Javelina Jundred and the Music and L.S.D that followed.

I’m not really sure why it has taken me so long to give some sort of race report on Javelina Jundred, my first 100 mile race. Maybe the idea of reporting a 100 mile adventure seems a little much to take on in writing. You go through an incredible range of physical and psychological conditions during the course of a 100 mile run, especially if it takes you over 30 hours to complete. The thought of sitting down and doing a full recap is exhausting.

I also believe that I have many more hundred mile races in my future. This is not the epic event of my running career. It is merely a first glimpse into the world of 100 mile running. I have learned that I am tougher than I think and running brings me a peace that I have found no where else in my life.

My sister and I spoke during the days leading up to the Javelina Jundred. I told her that running makes me present. It pushes me so much into the present moment that I can manage to completely turn my mind off and just enjoy the silence of the trails, the smell of the woods, the company of another runner, appreciate the strength and power that is my body, and not be interrupted by the chaos that can be my mind. It is similar to the feeling I get when writing or performing music, only without the melancholy.

So as for a full race report on Javelina, I don’t think it is necessary. I will say it was one of the most fun 30 hours of my entire life. I learned that my will is stronger than my feet and my legs were built for distance. Running in the desert made me believe that a cactus can have an emotion, coca cola might be the greatest thing ever invented, and dragons really do exist. I got to witness the power of incredible friendship and crewing and see the largest moving Halloween party on the planet. What an adventure.

Three ultra-kates before the race (Katie DeSplinter, me, Kate Martini Freeman)

My number

Having ALL the fun

Me and my bro-in-law Fred Knapp rocking our Salomons.

Party in the desert!!

Still smiling!

Me and Coach Jimmy

Sun is setting...

Blister crew working the night shift

...and into the next morning

last 10 miles...

Finished at last

Sleep at last

Feet before...

Feet after

Thanksgiving weekend I went up to San Francisco with Brian Krogmann to watch/crew for the Quad Dipsea. On Thanksgiving morning Brian and I went out with friend Rick Gaston and some of his running friends to run a double Dipsea. One time through the trail is just over 7 miles and kicks off with somewhere around 650-700 stairs. Twice through was enough for me. Watching the quad 2 days later was incredible.

Me (in all black) on the Dipsea trail

5 weeks after my finish at Javelina I raced the Ridgecrest 50k on December 6^th. This was my first ever trail run and ultra marathon last year. Our weather was chilly with headwinds on the climbs reaching 20-30 MPH. In spite of all of this, I beat my time from last year by almost an hour, finishing in 5:14. I was hoping for a sub-5 hour time, but I am incredibly happy and proud with the way I finished that race. I felt strong and recovery time was none. This race has boosted my confidence in what I can take on and accomplish in my races of 2010.

I’d also like to take a moment here and say how much I love my Moeben sleeves after last week’s race. I can’t stand being overdressed for running, but without my sleeves I would have been absolutely freezing in that wind. My Wigwam sleeves don’t hold a candle to them. If you’re looking into running sleeves, check Moeben out. They’re stylish and warm and there’s certainly nothing wrong with supporting a small business.

with Brian Krogmann at Ridgecrest 50k, both rocking our Moeben sleeves

On the music front, I have had a string of excellent shows during this past stay in Los Angeles. I played to a full room at Genghis Cohen the Tuesday night before Thanksgiving. It was encouraging to see so many people come out to a 10:00 show on a Tuesday. This is the first L.A. show I’ve played where I got to take home door money. Things are coming along. I also played at The Joint this past Tuesday (Dec. 8^th) and also had a great turn out. Again, I got a share of the venue’s door money and sold some CD’s as well. I am so grateful for the support of my friends and followers in the Los Angeles area. I rarely play shows out here that encourage me in the least, but those two shows gave me quite a lift.

playing at Genghis Cohen

On Thursday (Dec. 10^th) I accompanied Nina Storey at Hotel Café’ where Sara Barielles sat in the audience as we opened for my new favorite band, The Rescues. What a night. Playing with Nina always trips me out a little bit because of how badly I wanted to be just like Jeremy Lawton (her former keyboard player) when I was a teenager.

me with Nina Storey (right) and Nicole Latorre (left)

Now I’m sitting in the Las Vegas Airport en route to Baton Rouge for the holidays. I hope the next couple weeks will serve as a little bit of a break for me to get some writing done and book some more winter/spring shows. I’ll also be deciding which ultra I’ll be doing the first 4-6 weeks of the New Year. Suggestions are certainly welcome.