| #1 | What pace do you run ? |
| joe | All of them |
| mike | What ever the pack wants to do and we feel like |
| henry | As slow as I can get away with given the pack and the time that I have |
| duane | Does that include walking breaks, potty stops, and browsing at the aid stations? |
| paul | I run a 6:30 pace, meaning I try to finish by 6:30 (p.m.) |
| moogy | depends on the Britney Spears song... |
| wes | All of the above |
| bill | I will go with joe on this one and say...All of them |
| true | Pace is almost never considered for trail or ultra distance runs. I run what the terrain allows me to run. On a relatively flat surface, I will meter out such that I will mix walk and run so as to conserve energy. If the terrain is rugged with ups and down, then I will attempt to run most of the downhills while I will be conservative but consistent on the ups. |
| #2 | It's raining. Are you still going running ? |
| joe | Oh Yes, I plan to enjoy every drop! |
| mike | Yes, and we'll add a few miles |
| henry | Yes and I'll be smiling....unless I am on the "flat" side at Bandera or McKinney Roughs |
| duane | Why not - I sweat so much I'll be just as wet either way |
| paul | Rain is just a test of our commitment. As long as it's not lightning, I try to carry out my schedule |
| moogy | rain, snow, all the better |
| wes | Yes and sometimes swimming, depending on duration of the rain and depth of the creek |
| bill | Heck yea, getting wet is half the fun, the other half is spraying mud up your back |
| true | Rain by itself should never keep you from running |
| #3 | What do you do when the creek's are full of water ? |
| joe | Celebrate! |
| mike | Lay down in it |
| henry | See joe and mike's responses |
| duane | Who cares - I'm already wet |
| paul | A lot of splashin |
| moogy | see Mike |
| wes | As I said, swim! |
| bill | Wade in it, look for fish... |
| true | Water in your shoes will drain and typically will not cause blisters just because your socks and shoes are wet. It helps to wear good high tech socks that dry fast and don't bunch up. Injini & Smartwool |
| #4 | I know you run trails, but where do you run after it gets dark ? |
| joe | In the dark |
| mike | Flashlights work. Pick up your feet |
| henry | Bastrop State Park...more roots to trip on |
| duane | Trails |
| paul | I don't see well at night, but I'm slow, so it all comes out even |
| moogy | see Mike |
| wes | In my sleep |
| bill | The same place |
| true | Get a good LED flashlight. Handlamp or headlamp. They last a long time and need new batteries only every now and then. Less crowds, cooler, plus it's quite stimulating. |
| #5 | What do you get for winning an ultra ? |
| joe | Warm fuzzies! |
| mike | Don't know, those guys have put all the good stuff away by the time I get there |
| henry | Wouldn't have the slightest idea, probably a white jacket with straps |
| duane | Nobody actually wins ultras. This is a myth perpetrated by people who finish before me (ie - everyone else) |
| paul | I wouldn't know anything about that. However, I did finish second in a race once (The guy that beat me was next-to-last) |
| moogy | ahhh...no idea...Matt? |
| wes | Not familiar with the term"winning an ultra" |
| bill | I don't know....yet |
| true | Warm fuzzies mostly. You get to see places you might have ever discovered. Guadalupe Mtns, Grand Canyon, San Juans, White Mtns, Bandera, Death Valley, the true beauty of Austin's greenbelts |
| #6 | What do you get for finishing an ultra ? |
| joe | Check the answer for winning an ultra |
| mike | A realllllllly good story, jacked up feet and a buckle |
| henry | Partial memories (which should always be confirmed with your pacer) and sore muscles |
| duane | you get to stop running - and maybe a beer and a hot dog |
| paul | a lot of good memories; sore muscles; and probably a long drive home |
| moogy | a buckle...WAHOO! |
| wes | I quess that would be "winning an ultra" defined |
| bill | A good reason to eat a lot and drink a beer....or two..... |
| true | Usually, a hearty congrats, sometimes a buckle, there is no standard |
| #7 | Where's the bathroom ? |
| joe | Just try to get off the trail please |
| mike | Lots of trees. Do the math |
| henry | Anywhere and everywhere |
| duane | Think of them like visa cards - everywhere you want to be |
| paul | There are plenty of port-a-trees in the woods |
| moogy | see joe |
| wes | Thats silly, there aren't any bathrooms in the woods |
| bill | In the bushes, behind a boulder or a bear... |
| true | Most of us carry wipes so that you go when you must, where you can |
| #8 | Do I need to take water for this run ? |
| joe | Do you think you might get thirsty anytime in the next few hours |
| mike | If you consider dehydration to be a feature of a run, then no |
| henry | Only if you want to finish the run on your own feet without being airlifted |
| duane | No - but you can carry mine for me |
| paul | only as much as you can carry |
| moogy | better if you want to swallow ibuprofen |
| wes | Always |
| bill | Most of the time |
| true | Water is all you really need. You can run without everything else but you must pay attention to drinking water. Carry or stash what you need so that you remain hydrated. Forget at your own peril |
| #9 | What happened to your feet ? |
| joe | I wanted to paint them but couldn't bend over that far, so I kicked a few rocks to add color |
| mike | Toenails are sooo overrated |
| henry | Dog chewed them |
| duane | I was wondering the same thing |
| paul | I don't know, but I wish I could start over with some new "dogs." |
| moogy | hate flip-flops anyway. Damn, maybe this is why I am single... |
| wes | They grew that way |
| bill | I don't know...they look normal to me |
| true | You will trash your toes unless you learn to get your shoes a bit larger, good socks, and to pick up your feet a tad higher... rocks, wet feet, and cotton socks will make a mess of your feet. Do your best to avoid all 3 and you will keep your toes pretty for a bit longer |
| #10 | When do you sleep ? |
| joe | when I'm done |
| mike | If you have a good pacer, just hang on and take a snooze |
| henry | See Mike's response above (thanks again, Mike) and as the late, great Warren Zevon said: "I'll sleep when I'm dead" |
| duane | Mostly at work |
| paul | Like a guy told me a few years back at a particularly long ultra, "You can sleep when it's over, paul." Ironically, I passed the guy when he was asleep in his crew vehicle |
| moogy | on the uphills |
| wes | Where ever I lay my hat |
| bill | on the run. I think that it contributes to my foot problem |
| true | The more mental stimulation you can create the easier it is to stay awake, so if you wish to stay awake, then plan to entertain yourself. |
| #11 | How far is this marathon ? |
| joe | it goes all the way from the start to the finish |
| mike | Ummm. Marathon. Helllloooooo! |
| henry | As far as you can go in the time allotted |
| duane | what's a marathon? |
| paul | Friends don't let friends run marathons |
| moogy | to the first aid station...figure it out! |
| wes | This is only a 10K |
| bill | I don't know...26.2 is the warm up though |
| true | This is NO marathon |
| #12 | Do you do training runs longer than a marathon ? |
| joe | I never train anymore. I do this for fun |
| mike | Only on the weekends |
| henry | See Mike and joe's answer |
| duane | How long is a marathon? |
| paul | Training? Darn, I knew my program was missing something |
| moogy | see above...need at least a couple of aid stations |
| wes | Marathons ARE my training run |
| bill | Frequently, but just for fun |
| true | Yes, and quite frequently |
| #13 | Why do you score points for people who fall ? |
| joe | Laughing eases the pain. We're trying to help |
| mike | So you have a idea of how long you can whine wihout people telling you to shut up |
| henry | You have to have SOMETHING to compete for |
| duane | I don't fall. I do fire drills. Trip, drop and roll. I go for distance - not points |
| paul | I gauge the success of my trail runs based on number of falls. Standard is about one fall per 25 miles |
| moogy | I want the joe award! |
| wes | Never get the chance, I am to busy getting scored |
| bill | we're trying for a new Olympic sport |
| true | Laughing eases the pain. We're trying to help |
| #14 | Why do you buy your running shoes so much larger than your other shoes ? |
| joe | My toes are very sensitive and need room to breathe |
| mike | Do you like having toenails? |
| henry | Go run 70+ miles and you will know |
| duane | I get whatever is on sale |
| paul | So I can jam a bunch of dryer sheets in the toebox to ease the smell a little |
| moogy | again, see Mike |
| wes | Duane stole my answer |
| bill | So I can grow into them |
| true | To save the toes from further damage |
| #15 | How far can you run ? |
| joe | What's far? |
| mike | How much time do I get? |
| henry | From here to San Antonio....I'm working on the Waco distance for next year |
| duane | Do you mean all at one time? |
| paul | I don't know if you truly can call it "running," but I can "move" for pretty fair periods of time |
| moogy | can't swim so I guess when I hit a Ocean, then I can turn around |
| wes | Still working on that one |
| bill | How far do I get to? |
| true | Depends on how much time & water you have |
| #16 | How far are you running this weekend ? |
| joe | Until Sunday night sometime |
| mike | See 15 |
| henry | As far as I can |
| duane | I'll let you know on Monday |
| paul | Not far enough because I like watching college basketball |
| moogy | far |
| wes | To work and back |
| bill | As far as I feel like |
| true | This changes constantly and is purely spontaneous. |
| #17 | What's a back-to-back weekend ? |
| joe | Two weekends in a row |
| mike | What you do to understand what it like to run when you're tired |
| henry | Fun |
| duane | This is another myth perpertrated by all those who finish before me and talk about "winners" and such other mythological creatures |
| paul | That's when you run long on Saturday and then go to an all-you-can-eat brunch on Sunday |
| moogy | are there other kinds? |
| wes | Not what it was when I was in my 20's |
| bill | Any weekend that I can let my house go and eat and aleep a lot |
| true | Long runs on 2 consecutive days: ie: 40 miler on Sat then a 30 miler on Sun. |
| #18 | How long does your run take ? |
| joe | As much as it wants |
| mike | Depends on if there's beer at the finish. If there's a burger there, get out of my way! |
| henry | Some take a lot, some take a little. But they all give something back |
| duane | Depends on when I have to be back |
| paul | Too long. I've gotten so slow I do my mile repeats with an hourglass |
| moogy | long |
| wes | What ever time allows, which is very little lately |
| bill | 2 to 8 hours, maybe more someday.... |
| true | Changes with the terrain, weather, and so on. There is no constant. |
| #19 | Why are you laughing at my new white shoes ? |
| joe | The thought of it brings tears to my eyes |
| mike | I'm just picturing what they'll look like at the end of the run |
| henry | White shoes?!? |
| duane | White shoes are no laughing matter |
| paul | This isn't the Capitol 10,000 |
| moogy | poser |
| wes | Does the word "golf" mean anything to you? |
| bill | Because they won't be white for long |
| true | We run on dirt, in the water, on the rocks... white is a waste of time. Might as well buy dirt colored shoes and socks |
| #20 | Do I need a map ? |
| joe | Only if you don't know the way and can't run as slow as me |
| mike | Depends on how much water you're carrying and your sense of direction |
| henry | Not if you have a compass, a GPS and unlimited liquids |
| duane | Sure - they're great if you forget paper towels.... |
| paul | Only to have directions to get to the starting line |
| moogy | nah...I rely on joe to give directions |
| wes | No I just drop a popcorn trail to find my way back |
| bill | Not unless you know where you are going |
| true | Sometimes. I like to get lost while training. Helps me find new trails and routes. During a race, typically the course is well marked and you don't need one. There are occasions when you need a map. Alone in the Canyonlands or at Barkley, I recommend it. |
| #21 | Why do you sprint the downhills & the uphills, but walk all the flat sections ? |
| joe | Brain damage |
| mike | Uphills? Who's sprinting uphills? For the downhills, gravity is my friend |
| henry | See Mike's response |
| duane | What's a sprint? |
| paul | Sprint's a long distance company, I'm a LSD runner |
| moogy | I walk when I am taking ibuprofen |
| wes | I have to get my breath back for the next hill |
| bill | See joe's response |
| true | You get more effect for your time by working the hills, and if you have to rest, then I rest when it is flat... more bang for your buck. During a race, I will only run the downhills and flats, and ease on the uphills. |
| #22 | You know much about flashlights ? |
| joe | which brand? |
| mike | If they were wine, I'd be a conniseur |
| henry | Only about the seven that I have |
| duane | No but I am working on building my collection |
| paul | I know I have a lot of 'em |
| moogy | no, but I know ALOT about bulbs and batteries! |
| wes | Only that they always go out at the wrong time |
| bill | Nope, but I can sure keep running with them |
| true | If you plan to run trails, you will eventually run them in the dark. You will eventually learn about flashlights. |
| #23 | Why do you carry Desiten ? |
| joe | Its for the baby in me |
| henry | Because it WORKS like magic |
| duane | what's desitan? |
| paul | Just in case |
| moogy | it makes my special spots feel happy |
| wes | Wish I had known what that was at my last 24 hour |
| bill | Where do you put it? |
| true | If you experience any sort of rash, Desiten is a rash ointment that heals and soothes instantly and simultaneously. Without it you could be in a lot of pain. It is magic lotion if you are in need. |
| #24 | What's DFL mean ? |
| joe | Dead Flippin Last |
| mike | If you are DFL, then you'll know it |
| henry | Da Finest Legs |
| duane | It is a title of respect - like Esq. Duane Lewis (DFL). See? |
| paul | Especially at small races, I try to identify somebody I can maybe beat to avoid the dreaded DFL distinction |
| moogy | Democrats For Lieberman |
| wes | Dangerous, fleeting, and lean. Something I am not |
| bill | I'll go with Henry on this one... |
| true | Dead Flippin Last |
| #25 | What's HCTR mean ? |
| joe | Its an old west - South Texas heat index: "Hot CounTeR". A 3sec-HCTR gets you off the counter in 3 seconds! |
| mike | Happy Cooperative Tenacious Runners |
| duane | it is an acronym for HCTR |
| paul | One of the best trail running clubs in the country |
| moogy | you love and will do anything for your fellow members |
| wes | "Holy Cow! Trail Runners" |
| true | Hill Country Trail Runners |
| #26 | Why do you wear dark shirts in the middle of the summer in Zilker ? |
| joe | Hides the blood |
| mike | So the newbies that wear white will take care of the horseflies for us? |
| henry | see Mike's response. Even yellow is better than virgin white |
| duane | can you wear a shirt in the summer? |
| paul | In case you have an accident? I don't know. Maybe to swim at Barton Springs afterwards |
| moogy | cause I am a Goth |
| bill | usually sans shirt... |
| true | Some of us belive that white shirts attract horse flies. Try it and see! |
| #27 | Do you ever have hallucinations at night ? |
| joe | Day, night, whats the difference |
| mike | I call them lucid dreams |
| duane | No - I start having hallucinations long before it gets dark |
| paul | People talk about seeing pink elephants and monsters ripping a crack in the highway. But me. I never get outside my pain. I feel and experience every step |
| moogy | sure...is that you Britney? |
| wes | Only when My eyes are open |
| bill | I have them in the day |
| true | Seems to occur when yoiu are thoroughgly used up: sleep deprived, exhausted, hungry, tired... so yes! |
| #28 | What's the funniest thing that's happened to you on a 100 miler ? |
| joe | I finished |
| mike | Fell asleep peeing |
| henry | Funny...I don't remember...... |
| duane | Hundred miler? How far is that? |
| paul | Ain't nothing funny about running 100 miles |
| moogy | I'll let you know in May. Those darn doctors at Leadville never let me have any fun |
| wes | My wife laughing at me as I peed in the dark because I was afraid someone would see me, or as she said,"As if they could see anything" |
| bill | Hundred miler? Someday........ |
| true | Quite a few things actually |
| #29 | Do you prefer mountain trails or flat or rolling trails? |
| joe | Give me rough terrain and bad weather please! Flats make me nausious! |
| moogy | mountain trails. The more challenging the faster the time goes |
| paul | I like 'em all for different reasons from the rugged rocks of Massanutten to the ruthless roots of Rocky Raccoon |
| wes | Either/or as I have never met a trail I did not like, although a few have found me to be a bit irritating as they have thrown me face down in the dirt |
| bill | I like all three in any given combination. Mountain Trails level the playing field some |
| true | It is your time and money, so enjoy it all |
| #30 | Do you know of any easy 100 milers? |
| joe | I have heard this term but have never understood it |
| moogy | driving I-20 in the Suburban |
| paul | Sounds like an oxymoron to me. Some are more difficult than others, but none are easy |
| wes | Only from what I have heard |
| bill | I have yet to hear of one.... |
| true | The easiest 100s are the ones are the hardest ones. You never get bored |
| #31 | What are your favorite trail shoes? |
| joe | The ones on my feet |
| moogy | Montrail Vitesse |
| paul | Had some Nike Humaras about five years ago, but haven't owned a pair since |
| wes | I like the Vitesse, but ran Rocky 100 in Nike All Terrain without a shoe or sock change without a single blister or toe injury. Also really liked NB 803, but as usual, they changed after the 804's. Teying the Adidas Super Nova TR right now, seems to be a little tight but very rugged |
| bill | The old Adidas Beltline |
| true | The ones that work for me |
| #32 | Do you need to wear trail shoes to run on trails? |
| joe | All you need is time! |
| moogy | No but that is all I have. Too anal about getting the Pradas dirty |
| paul | See above |
| wes | Yes |
| bill | I don't believe so. I have worn everything from my everyday trainers to light weight racers. Usually a well fitted shoe dose the trick |
| true | No, but they do help. |
| #33 | Do you carry any tolet paper with you on your long runs? |
| joe | In some form or another: socks, shirts, bandanas! |
| moogy | Yes, in a ziploc |
| paul | Rarely, but sometimes |
| wes | Yes |
| bill | Only if I know that I am dealing with some issues, but not usually. You can do amazing things with rocks, sticks, leaves, weeds, and an occasional cactus |
| true | Every time |
| #34 | What do you do to prevent your nipples from shafing or bleeding? |
| joe | pasties work, duck tape, bandaids, corn rings, Janice Jackson nipple stars, or just leave the shirt off |
| moogy | haven't found a solution yet. Very random as to when the stigmata occurs. Very frustrating |
| paul | Bandaids |
| wes | Bandaids! |
| bill | Body Glide can work wonders basically because it is greaseless. I experement a great deal with diffrent types of apparel and fabrics to see how my body reacts to them in a variety of condidions. Fit has a lot to do with this as well |
| true | Bandaids |
| #35 | Why do all of you guys wear bandanas? |
| joe | It's a running tool: sweatband, toilet paper, wash rag, tournequet, horsefly zapper |
| moogy | don't wear one all the time. Can be used in an emergency...head wrap, wiping glasses, tensor, stopping bleeding |
| paul | Don't wear one. I go with a hat. Hopefully it protects my skin |
| wes | Thats not a bandana, I am just happy to see you |
| bill | Geez, I haven't tried that one yet,... but I can see how it could help keep the salty sweat from making it's way down to your eyes, so I guess that that makes sense as long as your comfortable with it |
| true | It's a running tool: sweatband, toilet paper, wash rag, tournequet, horsefly zapper |
| #36 | Have you ever thought about taking your shoes off to cross a creek? |
| joe | Only when I'm running in my cowboy boots. Leather stinks worse than I do when wet! |
| moogy | depends on the course on how far a drop bag may be or when the next aid station is |
| paul | Never done it, probably never will |
| wes | Never occured to me I could |
| bill | A looong time ago and still maybe under certian conditions depending on the shape that my feet are in at the time and weather or not I have a dry pair with in reasonable distance. Usually I just splash right on through though |
| true | A true trail runner never does this. If you do, they will know you are not. |
| #37 | Aren't you concerned about bears on your mountain runs? |
| joe | Only when I'm the slowest runner in the pack |
| moogy | bears, mountain lions, cougars but none of those compare to the SPIDER! Darn phobia |
| paul | I think about those things when I'm not running, but rarely when I actually am in the mountains |
| wes | Only ran in the mountains once in Wyoming and was to busy concentrating on the trail to worry about anything else |
| bill | Always. I'm on the lookout for any form of life wild or human for that matter. Sometimes they both fall in the same category |
| true | I try to stay aware in every mountain run |
| #38 | Why do you wear bells on your shoes? |
| joe | So when they find the bells in the bear scat, they'll know why I'm late |
| moogy | if I need one I put on a pack or belt |
| paul | Good idea |
| wes | ok, who told on me? |
| bill | Haven't tried that one yet....I used to have them on my ski poles though. Hmmm. Good idea..... |
| true | Noise usually lets the critters know you are there and most of them will avoid you |
| #39 | How much water should I carry? |
| joe | As much as I need and a little more |
| moogy | I try to drink 2 bottles per 6 miles, but that it just me. Am no expert by a long shot |
| paul | About 30 ounces per hour in normal circumstances |
| wes | A Nikken filtered water bottle keeps it simple if there is free flowing water, otherwise a Camel Back for anything with aid stations more than 5 miles, and a two fister in hot, single in cool for aid stations less than 5 |
| bill | I usually try to determine how far I am going, the coures that I'll be running, and the weather conditions. Normally a couple of hand helds do the trick for me as long as there is water stashed or a place that they can be refilled. Most recently I invested in a 70oz Camelbak |
| true | As much as you need and a little more |
| #40 | How can you run for 48hours on a track? |
| joe | You put the left foot out, then follow with the right, and repeat until done. Same ol song n dance... one step at a time! |
| moogy | NO interest in doing one of those |
| paul | I ran one back in 1992 and haven't been back for seconds. Everybody should try all types and distances of ultras |
| wes | Never tried one |
| bill | I haven't tried that one yet and don't plan on it anytime soon unless I can be persuaded..... |
| true | You put the left foot out, then follow with the right, and repeat until done. Same ol song n dance... one step at a time! |
| #41 | What do you think about while running that far? |
| joe | All the things I didn't think about because I was too busy not thinking |
| moogy | mostly work and life's mundane occurances. Great for dealing w/ issues. Great time to sing Britney Spears! |
| paul | A little bit of everything: music; life's challenges; etc |
| wes | Almost anything but sex |
| bill | Anything and everything, running, family, sex, food...not in any particular order though |
| true | Anything is fair game and many things you might not ever discuss otherwise |
| #42 | Whats all the big deal about Bandera? |
| joe | The people who go there! They make it what it is! The people! |
| moogy | the aid stations ROCK! Great night course |
| paul | It's a great place to do an aid station. Once you finally get there, passing out water is the easy part |
| wes | The sottel cactus |
| bill | Bandera rocks!!! Probably one of the *best* and most well managed and supported races that I have had the pleasure of participating in. The course is tough, challenging and beautiful. joe makes it happen |
| true | It is very hard and very fun |
| #43 | Why would anybody run a race named after a raccoon? |
| joe | What's in a name? A name means nothing! The aligators though - they suggest we rename this the Gator Gallup or they'll start eating the runners |
| moogy | incentive to not become road-kill |
| paul | It's an especially good name for a 100 since the raccoon is nocturnal, much like the 100-mile runner |
| wes | Because it was not named the Rocky Kangaroo |
| bill | Why not? It is still a trail run and that is what we like isn't it? |
| true | The RD had a thing for the Beetles. Yea! Yea! Yea! |
