I have been slowly working my way back into my running grove after I sustained that hamstring injury in my right leg this summer. I am happy that I finally found a good deep tissue massage therapist. He found a lump of tissue deep in my right hamstring that even surprised him. He said that the tissue seems "to have morphed into something very different than anything he has ever seen before." That was not very reassuring, but he has been slowly working it out for me. I have seen him three times already and I totally recommend him. His name is Scott and this is his web page. Proactive Health Therapeutic If you mention his facebook add you will get the 1st two sesions for the price of one so what have you got to lose.
I also designed and put together my own self deep tissue hamstring massager which I am using on a daily basis. I use it right before I go out for a run and man does it ever help. I am running 8 to 10 miles with ease now though not at a very aggressive pace yet and averaging about 40 or so miles a week. I keep looking at those mountains that surround the Vegas valley and I really long to get back up there. There must be some way to circumnavigate all those ridges. I wonder how many miles that would be? Probably at least a couple of hundred. Below is a picture of my new machine. I am seriously thinking of getting a patent for it.
Ultrarunning, hiking, climbing mountains, essentially "traveling by foot" to the wild pure places still left on the Earth has become a means for many to stay connected to life’s fundamental aspects. John Muir said, “Keep close to Nature’s heart… and break clear away, once in awhile, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean.”
BHS 100K
Here is some video and pictures from the 2013 Bishop Ultramarathon. I completed the 100K in 14 hours 22 minutes.
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Friday, November 2, 2012
John Muir Trail Video on U-tube
I published a video on U-tube chronicling my JMT hike last July.http://youtu.be/6ee_bmNEXHk
It's rather long, almost 45 minutes.
It's rather long, almost 45 minutes.
Friday, October 26, 2012
Angel's Landing in Mt. Zion and a good week of running
I really enjoyed running this week. Those anti-inflammatories the doctor prescribed got me going again and I am cutting back on them already. I ran a total of 37 miles all at a modest easy pace with 3 runs of 9 - 10 miles. I should be able to keep that up now and slowly increase the weekly mileage again. My next major race that I am considering isn't until next May when I would like to enter the Bishop High Sierra 100K again. My training goal for that one is to build up to the point where I am putting in 100 mile weeks in March and April. The key will be building up to it gradually, eating and staying healthy.
On Tuesday I went to see a physical therapist and he showed me some exercises and stretches that I already knew and a couple of new ones too. It was good to see because it reminded me about some exercises using rubber bands placed between the knees that I hadn't been doing for awhile. He also did his best to work out some of the knots and trigger points in my hamstring. Some day soon I will need to add to this blog the core training that I do.
Last Saturday Amy and I made it to the top of Angel's Landing in Mt. Zion. Although it is not one of the most difficult hikes in terms of vertical height or distance it requires some steady nerves as some precarious parts are fairly steep and a slip could mean falling of a cliff. Six people have actually died on this hike since 2004, though I can only imagine that they were being reckless when they fell. Well Amy is a real trouper and I am quite proud of the fact that she made it to the top.
On our way up |
Looking straight down the 1500 foot cliff |
Top of Angel's Landing |
Sitting on top of the biscuit. Nothing but space around from up there. |
Cables have been erected to assist in the climb. |
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Hamstring strain and recuperation
A week had passed since I completed the St. George Marathon and my right hamstring was still extremely sore so I decided to see a doctor about it to see if I could get some physical therapy. Even after a week of rest, ice, stretching, massage stick, and taking Ibuprofen, I was unable to even run more than a 1/2 mile without hobbling. I am still waiting for the PT to call, but the anti-inflammatory,Vimovo, the doctor prescribed seems to be doing the job. I took one, waited an hour and after feeling considerable relieve I tried going for a run. The first day I was able to run 3 miles, the next two days 6 miles each and today I completed 9 miles all relatively pain free. (Vimovo contains a combination of esomeprazole and naproxen. Naproxen is a
nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). It works by reducing
substances in the body that cause inflammation, pain, and fever.
Esomeprazole is a proton pump inhibitor. It decreases the amount of acid
produced in the stomach.)
At the same time I happen to catch a TV show of Dr. Oz where he was interviewing one of my favorites, Dr. Andrew Weil and they were talking about inflammation and pain. “Following an anti-inflammatory diet can help counteract the chronic inflammation that is a root cause of many serious diseases. It is a way of selecting and preparing foods based on science that can help people achieve and maintain optimum health over their lifetime.” (Dr. Weil) Look under march 2011 of his Balanced living anual for more information on as anti-inflammatory diet tips. http://www.drweil.com/drw/ecs/downloads/BalancedLivingAnnual_2011.pdf . Dr. Weil explains that inflammation is our bodies reaction to injury. Injured parts of the body become inflamed and therefore receive increased blood supply for healing. When that inflammation becomes prolonged, chronic pain can result. http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/dr-andrew-weil-anti-inflammatory-diet . We have been enjoying the curried cauliflower soup made with cahsew milk here the past few days
Dr. OZ also has a few good tips for reducing pain. http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/7-natural-pain-solutions. I hadn't heard of Capsaicin before, so I tried it on a couple of sore spots I have been having simultaneously on my quads and it seems to help. It could be the my hamstring and quad pains are related as weakness in one area causes pain in the opposing muscle.
Anyways, I am just glad that I am making progress and running better again.
At the same time I happen to catch a TV show of Dr. Oz where he was interviewing one of my favorites, Dr. Andrew Weil and they were talking about inflammation and pain. “Following an anti-inflammatory diet can help counteract the chronic inflammation that is a root cause of many serious diseases. It is a way of selecting and preparing foods based on science that can help people achieve and maintain optimum health over their lifetime.” (Dr. Weil) Look under march 2011 of his Balanced living anual for more information on as anti-inflammatory diet tips. http://www.drweil.com/drw/ecs/downloads/BalancedLivingAnnual_2011.pdf . Dr. Weil explains that inflammation is our bodies reaction to injury. Injured parts of the body become inflamed and therefore receive increased blood supply for healing. When that inflammation becomes prolonged, chronic pain can result. http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/dr-andrew-weil-anti-inflammatory-diet . We have been enjoying the curried cauliflower soup made with cahsew milk here the past few days
Dr. OZ also has a few good tips for reducing pain. http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/7-natural-pain-solutions. I hadn't heard of Capsaicin before, so I tried it on a couple of sore spots I have been having simultaneously on my quads and it seems to help. It could be the my hamstring and quad pains are related as weakness in one area causes pain in the opposing muscle.
Anyways, I am just glad that I am making progress and running better again.
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Day 19 - Guitar Lake to Mt. Whitney
Mt. Whitney summit video
Guitar Lake |
Wednesday, July 18
I saw
the headlamps of some hikers getting an early start this morning at
4:00am. An and I though spent the most
of the morning fishing in Guitar Lake.
An finally had some luck and kept two of the Golden Trout that he caught
for lunch today. It must have been
around 10:00am before we even started up the trail. We had about 2000 feet of elevation and 5
miles of trail to get to the top of Mt. Whitney.
Looking down on Guitar Lake |
at about 14,000 feet now |
After 3 miles of hiking and a ton
of switch backs we made it to the T in the trail at 13,658 feet. Eventually we will go straight here which
will take us off the mountain down to Whitney Portal. For now, we dropped our packs as we would be
returning to this spot after we summit Whitney.
It would be a 4 mile round trip so I took only 1 bottle of water and a
couple of trail bars with me. It was good
to be hiking without the pack for a change as I charged up the mountain. An and I were both passing a lot of day
hikers that were not acclimatized to the altitude as we were. On young man who was resting halfway down
from the top said that it would take me at least another two hours to make it to
the top, because that’s how long it took him.
I bet him that I could make it in less than an hour and he looked at me
shocked and said I better get moving. I
looked at my watch, took off, and 45 minutes later I was at the summit.
100 yards from the summit (Emergency shelter and weather equipment room built by the Sierra Club) |
View east from the summit of Mt. Whitney |
View north from the summit of Mt. Whitney |
View west from the summit of Mt. Whitney |
It was exhilarating to be on top of
the peak of the highest mountain in the lower 48 and to be at the terminus of
the JMT. I was thankful thinking back to
all that I had been allowed to accomplish, to experience and how well it all went. I had also met many wonderful people along
the way and was grateful for what each one had brought to my life. These journeys always add to my appreciation
of how beautifully complex and interconnected this Earth that God created is and
I am overwhelmingly thankful for these opportunities to learn more about it all and share
with others what I find.
Out here and in
life ...
every day is the best day.
The End
We are in the book! Look at entry #21; Danny Westgrand, Badwater finisher. |
Sunset from Trail Camp on the way back down (Those colors were not exaggerated or altered with Photoshop) |
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Day 18 - Tyndal Creek to Guitar Lake
Guitar Lake
Tyndal Creek at Sunrise |
Breakfast on Tyndal Creek |
Tuesday, July 17
I believe that this was the coldest
morning we had yet. Water formed a thin
layer of ice in just a couple of minutes after I poured it into a pan. So, wearing every layer of clothing I had
carried, and glad that I had it, I heated the water for my coffee and
cereal. I then carried them down to the creek
and found I rock in the middle of it I could sit on. I ate breakfast there watching the morning
sun as it poured its colors and warmth onto the water.
View facing east on JMT towards Timberline and Gutiar Lake |
The original plan for the day was
to camp at Timberline Lake but that was closed to any camping as the NFS was in
the process of a restoration project there.
We stopped anyways and tried our luck fishing. In a little over an hour we had 5 fish that
we kept for tonight’s dinner. An took a
couple of cracks at throwing the line out too, but he couldn’t get anything for
some reason. I tried his line and
immediately I had another one. I had
coached him and it looked like he was doing everything right, but somehow the
fish seemed to know that it was his first time fishing. Tomorrow we would get them.
Timberline Lake |
We hiked a couple of miles more up
the mountain and ended up camping at Guitar Lake. From Guitar Lake the summit of Mt. Whitney
and the official end of the JMT is only 5 miles away. The scout troop was camped at Guitar Lake
that night too, but the lake was big enough that we were able to get far enough
away not to be bother by their noise.
One of the leaders pointed out Mt. Whitney to me. There it was our final goal plainly in sight
now about 2000 feet above us. That
evening and the following morning I climb all over the cliffs of the lake
trying to get pictures of that peak. In
the evening I set up my sleeping bag on a granite shelf facing the peak and set
up my camera on the tripod. Whenever I awoke
at night, I took pictures of the night sky as the starts circled Mt. Whitney
Mt. Whitney |
Mt. Whitney at Sunset |
Mt. Whitney reflecting at sunrise |
Our camp by Guitar Lake |
Stars circling Mt. Whitney from sunset to sunrise
Photoshop drybrush artistic rendition |
Monday, October 8, 2012
Day 17 - Forester Pass to Tyndal Creek
Summiting Forester Pass
|
Sunrise from Forester Pass trail looking north |
Monday, July 16
We can
see the notch in the mountains that Forester Pass takes 1000 feet above where
we are camped and I am itching to get to the top of this much talked about
pass. At 13,180 feet, it’s a 1000 feet
higher than any other pass we have crossed so far and it’s the last pass we encounter
before we ascend Mt. Whitney. I woke up
real early this morning, an hour before sunrise to one coldest nights yet and I
wanted to get moving just to warm-up. The
wind died down, but I am sure the temperatures were in the low 30’s. I decided to start exploring the trail that
goes up the pass. In addition to wanting
to get warm, I had two other reasons as well.
One, I was hoping to get some good pictures of the sunrise from a higher
vantage point. Secondly, I wanted to get
some peaceful time around the lake before the scout troop wakes up. Man those kids were noisy last night. Those young teenage boys were bickering and cackling
so much it reminded me of one of watching one of those sea lion colonies on the
Nature Channel. Those men who are taking
those boys up here are saints – well either that or they are deaf. I should be used to it, because that is how many
of my students behave, but I would have told them to can it. I sneak past the scout troop and start
walking up the trail with my camera and tripod.
The sun slowly rises on our mountain enclave and I had a nice time
waiting for it and taking pictures.
An hiking up Forester Pass |
Scout Troop heading up pass |
An and
I start hiking around 8:30 am. The sun
is already shining on the lake at this but we are still dressed in layers and
it feels good to get moving with our packs on.
We can see the scout troop already halfway up the pass so they must have
packed up quickly. I am now very acclimated
to the altitude and An is in good shape too, because he is never far behind
me. We quickly catch up to the troop and
they marvel at how easily we are able to hike up the pass. This reminded me of the second day when I marveled
the same way at a north bond hiker on Donahue Pass. The troop is doing a good job up here too and
before long we are all at the top. Just
before the top, I pass my camera to An to video and commemorate my assent of
Forester Pass. Yes, we are having fun
now.
Views from the top |
The
other side of Forester Pass holds the widest u-shaped glacial valley I have yet
seen. We hike down five miles and have
lunch just below the tree line at Tyndal Creek.
I survey the creek for fish, but I didn’t see anything. I have been out here quite a long time now
and I admit that at times I miss the comforts of home. All this hiking can get
tiring out. It would be nice to home with Amy, cooking dinner in our kitchen,
eating at our table or sitting in the family room watching a movie with the
puppies climbing on us. Just a few more
days now out here, and I need to enjoy what I have left.
Is that glacier making a smiley face? |
Glacial boulder left high and dry |
Wide Glacial Valley |
Approaching the tree line of Fox Tail Pines |
16 more miles to Mt. Whitney, We should be up there the day after tomorrow. |
We hike down some more and run into
a northbound PCT hiker who goes by Thomas – his real name. He said that a few years ago someone gave him
the trail name of Deacon, but that was too weighty so he prefers Thomas. Thomas was a gem. He asked us if there was anything that we
needed. We thanked him and told him we
were fine, but he insisted and seeing my war torn bandaged fingers asked me if
he could help. He seemed so genuine that
I didn’t want to refuse him and acquiesced. He took out some lanolin, sheep’s
wool and white tape and did a real good job.
He asked us if we minded if he said a prayer for all of us. We said sure and he said a prayer. Thank-you Thomas, and God bless you.
Scout troop with Fox Tail Pines in the background |
Lush fox tails draping down |
We camp
a few more miles down the trail at Wright Creek. We caught wind that the scout troop would be
a camped a mile further down at Wallace Creek and we figured that a mile of
buffer between their noise and us would be fine. It was still early in the afternoon; and the
weather was still awesome so we decided to nap for an hour or so. Still hoping to do some fishing I explored
the creek. There were fish in there, but
nothing over six inches so we walked over to Wallace Creek. There was not much in there either, so
fishing would have to wait another day.
.
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