Category: Ramblings

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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

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

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Ultra-Running Math – The Exponentiality of the Suck

Suck Graph

(This post is meant to be fun, but still share some experience and tips. The math isn’t real, or is it?)

Suck – “Be very bad, disagreeable, or disgusting”

Embrace the suck. We hear that a lot in our sport. There’s the definition right out of Webster’s. And, as much as I love our sport, I can tell you, there is a ton of suck to embrace when you run ultra-distances. Blisters suck. Dehydration sucks. Exhaustion sucks. The list goes on and on. So, what do I mean by the exponentiality of the suck, and why is it important to grasp and overcome?

We already concluded that blisters and their ilk suck. Any of these calamities in and of their own right can spoil a run. So, what about when you are dealing with more than one? If you run a 5k, the probability of any one of these issues occurring is extremely low. However, as you increase the distance, the probability increases. Here comes the math, try and keep up… S = Suck, P = Probability, D = Distance, C = Calamity, and V = Severity. Here is our equation for level of suck:

D x P x Cx x V = S

Now, that equation is pretty linear EXCEPT for Cx. Let us now look at the long list of potential calamities:

  • Dehydration
  • Blisters
  • Chafing
  • Exhaustion
  • Cramping
  • Stomach Issues
  • Aches and Pains
  • Bee Stings
  • Weather (Rain, Heat, Cold…)
  • Terrain (Mud, Hills, Rocks, Roots…)
  • Cell Phone Died (No Selfies)
  • Cell Phone is Charged (Too Many Selfies)

The list is practically infinite.

Dealing with cramping sucks. Dealing with cramping and a bee sting really sucks. Dealing with cramping, a bee sting, and hills, takes the suck to a whole new level! All of that and 60 miles to go is a hell that most of us don’t want to think of! But, we must. The truth is, if you look at that equation, it can get worse. In fact, it can always get worse! I’m not saying that to scare you, I’m saying it to prepare you.

THAT is the importance of grasping this concept. It’s the preparation part. There are a couple of ways to use this information to prepare yourself for it. The first is the actual preparation for the race. Ensuring you have a nutrition plan and sticking to it, lubing up sufficiently and often, having a change of clothes, etc. All of these things reduce the probability and severity of the suck.

Then there is the mental preparation. If you understand that the suck is real, and that it will come, you can set the expectation and not be blind-sided by it. This is the “embracing” part. Welcome pain and exhaustion like old friends to the party. “Hey, I know you. I guess we’ll finish this thing together, arm in arm.” If Yogi Berra was an ultra-runner he would say “Ultra-running is ninety percent mental and the other half is physical.” And that will make 110% sense at mile 87, trust me. Once the suck settles in, unless there is a legitimate medical reason to stop, the race is all in your head. Can you take one more step despite the pain?

Let’s end this on a positive note. Although the suck will come, and believe me, it will, it is not permanent. If you put one foot in front of the other, you will finish your race, you will get that medal or buckle, you will drink that beer, and you will get that hot shower that you will regret the second that the chafed areas go nuclear on you. This too shall pass, and you will have one epic story to tell. Consider the suck as the price of admission to becoming a badass. When you have achieved your goal, no one can take it away from you. If anyone argues with that logic, just show them the math…

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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Trail Running vs. Road Running

Road Runner: “Runners of the Religious Watch Wearing Factions, Triathletes, and the Club of Suburban Child Bearing Middle Class. Could be of the Suunto, Garmin, or Polar denominations.”

Trail Runner: “The runners who claim that they went on a “run” where they hiked half of it and climbed over fallen tree logs the other half of the outing. Look up James Varner in the Trailepedia. Didn’t find him? Oh, yeah! He’s still out bushwhacking in the middle of nowhere. I mean “running”.”

Definitions from: http://www.wilddefined.com/2013/10/the-every-persons-guide-to-trail.html

Before we get in to this, let me start by saying that I have nothing but respect for ALL runners. This is just for fun with a little truth thrown in here and there. I started on the roads and will run them in a pinch, but once I was exposed to the beauty of the trails, I never looked back. So, here we go. These are some of the differences between road running and trail running.

Terrain

Basically, the terrain for road runners is asphalt. Period end of story. For trail runners, we get asphalt, dirt, mud, rocks, roots, water, pine needles, logs, wooden bridges, and leaves. I’m sure that I forgot a few too, but you get the picture. Now, the road folk will tell you that at least they don’t fall very often, which is very true. Us trail folk on the other hand, wear our scabs and scars like little badges of bad assdom! And the uneven terrain works all of our muscles and ligaments from many different angles often improving our overall strength in the lower extremities.

Elevation

Most road runners have to go and find a hill to actually do a hill repeat work out and, I will say that there are some courses that are notorious for their hills. But… hills are naturally part of a trail run and in regard to courses with elevation, how about 18,000 feet or climbing and almost 23,000 feet of descent for the Western States 100 Miler?! Umm… yeah.

Distance

When you hear a road-guy say that he’s got 30 on the schedule, it usually means a 30-minute run or workout. When you hear a trail-gal say it, she usually means 30 miles! This is important, keep it in mind the next time your trail running friend asks you along for a “little” run. Now, to be fair to the road peeps, they be fast! I don’t mean a little faster either, I mean smoke. These crazy folks do things like run a mile in six minutes, or less! Who does that? No; trail bums generally slow down due to the terrain and all of the twists and turns in the trail. However, there are a group of young studs out there redefining what is possible in the trail running sport. Jim Walmsley just ran the Western States 100 Miler in 14 hours and 30 minutes! That is an 8 minute and 45 second mile-pace for 100 miles!!!

The Gear

The road running types have some cool shoes, socks, shorts, singlets, sunglasses, lube products, and maybe; maybe, a handheld bottle. Us trail birds have all of that stuff, except the singlet, never, ever, wear a singlet. But, we have awesome stuff like hydration vests where we can literally wear our hydration and carry food. We also usually wear dope ass stuff like trucker hats that say “MACHINE” on them! (Obvious merch plug, click here to purchase!) And while I admit that they have some cool shoes, ours are cooler. They are generally built like lightweight tanks to provide stability, protection, and stain resistance for things like vomit and blood.

Hygiene

The road types probably have the trail types beat here. They usually have nice short hair and a clean-shaven face, they hit the showers after like 26.2 miles, and they usually have more toe nails then we do. For us, hygiene is when you hit a river crossing and decide to submerge your entire body because you know, you still have 47 miles to go and it’s hot. Long hair and longer beards are not just ok, they are encouraged. Besides, the best way to scare a bear is to look and smell, like a bear.

Aid Stations

Not even close here. Marathons normally have water, electrolyte, bananas, gels, and some watermelon; if you’re lucky. And marathoners hit those aid stations and are gone before you know it. Trail rats on the other hand, we take our time in the aid stations. There is so much to choose from! We have all that stuff the marathoners have, but we also have flat coke, pizza, skittles, cookies, soup, baked potatoes, tacos, and anything else that a motivated aid station crew can come up with. We say that we vomit because we have stomach issues from running such long distances, but I concede that it might; MIGHT, be something else.

Vocab

We have a lot of the same vocab, but it usually means very different things, and then there is just some vocab that is trail specific. Sub-5 for road runners means going sub 5 minutes in a mile, for trail runners, it means sub 5 hours for some distance like a 40 miler. A bonk is a bonk, but for road runners the context is usually something like this, “I was crushing that marathon and then I bonked at mile 22 and finished in 3 hours.”. For trail runners, the context is usually something like this, “I bonked like 6 times during that 100 miler and had to drag ass through the pain cave each time until I recovered enough to start running again.”. Then of course there is the plethora of trail lingo such as these gems: trail stoke, shit kit, face plant, vert, buckle owner, buckle party, golden ticket, FKT (Fastest Known Time), technical, buffed single track, pacer, crew, drop bag, etc.

So, there it is! The differences between road running and trail running. Now you know, and like GI Joe said, “Knowing is half the battle.”. I happen to have a little run scheduled, want to join 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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Being Wildly Happy

When I meet people for the first time, within a few minutes they normally say something like, “You’re so happy!” or “You love what you’re doing, don’t you?”. I’m told my happiness kind of bubbles through my personality. And you know what? I think it’s true. I believe that life is way too short to be grumpy. Trust me, I have bad days and bad moods, just like anyone else, but… generally speaking I’m a pretty happy guy. Now, I can’t tell YOU how to be happy, but I can tell you what I think has become the foundation for my happiness and maybe that can help you be a little happier every day.

This is going to sound so mundane, but I believe the foundation for being wildly happy is contentment. When people hear this word, a lot of them associate it with “settling”. Settling for good enough and being content are two completely different things in my opinion. In my opinion, contentment is the ability to be satisfied with your current situation and not create unhappiness in your life because you feel like you are missing something. It doesn’t mean that you cannot continue to work towards other goals, but you do not let those goals own and define you.

As an example, I retired early to work in the running industry because it is what I am passionate about. I drive a perfectly good 2004 Toyota Sienna mini-van. Is it the most amazing vehicle on the road? Absolutely not! But it is paid for and it does the job. I am perfectly happy to drive it every day and not have a car payment. This is part of the decision to retire early, we need to minimize expenditures on things that we don’t really need so that we can live the life that we want. We don’t want the things that we own to own us.

When the day arrives that we need to replace the van, I am sure that I will probably “upgrade” to a different car, but this is also part of contentment. It’s the ability to delay gratification. I am happy with my current situation, I am comfortable with my goals, and I am aware that as I continue to work on my journey, that I will arrive at destinations that will bring more joy in my life. But, if all you do is focus on what you don’t have and constantly chase after those things without the ability to be happy right now, you may just go through your entire life never really being wildly happy.

There will always be something that you don’t have, so really take the time to appreciate all of the wonderful things that you do have, because this moment is gone, and you can never get it back. And tomorrow is not guaranteed. I can throw clichés at you like “Take time to smell the roses.” Or “Life is a journey, not a destination.” But I’d rather just try and lead by example. I work at a running store because it makes me happy, I run because it makes me happy, and I love my family because they are amazing, and I am lucky. I’m excited about the future, but I am wildly happy about today. I hope you are too…

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!