Shenandoah National Park Bicycle Adventure - July 4th weekend, 2009

At 7:00 a.m. on Friday July 3rd, Sarah and I packed up our touring bikes with sleeping bags, a tent, and some food, and then set out on a biking expedition that I will not soon forget. We crossed the Key Bridge into Virginia and then took the Custis Trail 4 miles to the start of the W&OD trail in Shirlington. The W&OD trail is a 45 mile paved trail once occupied by the Washington & Old Dominion Railroad from 1859 to 1968. We busted our way down this mostly flat trail with only a brief stop for some Twizzlers at "The Stretching Post". The first 10-15 miles of this trail were rather crowded and had several street crossings that really slowed us down, but the last 15-20 miles were much more rural with few interruptions that allowed us to make it into Purcellville at the trail's end by lunchtime. A nice gentle-bicyclist-man that we rode the last few miles of the trail with directed us to the grocery store in town where we got some sandwich material and fluids for the water bottles that were rapidly being emptied on such a hot and humid weekend.
We spent the better part of that afternoon biking about 40 miles of rural Virginia roads from Purcellville into Front Royal, the entrance to Shenandoah National Park. Highlights of the ride included an alpaca farm, buying ice cream sandwiches at a gas station we passed, and playing "I'm biking to Shenandoah and I'm bringing Apples, a Bandana, Cherry Chapstick, ... Fish of the swedish variety, Jokes to tell, a Kite to fly, Lovely Lipstick," and on and on." When we got to the entrance station of Shenandoah National Park at Skyline Drive, we were denied access to camping because we did not have a backcountry camping permit and did not have locks for our bikes. So we wound up biking a couple miles down the road to an RV campground where we were allowed to pitch our tent for the night. The campground turned out to be awesome as they had showers, miniature golf, trash cans for empty beer bottles, and black bears! We had to tie our food up in the tree at night so as not to attract bears but it turned out not to matter much as bears were trolling around the campground throughout the day regardless.

On day 2 of our adventure, we left all our gear at the campground and rode our bikes sans heavy gear back to the beginning of Skyline Drive at the entrance to Shenandoah Park. Skyline Drive runs 105 miles north-south along the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains and is the only public road in Shenandoah National Park. This road traverses up and down 3,500 feet tall mountains and has numerous white-tail deer and black bears that occasionally wander onto it. It turned out to be a great day of riding with incredible ups-and-downs and beautiful scenic views. Literally, the first 8 miles were straight uphill without rest, immediately followed by an amazing downhill journey with dangerously fast speeds. We took a rest at the Elkwallow campground, very popular among the cyclists in the park. We met an awesome old guy with jacked legs who was riding a single speed through the park - I don't know how he was making it up the mountains without gears - and Sarah got a picture with him that turned out to be a Facebook profile pic for quite a while. Sarah is quite the beast on the bike and I'm not quite sure how far she made it out Skyline Drive that day before turning around, but I made it to the 34 mile marker before I decided that I had better turn around for fear of not making it all the way back to the campground before dark/death. There were fireworks that raged late into the night that night for the 4th of July while we tried to sleep in the tent before the 90 mile journey home the next day.

Expedition day 3 found us packing up our bikes and getting on the road by about 8:30 a.m. I was pretty beat and having some pretty bad IT band pain in my left knee but Sarah was raging and ready to bike as always. The miles back to Purcellville flew by with a quick stop for pictures (that can't be shown on this blog) outside Naked Mountain Winery and a concrete sculpture garden in some rural Virginia town. The ride home on the W&OD was excruciating for me as I was just not in the bike shape required for doing hundred mile days while carrying tons of extra weight on my touring bike. Needless to say I was pretty happy to make it across the Key Bridge back into D.C. in one piece after 250+ miles over 3 days on the bike and some great memories to boot.

Kinetic half-iron and sprint triathlons - May 9 and 10, 2009

On Saturday May 9th I drove down to Lake Anna State Park in Spotsylvania, Virginia to participate in the Kinetic half-iron triathlon on Saturday 5/9/09 at 7:00 a.m. and the Kinetic sprint triathlon on Sunday 5/10/09 at 9:00 a.m. These were my first big triathlons of the season and outdoor swims in my wetsuit. I had been training hard running and swimming but had very little mileage on my bike so far this year coming into this weekend, so I was pretty unsure of how the races would go.

Kinetic half-iron triathlon on Saturday

swam 1.2 miles in 36:19
T1 of 4:01
biked 56 miles in 3:08:44
T2 of 2:12
ran 13.1 miles in 1:49:59
finished in 5:41:13
104th place out of 267 male finishers

Kinetic sprint triathlon on Sunday

750 meter swim in 13:20
T1 of 3:48
18 mile bike in 52:33
T2 of 1:35
5K run in 22:12
finished in 1:33:27
107th place out of 340 male finishers

I was pretty pleased with my performance over the weekend although I was rather disappointed at my biking splits. This weekend did get me motivated to get out on my bike more often. I had fun camping out on Lake Anna with some other kids from the triathlon team on Saturday night after the half roasting some hot dogs and marshmallows on our campfire. Waking up in a tent at 7 a.m. the morning after a half is not the ideal conditions for competing in a sprint but I survived. The end-of-the-year Georgetown Triathon Team party when we got back to D.C. that Sunday night was definitely a blast.

Race for Hope 5K - May 3, 2009

On Sunday May 3rd I rode my bike down to Freedom Plaza (located just on the east side of the White House) to run in the Race for Hope, a 5K run/walk around the streets of D.C. to benefit the National Brain Tumor Society and Accelerate Brain Cancer Cure. My last three years of PhD research in the Tumor Biology Training Program at Georgetown have been spent analyzing the cancer genome of the deadly brain tumor called glioblastoma multiforme that afflicts ~10,000 Americans each year. I have been identifying new genes that drive the pathogenesis of glioblastoma in the hopes of discovering new successful therapeutics for this uniformly lethal brain cancer. For more information on my research, please see one of my recent publications "Identification of p18INK4c as a tumor suppressor gene in glioblastoma multiforme" at http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/68/8/2564.

My previous personal best at the 5K distance was 19 min 6 sec run in October 2006. I had been putting in a lot of miles leading up to this race and had high hopes of running somewhere under 19 minutes. Unfortunately, all the running I had been doing was long slow mileage getting ready for the Bull Run 50, and the single interval session I did on a track two days before this race was not enough to get me in speed mode. It turned out to be a rainy morning on race day and the course was covered in puddles. After a ceremonial start by David Cook (last year's American Idol winner) and a crowd of brain tumor survivors carrying yellow balloons, the race went off at 9 a.m. I started up front and kept up with the leaders for a bit but just wasn't able to keep their pace all the way home. After dodging puddles rather unsuccessfully for 3.1 miles, I crossed the finish line in 19 min 23 sec (6:15 min/mile pace) good for 20th place out of 1,470 timed finishers. There were several high school track/cross country students out to run that morning, and I embarassingly was beaten by three 15 year olds, ouch! I have got to get faster.

Run Amuck 5K Mud Run - April 25, 2009

"This is the Run Amuck Mud Run! The Mud Run is a challenging 5K run in Rockville, Maryland with hills, tire obstacles, river crossings, walls, ropes, and MUD PITS. This is the most fun you can have running a 5K! View the course map at www.runamuckfestival.com. Race individually, as a couple, or as a member of a 4-person team. Choose the Open category with no restrictions on attire and footwear, or the Costumed category, which requires your own zany costume or matching costumes (for couples and teams)."

Our team "menage a quatre Georgetown style" crossed the 3.1 miles in approximately 1 hr 08 min coming in next to last place in the team costume division that went off at 1 p.m. However, we did win best dressed, most team spirit, most covered in mud at the finish line, and best dance moves at the afterparty. What could be better on a Saturday afternoon?!?

A more complete photo documentation of the event is available upon request.

IronMed Charity Triathlon - April 19, 2009

So 12 hours after completing the Bull Run 50 miler, I stood at 6.am. on Sunday morning in the Yates natatorium in order to race in the 2009 IronMed Charity Triathlon put on by the students of Georgetown University School of Medicine. It was a sprint distance race again this year consisting of a 750 yard swim in the indoor pool at Yates, a 12.5 mile bike on the paved Capital Crescent Trail, and 5k run on the C&O Canal Towpath. The D.C. mayor Adrian Fenty came to compete in the race again this year (now his 3rd year in a row) and brought along his triathlon posse to participate as well. The event seems to be turning into a "real triathlon" now with a crew of seasoned triathletes, skinsuits, aero bikes, etc. compared to the days of old when the bike course used to be on the C&O Canal Towpath and everyone used to ride old beater mountain bikes. I went off in the second heat at 6:46 a.m. While I was surprisingly not that incredibly sore from the day before, I was pretty damn tired and just didn't have much energy stored up to be "racing" already again. So I managed to complete the swim without drowning in 15 min and was the last one out of the pool. My legs felt reasonable on the bike but there was just no strength to push the pedals around, and I wasn't going much faster than 15 mph on the false-flat climb out Capital Crescent. I wound up completing the bike in 42 min, and then managed the 5k run in high spirits in 27 min. My total finishing time was 1:30:05 compared to 12 min swim/38 min bike/19 min run and a finishing time of 1:11:29 in last year's event. Nonetheless, a successful completion of my fifth IronMed Charity Triathlon that was followed by the 5th annual post-IronMed BBQ and party at my house.

Bull Run 50 miler - April 18, 2009

On the morning of Saturday April 18th I drove down to Hemlock Regional Park along the Occoquan River in Clifton, Virginia to "compete" (or possibly a more appropriate description is "participate") in the Bull Run 50 Miler. The Bull Run Run is a 50.4 mile trail run in the rolling hills of the Virginia countryside alongside the Occoquan River with two out and back loops (see the map of the course below) that included ~6300 feet of climbing throughout. "The BRR is a beautiful, tough run on the Bull Run Trail in Northern Virginia sponsored by the Virginia Happy Trails Running Club. The run's unique character includes a Civil War theme that respects the battles that occurred here many years ago. The BRR is a difficult challenge, but many have finished it. It is not easy, but it is not brutal. The BRR is not for casual runners, but if you like to run trails, come enjoy a day in Virginia's spring beauty as we honor those who fought here many years ago."

There were 314 of us lunatics that gathered together at the start line at 6:30 a.m. that morning to compete in the idiotic sport called ultramarathon running. It was to be one of the first warm days of the year - I think this was only the third run so far of the year in shorts and a t-shirt and no tights, longsleeves, gloves, hat, etc. It actually turned out to be quite a hot day for running an ultra (the high temperature reached 80 degrees) which greatly added to the difficulty of the run. It required constant consumption of fluid, salty foods, and electrolyte tablets to make sure that I didn't get dehydrated, hyponatremic, or other nasty medical term that would cause me not to make it to the finish line. I went off at a very slow and maintainable pace from the get-go, at least a min/mile slower pace than my typical weekend 20 miler out on the trails at Great Falls. I thought that I could pick up the pace later if I felt good but it was better not to blow up early. This turned out to be a wise decision as the heat was really draining, especially given that most of us had been training in cool weather all winter. The first loop took us out the bluebell trail and it was beautifully scenic with the bluebell flowers in full bloom (see the pictures) and was a lot less muddy than everyone had anticipated going into the race with all the rain we got earlier in the week. I completed the first of two out and back loops that came back to Hemlock Park (the start/finish) at mile 16.6 into the run at which time the race clock said 3 hrs 19 min. This is the time that I crossed the finish line of the Marine Corps Marathon last October (i.e. I ran almost 10 miles farther in October on the road in the same amount of time that I completed 16.6 on this day). I knew it was going to be a long day as I set off to complete another ~34 miles. It turned out to be a great day of running. The course was well marked and the aid stations were well stocked, both with goodies and wonderful volunteers. My new trail shoes were great and the only blisters I got were from the tops of my shoes digging into my ankles that I just shoved some gauze into my socks and pretty much calmed the problem. My toes, knees, everything was fine all day. It took me a little longer than I hoped in the end but I wound up crossing the finish line in 11 hrs 51 min 54 sec and 216th place out of 266 official finishers (5 hrs 20 min back from the unbelievable maniac that won the race - and people say that I have a running problem, what about this guy?!?). I was covered in salt, hungry, and tired when I got to the finish but it was time to get ready for Georgetown's IronMed Charity Triathlon the next morning. I was hoping my legs would be feeling up for another challenge only 12 hours after finishing this ridiculousness.

Training log March 2009 -- my first 100 mile running week

There were so many highlights to this month's running that I don't know where to begin. First, I completed my first ultra of the year on March 7th (my previous post includes some pictures and race recap). I suffered some pretty nasty toe injuries during this race that only got worse in the following days when I kept pounding away the miles despite the pain. Finally, after a brief three days of recovery with no running, I set out to accomplish something I had not previously attempted in my running career - 100 miles in one week. Why, you might ask, would anyone ever attempt to average 14.3 miles of running every day for 7 consecutive days? Well, for one, why not? I couldn't think of any good reason not to when I started (but I did manage to come up with a few as the week progressed). Second, I am heavily considering trying to run a 100 mile race sometime this year - possibly the Old Dominion 100 miler (http://www.olddominionrun.org/) on June 6th. So I figured if I am ever going to be able to cover 100 miles in the 28 hour time limit set for the OD100, then I at least better be able to run 100 miles in one week.

My first 100 mile week
Friday (3/20) - 17 miles total, out Glover-Archibold trail to Tenleytown and back to Georgetown along Wisconsin Ave, 15 min rest at house, then out to Dupont Circle, past White House, along Pennsylvania Ave around Capitol, back along Mall, Independence Ave, and Rock Creek Pkwy

Saturday (3/21) - 13 miles total, parked at Great Falls Visitors Center in VA, ran east out Ridge Trail, along Difficult Run and then Cross County Trail, and then looped back

Sunday (3/22) - 17 miles total, over Key Bridge and along Mt Vernon Trail to Alexandria, and then back crossing over 14th Street Bridge and coming home along Ohio Drive and Rock Creek Pkwy

Monday (3/23) - 14 miles total, met up with the Gtown Tri Team at the Front Gates, went over Key Bridge, along Mt Vernon Trail to Reagan National Airport, and then back crossing over 14th Street Bridge and coming home along Ohio Drive and Rock Creek Pkwy, then 2 miles of hill intervals on a treadmill and 2 miles on the track later that night at Yates

Tuesday (3/24) - 15 miles total, over Key Bridge, Mt Vernon Trail to 14th Street Bridge, loop around Hains Point/Potomac Park, up to Mall and around Capitol, back to Georgetown along Pennsylvania Ave

Wednesday (3/25) - 12 miles total, Glover-Archibold trail to Tenleytown, got lost running around up there, and finally came back along Wisconsin Ave, then 5 miles on the track at Yates later that night getting paced by a pretty fast undergrad

Thursday (3/26) - 12 miles total in the rain, to Dupont Cirlce, past White House, out Pennsylvania Ave, around Capitol, back along Mall, Independence Ave, Rock Creek Pkwy, up Wisconsin Ave, got ice cream at T Sweet's (with 2 miles to go), ran to track on 38th Street and completed miles 99 and 100 with ice cream in hand (and mouth).

Well, how did I feel at the end of 100 miles? Happy. Hungry. Tired. In that order. But while I was at times not feeling extremely motivated to keep going during the week, I never experienced any aches or pains or felt on the verge of injury. I thought this to be a good sign if I am to try a 100 miler later this year. Nor was I especially sore or feeling slowed down by the end of the week. I took a day off, and then went out the next day on Saturday and did an awesome 20 miler in the rain and mud along the Potomac Heritage Trail out of the Great Falls Visitors Center in VA.

Oh, and I got some new trail shoes this month too after those damn Salomon want-to-be-running-shoes-but-more-closely-resemble-ski-boots mangled my beautiful toes. I am now running in the Asics GT-2140 Trail shoes. Unfortunately, they are not GoreTex/waterproof like my old Salomon's but are only water resistant (i.e. step in a puddle or stream and your socks and feet are soaked). But I do really like them so far and anticipate they will be far more comfortable on my longer runs than the Salomon's ever were.

March training totals
Total mileage - 231 miles
Average miles per day - 7.5 miles

Seneca Creek 50+k trail race - March 7, 2009

50+k trail race, ~33 miles, finished in 6 hrs 32 min 05 sec, 56th place out of 108 male 50k finishers, first place finished in 4:17:12

I reached the 19 mile aid station in exactly 3 hrs and was feeling pretty good at that point - a little tired in the legs as this was the longest run of the season to date by this point in the race. Somewhere in the mid-20 miles into the race, I started experiencing some pretty bad pain in my right shoe. I wasn't sure if it was blisters, my toenails falling off, or what. When I finally checked at an aid station with about 3 miles to go, I realized that I should have cut my toenails before the race and that my pinky toenail was terribly tender from impacting my shoe every step I was taking. I pretty much hobbled into the finish it hurt so bad by the end of the run.
crossing a stream during the race






my toes a week after the race, my poor pinky toe is no longer sitting horizontal on my swollen toe but is at a horrible vertical angle causing significant pain with every step

Training log February 2009 -- gearing up for spring races

Home from a fun day out on the trails.

So I am starting to gear up for my spring races that are rapidly approaching.

From a voicemail I left for John one Sunday afternoon while out running: "In case I don't show up at home this evening just letting you know where I'm at. I parked at the Great Falls Visitors Center down in Virginia and am out at least 7 or 8 miles west along the Potomac River on some trail that I've never been on before. Haven't seen anyone or any houses or anything in at least 45 minutes."

Total running mileage this month - 182 miles
Avg miles per day (excluding 5 days I was sick) - 7.8 miles
Most mileage in 48 hrs - 36 miles (8 mi Feb 13th, 15 mi Feb 14th, 13 mi Feb 15th)
Longest training run - 16 miles on Sat Feb 21st in Great Falls Park Virginia (2 hrs 45 min)
Number of 10+ mile runs - 9

Training log January 2009 -- some ups and downs

Well, I started off 2009 on the coast of Oregon in the famed land of Bill Bowerman, Steve Prefontaine, and Nike. It rained the whole time I was there but I had some beautiful runs along the coast that I will not soon forget. As for the major downer, I crashed on my bicycle and broke the scaphoid bone in my left wrist on January 15th. It's going to be a long path to recovery, but I was able to start running again on January 23rd after I got a cast put on.

Total running mileage this month - 144 miles

Avg miles per day (excluding 8 days while in splint) - 6.3 miles

Longest training run - 13 miles in Great Falls park on Jan 11th

Favorite run - at sunset along Oceanside beach in Oregon Jan 2nd

Check out my muddy Salomon trail shoes!

Marine Corps Marathon - October 26, 2008