track is the best.



All constructive thoughts and ideas are welcomed!

https://soundcloud.com/tyler-greenhaw

Ghost Thriller (Ghostbusters 3 Theme Song)

When I first made this track, I was not planning on adding any vocals. The song works great on its own. But, this did turn out fairly descent for what it is. Future theme song of Ghostbusters3...?
I like the idea of taking my tracks and adding vocals to them from existing songs. I have the music, just no lyrics/singing.

I have several different versions of the song too. My personal favorite is the "Special" edition. It goes much deeper and requires more patience, but it is worth it in the end.

Opinions are always welcomed.

**Ghost Thriller: Bare Bones** edited/video version
**Ghost Thriller: Special** full version





https://soundcloud.com/tyler-greenhaw

This is my Soundcloud page. It is a great way to share my musical ideas with other people. All of the songs from the previous post are here as well, in their entirety (preferred method). All songs here are still unfinished works, but the general idea is there.

Tyler Greenhaw Soundloud
https://soundcloud.com/tyler-greenhaw

Some older ones I am fond of...

Crazy Girl
https://soundcloud.com/tyler-greenhaw/crazy-girl1-5

Gettin Paid
https://soundcloud.com/tyler-greenhaw/gettin-paid2-1

Music

Music. I didn't know I could create it until I tried. Now I can't stop. New ideas just keep popping up. So I write them down. Some get plugged into Fruity Loops, others slip through the cracks. Here are a few that I did just recently. I'm just trying to recreate what I hear in my head...

Ouachita Trail 50k

I had a strong desire to do another 50k trail race. I would say it was less of a desire, more like an itch. Like most itches, if you think about it enough, it will bother you until you do something about it. Doing something about an itch usually involves some form of scratching it. So the scratching of my itch came in the form of running the Ouachita Trail just outside of Little Rock, Arkansas. As it turns out, the Ouachita Trail and my experience there, did more than just scratch the itch. Instead of scratching the itch, I ended up taking a sledgehammer to it. All I was looking for was "a little more cowbell"*, so to speak.

*follow the link below if "a little more cowbell" doesn't mean anything to you...5 minutes of your time and a few laughs and all will be clear*

http://FunnyOrDie.com/m/458l




This race was very last minute for me. My friend David and I decided to make this a mutual adventure and carpool to Arkansas together. I generally like to know months in advance about my upcoming races. This gives me time to prepare physically and mentally for what is ahead. I knew I was in enough physical shape to run a 50k, it wouldn't be the prettiest, but it was not outside my current abilities. My mental preparation for the race was not anywhere close to where I wanted it to be. About the only thing I knew about the trail was what the race website had to say.  I did get one piece of advice from a friend though. He said "Be sure at the finish to yell...Texas Rules!". Hardly helpful information for running the race, but it was to be quite ominous.

We arrived at packet pickup just a few minutes after 5 AM. There weren't too many people there yet, so the lines were nice and short. When it was David's turn to pick up his packet, he gave the lady his last name. She fumbled through several pages of participants and was confused as to why his name wasn't on her list. Then she asked "the question". ARE YOU FROM TEXAS??? With a gulp, he replied "yes". Then she pulled out a 2nd list and found his name. I said to the lady, "wait a minute, do you have us (Texans) segregated??". Without missing a beat, she said firmly (and proudly) "yes we do!". Strike one for Texas. Strike two came in the form of our race bibs. Hand written with a sharpie was the phrase "Texas sucks!" on our bibs. WOW!!

The Start

The race started right as the sun was coming up. The first 3 miles were run on some good grinding hills on the roads. I was excited that the home stretch would have us cruising some nice downhill sections. Hopefully my legs would still have a little life in them to push the pace for the final kick to the finish.

I was very excited to finally get to the trailhead and start some trail running. The trail started off very technical. It was quite an interesting mix of fairly steep and off camber rocks. There was a stair case of sorts made out of rocks in the dirt that didn't seem so bad coming down them. But when you approach them on the way back, there are only two possible explanations for their existence. 1) it WAS a full set of stairs, yet every other one got eroded/washed away  OR 2) this was a hangout spot for Zeus, Hercules and Poseidon back in the day. I found out later on that #2 was in fact the correct answer. 

Now I get to Pinnacle Mountain. I have seen several videos that people have filmed on Pinnacle before. Of the 4 or so videos, they all are filmed at roughly the same spot. What you see in the video's looks very fun and challenging, but not too bad or steep. I decided to film some climbing action myself. The reason this "common area" of filming exists, it would be virtually impossible to continue filming after that particular junction (which is NOWHERE close to the top!). You needed ever body part to get to the top. Besides my feet and hands, I know I used my elbows and knees...and sometimes my crotch and butt to get the job done. The route gets much much steeper and challenging. We ceased being mountain goats and became straight up rock climbers. I kept thinking I would hear "on belay, belay on...climbing, climb on" from around me, but we were all rock climbing free solo. There was no preset path, it was a "choose your own adventure" scenario. If you could hug your body to a rock and advance higher, then that was a path. The views were spectacular if you got the nerve to disconnect from the rock for a moment.

I had a preconceived notion that when I reached the top of Pinnacle Mountain I would take a moment or two and soak it all in. Probably take some good pictures too. The reality for me was different. When I did reach the summit, I pulled out my camera, did a half-assed self portrait, and wanted to get the hell off of this mountain ASAP! Going down wasn't exactly easy. There was more awareness of the dangers of a fall going down because you could see exactly what you would be kissing with your face.

Finally we arrived to solid and "flat" ground and now is the time to start trail running! With this much excitement, varied terrain and unusual circumstances for me, I almost completely forgot about my "gameplan". I had covered about 7 miles in about 2 hrs. During that length of time, I only took in 2 gels, 2-3 endurolyte pills and maybe drank 30 oz of water. According to my plan, I should have been in the range of 5-6 gels, 5-8 pills, 60+oz of water. I didn't think much of this at the time, other then let's start taking care of these things correctly from now on, which I did. The effects of my lack of nutrition/race management will become evident later on.

The Ouachita trail was absolutely beautiful. Unfortunately my eyes were glued 2-5 ft in front of me at all times. Most of the trails I have run have technical and challenging sections to them, but they are only in stretches. This trail did have some really technical parts, but for the most part, it was mildly technical enough that one little glance at the scenery would result in a dive. Up, down and the occasional flat stretch...all the same, unrelenting focus and concentration. I was not expecting this type of terrain, but I did enjoy it nonetheless.

I had previously decided that my shoe arsenal did not contain a pair that could somewhat handle some rocky terrain. I decided to purchase the New Balance 110's and give them a try. In the rock department, I would say they performed adequate. If I was running longer, I might have wanted more shoe. I had tested the shoes out a few times prior to race day and loved them. My main issue at this race was my foot bouncing around inside them. If something even resembled a downhill stretch, my big toe on my right foot would immediately volunteer to headbutt itself against the shoe. At one point, I stopped and took off my shoes to try a lace-lock approach. But, my big toe was in LOVE with my shoe and it was apparently mating season, I couldn't stop the hanky panky going on down there...so this was like trying to preach abstinence to two teenage kids, it ain't gonna work.

I felt my running was very good and I was extremely pleased with how well overall I was dealing with this type of terrain. My recent running experience had been predominately on roads with a handful of trails thrown in. Normal running routes that I did had a few hills in them, but the flat areas took up the bulk of the mileage. So up until about mile 13 or 14, I was feeling pretty positive about everything.

The Demise

I thought I was just tired. That really was my thought as to why I was feeling like crap. It had been a whirlwind last few days. In the previous 48hrs, I had gotten about 6 hrs of sleep total, not by choice. I had also been somewhat sick the week leading up to the race. Nothing major, just not feeling good, body aches and such.

From mile 14 to about 26, all I wanted to do was lay down and sleep. I seriously thought I was going to fall asleep while I was running. I'm glad I was out of the public's eye, because whenever I was walking, I was weaving and staggering like a drunk man. I tripped constantly, never fell though. I was tripping over rocks that were buried in the ground, pine needles stuck out higher than the rocks I was tripping over. I remember one time were my right foot tripped 3 steps in a row. I remember this instance vividly because each trip stirred up the "horizontal limbo" that was going on in my shoe. The 3rd time had me holding back a primitive caveman type roar of pain.

At this time, lack of calories and various nutrition was not on my "radar" for what was wrong with me. I was still thinking sleep deprivation or dehydration. Since I had gotten back on schedule with my gels, I had several hours of good nutrition in me. Looking back now, I can see how that poor planning caught up with me and snowballed.

The half-assed self portrait atop Pinnacle Mountain

There was a lot of walking during this 12 mile, 3 hour stretch. Walking had been reserved for the steep sections. There was no "safe terrain" while I was in this condition. Up, down, flat...if I was moving, it sucked. If I stopped, it sucked because I was making that much less progress towards the finish. I kept thinking, press on, try and suck it up, there HAS to be light at the end of the tunnel...but that was not the case.

The Final Demise

Up until about mile 25, I thought the course was marked fantastically. Intersections had arrows made of flour pointing the out/back directions. Blue flags and blue marked trees where everywhere on the course. I did not have one moment of doubt as to which way I should go. There were many long stretches were I was all alone in my semi drunken stupor but never in doubt that I was making progress. Then I came to the junction.

More or less it was a 'T' intersection with the blue flags I had come to love seeing. The problem was, the blue flags where just "there", not much more. When I got there, I just stopped and starred. At a casual glance, there was nothing to indicate left or right. I peered down both possible options, nothing indicating 'this is the way'. There was no one in front of me, who knows how far someone was behind me. I decided to reevaluate the information that was given. 3 blue ribbons. 1 blue ribbon on the left. 2 blue ribbons on the right. One of the blue ribbons on the right was tied to a trail sign pointing to the right. My experience is that the purpose of the ribbons is to get the runner to "look here". When I saw the ribbon that appeared to be specifically tied to a sign pointing to the right, I took this as a "look here" signal. After I processed this information, it wasn't a judgement call. At first glance, the message/direction wasn't clear. A second evaluation offered new information that I had previously missed and resolved the issue. To the right I go!!

At this point I was in walking mode only. It was all I could do. I was running low on water but an aid station was about a half mile away. I walked and walked and walked.....and walked some more. Nothing. My Garmin distance was slightly off from the race's distance numbers for aid stations so I wasn't sure exactly what mileage I should have to be at the next aid station. All I know is that I had hiked over a mile and hadn't seen anything. I finally came across some hikers. I asked if they had seen anyone wearing a bib number like mine and they said no. Not what I wanted to hear. I asked what was further down the trail and they said the park parking lot was not very far. I thought that was were the aid station was so I figured I should just keep on since I was in need of water. I would explain my reasoning for going the "wrong" way at the aid station.

I finally arrived at the parking lot area. The problem was, the aid station that had been there was outbound only. The parking lot was full of families enjoying the beautiful day. Not a runner in sight. I recognized this area as I had been here before, but since it was on the outbound route, backtracking from this point of the race would have meant going back over Pinnacle Mountain. NO THANK YOU!!! I needed to use the bathroom and since I was now in public, I couldn't get away with 'trail running etiquette'. I found a public bathroom and I'm sure I turned a few heads. I'd be surprised if I looked like anything less than a combination of: Sasquatch's brother, some nature survival nut, an escaped mental patient and a rabid dog. Plus, throw in the fact that I'm wearing a "number" on my short shorts that also says "Texas Sucks!" and it appears I'm almost looking to pick a fight with somebody! Oh, and lest we forget that I'm still about to fall asleep. I still resemble that drunken sailor from before.

I find a water fountain and literally almost cried. Not really because I was so happy to have water (which I was), but because of the size of my water bottles, I could only fill up like 2 oz of water in it because of the shape of the basin. I could fill up 2oz, pour it in the other bottle and repeat. So I could get one full bottle plus an extra 2 ounces...yipppeee!! (sarcasm) As I turned around from filling up with water, I hear a little boy say "Daddy, is it our turn now?". I felt soooo bad because I honestly don't know if I was at the water fountain for 2 minutes or 20 minutes. I apologized and the dad said it looked like I needed it more than they did, to which I said, "actually, I do".

So now I am faced with a decision, where to go now? I found a Pinnacle Mountain map. Noticed the trail I was previously on circumnavigated the whole mountain and "should" lead me back to the race. That was the shortest and most direct route that did not involve scaling the mountain again. It looked simple on the map, a straight line with no intersections until I got to my destination. This was not the case. About a quarter mile in, I come to a junction. Not a 'keep going straight' junction. This was a 4 or 5 way intersection all pointing in different directions. All of the paths are marked with the same color markings as the trail I am on. What the hell! Come on Arkansas!! Really? I literally flip a coin and hope for the best. This situation happens 2 more times. I guess they need to update their maps.

Somewhere in this "junction orgy", my energy levels returned to normal. I could finally function again!! I started to jog/run, but after about 20-30 ft my mind just said 'no'. My range of emotions over the past hour of being lost were so vast. So many thoughts passed through my mind. I checked my Garmin data, I was off the grid for about 1hr15m. It felt like a full day. I wondered if all the 50 milers had finished yet. I kept expecting the sun to be setting at any minute, I didn't know it but it was only one in the afternoon. So trying to run again, not knowing if this trail I was on was even going to lead me closer to a resolution, was just not jiving with my mind. 

I finally reach the aid station I should have been at over an hour ago. I am approaching from the wrong direction, I can see this is raising a few eyebrows. A lady asks if I am still in the race. I said "I think so. I have been wandering lost around Pinnacle Mountain for over an hour." She asked how I did that. I responded by saying I followed the markers. I explained myself and she was very nice and sympathetic to my situation. At this point I hear some guy say, "hey, looks like you got some bonus miles in!"
.....I know many people have gotten lost/turned around in races. And this could just be me, I don't know....I wanted to punch that guy in the face. Bonus miles? are you kidding me? I honestly thought I would not have enough resources or strength to make it back here. I can sit back and laugh at it now, but at the time, I was angry...furious. At that point in time...if you combined the anger and rage of Mel Gibson from the movie "Braveheart" with Brad Pitt from "Troy", that might be close to describing what I felt inside. Don't crack a joke to that person. Like I said, this could just be me and an isolated incident. But if you are reading this, you have been warned. Say "bonus miles" to someone and if you get popped, well...I told you so. :)

The Triumph

I was finally on the home stretch of 4 miles. I got to climb the Herculean steps. Honestly, when I saw the pavement that would be the last few miles, I couldn't have been happier. I could finally look up and out for a change. It was also a little cold shower for the romance of my toe and shoe, no more funny stuff with you guys! I took all that previous frustration, my renewed energy levels and everything else I had inside me and pounded the pace as hard as I could. About the last mile and a half or more, I see a man closing in on me. Come to find out it was Podog Vogler, the seasoned Arkansas runner. He was hoping to squeeze in under 8:30 for his 50 miler. He asked how my race had been. I gave him the "summarized" and polite version. I'll never forget what he said. "Well, all that matters right now is that you are here. You overcame your struggles and challenges and are about to finish, that is something to be proud of. Nothing can take that away from you." And all this while we were keeping a low 8 minute pace, which is hauling ass in my book, especially with over 8 hours on my feet.

I finally cross the finish line, exhilarated to be finished. The race director hands me my finishers medal and asks "well, what did you think of the course?" I said, "It was great, except for wandering around Pinnacle for over an hour".  I explained my situation and experience. She knew exactly where my junction conundrum occurred. She had delegated that marking duty to someone else. It was marked primarily to catch the attention of outbound traffic and not inbound. Flag placement one way can look completely different when in reverse. I'm probably the only person who took the information the way I did. I sometimes tend to over analyze things and see information that might not necessarily be information. At the time, I didn't remember too much of my outbound turn by turn journeys. So retracing my steps was kinda a blur.  

What an experience. Way more than I bargained for. I wasn't expecting to be tested that much on a 50k. I was not anticipating being on my feet for that long. I did get a PR for longest distance run (almost 34 miles) and longest time on my feet!

My wife hard at work!

Before deconstruction

Before deconstruction

I also enjoyed testing out my new running hydration vest. I had the desire to carry just a few more "things" on me for races, depending on the course, and have direct access to it while running. I also wanted to have water bottles instead of a bladder to make it easier at aid stations, but I didn't want to use handhelds. So, my needs where: enough room to carry a plethora of things and have on the go access; water bottle hydration without carrying them in my hands. I also didn't want a waist belt system, preferring to carry the weight on my shoulders and back. I scoured the internet. I found things that were close to what I wanted, but usually lacked pocket space. So, my solution....make it myself (or ask my wife to make it!). I found a life jacket at Bass Pro Shop that had the general "shell" I was looking for. My wife stripped the vest, stream lined it, removed the flotation padding and many many many other tweaks. We stripped an old backpack of a lumbar support strap and turned it into water bottle holders. My wife hand stitched those babies onto the back of the vest. She also added a pocket/sleeve in the back that could hold a bladder if I wanted. I used the sleeve to hold extra gels for the turnaround section of this race. The front pockets worked out wonderfully for me, I had more than enough room to carry whatever I needed. Ease of access was wonderful. The fit was also amazing. No wiggling, shifting or anything. The vest just felt like an extension of myself. The weight was almost unnoticeable to me, although I am used to running with a 70oz bladder.


To get from point A to point B, with a point C thrown in the middle...it took somewhere around 8hr35m. It's definitely a race I would like another crack at! I went to Arkansas to run a 50k...came back to Texas with a 54k instead...also picked up a few "learning experiences" along the way...nothing wrong with that at all.

End result

End result

Rockledge Rumble 50k

Getting ready to go. One last smile!

Where to start, where to start?????

I guess the best place to start is...
This would be my first Ultramarathon. This would be my longest run ever.

Graham making sure I had all my stuff ready.

I started running at the end of April this year. Had to stop for 6 weeks with a foot injury (from stupidity). I had to start all over again, from close to scratch, in September. So a little over 2 months of training, going from 0 miles to a 50 k, seems fairly reasonable....

My training consisted of getting as many miles in as safely possible. My longest run, prior to the race, was just over 20 miles on the same trails that the race would be held on. The goal from the beginning of the race was to finish, period. I was looking forward to testing my limits physically and mentally. I have read countless horror stories of "the wall", smacking people dead in their tracks at mile 20 or so of a marathon. Quitting, I told myself, was not going to be an option for me. Hopefully, I would survive.

Exactly one week before the race, it felt like I got punched in the chest. "Reality" was starting to sink in. What in the world was I thinking! This kind of distance, based on my training, was NUTS! The rest of the week was full of semi panic, worry, anticipation and uncertainty. Funny, the closer it actually came to race day, the calmer I became. I was almost worried.

You see, I tend to think I can do more than I actually can. This trait has been with me from the beginning. I would see a professional surfer on TV..."I can do that". My mom, as kindly as she could, would say "No you can't". Before you start thinking bad thoughts about my discouraging mother, let me paint a better picture of who she was talking to, this "I can do that" person was a 7 year old extremely chubby kid. Whose athletic ability consisted of...
-getting winded putting on rollerblades
-making 1 goal in basketball, during 4 years
-voting for "freeze" tag at school, because it involved less running
I somehow got the impression that my fantastic ability to play sport games on my Nintendo through the dexterity of my thumbs somehow carried over into the real world. I was very full of ambition, unfortunately I was also very "full of IT".

My wife/photographer/support crew/motivation...and love of my life!

Lizzi and myself pre-race.

Over the years I have learned to keep "7 year old chubby and overly ambitious Tyler" in check. My ambition is still there, but it is strongly coupled with optimism, reality and my physical ability. I started to make my game plan for the race. I evaluated  previous runs I had done on the trails and started making time estimates. I knew I had the ability to finish, but even with my conservative time estimates, this was going to be a huge task for me. I wanted to keep the possible problems that could occur to a minimum. I started calculating all the gels, electrolytes and water I would need to have to keep my body going. I made a time and mileage sheet, based off of the aid stations, to help me track my progress over the day. My estimated time for finish...just under 7 hours. I would find out, about 5 miles into the race, that I had taken into account aid station stops but not my walk breaks. I also made myself a few notes about when to stop, what I would need and how I should run the race. Knowing that several hours into the race, I might not be thinking too clearly.

Time sheet. Estimated time to finish 6h58m.

Back of time sheet. The game plan.

   
So now to race day.

My wife and 2 kids where going to be apart of this special occasion and I was very excited. We all got up at the crack of dawn and started the journey. When we arrived at Jackson Pavilion, sunrise and excitement were stirring. The packet pickup process went flawlessly, it is so nice when this occurs! There was a fantastic "opening ceremony" of sorts honoring the veterans that have served our country. After this, the 50k race would start. I knew trail races had casual and very informal starts, but while standing in a crowd with a few friends, the word "GO" sounded and that was it. I'm kinda glad it happened this way. Standing around for several minutes and waiting would have allowed me time to think about what I was about to do. It was too late now, I was running!

Right before the start with some last minute advice from Rick.

Against my better judgement, or maybe not, I started the race running the pace of friends Steve and Jay. The pace was a little faster than I had planned, but nice and comfortable. It finally dawned on me around mile 2, "Hey moron, you have 29-30 more miles to go! If you keep going like this too early, you will be screwed!". The company and conversation was very enticing, what to do? Fortunately, my friend Jay announced he needed to walk some, and thus my exit from this pace had arrived. Another half mile down the trail and I wished Steve all the best and decided to implement my game plan now.

My kids coming to check on their Dad!

My game plan consisted of taking walk breaks early in the race, a 45 second walk break every 0.5-1 mile. The first 10 miles would be getting into the groove. I would start to pick up the pace some for the 2nd 10 miles. The last 10+ miles, depending on how I was feeling, would be "go for broke" mode. I would also consume 1 gel every 30 minutes and take 2 Hammer Endurolyte pills every hour for 20 miles. I would up the gels to 1 every 20 minutes for the last 10+ miles, assuming that my body would have completely exhausted whatever resources I had in me. I wore my Nathan Endurance Hydration pack. It held 70oz of water and had several pockets to hold my plethora of goodies. For shoes, I decided to wear my New Balance MT101's along with Injinji toe socks . I also wore my Zensah compression calf sleeves, I figured they would be needing a nice 'snug hug' at some point during the run. Finally, I had my Garmin 405 CX GPS watch and heart rate monitor. It felt like I was supplied and stocked up well beyond what I needed, but better safe than sorry for the first ultra. This would be a learning experience, and hopefully it would get me to the end in one piece.

Graham doing his best impression of me running. Much better than me of course!

Jordyn and Graham encouraging me.

After the separation from my starting trio, a fun little "cat and mouse" game occurred between myself and Jay. Our breaks were timed differently, he would catch up to me, then I to him. This lasted until about 12 or 13 miles into the race, when I passed him for good. Should I be taking this as a confidence boost, absolutely NOT! Jay had recently taken a nasty spill on the trails and had several cracked ribs. And he still showed up to race!!! Passing him at this point kinda had me worried, if I can't run better than a guy with cracked ribs, I might not be doing that well!

Since my hydration pack held 70oz of water, I was able to skip several of the aid stations. Thinking this would save me time, in actuality it may not have. The pack is fantastic when time is not of the essence, I have gotten the process down where I can refill the water fairly quickly...in the right circumstances. On my first refill stop, a volunteer offered to refill it for me. Being in a 'running zone stupor', I said OK. It ended up taking several minutes because if you don't open and close the bladder just right, it doesn't work. I ended up thanking the very kind volunteer, but doing it myself.

Off I go, around 20+ miles.

Having my family at the race, we strategized a way so they could see me in action. The best place we figured was somewhat in between where the start/finish was and the trailhead. I carried my phone on me and gave her a 5-10 minute heads up via text message. It was an awesome feeling to come around the corner and see my wife, 2 kids and a dear friend Lizzy cheering me on! My spirits were already good, but this took them to another level. In a moment of confusion, I almost stopped to talk to everyone. Then I remembered that I was in a long race, the more I stopped the greater the chance of my muscles getting tight on me. So I continued on, back to the starting spot and the "stairs".

I had been told about the stairs. I even checked them out pre-race. But they look different 20 miles into the race. I figured this was not the time to be the hero, walk up them. I then proceeded over to my drop bag to refill water and gels. This process went vary smoothly, partially because I had written down exactly what I needed to do on my race "cheat sheet". I saw another trail running friend Robin while refilling my goodies and was able to chit-chat briefly while taking care of my necessities. Back to the trail, back for more fun.

The "stairs". The picture speaks for itself.

On the way back out to the trailhead, I ran past my family and friend again. This time my kids came out to run with Dad. This was the highlight of the whole race for me! They ran up and down a grassy hill with me, it was an amazing experience. After the family "high" was over, it was back to business. It was time to assess my gas tank for the 3rd leg of my journey. Surprisingly, my energy levels where very high. My legs were in some pain and my feet and I were not on speaking terms.

The best association I can use to describe what was going on with my body is this...
Remember back to being a child. You are in some public place with your parents. You do something wrong and your parents witness it, yet they are not in the position to adequately convey their anger at what you just did. They give you the look. The look that sends chills down your spine. The look that says "I know what you did and you are not going to like what happens when we get back to the car". My mind was the child, doing something I know was wrong. My legs were the parent, scornfully looking upwards. Every rock I stepped on, every hill I climbed and every downhill I took fast... the message was sent from my legs and feet to my head...just you wait, you are not going to like what I have to say when you get back to the car. But just like a child, I smiled right back at my lower half anyways, enjoying my last remaining moments until I had to deal with the consequences of my actions.

Thumbs up, everything is great.

This was my "go for broke" time. I had this written down on my cheat sheet. But being the overly ambitious guy that I already spoke about, I wasn't 100% sure this would even be an option. Well here I was, just recently surpassing my longest run ever and I COULD pick up the pace. It was a good feeling. I started taking my breaks less frequently. I started implementing my 1 gel every 20 minutes. At this point I am thinking, if I have to eat tree bark to keep this up, I will. I made a specific effort to look at my Garmin GPS watch to see the number 26.2 officially click. It's amazing I didn't trip and fall trying to do this. I must have looked at my watch 50 times from mile 26.11 until the 26.2 happened. I took a second to reflect that I had officially run my first marathon distance. That was neat and all, but I still had at least 5 more miles to go.

About half way to the final turnaround, I started to realize that I might be able to crack 6hr30min. These are just numbers, it's nowhere near the prestigious 24hr/100mile number, but it was something. Remember I was thinking a 7 hour finish was the most likely scenario, but again, I had not factored in my walk breaks. A 6:30 was my absolute best case scenario. I spent a few minutes wondering if I might be getting delirious. How did this happen? Was I off in my calculations? I knew I was ahead of my planned schedule, but only by about 10 minutes. And here I am, it is really within my grasp.

I was able to pass about 15 people on this final loop. Not just an "excuse me" while I inch just slightly ahead of you. This was a "watch out, I am about to run you over!" type of excuse me. I would pass someone, run for 10-15 seconds, check the rear view mirror....out of sight. Now THIS was grounds for confidence boosting. All that was left after a super quick aid station stop, was another heads up text message in about 30 minutes to my wife to be expecting me at the finish.

When I reached the very last section of trail, which runs along the shore of Lake Grapevine, I was met with gusts of winds that had me feeling like I was running backwards. I could finally start to see where the trail met the road, signaling the last half mile. While my mind was focusing on staying strong to the finish, something occurred. The fact that I had almost ACTUALLY completed this race hit me. I'm not an emotional guy by any means, but I won't lie. I had a few tears of joy. Not really sure why, I knew I could do this. But I think my "ambitious Tyler" and my "realistic Tyler" had a pretty good stalemate on me, each "Tyler" yielding just enough space to not let me fully grasp what I was getting into. I relished the moment, but "my parent/child leg battle" reminded me that I needed to focus on the task at hand.

Off the trail and onto the road. I took a brief walk break near the restrooms to catch my breath and get ready for the true "go for broke" moment. I was going to give 100% of what I had left. I began to pick up the pace even more and after running 30+ miles, this would be the equivalent of a sprint. I had decided that I would attack the "stairs" in full force. As the stairs came into my view, I saw my wife and 2 kids....and an older man standing VERY close to my wife, TOO close! I am instantly confused. I am gone for 6 hours, running my heart out and this is what I come back to find!! Just a little bit further and my confusion/semi-suspicion turns into honor and pride. It was my wife's Dad! He had called her literally 30 minutes earlier just to see how she was doing. My wife told him what was going on, then a few minutes later he was there! He was in the area and the timing could not have been better.

Graham, Jordyn and my wife's Dad Raymond seeing me finish my first ultra.

The final push, hitting it hard.

So the thought that is going through my head...."attack the stairs hard!". Then "realistic Tyler" speaks up..."What if your legs cramp up and you fall flat on your face? Everyone is watching you, you will look like an ass!" Well, so be it. I will give everyone a good laugh if need be. The last bit of adrenaline, that was hidden somewhere in a love handle possibly for a rainy day, surged through my body. I was able to fly up the stairs, just like I hoped and deep down inside knew I could. THE FINISH!!!! It is over!!! I am greeted by the race director with a handshake, a finishers medallion and a special beer made just for this race. Talk about the icing on the cake!

A happy finisher!

I stopped my watch, glanced at the time...... 6h20m46s.... WOW! This information is still processing in my head today. A 7hr realistic goal. 6h30m best case scenario. 6h20m actual. It's not just the fact that I beat my best case scenario, it's the fact that I ran for over 6 hours! I remember vividly talking with an old friend from high school who had just run the Big D marathon. I said that I had no desire whatsoever to run that far and especially that long. This was about 6 months ago and here I am doing further and longer. Don't ever say you won't do something, keep the possibilities open.

My legs did eventually forgive me for the pain I caused them, they understood. This whole experience has been so amazing. I would say that I can't put it into words, but apparently there are several words/sentences/paragraphs above that would say otherwise. I am already plotting and planning my next adventure to come.

The time finally came to answer to my legs. Well worth it.

Weekly Summary Oct 24 - 30

10/24/2011 Off/Rest


10/25/2011 Recovery Run    
Distance: 8  Time: 1:26
Calories Burned: 968    HR: avg 144 max 164
Shoes: Brooks Green Silence  Terrain: Street
Ran to the park where my daughter was practicing soccer at. Met Stephanie and Graham to do some family running. Pushing a stroller up hills is hard work!


10/26/2011 Neighborhood semi-speed run 
Distance: 5.43  Time: 0:55
Calories Burned: 705    HR: avg 150 max 170
Shoes: New Balance MT10  Terrain: street
One last speed workout before Saturday's race. Also wanted to wear my New Balance shoes again, I hadn't worn them in awhile. Had some good paces during the run, nothing to crazy though.


10/27/2011 Easy Run 
Distance: 4.36  Time: 0:47
Calories Burned: 519    HR: avg 141 max 161
Shoes: Brooks Green Silence  Terrain: Street
Light run and testing out a windbreaker vest for Saturday. It kept my core warm, problem area...hands. First chilly weather and my body is confused.


10/28/2011 Rest


10/29/2011 Race - The Original Mud Run 
Distance: 6.25 Time: 1:10
Calories Burned: 1011    HR: not accurate
Shoes: New Balance MT10  Terrain: trail/obstacle
See post for details!



10/30/2011 Rowlett Creek Preserve - Easy
Distance: 8.8 Time: 1:58
Calories Burned: 1192   HR: avg 135 max 148
Shoes: New Balance MT101  Terrain: trail
I was thinking about getting a long and slow trail run in, at a very easy pace. The first 4-5 miles were good, then I started to get a tweak in my hip flexor/ upper quad area. I took a break to refill water with anticipation of running 4-6 more miles. The pain got worse and worse and after 1.5 miles, I decided to stop. The pain has since left altogether, just lingering effects of a hard race the day before.




Totals
Distance: 32.84 Time: 6:16
Calories Burned:  4,395

The Original Mud Run DFW

I have to start off saying this is one of my favorite "mud runs".
It might be a favorite for nostalgic reasons (it was my first)....
or maybe because the course is virtually identical each time...
or that it is a flat 10k course, which allows for me to push the pace without concern for terrain changes...
or that is has an all around good mix of challenges and obstacles....

Myself with some of DFW Mudcrew's finest! We are all braving the cold! There is a fine line between brave and crazy!

When I ran this race back in April of this year, I really had no idea what to expect. I was fairly certain that I could handle the distance part of the course. The same goes with the obstacles. But combine the two challenges, that was were it became a grey area for me. My whole game plan the first go around was to pace myself and complete the race in one piece. A friend and I ran the whole thing together. We had so much fun together and we ran at a nice "jogging" pace. We completed the course in 1hr 38m. Pleased with the time for a first timer, I knew I could do better. Again, as the title of my blog suggests, I usually don't like to settle for things...I prefer to better and outdo myself whenever possible. Looking at other previous results, my goal was to have a time in the 1h20m range, about 10-12 minutes faster than last time. I have had this October race in the back of my mind ever since completing the first one. There have been tons of other great events that I have participated in the mean time, but I couldn't wait for the "rematch" of this particular course.

Throughout all my normal training and preparation for every aspect of an event of this nature, one thing that I had really failed to consider....coldness. In Texas especially, we all can't wait for the cool days of fall and winter while being tested with consistent 100 degree days. Conversely in the winter, we anxiously await the warm days of spring and summer to get out of the house. Each somewhat extreme or opposite climate has their pro's/con's, each seem more ideal than whatever current state we are in. The first cool weather came Thursday before the race. It was a huge shock to my system and my gameplan. Now mind you, the temperature didn't drop down into the teen's or something extreme in that nature. But it did go from being 80's-90's down to the 40's and 50's. That's a pretty big swing for my body to get adjusted to with a days notice. Sweating profusely while running.... to numb and chilled limbs that are forgetting how to function. Semi-panic mode sets in for me! I need gloves, jackets, layers, ear muffs, tights, and anything else "arctic proof" NOW!! Well not quite that dramatic, but close. It wasn't just the temperature I was concerned with, it was the fact that we were going to be wet...not a maybe...a definite. That turns cool weather into very cold weather quickly.

Get down, get muddy and crawl!

So after much debating about what to wear and what not to wear I came to a decision.
-Normal running shorts, shirt, shoes (New Balance MT10) and socks
-Windbreaker vest
-Running gloves with a mitten or finger option (Brooks Adapt)
-Compression arm sleeves (Zensah)

Now to the race. Frustration I guess should be expected at all of these events, I don't really know why, but that seems to be the norm. Their timing chip system was not working properly during early packet pickup. So they had to be picked up at the race. The problem was nobody was there to hand them out when we got there. Fortunately we got them with a few minutes to spare before the race and were ready to go. Well...almost. I did not get to warm up like I intended to and mother nature decided to say 'hello' to me during the National Anthem about 2 minutes before start time. I figured I could have an hour plus stalemate with mother nature...heck, it might even make me run faster.

The race begins. The temperature is about 45 degrees, time to find out if my clothing plan will work. I had intentions of pushing the pace hard, at what I thought my body could handle for a 10k. I was looking at keeping my heart rate somewhere in the upper 160's to lower 170's, very doable. I wore my Garmin 405cx GPS watch with the heart rate monitor strap. It will tell me my current running pace, distance and HR. All of this information is only worthwhile if it can be seen. A good portion of the time the watch is covered in mud. I started off running at MY pace and focusing on a quick cadence and fast foot turnover. The HR and legs felt really good, especially without my intended warmup. About a half mile or more into the race, I realized I was only 6-7 people back from the leader. Something felt wrong, this wasn't what I was thinking would happen. I double checked my pace on my Garmin... 7 -7:30....I was doing what I was supposed to do. I kept waiting through the first few obstacles and miles for people to start passing me. Or, the people in front to take off and leave me in the dust. Neither scenario unfolded, this was how the race was going to be. After 2 miles I came to my first opportunity to pass someone. It was two guys running side by side, while passing them I decided to kick the pace back into 7min range to discourage any back and forth action that might occur. After enough distance, I kept the pace hard (for me) and eased back in the 7:30-8 range.

Under & Over. This little hole is about as deep as your shoulders. Another obstacle to refresh your memory about being wet and muddy, in case your clothes started to dry.

Now to the temperature and the real test of this race. After passing the 2 aforementioned gentlemen, I thought..."I was 6th place, I passed 2 people, now I am in ______place?" I couldn't do simple math to save my life! My brain was cold shocked. I had to break it down in terms of 'passed one guy = 5th place, passed second guy = 4th place'. This process of deduction entertained me for several minutes while running. Being in 4th place of this wave truly felt unreal...not possible. Again, this was not in the game plan. But hey, since we are here, why not shoot for Top 3?? Next target was about 50 yards ahead of me and I was at mile 3. Plenty of time to make a move, not just yet though. I followed his bright orange shirt through most every obstacle.

The obstacles at this race are just all around good and fun! They aren't really a test of personal character or feets of human strength. It's some good old fashioned muddy, cut, bruised, wet and nasty stuff. There were a few obstacles that required some nerve to do...
-A cargo net about 15-20 feet tall with numb hands, not the smartest idea in the world.
-Swimming/wading in a swamp (for lack of better words) with who knows what kind of dead and rotting things in it
-Jumping off a platform into mysterious depths of water
-My personal favorite...me climbing a dirt mound...while it was being constructed!
....there was literally a bulldozer dumping dirt within 2 feet of me. Needless to say I got the hell out of there as fast as possible!!

These are tall. They are even taller when you get to the top and try to swing over. Luckily they had some crash pads to give your leg a pillow to lay on after it is broken from the fall.

The toughest challenge for me, cold wet feet. The indoctrination to this 'fun' came in the form of a swim across a river at around a mile into the race. The water temperature wasn't that bad actually, but this gave little comfort to my feet down the road. We would get another opportunity to swim at the 3.5 mile mark. And just in case my feet, clothes, hands and mind had a chance to start drying out and unthaw...there were at least half a dozen various pools of water throughout the course to resoak everything. I can't quite pinpoint when or where it occurred, but somewhere around mile 3, my feet became numb. Around mile 5, it felt like running on feet that were "asleep". I was running on instinct and habit of repetitive motion, hoping my feet would land where they were supposed to.

Do you ever wonder where your toilets flush to? I'll give you a hint...

Now to my hands. I wore my gloves with the intention of leaving them on during the running stretches and taking them off for necessary obstacles. The first obstacle that I removed them for some how coerced me to leave them in my zipper pocket for the rest of the race. My hands felt fine and didn't seem to be too affected by the cold. I think what actually happened is I forgot that I have hands. When I "remembered" that I possess hands, it was time to do the Gorilla Ropes. It's a version of monkey bars, except it is with rope instead of bars. They swing back and forth and have some give to them. This was an obstacle that I aced last time and figured today would be no different. I took pride in the fact that, according to the organizations website, very few people complete this obstacle. Well I was going to go 2 for 2 on this obstacle. So, in an attempt to recreate the previous success, I grab the first rope. Funny, I don't really feel the rope, but I see that my hand is attached to it. Swing to the next rung. Hmmmm? Signals in my brain don't seem to be translating and processing the fact that I need to grab this rope and hold on for dear life. I get some kind remarks from a race volunteer..."Wow man you are almost there! You will be the only one to make it today!" This did give me a slight boost in confidence, unfortunately being the 4th person to attempt an obstacle doesn't really say much for being the "only one so far to complete it". I continue this "drunken hand" gorilla rope traversing to about 3/4 of the way through. The next grab feels like I am trying to lasso the rope with a wet noodle (the noodle being my useless hand), this would be the end of this obstacle. Gorilla ropes and I would have to settle for a draw, I struck first, it won the 2nd time. I briefly debated thawing out my hands and giving it another try... then I remembered my current 4th place status. Let's stick with speed!

Gorilla Ropes. Traverse them carefully. Shouts of "bend your knees when you fall so you don't hit your feet at the bottom" hooraayyy!! Numb hands do not like to complete this obstacle!

At one obstacle, can't quite remember which, a race volunteer cheer's me on "You're doing great! You're in 3rd place!". I said "Really? I'm pretty sure I'm in 4th." Response "Nope, you are definitely 3rd. There is just the guy in the orange shirt. And some dude WAY up there". Now THIS is what I want to hear! Shockingly I AM in Top 3. Of course, Top 3 is great....2nd place would be EVEN better!! Now to decide when to make my move to pass "Mr. Orange".

Having previously run this course, I had a descent idea of what to expect. After a lovely mud pit and mud slide there was a good running stretch where I decided "this was it". I approached "Mr. Orange" and exchanged pleasantries with him, he was a great guy and was all smiles just like me! I kicked my pace up a few notches to create a comfortable distance between the two of us. Home free to a 2nd place finish in my heat....almost. Since I was fairly confident that the distance I had established between the two of us would suffice in 2nd place, I didn't really think I needed to make it any bigger. No sense in possibly overdoing it or going too hard this close to the end. No sooner than I had established my "personal space", what do I see in my rear view mirror...a NEW runner! He was closing the gap to me very quickly! Who was this guy? Where did he come from? Was he some sort of a "ringer"...playing it conservative until now and then switching to overdrive??  So this "new guy" was about 20ft behind me as we get to the last half mile or so. Not taking this scenario into consideration, I keep my pace and wait to see if he has more in his gas tank after getting this close to me.

Climb this carefully! It is slippery and wet. Oh, and you probably cannot feel your hands.

My race strategy had always been about a personal competition. Me vs the clock. I never even thought about dealing with other competitors, it was just about me doing my best. One of my plans from the beginning...get water at every water station. I knew it would be better to stop, or at least slow down, to get water even if it added seconds to my time. Dehydration would slow me down more than skipping water stations. So I am now in a close race with "new guy" for possible 2nd/3rd place and what shows up with probably a half to quarter mile left in the race?? A water station. I subconsciously go to the station and slow down, grab a cup, start to take a sip of water....then it dawns on me..."Hey moron, you are in the home stretch! A sip of water isn't really going to change anything at this point! You have a dude right on your tail!" Well, the next thing that happens really still has me speechless. "New guy" slows down also, waives at me and says "Come on man! Drop that water, we are almost there!"  WOW! I have to say that again....WOW! I know these types of events are for fun, but they do have a competitive element to them. Everyone, I hope, strives to do their best, at whatever level they are. So I join up with "new guy" and we keep pace to the next obstacle. He informs me that he had to skip a water crossing because he was not a good swimmer and got scared, especially because of the cold, but he tried it anyways. He had to run around the obstacle and estimated it was at least a half mile of extra running! So "new guy" was actually in front of me for a good portion of the race. This explains the discrepancy with the volunteer telling me I was in 3rd place, when I was fairly certain I was 4th place. "New guy" had to back track, catch all the way back up, and now here he was with me on the home stretch. This put me in a semi-awkward position. Could I have pushed the pace and left him...maybe. Could I have lived with myself if I did this, after he waited for me?? I don't think so.

Grab rope, hold rope, swing across mud pit.

"New guy" and I hit the last 3-4 obstacles together. We both ran hard, there was almost a subconscious understanding that when the time was right, a move could be made. This was probably one of the highlights of the race for me. He and I talked about how cold our feet where. About how much fun this CRAZY stuff was. Even though this was a competition, we respected each other for the hard work that had been put in to get us to this point. As if a bell rang in the air...the time came for the "mutual move" to occur. The final obstacle and push to the finish to fairly determine "who gets it?" "New guy" had a couple of steps on me coming out of the final crawl through mud. As I stood up, I took 2-3 deep breaths and 2-3 walking steps. Why did I walk? Was I sandbagging it? I was probably 200 yards from the finish, was I conceding the race to "new guy?" No way! I knew my heart rate was sky high at this point, I didn't even need to look at the monitor I was wearing to know this. I needed this few second pause to allow me to push hard all the way to the end.

Me crossing the mud pit with "new guy" (orange shoes) closing in on me!

Breath, calm, relax... now it's time to go for broke...100% effort. We both run hard. I know it, he knows it...this is the time. I remember thinking in this final stretch of speed..."I really cannot feel my feet at all." I push as hard as I can go, or I should say as hard as I can go without the true use of my feet. He is right there... I could grab his shirt he is so close. We cross the finish line... "new guy" 1hr10m06.3s ....me 1hr10m06.9s.  Honestly, that was how it should have finished. This guy was a true class act. I can't say I would have done what he did, I would like to though. He earned his 2nd and I earned my 3rd.

After everything was tallied up, I came in "officially" as 4th male/5th overall. But, as I and others suspect, there appears to be a suspiciously fast female time. Not that a lady couldn't win this event, but to be 9 minutes faster than a guy who I know has a 5k PR of 16:05...stranger things have happened, doubtful. So I have taken the liberty of claiming an "official-unofficial" ranking of 4th male/ 4th overall. Does this matter....no...well kinda, to me! I am ecstatic to be OFFICIALLY Top 5. I honestly didn't know if my 9am heat time would hold up over the course of the day.

   We survived! This is about as still as we could get. Shivering was an understatement.                     Go DFW Mudcrew!!

After the race was finished, I ran to the car to get my camera to catch my wife in action. Silly me, I'm thinking I have 20-30 minutes at least until she gets done. I am trotting back to the course to find a good spot to wait for her and what do I see??? Her finishing up the LAST obstacle and heading to the finish!!! WOW, I knew she would be quick...but this fast?? It was when I hurriedly tried to take a picture of my Mud Queen, that I started to think my body was functioning worse than I thought. I couldn't push a button on the camera to save my life. Hugs and congratulations where exchanged, then it happened.... 5-10 minutes after the race...BOOM! Shivering uncontrollably. My jaw was chattering so hard, you could have hired me as a 'human tree shredder'. I piled on my warm pants and jacket as fast as possible and did some jumping jacks but it still took a good hour until my body stopped convulsing.

I always get so much out of these events. I meet new people. I get to revisit with old friends. I get some good pictures and better memories. I learn things about myself. I get cut, bruised, muddy and bloody. But guess who has 2 numb thumbs and can't wait for the next race.... THIS GUY!!