Pony Trot 10k | Travel Montana

At first glance, I thought this had to be a joke. A listing on the Montana Running calendars was titled the "Pony Trot". Oh, that's a cute name. But, It was only $20 and I had yet to explore much south of I-90 and Three Forks, so I thought, why not?!

I haven't been able to do much running since my car wreck at the beginning of June. I took a few weeks off and have been running a bit on roads around the house; flat, with soft shoulders, and at a noticeably slower pace. I'm ready for another run, to get out of town for a day and see a bit more of the country. So I signed up for the Pony Trot in Pony, Montana this past Saturday and took off before sunrise. It was perfect timing too, as we've been collecting smoke/haze from the massive Carlton Complex fires, which are now ranked as the largest wildfires in Washington state's history. We've been socked in with a low, smokey ceiling and I was glad to see blue skies as I drove south.

The description for the race stated "the course is hilly, so don't expect to break your 10K record, but you will have great views." I thought a few hills wouldn't be bad, right? So I opted for the 10k route instead of the 5k. What I failed to note is, just how close Pony, MT is to the base of the Tobacco Root Mountains...

Yep, "great views" alright! Once you get to the top of the mountain...

Let's just say, it's amazing how much conditioning a person can lose with a few weeks laid up. At the start of June, I ran up Buffalo Jump on a 10k fairly easy. And I figured with the weekly miles I've been putting in, that I could make it through this 10k. Well, safe to say, this is the first race where I have honestly, dreadfully wished I had just turned around and walked back to the finish line.

The climb on this hill was something I wasn't ready for. We started at 5,452 feet in elevation (note, I've been running at closer to 3,500 at the house), I ran a decent, well-paced, flat first 1.5 miles, and ended up at 6,233 feet 0.5 mile later. I wasn't ready for it. Everything from my ass to my ankles was aching by the time I made the peak. All the way up I was thinking about all those folks who took the flat 5k route down at the bottom of the hill. They were just about finished by the time I was looking at the water station at the top of the hill. I was looking for any and every way to curse those rocks and slick gravel beneath my feet. At least I wasn't the only one walking...

But once I got to the top, it really was some awesome views. Even though there was a little haze and smoke in the air, I could see straight across the Tobacco Roots, even to the peaks still covered in ice this late in the year. We were running on some old mining trails that were well-worn and spotted with grass, weeds, and regrowth after all these years of abandonment. There were plenty of wildlife tracks and marks of those passing through. Once we made the top of that initial hill, the next 4 miles were a steady decline to North Willow Creek (pronounced crick, which is the way I just typed it. Montanans are rubbing off on me), which we followed until we found the two-tracks back into town, ran back past the abandoned 19th century bank building, and finally back to the park where we started.

Although this race was by far the slowest pace I've ever run, I did finish the run with my fastest mile. And I realized this 10k climb was a bit much for me yet. But I had fun. Most of the people who showed up that Saturday morning were locals of the small town farming/ranching area. They were a great bunch to talk with and I had several inquiries on where they could get their own Team Beef Montana jersey like I was wearing.

It certainly was a Saturday morning well spent and I had the opportunity to meet some folks and see some views that I would have never had the opportunity otherwise, had I not joined the morning run. Next time, though, I'll be more prepared for that dang hill! 59 days until the Ragnar Relay.

5 miles and a rainy day

So far this week, I've literally been on the struggle bus. Monday and Tuesday just haven't been the productive work days I had planned and I'm not sleeping well, so I had all intentions of tightening the laces and hitting the road as soon as I made it home today.

Well, that didn't quite happen as I had planned. Just as soon as I made it home, yet another thunderstorm for the day plowed through the Valley. I'm sure as hell not going to complain about the rain, it's badly needed as July is one of our wettest months, but it sure would have been nice to hit the track earlier. So, after a light bowl of bean salsa, I hit the road just after 8:00. I had scheduled a 12:00 test run to correct my training intensity. My first mile was good, but the energy didn't last long. So I pushed along and took on a few extra miles. The fourth and fifth miles were much better and just what I needed to clear my head. Which is what I'm up and around with the writing bug at 10:30 at night. But when the moment strikes... I better take advantage of it!

Plus, I guess an added benefit of a stormy day was the shadows and skyline cast by the setting sun this afternoon. There's always a silver lining on the horizons around these parts! Today's run: 5.05 miles in 45:55. 65 days until Ragnar Relay!

11 miles and then some...

After taking the past two days for rest, I really had some steam to burn off. This morning, bright and early, I caught up on the two miles I was supposed to do yesterday, I kept my pace much better than previous runs earlier in the week.

Then, late this afternoon, I had to get in my long run for the week. #Exhausted. I went to the gym, partly because it was in the mid 90s this afternoon, and I didn't want to run on pavement. I only slowed to a fast walk at the half mark of 3 miles, then continued on to complete 6 miles. I'd say it was a well-accomplished task. The last 10k I ran was 54, so I added a few minutes, but I'm just excited to have accomplished it.

I also used the bike to warm up and cool down, adding another 3.3 miles to the chart today to finish at 11.68. It was a good hard day, definitely a step up from what I've done in the past month, but it was great to clear the head.

There was also a bit of time for reading on The Big Burn. I'm 100 pages in and its starting to get really good, but then I couldn't keep my eyes open. What is it about Sunday afternoons that brings on the naps? I'm not complaining though, seeing as I passed out in the lawn chair (more like recliner) under a tree in the back yard. With the irrigation sprinklers going, it made for an awesome snooze. I'll have to fit a few of those in more often! 67 days until the Ragnar Relay!

2 miles and Real Food Choices

Just what I needed after a long day at the office. I had a lot of reading to catch up on and not a lot of time. Plus it was a bit of a stressful day, so I really enjoyed that my training plan just called for 2 miles in today's run. I hit the first mile in 6:58 and definitely slowed down to enjoy the pace back to the house on the return. It's amazing what an injury and month off will do to conditioning.

My physical therapy sessions usually include a good piece of conversation while the ultrasound does its magic on my neck and back (crossing my fingers that these muscles repair themselves soon!). In earlier sessions we have discussed how growing up on a farm/ranch usually leads to a stronger immune system. Today, that conversation turned into the burden we feel to eat "real" food. I'm always puzzled by how people define "real" food, so I asked. The answer is always different.

That turned the conversation into a discussion on the use and relative concentrations of hormones/antibiotics in cattle ranching today, how eating fewer processed food makes us "feel better" and whether or not cattle are supposed to eat corn.

By the way...

• Hormones are in very small proportions in meats, even compared to other "natural" foods
• You'd have to eat a ton of beef to feel the effects of different fatty acid profiles, you'd be better off eating fish to change that
• And no, feeding corn to cattle does not kill or harm them, they're perfectly capable of digesting grains.
• And yes, I'm all for eating smarter, depending on fewer labels/buzzwords, including fewer processed foods, and less junk (empty calories) in the diet, but that doesn't mean you can't treat yourself to a Reese's cup and mt dew every once in a while

So that got me to thinking, every health and fitness site I go onto these days has a different methodology for eating healthy and eating for a better lifestyle. It makes sense that athletes and active people are concerned about our food supply and individual choices. I'd love to hear more on these decisions and personal choices. 70 days until Ragnar Relay.

4 miles and Aristotle

"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit." - Aristotle quote(ish)

During today's run, I was listening to a bit more of 7 Habits and came across this quote(ish) from Aristotle. It's definitely something to think about. Then I came across this attachment on Lifehacks...

The same goes for the reverse: problems, failure, and other issues become habits, too. You'll develop a talent for the things you repeatedly practice. Choose what they are wisely, or you may achieve excellence in something that doesn't matter to you. - #Lifehack

I figure this definitely has some relation to building a routine of running, working out, and being active outdoors. It's incredibly easy to get caught up in conversations online, surfing Twitter and Reddit, and stalking Facebook friends. I've found that it's much easier to eat better, once I break the routine and am able to repeatedly pass up on the junk food and cokes. It's much easier to get up for a morning run, once I get up and repeatedly do it a few days a week. Once you get into those habits, those behaviors are easier to maintain.

Today's running goal was only 3.64 miles, but my chosen route is 4.02 miles. Give or take right? And the goal included a slow pace, but I find it really difficult to slow my pace without walking. A guy with long legs can only run so slow, right? Guess I'll have to do some reading up on that point.

And yeah, it's 90 degrees out again today, but I'll take the 20% humidity over other parts of the country. And I'll take this heat over the -30 degree temps we had just 5 months ago! 72 days until Ragnar Relay in Napa Valley.

5 Miles and 7 Habits on a Hot Day

Cover via Amazon

My goal today was to get 5 miles in at a slow pace. Today is one of the hottest so far this year, so my running went inside for the treadmill. Don't get me wrong. 94 degrees with 15% humidity and a 30 mph wind is much better than anything I was accustomed to while growing up in Northeast Arkansas, but it's all relative up here in Montana, right?

I'm in the middle of two books right now. Three if you count my research papers (a never ending task! #procrastination). It never seems like a I can keep my attention with just one book at a time. The paperback book I'm reading is The Big Burn by Timothy Egan. I really enjoyed his book, The Worst Hard Time, which chronicles the Oklahoma and Texas Panhandles during the Dust Bowl, so I figured I'd really like this one now that I'm in Montana. The Big Burn chronicles the events leading up to the large fire of 1910 which took place in Western Montana and Northern Idaho. So far I'm only 90 pages in, but am really liking how Egan takes a step back to look at Teddy Roosevelt's involvement in establishing the U.S. Forest Service. We'll see how it goes!

Cover of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

My next book is actually on audio. I took to listening to 40 minute podcasts fairly regular, but it has taken me a bit to latch on to the whole audio book trend. The book I started today is Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. So far I'm only 8 chapters in (of 107 on the audio version) and it's interesting. I don't retain as much with audio as I do with written word, but it has definitely given me something to think about. I usually try to keep at least one of the books I'm reading related to improving my management or personal skills. Since this books has been on best seller lists for almost 25 years, I figured there was something there worth hearing.

I'm still working back from having a month of down time after my wreck at the beginning of June, but I'm tired of sitting around. Today's running goal was a slow 5 miles. I finished in 48:00 on the treadmill. I prefer to run outside, but on the treadmill I keep better control of my pace and it keeps me from walking unless I absolutely have to. Today's run only included a half mile walking throughout the last two miles. 74 days until the Ragnar Relay in San Francisco!

First run in a month - Ragnar Relay ahead

Today was my first run since the wreck at the start of June that ended up in a total loss of my pickup. Even though my truck flipped and it's been a long ordeal trying to get things back in line, I'm lucky to have come out of it only with a sore back. I'm hoping that my current physical therapy plan does the trick to get me back on track. It's been a tough month of being stuck in the house, sore and not able to do much work at all. But it's time to get out and get going again.

In mid September, 19-20, I'm signed up to run the 200-mile Ragnar Relay in Napa Valley/San Francisco with a group from the Montana Ranching community. Our team is the Montana Running Ranchers with Team Beef Montana. This is a great opportunity, not only to get to know other runners in my state and line of work, but also for us to reach out and work alongside runners from across the country that may not have prior acquaintances with ranching or where their beef comes from. We may all come from different backgrounds, but it's a goal/interest in health and fitness, that lands us on common ground. Meeting new folks from outside the ag circles usually ends up being my favorite part of making these running events.

So there's my goal, a time, date and location, and I'm bound and determined to make it. One step and run at a time. Today's was slow and hot, but I'll make it back.

Tough Mudder: Week 2

Respect your efforts, respect yourself. Self-respect leads to self-discipline. When you have both firmly under your belt, that's real power. -- Clint Eastwood

I'm serious about this stuff folks. I'm gonna make it to the Tough Mudder come October! I made it through the first week alive. If the increased exercise didn't kill me, I was sure work from school was sure to finish the job. I ran 5 days, for a total of 17 miles! It was an average of close to 3.33 miles a run. I was pretty sore the first few days, but got my appetite back and some long-lost energy. Office work drains everything out of me, so this increased exercise will help.

***btw, I am still looking for team mate commitments. I have an offer from a few friends back home, but want to make sure I'm not missing any online friends who want to join in the fun.

I plan on increasing my speed this week to make it no less than 3.5 miles a run. With the schedule coming up on campus over the next two weeks, I'm sure to need a lil push. Now I'm hungry again, off to grab a bite to eat before finishing up this seminar presentation and guest lecture!

Fitness Journal

Alright folks, ya gotta keep me honest! I haven't yet found a good workout partner here in Knoxville or Nashville, so I'm gonna count on this fitness journal to keep me honest. I have my eyes set on this Tough Mudder event on October 13, in Poplar Bluff, Missouri. It's gonna take some effort to get fit and save the money.

My first goal - run a full 30 minutes 5 days this week. It's gonna be rough. I'm in the middle of breeding season, writing a seminar on my research project and have two exams next week. Yesterday I had 14 minutes and 2 miles in the books, but that doesn't count. Today after living in the office until 9, I made it to the apartment and ran a full 30 minutes, 3.33 miles, 430 calories

It's gonna be a fun run. 11 miles, 28 obstacles, and approximately 3 hours long. Everything from mud pits, ice baths, to scaling a 1/4 pipe. I'm already working on building a team. Gonna join the ranks of "Team Beef" and show the power of my favorite protein in a healthy, active lifestyle.

Here we go. Keep me honest. Now back to writing my seminar...