The demise of trail running?

Over the past few years, I have observed a decline in the trail race environment. Having not participated in a trail race (only volunteered) for over four years, my observations and conclusions may require validation. I have noticed an increase in participants to the point where it is challenging to establish a connection with the runners. Trail races are increasingly becoming business ventures that prioritize volunteers over a volunteer group that prioritizes non-profit objectives and aims for minimal profit. This focus on numbers significantly alters the overall experience of a race.

At the aid station, directing the stampede of runners through the station takes precedence over personal assistance. This experience as a participant and volunteer is disheartening.

Many runners need more experience and lower expectations for trail races. One runner yelled at the director when he got lost. Of the 250 runners, ten got lost. Most found it easy because they were familiar with the process. This runner refused to accept responsibility and blamed others for their mistake.

Before a trail race, I would study the map, learn the area, and be cautious near questionable turns. Angry lost runners don’t understand course marking, and or someone removes markers. Prepared runners can overcome issues.

At Surf the Murph, someone got lost. I asked if they were looking at the markers, but they said they were enjoying the scenery. They got mad when directed to look for them, as someone else was the reason they got lost. Do we need to mark flags on the ground, trees, and sky in case they look up?

A few runners have asked me where the restroom was while I was at the primitive station on the Superior Hiking Trail. And get this, one runner didn’t bring a water bottle and then used about 6-8 cups at the station! Back in the day, trail runners were all about being environmentally friendly, but now, I’m seeing more who toss their trash wherever they please and act a bit rude. 

Maybe it’s because they’re paying $100-$200 to run a race, which puts a lot of pressure on them. I’m not trying to knock all runners, but I’m definitely noticing more self-centered runners. Most of them are fun, caring, and knowledgeable, but the worst patient can really take up a lot of time and leave a lasting impression.

In a heated Facebook exchange, I noticed a spring 2014 ultramarathon scheduled on the same day as another longstanding one. Some questioned why not another weekend and why compete with the other race. I suggested, “Why not the same day, and maybe a third would be nice?”  

Why, you may wonder? If there were more competition and race options, prices would likely decrease, the number of runners at each event would decrease, and the overall atmosphere would become more friendly. Additionally, different people have different preferences when it comes to running. While the trail races I’ve participated in in the past were great, the organization and mindset of the group didn’t align with mine. That doesn’t mean they weren’t great people who organized great races; I prefer other options, such as McDonald’s, Subway, Wendy’s, and Burger King. They all serve the same food, but we have our own preferences and choose one over the other. In the same way, athletic events are the same. The variety of events held on the same weekend is fantastic.

Ironically, the person most upset about this particular race option competition ran a local race on the same day as another ultra in the state. However, there were no comments or complaints about having two longer trail races on the same day in that situation.

I perceive it as a supply-and-demand scenario. Currently, I participate in fewer trail races because I need to assess the value proposition of the high prices and limited options available. If there were seven races scheduled on the same day, it would foster better competition in terms of pricing and services. However, this would inevitably lead to some races being unable to compete. Nevertheless, this is the nature of the market, similar to the situation when a coffee shop opens up right across from the neighborhood coffee shop. In America, we have the right to this kind of competition, which is known as competition.

I recall when Stillwater, Minneapolis, and Fargo all had Spring Marathons, and everyone feared Grandma’s Marathon’s demise. Now, I believe it could benefit from fewer runners. I’ve run and finished the race every year since 1985. I’ve seen it grow, and the enjoyment has decreased as it became a large race. I return only for the streak, but I prefer marathons with fewer than 500 runners, like the 100-mile race with 20 runners. It was small, we knew everyone, and running an aid station was enjoyable. Aid stations are becoming less satisfying, and I’m reconsidering my future involvement. After all, a hobby should bring satisfaction, and my last two volunteer efforts have been more work and burden than satisfaction. 

Maybe I should start running again, so I can only hang out with people who are at my pace and avoid the “bad” elements I have come to dislike about trail races lately.

All you quiet dreamers, carry on!

Comments from my original blog - I merged the blogs.

SteveQ

I keep rewriting and not posting the same thing - it's "dilettantes, addicts, and hucksters" that are ruining things. The sad thing is that each will scream at you that you just don't get it.  Thursday, October 31, 2013 at 10:54:38 AM CDT

Jordan Hanlon

Although my trail/ultra running career is relatively short (since 2009), I've noticed a dramatic change, and I'd have to agree that many of the changes that have come with the growing popularity have been negative. In 2010, I ran my first 100-mile Zumbro with 26 other runners. The packet pickup consisted of sitting around the campfire talking, rather than listening to some of the other runners, with whom I all got to know quite well over the next few days. I'm glad that many more people get to experience running trails and ultras, but the popularity comes with a price. Good post and hopefully the intimacy of trails/ultra will not be lost.   Friday, November 1, 2013 at 8:51:47 AM CDT

Somewhere between thin and obese, does it matter?

I was overweight for most of my childhood. During a formative period in my life, I learned to tolerate the burdens and stigmas society associates with being “fat.” As is common for many children undergoing puberty or other growth spurts, I became one of the “fat kids” around the age of 5th grade and remained in that group until my sophomore year of high school.

I became acutely aware of the experience of being singled out. I was often shunned, the butt of jokes and pranks, and subjected to the cruelty that my “normal” classmates could sometimes exercise, to ensure that I understood my place in the pecking order of adolescent society.

Additionally, I learned about the limitations of adult society. Adults may be insensitive or simply uninformed about what they say. This included my parents. I discovered that adults did not always prioritize a fat child’s need to belong to his peer group at this age. As a result, I ended up wearing “fat kid” clothes, which, in the 1970s, were quite obviously different in style compared to what our classmates considered the “in” thing to be accepted.

From various perspectives, the underlying message was that individuals labeled as “chubby” or “fattys” were considered marginalized members of society, at best. As long as we adhered to the “majority” standards, we could be tolerated, but not necessarily welcomed into the mainstream.

As anyone who has experienced early adolescence can attest, deviating from the norm can lead to painful isolation or, at the very least, significant frustration. Many would perceive you as unworthy, incapable, or undesirable as a friend. Fortunately, as I was fortunate to be, we learn to appreciate the friendships and relationships offered without prejudice or reservation. This is the way I have discovered true ultra-marathon runners. Accepting and nurturing individuals, regardless of who receives their kindness, is a challenge.

I am fortunate to have a nurturing environment that overlooks the limitations or differences imposed by life’s circumstances. I was fortunate enough to have had some good friends and adults who accepted me for who I was when my family did not. 

Unconditional love helped me realize that while society and classmates may exclude me, some people support me and strive for inclusion. These are the people I seek, regardless of my situation.

I grew out of being a “fat kid,” but I realized that ignorance, exclusion, and petty assumptions persist, regardless of the issue. Discrimination now arises from different topics, but the source remains the same: mindless conformity and heartless insecurity. Had I not gone through my “fatty” period, I might not have coped as well or had my values strengthened when more adult transgressions against decency, tolerance, humanity, intelligence, and even love occurred.

Despite its oddity, this experience brought me numerous positive benefits, strengthening my soul in ways my unchallenged peers may not have. It taught me about human hurtfulness, acceptance, compassion, and finding actual value in others, shaping my character and relationships. Although unconventional, it has had a significant impact on my experience.

All you quiet dreamers, carry on!

Exercise emotions

Do you know that feeling of guilt when you’ve planned a workout, like riding your bike to work, but don’t follow through because your mind tells you, “You’re tired”? It’s a common sentiment we all experience when we intend to exercise but lose motivation or something interferes with our training schedule. However, some people find it challenging to overcome this guilty conscience or skip exercising for a day or two. You might have heard a friend describe someone as “addicted” to exercising or “completely dependent” on working out for several hours every day. 

Parents, peers, the media, and scientific literature consistently promote the benefits of exercise for our physical and mental well-being. However, it’s rarely discussed that exercise can become unhealthy when it becomes a compulsive habit. I know individuals who would consider their lives over if they didn’t start their day with a 10K or some other form of exercise, followed by another form at lunch, and then an evening effort. I’ve been there, and my mind still believes I’m there, but my body says something entirely different.

Things are different, especially with my right knee and the pain I’ve been experiencing. I was certain that after my 29th consecutive grandma’s marathon, the pain would flare up and be excruciating. However, I was mistaken. In fact, after a few days, the entire body felt amazing. Nevertheless, I continued to allow the body to heal. After three weeks of rest, I embarked on three 50-mile bike rides within eight days, and I even included a few 36-mile rides. Surprisingly, the right knee pain is still relatively high. It doesn’t make sense to me. Is it a delayed reaction from the marathon? There are too many bike miles too soon. Regardless, it’s frustrating when the mind tells me, “You’re doing great,” while the body insists that I get crutches and stay in bed. 

Could it be that I need the exercise to maintain my body’s functionality? Could I push myself too hard and then crash, leading to a binge-and-purge exercise approach? Could this be more than just an unusual exercise addiction? I’m not sure, but I’ve been without the positive energy from a regular workout for too long, and my body is literally in pain! So, could it be that I need to regroup and stop having that “I need to get that done or else” attitude? That will be challenging!

Don’t get me wrong. This is indeed a “positive addiction” to exercising, meaning that the exercise routine can easily be incorporated into my daily life and allows for commitments to family, friends, work, and personal time. However, it’s essential to be aware that there’s a fine line between a healthy commitment to exercising and a perceived obligation and compulsion to adhere to a specific training regimen.

Exercise, known for its benefits to mental and physical health, can have the opposite effect if done excessively, regardless of whether it’s recreational or professional. Hippocrates wisely noted that providing the right amount of exercise, neither too little nor too much, would ensure optimal health.

All you quiet dreamers, carry on!

G. M. O.

What is GMO?

Government Managing Office? No, it has something to do with the government, but not that agency. General Molly, Inc. (Stock selling for about $1.70 a share)? They are in the business of exploring, developing, and mining molybdenum properties.

Many of the foods we eat may contain ingredients derived from genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Are Genetically Modified (GM) foods safe or harmful? While regulatory authorities have approved GM food for the market, some people are concerned about the risk of harm. If you live in Europe, avoiding GM foods is easier since laws require labeling. In the US and Canada, however, food manufacturers are not required to label whether their food is genetically modified. Is it a coincidence that obesity is less of an issue outside the US and Canada?

As someone without a scientific background, my knowledge is primarily derived from personal experience. The more I contemplate genetically modified organisms (GMOs), the more I am reminded of my grandfather. He was in excellent health and lived well into his 100s. He consumed minimal processed foods and cultivated his own produce. He raised chickens, cows, and pigs on grass, avoiding the use of chemicals. He maintained a 1-acre garden and engaged in extensive canning. Fortunately, he consumed little or no GMOs or processed foods. Remarkably, he even made his own ice cream!

Conversely, I observe that my mother’s side of the family generally relies on dining out or consuming processed foods extensively. Regrettably, neither of them lived beyond the age of 70 and experienced numerous health issues.

Since April 13, 2013, I have dedicated considerable time to monitoring the food I consume. I diligently read labels and took the initiative to research complex terms on some labels. Here are a few examples and the pertinent information I discovered:

Coloring agents, including Blue 1, Blue 2, Yellow 5, and Yellow 6, are commonly used in various food products, such as cakes, candies, macaroni and cheese, medicines, sports drinks, sodas, pet food, and cheese. The United States permits the use of these agents due to the influence of visual perception on our eating habits. Recent studies have demonstrated that when food manufacturers opt to leave foods in their natural, often beige-like color, rather than using chemical agents for coloring, individuals perceive the food as bland and consume less of it, even when the recipe remains unchanged.

Furthermore, coloring agents derived from coal tar are also employed for sealing and coating products to preserve and protect the shine of industrial floors, as well as in head lice shampoos to eliminate the small insects. Interestingly, these coloring agents are also ingested.

We also have Olestra (also known as Olean). I never knew this nut was the most common ingredient in fat-free potato chips. The US allows this because Procter & Gamble Co. spent a quarter of a century and half a billion dollars to create “light” chips that are supposedly healthier. Is this just lobbyist work? They might need another half a billion dollars to figure out how to deal with the embarrassing bathroom side effects (including oily anal leakage) that come with consuming these products.

The known health hazard is that fat substitutes appear to cause a dramatic depletion of fat-soluble vitamins and essential micronutrients, robbing us of vital nutrients. The U.K. and Canada have banned it.

I was surprised to learn about Bronated vegetable oil (also known as BVO). It’s found in sports drinks and citrus-flavored sodas. The US allows this because it acts as an emulsifier, preventing the flavoring from separating and floating to the surface of beverages. However, it’s a health hazard because it competes with iodine for receptor sites in the body. Elevated levels of BVO may lead to thyroid issues, such as hypothyroidism, autoimmune disease, and cancer. That’s not all. BVO’s main ingredient, bromine, is a poisonous chemical considered both corrosive and toxic. It’s been linked to significant organ system damage, birth defects, growth problems, schizophrenia, and hearing loss, which explains why it’s been banned in more than 100 countries.

In the past, I believed that potassium was always beneficial on food labels. However, I recently discovered that potassium bromate (also known as brominated flour) is a common ingredient in various food products, including rolls, wraps, flatbreads, bread crumbs, and bagel chips. The United States permits the use of this flour-bulking agent to enhance dough strength, thereby reducing baking time and lowering production costs. However, I am concerned about the potential health risks associated with this additive.

Potassium bromate is manufactured using the same toxic chemical found in brominated vegetable oil (BVO). This additive has been linked to kidney and nervous system disorders, as well as gastrointestinal discomfort.

I had to verify the presence of azodicarbonamide twice. This chemical is commonly used in breads, frozen dinners, boxed pasta mixes, and packaged baked goods. While most countries allow flour to whiten naturally over a week, American food processors prefer to use azodicarbonamide to bleach the flour immediately. I read that this chemical is highly harmful, and banning it in Singapore is insufficient. In Singapore, individuals found guilty of using azodicarbonamide can face up to 15 years in prison and be fined nearly half a million dollars. This chemical is primarily used in foamed plastics, such as yoga mats and sneaker soles, and has been linked to an increased risk of asthma.

There are many more additives that raise concerns. This has made me reconsider the food I purchase and the preservatives that contribute to the accumulation of unhealthy substances in my body. Do you take the time to read food labels?

All you quiet dreamers, carry on!

Fireworks 2.0

In 2012, I made my first attempt at fireworks photography. While I was pleased with the results, I felt that the photos could have been improved. In 2013, I believe I made progress. Although there’s still room for improvement to achieve those perfect shots, I dedicated the week before to planning my shoot. I considered the ideal location, background, and foreground elements. After making my decision, I patiently awaited favorable weather conditions. I think the location was suitable, although the lake was so filled with scum that the reflection didn’t meet my expectations.

Below are some examples of my efforts.

 I’m thoroughly enjoying the photo-taking experience. I perceive things differently and notice details I hadn’t noticed before when I look at them from a global perspective—not a world-like perspective, but rather focusing on the details in the subject, the foreground, and the background. Imagine how the contrast, composition, and relationship between these elements create the perfect photo. I hope to improve my skills in 2014. That’s always the best goal we can have in life—to improve and be content with our progress.

So, I’m eagerly anticipating spending a significant portion of Friday on the Superior Trail 100-mile hike. I’ll be using my newfound visualization skills to identify areas where I can enhance my ability to convey a story in a single snapshot by effectively utilizing the subject, foreground, and background. I hope to succeed, but even if I don’t, I’m excited about the journey itself!

All you quiet dreamers, carry on!

Photography

Since I quit tennis officiating in December 2011, I’ve been on the lookout for a new hobby. Photography has been a real joy for me. While there’s a certain skill level required to capture great photos, sometimes you’re simply in the right place at the right time, and the shot just clicks. The two images below weren’t planned; they just happened spontaneously without any elaborate setup or planning.

 Then you see other photos and think, "Were these staged or accidental?"  Like, below are totally innocent but look a little inappropriate:

 And then those that are set up and just cool!

From my perspective, I recognize the vast amount of knowledge I possess, yet time is limited. However, this sense of uncertainty and the unknown contribute to the enjoyment of life. It is akin to participating in a marathon or an ultramarathon, where very little remains constant. This unpredictability aligns perfectly with my approach to life. I continually strive to improve my thinking and actions. I believe that achieving the pinnacle of excellence would render it challenging to discern future possibilities. Consequently, I find fulfillment in being one of the millionth best at my chosen endeavors.

All you quiet dreamers, carry on!

29 down, any more to go?

29 years ago, I aimed to run Grandma’s and Twin Cities Marathon for 25 consecutive years. The postal service mistakenly returned my Twin Cities entry after the 13th race, and it was not entered, so I focused on Grandma’s.

As I neared the 25th year, I considered quitting. My son encouraged me to run with him in the 26th race. I planned to run 5.24 miles and stop, achieving 26.2 consecutive finishes. However, my son insisted on running the entire race with me, making it a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Thus, my goal expanded to 30 straight finishes.  

The 29th consecutive completion of Grandma’s marathon has been achieved. During the week leading up to the race, I initially underestimated the significance of the 5-mile training run on June 15th, as it was my first run since Grandma’s 2012 marathon. Given the poor performance of that run, I decided to resume training on Wednesday, June 19^th, with a 4-mile run that left me feeling exhausted. This year, I was particularly concerned about my ability to complete the marathon and recognized the importance of mental fortitude. I believed that I had a good understanding of my body and capabilities. Consequently, I informed Shelley that I would aim to run 12:30-minute miles for the first hour, gradually slowing my pace each subsequent hour until I averaged a 15-minute mile by the end of the race.

On Friday, I left for Duluth at 12:30 PM alone. Shelley had commitments in Lincoln, Nebraska, and my sister couldn’t attend the race. I arrived at 4:30 PM (due to traffic) and retrieved my race packet. To calm my nerves, I strolled around Canal Park. After assessing my clothing, I bought gloves and sleeves, which were helpful during the race.

That night, I slept in my Smart Car for the first time. I brought five pillows, a blanket, and stuffed the area between the seats with cushions. I put my legs in the passenger area and stretched my body across the 5-foot space. Despite the challenge, I slept well, aided by two Advil PMs.

The forecast predicted a dismal race with cold, rain, and heavy winds, possibly snow. Thankfully, snow didn’t occur. We may have had sleet if the winds had come from the lake, but they were from the northeast, so there was no lake breeze.

I arrived at the train station and prepared for the race. The race went as planned. In the first hour, I averaged 12:24 minutes per mile (planned 12:30). After the second hour, I was at 12:49 minutes per mile (planned 13:00). I felt good, but I decided to avoid cramps and fatigue and stick to the plan. I held back and walked to stay on track. I finished with a 15:02 average, four minutes better than last year. I felt good and even jogged to the drop bags and car. The drive home was challenging due to fog in Duluth, which cleared when I passed Cloquet.

On April 13, 2013, I visited a nutritionist and followed her advice. I haven’t weighed myself since then, but I’m disappointed to have lost an average of 2.4 pounds a week (24 pounds). Is this a healthy rate? In 2006, I lost an average of 4.3 pounds a week for the first 10 weeks. I need to be patient.

Now, I’m recovering and hope to return to biking and taking my 18-mile commute to work in the next few days!

All you quiet dreamers, carry on!

Comments from my original blog - I merged the blogs.

SteveQ

Congrats on the finish!  24 pounds is significant, especially for 10 weeks!  Sunday, June 23, 2013 at 1:28:04 PM CDT