Author: Joe The Runner

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Umstead 100 2021 – A Return to Normalcy

JoeUmstead

Rookie Mistake

Like most ultra-runners, I start to eye the weather about three or four days before race day. I try and not get too wrapped up in it because it’s out of my control, but you have to have a plan, so you have to stay informed. The weather looked pretty good, and then each day, seemed to get just a little worse. What started out as a mid 60’s kind of forecast suddenly looked like a high of 78. No rain turned into a chance of rain, and finally, there will definitely be some rain. Still, all in all, very manageable.

When race day finally arrived, the morning weather was actually really nice. As I caught up with old friends and felt “normal” for the first time in over a year, I realized that it was nice and cool, and dry! I knew that we were supposed to see some heat around 11am and that rain was moving in about 3:30pm, so I decided to run strong early and then slow down during the hot weather. If I played my cards right, I could pick it back up in the evening when it cooled back off. Knowing that I wasn’t in top shape, my only goal was to finish and get one more lottery ticket for Western States.

With all of this going through my head and paying attention to the covid-19 protocol that required a metered and corralled start, I was feeling pretty good as I got ready to start my day. “110, you’re off.” And with that, I started my first 12.5-mile loop of what I hoped would be eight for the day. I felt great. Cool air, rhythmic steps, people joking around as we started, all was well in the world.

You know that saying, “It’s better to be lucky than good.” Well, that was me on that first loop. I picked the best time to make a rookie mistake. About a mile or so into that loop, it hit me, that I didn’t have either handheld hydration bottle in my hands. Like a newbie, I took off without any hydration! Luckily, the water stop and aid stations are spaced in a way that almost every three to four miles, you hit one. With this being the first loop and still being cool out, this was a mistake that wasn’t going to haunt me. Still, I realized I needed to remove my head from my arse! You don’t get away with many mistakes during a 100-mile race.

Booooring! Until it Wasn’t

For the first 49 miles, the weather cooperated, and I was just cruising along. Yeah, the temperature got a little warm at 77 degrees and there was definitely some high humidity, but overall, conditions were good. The only issue I had at the time was some chafing on my… how do I put this delicately? Ass cheeks. Still, all very manageable.

Then things got really interesting. As I was approaching the end of my fourth loop it was like a switch was turned on. Suddenly it just started to bucket down rain, and it was cold! I went from hot to shivering in a split second. “Ok. Just buckle down and get back to the aid station, it’s just a mile away.” Then, doink! Doink! Doink! “What the heck? Is that… hail!” Spoiler alert, it was. Every step, I was getting pelted by hail. It kind of didn’t hurt, but it kind of did. And then the lightening started. Big honking streaks of it making ground contact.

When I arrived at the aid station, they pulled me off the course and had me sit in the cabin for a weather delay. I can honestly say that in all of my miles of races, this was the first time I ever saw a weather delay. Every runner was soaked from head to toe, and we just sat there, eating and drinking, and hoping that we wouldn’t stiffen up too much. The volunteers were absolutely amazing. They made sure that we had everything we needed while we sat there. They gave us everything, the only thing they couldn’t give us was time. We’d have to make that up ourselves.

Sitting there, cold and wet, realizing that the course was now going to be very wet and muddy, and seeing that several more cells of weather were moving through, I took trying to finish in under 24 hours off the table. It wasn’t a goal coming in, but I was feeling so good and had 50 miles done in just over 11 hours, but the real goal was to finish. So, I reset mentally and waited to hear if and when we could get back out there.

Water Water Everywhere

It’s hard to explain this sport to someone who has never done it. During the weather delay, I grabbed hand fulls of Vaseline and spread it all over my nether regions. I drank and ate to try and stay hydrated and fueled to avoid cramping. I had just been pummeled by hail and I was soaking wet. But I was itching to get back out on the course. You have to be a glutton for punishment, or you will fail. You need to understand your why, but you can’t ask yourself “Why?” No matter what, you just can’t quit. And that’s why I love it so much.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, but was only about 20 minutes, they let us loose. It was decision time. My feet were soaked, but not blistered. I could completely change out my shoes and socks, but if I hit a puddle or it started to rain again, I will have wasted a set of dry wheels. I decided to keep my feet wet and hope for the best. It turned out to be a good decision.

The Middle

It’s hard to remember exactly, but for the next 25 miles, there were intermittent periods of heavy rain and lightning, then periods of time where it was overcast, drizzly, and kind of misty. It was hot with weather gear on, but it was cold without it. For lack of a better word, it just kind of sucked. I was moving ok, when I moved, but walking slowly, when I didn’t. It wasn’t about if I could run, I could, it was more about trying to see in the rain. I had decided to wear glasses this race instead of contacts (bad decision), and they were in a constant state of fogged up and rained on.

Regardless, I managed to crank out the next two loops, albeit slowly, and knew going in to the last 25 miles, I was setup to get the job done. My feet were now blistered, from being wet for hours and hours, but I had had worse. Nothing a little Tylenol wouldn’t take the edge off. I lubed up, popped some Tylenol, and headed out for the final two loops. With sub 24 hours off the table, I just told myself to enjoy the night and finish. And that’s exactly what I did.

Making Friends

A mile or two in to loop seven, I was starting to move pretty good again. The rain had subsided, and I was in “Just get this over.” mode. It’s that time in a race where you pretty much just want to be done, and you start moving better because you just want to hop in the shower and get to bed. As I was in a little jog, I approached another runner who was walking. He was moving pretty good, but ultra-runners really look out for each other, so I checked in with him. “How are you doing?” “I’m good. I’ve got some pain, but I’m good, and I’m going to finish.” “This your first one?” “Yeah.”

That was it for me. I knew that I had the time limit beat and finishing a little faster wouldn’t be as cool as making sure that someone got there first buckle. Just like someone had helped me get my first buckle, I decided that we would finish this thing together.

For the rest of loop seven the weather held up pretty good. Gary and I walk-ran, but mostly walked. He told me several times that if I was feeling good, I could leave him, and that he would finish. I thanked him for the offer but told him that my race would be better if I helped him rather than finishing a little faster. We talked a lot and over the course of that ten miles, we became friends. Tied together by a common goal, pain, and a mutual respect for what the other man was willing to go through to accomplish it. As we finished loop seven, the rain started again, and I could tell that Gary was in a tremendous amount of pain. It was his feet, and at least one of his ankles. I could tell it was agony.

Let’s Get You a Buckle

While we were in the aid station getting ready to go out for the final loop, Gary’s wife tended to him. This was her first-time crewing for a 100-miler, and she did a great job. However, as Gary explained to her the amount of pain he was in, I could see on her face that she understood that he would have to suffer alone. That’s the toughest part of these things. You can only do so much for your runner, but they ultimately have to suffer alone.

I knew that time wasn’t going to be an issue, but I also knew that the worse thing to do when you are exhausted and hurting, is to get comfortable. That’s when your mind starts to go to work. “What are you trying to prove? 87.5 miles is good enough. If you stop, the pain will stop.” I stood up and walked over to Gary. “Hey man, you ready? Let’s go get you a buckle.” Despite all of the pain he was in, he stood up and said, “Let’s go!”

Best Answer Ever

As we started the last loop, the sky opened up one last time. I don’t know how long it was, but it was as hard or harder than any other point in the race. Our weather gear held up with the exception of rain running down the back of our necks. It was too warm for hoods, so we just dealt with it. I have to admit, I seriously contemplated the need to find a better hobby. Eventually, it stopped, and the weather finally gave us a break. For the rest of the race, we enjoyed a relatively dry and cool environment.

One of the tricks that you use on a runner that is deep in the pain cave, is to keep them talking. We talked about our wives, our kids, our jobs, and of course racing. Despite all of this, Gary was slipping deeper and deeper inside himself. I could tell this man wasn’t going to quit, but I knew his suffering. I’d been there myself. Out of desperation, I asked him why he decided to do this. His answer blew me away. It was the best answer ever. He said, “I want to attempt to do really difficult things, and then do them. I want to know that I can do really hard things. I want my kids to know that too.” Like I said, best answer ever.

The Rock Star at Aid Station Two

With about eight miles to go, another runner passed us and grunted, “I just want this to be over.” As he jogged past us, Gary said “Let’s try running a bit.” So, we started to add some small jogs in to our walking. He was there. He was at that place where pain be damned, let’s just finish. That definitely helped the next couple of miles go quickly and as we approached Aid Station two, we could taste it.

As I said earlier, the volunteers were absolutely amazing for this race, and I am so grateful for each and every one of them. Not to play favorites, but with about five miles to go, I spotted a box of Dunkin’ Donuts at aid station two. I asked if they were for the runners, and I am sure that they lied and said “Sure!” That chocolate donut was the best donut that I ever had in my entire life. It gave such a boost. Gary had one as well, and I could tell that he was enjoying just as much as I was. We finished our donuts and headed out to finish this thing.

It Ends With an Omelet

The last few miles of this course there are some real hills. Not like little rolling ones, but BIG ones. For the most part, our running was done. We had daylight and we knew that every step we were that much closer to finishing this last loop. We just kept marching and moving. Heads down and determined, step by step. When we finally saw the final turn, down to the finish, Gary actually ran about 200 feet he was so excited. When I caught up to him, he said “I’m probably going to regret that!” He was in a lot of pain, and I give him a ton of credit for the heart that he showed in finishing.

We hiked up the last bit of the hill towards the finish and crossed the finish line at 27 hours and 36 minutes. The race director, Rhonda, congratulated us, handed us our buckles and asked us if we wanted an omelet. “Hell yes!” I said. Gary’s wife hugged him after we had some pictures taken and then we just sat there and soaked it in.

JoeGaryUmst

That was number four for me, and I really believe that sub 24 hours is a possibility. I have to get in better shape to do it, but to be fair to myself, I was working six days a week leading up to this one. I’ve got my eye on Indiana Trail 100 in October and will start training block one for it in a couple of weeks. My plan is to get after it at that race, as it is my second one there and I will know the course.

To finish Umstead, I was 50th overall out of 166 runners. And only 76 people out of 166 finished for a 54.2% DNF rate. I also earned my second lottery ticket for Western States. My story’s not over…

BuckleUmst

If I can help you on your journey in any way, please reach out to me!

For behind the scenes photos and comments on my training and personal life, follow me on Instagram: joe_the_runner  Strava: Joe Randene  YouTube: Joe Runner  Facebook: Joe Randene

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What a Mind F*$k: My First Unsupported 100-Miler

My Setup

Let me start by saying that I have done some crazy stuff in my life. THIS, is right up there. With all of the races I signed up for being cancelled this year, I decided to attempt my first unsupported 100 miler in 2020. I needed something out there to keep me motivated and in shape for what, I hope, will be a big 2021. If you plan on running an ultramarathon this post will provide you tons of insight. If you plan on running it unsupported, this post will discuss the unique challenges of such an endeavor.

It is my humble opinion that the biggest reason for failure at this distance, is poor planning. If you are not prepared logistically, you do not give yourself a realistic shot at success. The plan for this attempt was to have my car be an aid station at a location that was about nine miles from my house, and my house acting as a second aid station. I would run a series of loops and out and backs on mostly trails and some greenway hitting my car and house as needed. The challenges that we thought about were time, weather, darkness, and calorie intake. Let’s look at them each individually:

Time – Being that this was an unsupported attempt, I didn’t put a time goal pressure on myself, but I didn’t want to be out there more than 30 hours either! The biggest time waster, as any ultra-runner can attest, is aid stations. If you are sitting pretty, you aren’t making progress. Beware of the chair! You need to get in, do what you need to do, and get out. This being unsupported meant that I would be the one filling bottles, preparing food, tending to blisters, etc. That can eat up allot of time.

Weather – The forecast for the day was very nice. Low 40’s and sunny. However, the day before, we had torrential downpours (this would come back to bite me later) and it was supposed to drop down to 30 degrees and start snowing overnight. I could live with snow. I knew as long as I kept my core temperature up, I would be fine. I had an assortment of coats, hats, and gloves.

Darkness – As an ultra-runner, you become accustomed to running in the dark, but normally you have pacers, and in most races the night is maybe 12 hours max. Well, for this effort, no pacers, and due to the time of year, it was dark for over 14 hours. That is a long, dark, cold period of time to be alone and, quite frankly, at your worst. Making sure that all of my headlamps and flashlights were fully charged and located at both aid stations was critical.

Calorie Intake – There is so much more to calorie intake than just calories. You need carbs, electrolytes, and protein. This needs to balanced with cheap fuel, like gels or other quick shots of sugar/caffeine. This is the list of food and drinks that I had available:

Water

Tailwind

Flat Coke

Grilled Cheese

Peanut Butter and Jelly

Lentil Soup

Pretzels

Skittles

Salt Tablets

Considering there were no volunteers, I had to keep it simple and portable. The food had to be able to go with me as I ran. If I wasn’t going to hit an aid station for three or four hours, nutrition and hydration had to come with me. I felt like this was a good mix of sweet and salty not knowing what I would be craving.

Obviously, there were other considerations such as shoes, socks, blister kits, etc. but this provides the basic set up and thought construct for the attempt. Now we can get into the fun stuff, the run itself…

Smooth Sailing for 42 Miles (Kind of)

Start slow, stay slow. It’s the mantra of every ultra-runner. And I did just that. I started by running the first 13 or so miles on the greenway since it was dark at the onset, and I wanted to get off to a good start. But I am a trail runner at heart, and as the day broke, I was looking forward to getting on some trails! And here is where the weather from the day before the attempt came back to bite me. The first trail I went on was fairly muddy and had a bridge wiped out from the rain the day before. For the most part, it was passable, albeit it certainly slowed me down. The second trail was so muddy, that I immediately slipped and fell literally within five steps of the trail head. I sat there for a moment, muddy and wet. Time to adjust.

I knew that I had about a nine-mile trail run to get to the house before dark but had no idea what the condition of the trails were. Based on the first two trails, I wasn’t optimistic. I decided to run some more greenway and then hit the trails home at about 1:30 pm. This would give me time to get home, eat, and change for the long, cold night. To my surprise, the trail home wasn’t in too bad of shape and I was cruising right along, and then… “That hurt. Was that a twinge? Was that a tweak? That really hurts.” My mind was racing. As my right foot came down, I felt something tweak, and then pain. Every step was painful, and it seemed to be getting worse. As I approached the last bridge before my house, it was completely washed out. I either had to go through about 20 feet of ankle deep icy cold water or turn back. I went for it. I knew that I wouldn’t want to be in wet shoes for long, but I needed to get home and figure out what was going on with this foot.

Walk it Off

The pain was on my second toe on my right foot. Every step was extremely painful. I switched shoes to a zero drop, hoping that it would take pressure off the toe. I decided to walk around my neighborhood at as fast a pace as I could and see if the foot would numb, get better, or if it was time to call it quits. Whenever I am seriously contemplating quitting, I try and walk for a while. Sometimes walking for a bit while nibbling some food and sipping something just gets you to a better place. My hope was I would soon start jogging again. But every step just kept getting more painful. It was getting darker and colder and the time was approaching when I would have to decide if I was going to venture back into the night. I started thinking that only 2020 would be a year where I would DNF a race that wasn’t even a race. Although I was in allot of pain, I wasn’t ready to quit. I went to the house, heated up some lentil soup, and then told my wife I was going to run in the next neighborhood and see if I couldn’t get this foot under control.

As I was walking in the dark, I decided that I was in pain anyway, I should just try and jog a bit, so I did. It hurt, but it wasn’t too bad. Then I started to do walk run intervals, and suddenly the pain started to subside! Was it the zero drop? Was it my foot going numb? Was I just too stubborn to quit? I didn’t know, and I really didn’t care! I went back home and told my wife that I was going back out for the night! You should have seen the look on her face.

In Case They Ask “What, You Were Wearing?”

As I was changing into my night gear and loading up my pockets with food to make the trek back out to my car and hopefully finish this thing off back out on the greenway and trails, I noticed my wife start snapping photos of me with her phone. I asked her why the heck she would want to take a picture of me looking like death, and she replied, “This is just in case they ask what you were wearing?” I thought that was pretty funny, she wasn’t joking.

At this point, I had 62 miles in the bank and a long night in front of me. I was beaten up, bruised, and bloodied, but I was still standing. I headed off in to the dark and made my way back towards my car. The nine miles out to my car were pretty uneventful. I would walk/jog and my foot felt fine, so life, at the moment, was good. When I arrived at my car, I text my wife, so she knew I made it, I filled up my hand-held bottles with flat coke, shoved some cold grilled cheese sandwiches in my pocket and headed back out. And then mother nature decided to throw me a curve ball…

It Could Be Worse, It Could Be Raining

The forecast had called for snow. The forecast was wrong. At about 2am, it started to rain. 32 degrees and rainy is no good. It’s the worst. I knew if I couldn’t stay dry, I would become hypothermic and this would be all over. Imagine being down to about 25 miles left and having to quit? My waterproof jacket was getting ready to be tested. In my mind, I just kept saying, “I need this to turn to snow. Just a couple of degrees colder and we’re good.” It never happened. The rain went from drizzly, to steady, to a downpour. Consider this a PSA. Whatever it costs to have a great waterproof and very warm jacket, pay it. I have a Hoka, waterproof down jacket, and it saved the day! I was able to stay relatively warm and dry despite some very crappy conditions. I was miserable, but I wasn’t hypothermic.

What did become an issue was that I had to wear two gloves to keep my hands warm. When I took my gloves off to manipulate the packaging for food, they would get wet and cold, and then it would take a long time for them to warm back up even with my gloves on. It got so bad, that I started to skip eating and basically live off of flat coke. It may not have been the smartest trade off, but quite honestly, after over 24 hours of being alone and on my feet, I probably wasn’t making the best decisions. All I can say, is that when my hands were freezing, I was absolutely miserable. Shivering uses allot of energy, so I prioritized warmth over food.

What a Mind F*%k

All of this was just a prelude to what are always the darkest most difficult hours in a 100 miler. This being unsupported, it was even worse. You don’t realize how much you draw from other people during these events, until they aren’t there. No one was cheering me on, no other runners were making any quips or small talk, there was no one at the aid stations asking what I needed, and there was no pacer looking out for me. Around 4:30 am, after hours of running in the rain, and almost 24 hours on my feet, it started to happen. “Did I just swerve? Where am I? I know I am running, but I don’t remember the last bit?” I was falling asleep on my feet. While I was moving! I didn’t think that was possible. I started to remove my hood and lift my hat to get some cold air and wake myself up. But it was still raining, so now my head was wet, and my ears were cold! I’d put my hat back on and pull my hood up, and then I’d start falling asleep again.

I started looking forward to what every ultra-runner does when they are in that deep dark place. Sunrise. The light of day always brings renewed energy and signifies that the end is almost near. Just keep moving I told myself. If I can make it to sunrise, I can finish. The next two and a half hours felt like an eternity. I would pull my hood down and lift my hat until I was freezing, and then bundle back up. As much pain as I was in, the sleep deprivation was worse. It was such a strange feeling to be moving and sleeping at the same time. My eyes and mind played tricks on me. Trees started to look like animals and people. I heard noises that I wasn’t sure were there. It was all so surreal. And just when it seemed like I was losing faith, the dark turned to gray. Gray was all I was going to get, since it was still raining, but it was enough.

I put my headlamp and flashlight away at the car and headed out for the last three miles. At this point, you know you have it, but you just want it to be over. Three miles is a 5k! I could run that in 25 minutes easily. No problem at all. That last three miles took all of an hour. And to add to the weirdness of the experience, when my Garmin hit 100 miles, there was absolutely no one around. It was gray, cold, and raining. Instead of a race director congratulating me, a kiss from my wife, and high fives from my crew, I limped to my car. By myself. Because it had been raining all night, the windshield had frozen over, so I actually had to sit there, in the cold, for ten more minutes while me car heated up and the windshield defrosted. Perfect. I’m not saying that sarcastically, I mean it. I ran for the love of running. I ran for the challenge of a lifetime. This showed me that I didn’t need a race to push myself to my extreme limits, I just needed the heart.

All of that being said, I made my own damn buckle! And it is the one that I am the proudest of. 2020 certainly sucked, but at least now, it has a redeeming quality.

Final Statistics

Total Time – 28 hours 35 minutes 49 seconds

Moving Time – 25 hours 22 minute 33 secondsMileage – 100.12 miles

If I can help you on your journey in any way, please reach out to me!

For behind the scenes photos and comments on my training and personal life, follow me on Instagram: joe_the_runner  Strava: Joe Randene  YouTube: Joe Runner  Facebook: Joe Randene

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2020 Sucks! Am I right?

Face Punch

It’s been a long time since I blogged. I just haven’t been motivated to write. 2020 was all set to be another great year, and then bam! A sucker punch like no other. All of the races I was scheduled to run have been canceled, chasing my entry to Western States has been put on hold, all of the races that I am the race director for have been cancelled or modified, my college kids are home, the running store and the staff were pushed to the limit, the political scene is a mess, and we’ve had tons of civil unrest. I truly believe that we will navigate all of this, but jeez, that is one heck of a list! And I know that everyone is feeling it, and I feel for them. And as easy and cathartic as it would be to just sit here and whine, that’s just not me. Instead, I am going to try and use this time to right my running ship.

While I was training for Indiana Trail 100, I was dealing with knee tendonitis, and once the race was cancelled, I shut it down to heal. Then, when I started running again, I injured my back. Like I said, bam! 2020 has been a hoot. So, in the last three weeks, I believe that I have run about three times for a grand total of like 9 miles. Not the stuff of legends.

I really don’t consider myself injury prone, so this has been tough to handle. However, it forced me to really reflect on what I have been doing and more importantly, what I have not been doing, that might have aided in me becoming an injured piece of shit. Sorry for the curse, but that is what you are called if you are an injured ultra-runner. It’s a medical term, I believe… Anyway, after close examination of my training and talking to my PT, it was obvious that my cross training had become almost non-existent as I was stacking up the 50-mile weeks and my work demands had increased. That led to a weaker core and weaker hips. No Bueno.

Of course, I’d like to say that I had a good reason, but honestly, I just hate cross-training and would prefer to run, hike, or punch myself in the face, rather then do it. As my PT so gently pointed out, I am approaching my 50th birthday, and I am no longer a spring chicken. If I am going to abuse my body, I have to take better care of it. Ok.

Now we are getting to the heart of the matter. My plan for the rest of 2020 is to tear myself down and build myself back up again. Rebuild a better running body. I am going to follow the cross-training plan that has been put forward for me to improve my core, hip, and back strength, no excuses. While my diet is fairly clean, it definitely can be cleaner. I plan on increasing my fruits and vegetables and lowering my processed food intake. Despite being a vegetarian since January 1st, you can still eat too much processed food, and I feel I may have been doing that out of convenience.

You are probably asking where all of this is going, since many of the races out there are cancelled or absolutely full. Well, you don’t need an organized race to run 100 miles. My plan is to attempt my first unsupported 100 mile run sometime in the first half of December 2020. This is an accountability post. I’m putting this out to the world so that I am accountable. I’ll write update posts as my training progresses and then write a race report for the run afterwards. There are definitely mixed emotions here. I’m excited to get moving again, but I definitely am a little scared, as I have never attempted a solo 100 miler. Regardless, I feel that this is what I need to do to stay productive as a runner in 2020 and prepare for what I hope will be a big 2021.With all of my heart, I hope that you and your families are all healthy and happy, and that you are finding the silver lining in this crazy year. I’d love to know what you are doing to stay fit and ready for your goals beyond 2020, so please leave your comments. I am taking a break on social media (Facebook & Instagram), so Strava is probably the best way to keep up with my training. Best of luck for the rest of the year!

If I can help you on your journey in any way, please reach out to me.

For behind the scenes photos and comments on my training and personal life, follow me on Instagram: joe_the_runner  Strava: Joe Randene  YouTube: Joe Runner  Facebook: Joe Randene

Questions, comments, feedback? Please leave them in the comments section BELOW and we can have a discussion!

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The Mindset of an Ultramarathon

My blog and social media feeds are filled with running and nutrition advice. While these are absolutely essential to the success of an ultra-runner, they are really the price of admission. You have to get these things correct, just to have a chance at successfully running an ultramarathon. Other aspects that need to be addressed are gear and preparation for the various types of weather and terrain you might face. At some point however, all of these things fade to the background and the race comes down to you and your thoughts. Do you have what it takes to keep moving forward despite the pain, exhaustion, and elements?

Before I jump into my thought process, let me qualify what I am about to say with this. If you are injured, you must stop and live to fight another day. There is always another race. There is a difference between pain and injury. So please, do not misconstrue my thoughts here as a greenlight to run injured. They are not. I digress…

So, here are various ways/thoughts that I use to keep moving despite being deep in the pain cave. Some are done prior to race day, and some are done out there in the abyss.

  1. Long runs are almost always non-negotiable. What do I mean by this? Well, you wake up and it’s bucketing down rain and you look at the forecast. Tomorrow looks sunny with a slight breeze! I’ll just switch today for a rest day and run tomorrow! Sound familiar? I try hard not to do this. I run in the rain, snow, sleet, dark… etc. You cannot control the weather on race day, so get out there and learn to embrace the suck.
  2. Appreciate the fact that you get to do this. As an example, I write with a pen on my left hand, a list of people that I know that have challenges in their life that they cannot put down. Cancer, diabetes, lupus, etc. This provides a firm understanding of why I do what I do, and when I feel like quitting, I look down at my hand and think about these people that I love, that cannot quit. Our suffering will stop when the race is over.
  3. Have confidence, not arrogance. People see the hat’s that I wear that say MACHINE, or BEAST, and make comments on how cool they are. I agree, they are cool, but they are also a reminder that I have put in the work, and I have earned the right to be out on that course, and I am a frickin’ MACHINE. I don’t stop. I don’t quit. I just keep cranking out the miles. It’s a mindset.
  4. Beware of the chair. I’ve seen it at every single ultramarathon that I have ever run. Life is sucking hard out there on the trail and suddenly you are in this warm, cozy tent. They have food. Not just food, but junk food! Soda, hot chocolate, and… CHAIR. You think, I’ll just sit a minute and eat this piece of pizza. Suddenly your tummy is full, and you start to nod off a little. You shake yourself awake and start asking yourself questions. Why am I doing this? What do I have to prove? 70 miles is pretty damn good! Word of advice here. Get into an aid station, do what you need to do, and get the hell out! I even start to think about my plan for the aid station about a mile before I get there, so I am ready to go. “I need refills on water and tailwind, and new batteries for my headlamp.” If I’m not changing my shoes, I don’t even sit down. That’s just me.
  5. When all else fails and I am actually contemplating quitting, I ask myself this question. “If I stop now, how will I feel about it in three hours after I have showered and put my feet up?” If the answer to this question is, I will be completely comfortable with that decision because I am injured or was going to miss a cut off, I drop. If the answer is that I will sit there and ponder how far along I would have been if I hadn’t quit, or I know that I could have kept going, there was no injury or time constraint, I keep moving. Even if it’s a crawl, I keep moving. I have seen people go from dead on their feet to running in a couple of minutes. You just have to muster the strength to keep putting one foot in front of the other.
Machine Hat
You Earned It

I hope that this small glimpse into my head helps you to achieve your goals. If you have any thoughts on how to keep moving despite the challenges of ultra-running, I’d love to hear them in the comments below!

If I can help you on your journey in any way, please reach out to me.

For behind the scenes photos and comments on my training and personal life, follow me on Instagram: joe_the_runner  Strava: Joe Randene  YouTube: Joe Runner  Facebook: Joe Randene

Questions, comments, feedback? Please leave them in the comments section BELOW and we can have a discussion!

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Indiana Trail 100 Race Report (More Like Observations Really)

IT Night

Normally for these types of races, the race report is filled with struggles and moments of despair where a decision has to be made to keep going or not. Risk injury or chase glory. However, this race wasn’t like that for me at all. Everything went perfectly, including the weather. Yes, my left leg swelled and was extremely painful from about mile 70 on, but I had so much time left, that I was able to comfortably finish my second 100 miler under the cutoff. Success.

So, if this race report isn’t about the race, what is it about? It’s about the people, and my observations from the day. I would be remiss if I didn’t start with the Race Director, his staff, and all of the volunteers. They were amazing, and the event was absolutely top notch. Honestly, I cannot think of one thing that wasn’t done extremely well. I am so grateful for that and thank them from the bottom of my heart. But this isn’t about how well the event was run either. It’s about how the ultra-running community is an example of the best traits in human beings.

IT RD
Mike Pfefferkorn and His Team Put On a Great Race!

These events pull the best out of people, because they are vulnerable and struggling, and the crews and volunteers are there for the sole purpose to help the runners overcome their personal demons. Everywhere I looked, I saw strangers acting compassionately and selflessly, because they new that the runners needed it. Race, religion, political affiliation, etc. didn’t matter. No one asked questions about why. If someone saw that a runner was in need of help, they helped. And believe me, being one of the runners, I can tell you that all of that compassion and support made a huge difference. My success is as much their success, because I couldn’t have done it without them.

Joe Drove 3 Hours to Volunteer and Pace Me!

I know that I am not alone on this observation, as I saw a post on social media from the Allison Woods Halloween Hobble 100 miler, where a runner wrote “I thought about how easy life would be if we treated each other this way all of the time.” It’s just one sentence, but it really says it all. Life can be tough for a lot of reasons. Some are definitely self-inflicted, but others are not. Sometimes, bad things happen to good people. It’s unfortunate, but it also happens to be true. And, I am as a guilty as the next person here, we can all get a bit judgmental. We see someone who is suffering and make all sorts of assumptions about why they are in the situation they are in, without knowing their story or acknowledging our own story. We forget about the times that we needed help.

I Never Met Mark and Dan Before This Race, But I Couldn’t Have Done it Without Them!

Well, ultra-marathons have a way of reminding us of what it’s like to really suffer, and how a supportive hand can turn things around in a split second. Believe me, when you are suffering, and it’s dark and cold with no end in sight, you suddenly don’t care who’s hand it is. Once we melt away our differences and focus on a common goal, we are suddenly family. Bonds are created and lifelong friendships are made. Our differences no longer matter. Life becomes… easier.

If we could somehow transfer the way our community interacts on race day to the way our world interacts with each other every day, imagine how amazing life could be. I’m not putting my head in the sand, I understand that there are so many issues in the world that are not close to a resolution, but I can change me. I can own my circle of interactions. There is hope in my heart because I have seen it. Volunteer at an ultra-marathon, and I promise, you will see it too.

If I can help you on your journey in any way, please reach out to me.

For behind the scenes photos and comments on my training and personal life, follow me on Instagram: joe_the_runner  Strava: Joe Randene  YouTube: Joe Runner  Facebook: Joe Randene

Questions, comments, feedback? Please leave them in the comments section BELOW and we can have a discussion!

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Doing Laundry

Laundry

Lately, I have had a lot of conversations around doing things that most people don’t find enjoyable. I mean who likes doing laundry? I’m not referring to finding satisfaction in getting it done and crossing it off your to do list either. I’m talking about finding joy in actually picking up the dirty clothes, washing them, drying them, folding them, and putting them away. It’s safe to say that the overwhelming majority, including myself, do not love, love, love doing laundry.

But I do it. I do it regularly, and when I do it, I do it until the job is done. The reason I do it regularly, is that I don’t want it to pile up. If I stay on top of it, and don’t let it become a massive chore, it’s not so bad, and it doesn’t take up too much of my time. I’m doing what I HAVE to do so that I can do what I WANT to do.

Laundry is a metaphor for a lot of things in our life. If we build it up to be this big, pain in the neck thing, and let it pile up, it becomes that big, pain in the neck thing. And then it takes up an entire day of our lives to just get it done, while we could have been doing other things that we love. Here’s the cross over.

As a runner, I look at cross training, stretching, icing, going to the physio, and other non-running activities as laundry. Honestly, I don’t really enjoy most of that stuff. Those are the things that I have to do, so that I can do what I want to do… run. If I don’t do them regularly, and let them “pile up”, it very often ends with me losing a lot of time running. Injuries occur and guess what. I end up spending a huge amount of time cross training, stretching, icing, and going to the physio anyway. Worst of all, I most likely am NOT RUNNING.

Just like laundry, I try and stay on top of all of this stuff. I get my core work, stretching, and icing in when I watch TV. It’s the easiest time for me to do it, because if I’m sitting still, I can be icing. If there are commercials, I can plank or do push-ups. If I’m tight, I can roll or stretch. This is what works for me. If I can watch a game daily (Stanley Cup Play-Offs anyone?), I can do all of this other stuff too. Think through your day and find what works best for you.

My experience is that I have had a pretty direct correlation to skipping a lot of the non-running activities, especially when my mileage is increasing and I’m tired or “don’t have time”, to the injuries that have side lined me the longest. So, just like the laundry, you may not like doing it, but you’ll love the results…Clean clothes! Errr; I mean no injuries… The buzzer on my dryer just went off, time to fold some clothes.

If I can help you on your journey in any way, please reach out to me.

For behind the scenes photos and comments on my training and personal life, follow me on Instagram: joe_the_runner  Strava: Joe Randene  YouTube: Joe Runner  Facebook: Joe Randene

Questions, comments, feedback? Please leave them in the comments section BELOW and we can have a discussion!

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Leave Your Mark

Make Your Mark

Regardless of what I am doing, I try and find the value in it. Some things, admittedly, are easier than others. When I left the corporate world and started working at the running store, I imagined my days filled with talking about running, with runners, and providing them with all of the essentials that they needed to achieve their goals. And, that definitely is a part of what I do every day.

However, I also clean the bathroom, vacuum the carpet, take out the trash, wipe the windows, dust the shelves and merchandise, fold apparel, etc. Honestly, the list goes on and on. Some people think that leaving a high paying job to do all of that is absolutely crazy, but to me, it’s a dream come true. How, you may ask, do I see that as a dream come true? It’s all in my perspective and keeping the bigger picture in mind.

There is a story, I’m at a loss for the origins, about three bricklayers. It goes that a man comes across three bricklayers on a job. He asks the first what he is doing to which he replies bluntly, “I’m laying bricks.” He asks the second the same thing, and his reply is a little cheerier, “I’m building a wall.” When he asks the third, the man breaks in to a smile and says, “I’m building a cathedral.” Same job, very different perspectives.

It’s my belief that no matter where you are or what you are doing, you have the opportunity to help make someone’s day a little better. You don’t need to be a titled leader to lead, and you do not need to be in a position of power to make a huge impact. Yeah, I might be cleaning the bathroom before the store opens, but it’s part of the bigger process of helping people achieve some pretty massive goals, such as running a marathon.

In fact, two thirds of the people that I help, aren’t runners at all. They are simply in pain and looking for help that will literally improve the quality of their life. How amazing is that? Every day I have the opportunity to help someone live a better life simply by helping them with shoes, inserts, compression, etc. More than once, I have had a complete stranger hug me because they hadn’t been able to walk pain free for years, until the moment they came to see us! I didn’t get many hugs like that as an Operations Director.

Whether I’m helping an elite athlete compete at the highest levels, or helping a grandmother go on a long walk with her grandchild, I’m truly living my dream. And, if part of that dream includes a toilet brush and a squeegee, I’m ok with that. I’ve never been afraid of hard work and building cathedrals every day has its perks. My soul is full of joy. This is how I am leaving my mark…

If I can help you on your journey in any way, please reach out to me.

For behind the scenes photos and comments on my training and personal life, follow me on Instagram: joe_the_runner  Strava: Joe Randene  YouTube: Joe Runner  Facebook: Joe Randene

Questions, comments, feedback? Please leave them in the comments section BELOW and we can have a discussion!

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You Gotta Own It

“Most problems in life are simple to solve. I didn’t say EASY, I said SIMPLE.” – Joe the Runner

When I was at my heaviest, my family and my doctor were telling me that I needed to change. My blood pressure was high, I lacked energy, and my legs almost always hurt. I knew that they were all right, but I wasn’t ready. We would have discussions around why I was so heavy and what had gotten me to this point. Was it genetics? Many of my family members are obese? Had my metabolism slowed down? Etc. This was always my reply. “I am fat because I eat too much, drink too much, and I don’t exercise.” That my friends, is owning it.

Now don’t get me wrong here. Owning it is NOT the same thing as doing something about it. But it is a step in the process. Deep down, I knew why I was obese, and I also knew I wasn’t ready to change it. But as long as I didn’t lie to myself, I also knew that when I was ready, I would make the changes I needed to, and get healthy. Sure enough, that’s what happened. For whatever reason, when I was ready, I got off my butt and started to make changes. I took to running. My alcohol consumption plummeted. I cleaned up my diet. And I lost weight as a result.

There are a lot of reasons why we don’t own our issues. However, for the overwhelming majority of us, it’s most likely that it’s just easier when our problems are someone else’s fault. Money issues. “It’s my boss’ fault, I don’t get paid enough.” Weight issues. “It’s genetics, it runs in my family.” And the list can go on and on. The great thing about it being someone else’s fault, is that you don’t have to do anything about it. Right? I mean, if there is nothing you can do to lose weight, why bother eating healthy and exercising? If your boss won’t give you a raise, why work hard?

Look what happens when you own your issue though. “I don’t make enough money because I don’t add enough value to the organization.” “I am overweight because I don’t eat healthy and exercise.” Now the onus is on you. You have to admit that you are not living the life you want because of the choices that you are making and everyday it remains that way, it is your own fault. Now, when you are ready, you will do something about it.

You’ll go to work and look for ways to add value and get rewarded. If your boss still doesn’t belly up, you’ll look for another job. Instead of a beer, you’ll drink water and get out there for a walk. You get the point. Once you’ve owned your issue and are ready, you’ll start to take action. Consistent actions lead to new habits, and new habits lead to results. Most problems in life are simple to solve. I didn’t say EASY, I said SIMPLE. We know when we don’t have money, we shouldn’t buy that new pair of shoes, but it’s hard to put off that gratification. SIMPLE solution, but HARD to do.

My suggestion is taking small steps. Identify something that you really would like to change, and really own it. Take ownership of the issue by looking at it as something that you can control. Do this over and over with this one issue, and eventually you will get to that point where you are ready to make changes. When you get to that point, you WILL take action. The only one who can change you, is you.

If I can help you on your journey in any way, please reach out to me.

For behind the scenes photos and comments on my training and personal life, follow me on Instagram: joe_the_runner  Strava: Joe Randene  YouTube: Joe Runner  Facebook: Joe Randene

Questions, comments, feedback? Please leave them in the comments section BELOW and we can have a discussion!

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Randene Rant: Haters!

Haters

“Dear haters, I have so much more for you to be mad at. Just be patient.” – Unknown

I haven’t done a rant in a while, because they always feel like they have a negative slant to them, and I’m just not a negative person. By no means am I perfect, but generally speaking, I am positive, surround myself with positive people, and try hard to send out positive vibes. However, lately I have had a few run ins with people who like to tear other people down.

I have quite a few friends that dream big, set big goals, and share them with the world. Me included. I’m talking about goals, where there is the very real chance of failure. Running 200 miles, qualifying for the Olympic trials, and qualifying for Western States 100 would all be real examples. Anyone brave enough to chase these types of goals and bold enough to share it, should be applauded. The world needs people like this so that they can see what is possible. They can follow along and share in the journey, finding inspiration and joy. The goal, most of the time, is not nearly as important as the journey and the people who are a part of that journey, either as participants or spectators.

So, why are there always people who look at these people and knock them down? You know the type, they say things like “I hope he/she does it, but I really don’t think they can.” “I’m not being negative, I’m a realist.” I’ll share my opinion on why these people do this. It’s easy. It’s easier to point out the difficulty and tear other people down, then to invest in them and their journey. It’s easier to point out the challenges facing others, than to look at what they are doing and realize that THEY may not be challenging themselves to grow. There is no risk in hating, it’s safe. If the hater is right and that person fails, they can say “I told you so.” And if the hater is wrong, no one will clap back at them.

Here’s the thing, you cannot control what other people will say or think, so why worry about it. Stay busy doing the work, surround yourself with positive people, and pay attention to the only opinion that matters; yours. There is this great quote by Wayne Dyer, “What other people think of me is none of my business.” Amen. Let that sink in a minute. Imagine how liberating it is to focus on your goals, do work, drink in the positive, and IGNORE the negative.

This is my canned answer to people who “share” their opinion of other people with me. “I hope they achieve their goal. It’s amazing that they are stretching themselves like that and being kind enough to share the journey. Regardless, I’ll be right there to congratulate them for chasing their dreams.” This ray of sunshine usually quiets them immediately. But, if they still haven’t gotten the message, there’s always “Let’s talk about you, what are your goals?”. THAT one always shuts them up…

For behind the scenes photos and comments on my training and personal life, follow me on Instagram: joe_the_runner  Strava: Joe Randene  YouTube: Joe Runner  Facebook: Joe Randene

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“I’m Not a Runner”

Finish Line

Whether I’m at the running store, at a race, or just at a dinner party striking up conversation, I hear this. A lot. It usually goes something like this. “I’m not a runner, I just run a couple of miles two or three times a week.” “I’m not a runner, I just started because I want to lose weight.” “I’m not a runner, I have to walk a lot during my runs.” You get the point. And I’m here to tell you, that you are a runner.

When I started, I was the same way. I believed that you had to be able to run a certain distance without stopping, at least a 5k as an example, to call yourself a runner. I was 330 pounds and I thought it absurd to look someone in the eye and say, “I’m a runner.” But looking back now, I can see that I was mistaken. The first time I put on a pair of running shoes and took that first step, I became a runner. And you did too.

It didn’t matter that I was 330 pounds and couldn’t run more than 100 feet. It didn’t matter that I hadn’t a clue about nutrition yet. None of that mattered. What did matter, is that I was up off the couch. My intentions and thoughts started to change. Maybe I was a beginner runner, but I was a runner, and running changes everything.

How does running change everything? It helps you make healthier lifestyle choices. If you have goals around your running, your eating habits will change, your sleeping habits will change, your drinking habits will change, and so much more. And those are just the physical changes.

When you run consistently, your mood changes. Talk to the spouse/partner of any runner, and they will probably tell you that when their partner is in a bad mood, they tell them to go for a run. If you haven’t done this already, just humor me. Pick one night and go to bed early and get your run in BEFORE work. Tell me that you don’t feel accomplished and better ready to handle your day. These are just the short-term mental benefits. There are long term ones as well.

My personal experience has been that with each running goal that I have accomplished, there has been a permanent increase in my confidence that bleeds in to all aspects of my life. Something pops up at work. Is this more difficult than that half marathon in the ice in snow? Nope. Life throws you a curve ball. I figured out how to keep moving forward after 60 miles with blisters on both of my feet, I can keep moving forward now. Don’t stop. Never give up. And I’ve seen it at the finish line of the races that I put on. People cross the finish line and hug me, a complete stranger, because they just proved to themselves that they are capable of more than they think. Permanent confidence builder.

Your relationships will change. Since I started running, I have been accepted in to a family. My life is filled with friendships that have all started via my running. I left my job to work at a running store, so my co-workers are runners, my best friends are runners, and my customers are runners. Running isn’t the only thing that makes all of these people special, but it is definitely the glue that binds us all together. So, the next time that you get ready to say, “I’m not a runner.” Run, see what I did there, through this check list. Did you lace them up and get outside? Uh oh, you’re a runner. It doesn’t matter how far or how fast, you are beating everyone who is sitting on the couch.

For behind the scenes photos and comments on my training and personal life, follow me on Instagram: joe_the_runner  Strava: Joe Randene  YouTube: Joe Runner  Facebook: Joe Randene

Questions, comments, feedback? Please leave them in the comments section BELOW and we can have a discussion!