CONGRATULATIONS TO DONNA SHACKELFORD, DREAM LIVE RUN CLIENT WHO BATTLED THE HILLS IN BEAUTIFUL ROXBOROUGH COLORADO TODAY! SHE COMPLETED HER FIRST 5K IN COLORADO AFTER MOVING FROM THE BEACH IN CALIFORNIA. DREAM LIVE RUN AS WELL AS ULTIMATE DIRECTION, ICESPIKE, GU ENERGY, AND BODY ARMOR SUPER DRINK ALL SPONSORED THE EVENT. ALL PROCEEDS WENT IN SUPPORT OF THE LOCAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN ROXBOROUGH VILLAGE.
 A LONG TIME AGO...UTAH :) I WANT TO FIRST SAY THANK YOU TO ALL MY SUPPORTERS AND THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN ME AND MY GOD GIVEN TALENTS~ WITH THAT SAID, MY FINAL DECISION TO DO ...OR NOT TO DO WESTERN STATES 100 HAS BEEN MADE. I HAVE DECIDED NOT TO ACCEPT MY EARNED ENTRY INTO THE WESTERN STATES 100 THIS YEAR. I WANT TO GIVE MY TEAM, MY COUNTRY, AND MYSELF THE 100% FOCUS AND EFFORT FOR THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS IN WALES JULY 6TH. I BELIEVE THAT GOD WILL PRESENT THE OPPORTUNITY TO RACE IN THE WS 100 AGAIN IN THE FUTURE. AGAIN, THANKS TO ALL WHO BELIEVE IN ME, THOSE WHO TOOK THE TIME TO HELP ME WORK THROUGH THE DECISION AND THOSE WHO STILL BELIEVE!!! WATCH OUT ULTRA WORLD ...HERE I VIDEO FROM ANOTHER ATHLETE ON THE TRAIL-  PHOTO FROM: SUANN LUNDSBERG INDIANA TRAIL 100- A MORE DETAILED REPORT THE COURSE WAS 6 16.67 MILE LOOPS OF ROLLING HILLS, WATER CROSSINGS, MUD, MUCK, AND AFTER THE RE-ROUTED SECOND LOOP- SOME TECHNICAL GOOD OL' FASHIONED BUSH WACKING. AS YOU ALL CAN SEE, I AM A LITTLE BIT DISAPPOINTED IN MY TIME, HOWEVER...THOSE WHO PARTICIPATED IN IT WITH ME (ESPECIALLY THOSE WITH PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE) ARE CHEERING ME UP! YES COURSE CONDITIONS WERE PRETTY CRAZY. TO BE MORE SPECIFIC: THE RACE DIRECTOR SAID IT WAS THE WORST HE HAS EVER SEEN THE TRAIL CONDITIONS, THE RACE STARTED OUT IN SIDEWAYS SNOW WITH WINDS UP TO 20 MPH MOST OF THE DAY, TEMPERATURE WAS 30 AT THE START (WIND CHILL 23) UP TO 40 DURING THE DAY....AND BACK DOWN TO 20 AT NIGHT FALL (ONLY HALF OF THE LAST LAP FOR ME SO IT WASN'T TOO BAD). THE ACTUAL COURSE (DUE TO THE MONSOON WEATHER ALL THE WAY UP TO RACE DAY) HAD 35 WATER CROSSINGS AND 60 MUDDY BOGS THAT TOOK SOME SERIOUS CORE AND LEG STRENGTH TO MANEUVER THROUGH...ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT TIME. THE RACE DIRECTOR AND VOLUNTEERS DID AN OUTSTANDING JOB RE-ROUTING THE COURSE THE DAY BEFORE AND EVEN DURING (YES DURING THE RACE- AFTER THE REPORTS AND DROP OUTS IN THE FIRST LAP)..IN ORDER TO OFFSET SOME OF THE WATER CROSSINGS THAT WERE DANGEROUS THE RD POSTED SOME FLAGS THROUGH THE WOODS. ....THE TRIP STARTED OFF A LITTLE ROUGH. A DELAYED FLIGHT INTO INDIANAPOLIS WEDNESDAY MEANT A 9:30PM DINNER AND LATE TO BED. NEXT DAY WAS MONSOON DAY. DOWN POUR AND FLOODED ROADS GREETED MYSELF AND HUBBY AS WE MADE OUR WAY UP TO SYRACUSE INDIANA (WHERE WYATT-MY HUSBAND, WOULD HAVE TO DO SOME WORK). I STILL STAYED IN A POSITIVE MIND SET AND WAS FEELING REALLY GOOD. FRIDAY FINALLY CAME AND WE HAD A CHANCE TO MEET UP WITH MY FAMILY, FRIENDS FROM ALPENA MICHIGAN (WHO ALSO ROCKED THE COURSE!), AND VIEWED PARTS OF THE COURSE. THE PARTS OF THE COURSE THAT WE SAW WERE ALMOST ALL UNDER WATER...ONLY THE TIPS OF THE PINK MARKER FLAGS COULD BE SEEN (IF AT ALL). I STILL STAYED POSITIVE. RACE MORNING- I WOKE UP WITH RENEWED ENERGY AND EXCITEMENT....LOOKED OUT THE WINDOW AND SAW THAT IT WAS SNOWING! FOR REAL?! WELL, GOOD THING I GREW UP IN NORTHERN MICHIGAN! WIND CHILL WAS A COOL 23 DEGREES. YIKES! ...SO I SAT FOR A SECOND AND THOUGHT ABOUT HOW I COULD KEEP MY CORE TEMPERATURE WARM WITHOUT FEELING LIKE AN ESKIMO! THIS IS HOW I COUNTERED ALL THE CHALLENGES I ENCOUNTERED ON THIS JOURNEY- 1. PEARL IZUMI H3'S WITH ICESPIKES!!! FOR MY SHOES- WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT ROAD SHOES WOULD WORK AND HAVE GREAT DRAINAGE TOO! (AND OF COURSE HAD A FEW EXTRA PAIRS AT THE AID STATIONS) 2. PEARL IZUMI'S GAITORS (THEY HELPED KEEP THE DEBRIS OUT OF MY SHOES) 3. COMPRESSION SOCKS (EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE GOING TO GET SOAKED, THEY STILL KEPT ME WARM AND COMPRESSED!) 4. PEARL IZUMI'S ULTRA SHORTS ( HIGHLY RECOMMENDED TO ALL!!! THESE SHORTS ROCK, NO CHAFFING-EVEN WHEN SOAKED FOR 100 MILES- ALTHOUGH THEY DRY QUICKLY AND FEEL LIKE YOUR RUNNING NAKED!) 5.2 TANKS- ONE UNDER TANK AND PEARL IZUMI'S ELITE TRI TANK 6. 2 ARM WARMERS- PEARL IZUMI THERMAL ELITE 7. ONE THIN SHELL JACKET (TO START OFF AND FINISH WITH) 8. PEARL IZUMI JERSEY BIKE JACKET (TO START AND FINISH WITH) 9. PEARL IZUMI THERMAL HAT 10. PEARL IZUMI THERMAL GLOVES 11. ULTIMATE DIRECTION BLAZE PLUS FUEL BELT....THIS BABY IS LIGHT WEIGHT AND NEVER DISAPPOINTS ME!!! *** I WAS PREPARED TO CHANGE IF NEEDED, BUT DIDN'T END UP DOING ANY CHANGES. JUST RAN IT STRAIGHT THROUGH. THERE WAS NO POINT IN CHANGING SHOES/SOCKS ETC...I WASN'T HAVING ANY PROBLEMS AND THE NEW EMOTION H3'S WERE DRAINING GREAT! HOW I MANAGED MY NUTRITIONAL INTAKE- 1. ALTERNATED BETWEEN "THE SIMPLY BAR" AND "BOBO'S OAT BARS" 2. ALSO ADDED A POTATO HERE AND THERE WITH A FEW PEANUTS 3. GU ENERGY GELS- ISLAND NECTAR AND TRI- BERRY 4. WATER, WATER , WATER ,WATER! 5. CHICKEN BROTH 6. COKE 7. SALTSTICK SALT TABS *** I DIDN'T HAVE MY IPOD OR A PACER...I WANTED TO DO THIS ONE ON MY OWN!!! I DID HOWEVER, HAVE AN EXCELLENT CREW. MY FAMILY (MOM, DAD, BROTHER AND SISTER..AND OF COURSE MY WONDERFUL HUSBAND, WYATT AND OUR FRIENDS BRYAN AND ERIN (ERIN WOULD ACTUALLY BE TEARING UP THE 50MILE FOR A 8TH PLACE FEMALE FINISH BEFORE ALSO HELPING ME OUT!!). NOT TO MENTION ALL THE FELLOW RUNNERS FROM MY HOMETOWN- ALPENA MICHIGAN..AND PAUL STOLFKO -3RD PLACE! SO THE RACE STARTED OUT WITH HEAD LAMPS GLEAMING...WE BLEW THROUGH (KIND OF) THE FIRST LAP..THEN AS SOME DROPPED OUT DUE TO THE CONDITIONS...MYSELF AND A FEW OTHER GUYS CONTINUED ON...THEY TOO SEEM TO DROP BACK ( MADE SOME TIME ON KEEPING MY AID STATION STOPS SPEEDY). I KNEW THE FIRST LOOP TOOK A LOT OUT OF ME BECAUSE I ATE 3X AS MUCH AS I NORMALLY WOULD AND STILL FELT LIKE I COULD SIT DOWN FOR A BREAKFAST BUFFET. EVEN WITH THE CONDITIONS..I WAS STILL ON AMERICAN RECORD PACE...I WOULD HOLD THAT PACE THROUGH THE 60MILE MARK, BUT WAS STEADILY SLOWING...I TRIED TO STAY POSITIVE AND KNEW I COULD BOUNCE BACK AND ALSO REALIZED THAT I ACTUALLY JUST WON THE OVERALL 50 MILE PORTION OF THE RACE TECHNICALLY TOO..AND SET A PERSONAL BEST IN MY 100K ...NO SUCH LUCK WITH THIS ONE AS FAR AS THE 100 GOES :( ALTHOUGH I WAS STILL ENJOYING THE PAIN, THE BEAUTY OF CHAIN O LAKES, AND THE CHALLENGE OF THE COURSE- MY LEGS WERE SHOT. I WOULD CONTINUE TO SLOW. I MADE A PROMISE TO MYSELF THAT I WOULD RUN THE WHOLE THING- LITERALLY NOT STOP EXCEPT TO PEE REALLY QUICK AND WALK THOUGH THE AID STATIONS...THAT I DID - I ACCOMPLISHED THAT GOAL ( ALTHOUGH I THINK YOU COULD HAVE WALKED FASTER THAN I WAS "RUNNING" ON THE LAST LAP!). ONLY 57 RUNNERS OF THE 152 THAT ACTUALLY STARTED THE RACE, FINISHED. MY RESULTS: 1ST 17:35:17 100 MILE 7:20:51 50 MILE SPLITS: LAP 1: 2:20:42 LAP 2: 2:21:23 LAP 3: 2:38:44 LAP 4: 2:57:00 LAP 5: 3:17:16 LAP 6: 4:00:09 *** PUT THIS RACE ON YOUR RACE CALENDER FOR NEXT YEAR- UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS...IT WOULD BE A PHENOMENALLY FAST COURSE (AND THE RACE DIRECTORS WERE ORGANIZED, DETAILED AND SUPPORTIVE- WHERE ELSE DO YOU SEE RD'S AT SEVERAL LOCATIONS CHEERING YOU ON ON THE COURSE?) BELOW IS THE FINISHING VIDEO..BUT YOU CAN'T SEE MUCH UNTIL THE END~  JUST A BRIEF BLOG ABOUT MY FIRST 100 MILE RACE! INDIANA TRAIL 100- APRIL 20TH, 6AM CONDITIONS WERE NOT WHAT I WAS HOPING FOR TO HAVE A SHOT AT THE AMERICAN RECORD, HOWEVER ...EVEN AFTER THE FIRST FEW LAPS, I WAS STILL TRYING TO STAY HOPEFUL. I COULD TELL I EXPENDED MORE ENERGY THAN EVER IN THE FIRST 30 MILES, BECAUSE I ATE TWICE AS MUCH AS I NORMALLY DO AND WAS STILL HUNGRY! IN THE PICTURE TO THE LEFT, ERIN HAMMOND AND I STAND IN FRONT OF THE OVER FLOWING LAKE, THAT WE WOULD EVENTUALLY CROSS THROUGH WHEN RACING. NO BIGGY...COMPARED TO OTHER PARTS OF THE COURSE! THE PICTURE BELOW, WAS PART OF THE FIRST LAP...WHICH THEY WOULD LATER REROUTE US FROM (DUE TO THE NEXT PORTION WHICH WAS UP WAIST HIGH (I'M ONLY 5'2" THOUGH) 
MY TIME FOR THE EVENT WAS DISAPPOINTING. 17:35:17. FAR FROM THE AMERICAN RECORD I WAS GOING FOR AND THAT I AM CONFIDENT (GIVEN ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY) I COULD ACCOMPLISH. I FINISHED 45 MINUTES AHEAD OF THE NEXT ATHLETE ( A MALE...MARK OTT) FOR THE OVERALL WIN. ALTHOUGH THE COURSE WAS CHALLENGING...IT WAS FUN!!! WE STARTED WITH SIDEWAYS SNOW IN OUR FACE, AND HOPE IN OUR HEARTS~ ....MORE TO COME LATER- HUGE HUGE HUGE THANK YOU TO MY FAMILY AND WONDERFUL HUBBY FOR YOUR AWESOME CREW WORK, ICESPIKE, PEARL IZUMI, THE SIMPLY BAR, ULTIMATE DIRECTION, AND GU ENERGY FOR YOUR SPONSORSHIP...ALL MAKE THIS ENDEAVOR POSSIBLE! BELOW YOU WILL FIND VIDEOS OF THIS INTRIGUING EVENT!!! JUST A QUICK UPDATE FROM INDY!!! DOWN POUR AND TORNADO WATCH..UNTIL THIS EVENING :) IT'S GONNA BE A CRAZY, MUDDY COURSE!  DEAR SELF: IF YOU WANT IT, YOU CAN GET IT, ...LET ME KNOW. Indiana Bound...well flight is on delay- drop bags are organized and packed, food is made, and the new Pearl Izumi H3's with Icespikes...are ready to run down that American Record. 
 DREAM LIVE RUN ATHLETE SHANE NORRIS ON HIS REMARKABLE MOUNTAIN BIKE RACE~ Saturday April 13th 2013 was my first Solo 12 hour Endurance Race. Now - I have done some endurance racing in the past, 24hrs of Colorado Springs & 12hrs of Mesa Verde on a 4 man team, but this was my first solo attempt. The racing took place in Fort Stanton, New Mexico, with start time of 7:00AM. The start of the race went ok; I got stuck behind a lot of slower riders with really no place to pass on the singletrack. Once past the slower riders I was able to settle into a nice pace for the next several laps. About 8 hrs in I was starting to get a little tired and my pace did slow, and I started to take little breaks between laps. After the 10th hour I was feeling good (as good as you can feel after 10hrs on a Mountain Bike) and wanted to keep as much of my pace as I could - I was definitely starting to “feel it” and wanted to finish strong. My last lap was a grinder for sure. After everything was said and done; I finished in 3rd place with just over 117 miles, 10+ hrs of saddle time and 14,218ft of climbing. I feel really good about my overall performance and owe a lot to the program Michele set up for me. She’s answered every question (even the goofy ones) I had and offered support and encouragement. Thanks Michele! Shane  As I prepare for the Indiana Trail 100 (to be held next weekend, April 20th), I can't help but think of what's next after that. Faced with the sacred opportunities to compete in both the Western States Endurance Run as well as the IAU World Ultra Championships...I am silenced but restless. How great is this? ...Some could only hope of being in my place, and knowing this... I am forever grateful. THE RACES ARE ONE WEEK A PART. One in Squaw Valley California, the other...Wales U.K. I have always lived life to the fullest, trying to never waste opportunities or have regrets, to use the talents that God has given me to their most precious extent. Could I possibly do both and succeed? What would outline success? World Championships are a must, an event I have dreamed of racing in and an occasion that cannot be passed up. Western States, named one of the most prestigious races in the world, arguably more competition than even the World Ultra Championships would have...perhaps even considered the World Ultra Championships to most (especially those who compete in it)...would I be throwing away an irreplaceable journey? I am confident I could qualify again, but who can even count on tomorrow let alone another year of life? In doing both, could I really expect my body to endure that much pain for that long period of time...twice?! What a trip that would be.. knowing I would LEAVE everything, GIVE everything, and LIVE everything I have ever dreamed of. Perplexed as I am, I try to re-center myself for the now, Indiana Trail 100 and the ambition to capture the American Trail 100 Mile Record of 14:57:18. The weather conditions are not favorable, but I will stay positive in my trek to reach the fastest time ever ran on a 100 mile trail course.  COME JOIN DREAM LIVE RUN AT THE LOCAL ROX TROT!!! CHOOSE FROM A 5K OR 10K DISTANCE- PROCEEDS SUPPORT THE LOCAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. IF YOU DON'T WANT TO RACE, COME VOLUNTEER YOUR TIME! MORE AT http://roxtrot.wordpress.com/ | AuthorMichele~ Degreed, experienced, fitness professional and world class runner ArchivesApril 2013 Categories |
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