Friday, April 12, 2013

This Is Your brain On Your Very Humanity Itself


This Is Your Brain On Your Very Humanity Itself

Wherein I address the question, Can Trail Running Develop into an Unhealthy Addiction?





photo by Kathy Vaughanby Ras

   When I first read the above question, I presumed the operative word was 'addiction'. And the place that trail running holds in a livicated runner's life, to the outside observer, can easily be construed as such. Trail runners often need to run more and more to have the desired experience. When the person does not run they experience unpleasant side effects, frequently the opposite of those of trail running. They have difficulty cutting back, even if it's strategic tapering. Social, occupational, and/or recreational activities become more focused around the trails. Trail runners become preoccupied with running, spending increasing amounts of time planning, engaging in, and recovering from trail adventures. In short, many trail runners display the hallmarks of addiction in their relationship with running.

     Beyond mere appearance, for all intents and purposes running affects the brain like a controlled substance. Or, more precisely, like two controlled substances: opium and marijuana. 

     During intense physical activity opioids are released in a runner's brain. These compounds, although produced within the human body, activate the same receptors in the brain as does ingesting heroin. Opioid receptor activation can help to blunt pain. It can also affect the reward centers of the brain, increasing the release of dopamine causing pleasurable feelings; feelings of bliss, well-being, elation, euphoria.

     Forty-five minutes to an hour of moderate running produces elevated levels of cannabinoids, molecules that activate the brain's cannabinoid receptors. These are the same receptors that the THC in marijuana activates, producing similar results. Runner's high indeed.

     Another seeming link between running and addiction is in the therapeutic realm. Timothy Olson has been brutally, and commendably open about his struggles with addiction and the role that trail running has played in that battle. Running would logically seem to function as methadone, taking the place of the addictive substance. But I would posit that it serves more as a higher power.

     However, 'unhealthy' is truly the operative word in that question. Whether running can be an addiction or not is immaterial. Trail running predates the cultivation of poppies or marijuana or any other form of agriculture. It predates religion. It predates human speech. Trail running is an essential and quintessential human activity, an artifact from the savannah, from when we were just distinguishing ourselves from the broader designation of 'hominid'. 

     Trail running cannot become an unhealthy addiction because it is neither unhealthy nor addicting. It is a proto-human behavior, a thing so deeply ingrained in us that the two cannot be seperated, we from it. And there's little profit in accusing us of being addicted to our own humanity. 
     

     

Tuesday, April 9, 2013

2013 UltraPedestrian Wilderness Challenge


2013 UltraPedestrian Wilderness Challenge

Registration is now closed.

    The 2013 UltraPedestrian Wilderness Challenge is a Multi-faceted multi-media contest open to Trailrunners, Fastpackers, and Backpackers. This year's course is a classic and rugged 45 mile loop set in the heart of Washington's North Cascades. There are no aid stations, no course markings, no start/finish, no lemming lines, no cut offs, no set date, in fact, it's all up to you. 

     The course is the Devil's Dome Loop, a 45 mile loop linking the Jackita Ridge Trail, Devil's Dome Trail, and Eastbank Trail, which offers runners and hikers a small taste of the Paseyton Wilderness, some of the wildest country left in the continental United States. By our reckoning, it's about 10,000 feet of climbing. But be forwarned, the 12 miles along the East Bank Trail and the 3 miles along Ruby Creek have very little elevation gain. So the vast majority of that 10,000 feet of climbing takes place over only 30 miles of the route. 

     The Devil's Dome Loop is accessed from the North Cascades Highway (Washington State Route 20) via the East Bank Trailhead (milepost 138.2) or the Canyon Creek Trailhead (milepost 141.2). Choice of clockwise or counterclockwise is up to participants. Trips may started at any point on the loop, as long as that same point is returned to in order to complete an entire loop. 

     All participants must at all times comport themselves in accordance with Federal, State, and Local laws, as well as Leave No Trace backcountry ethics.

     Entrants may participate solo or as part of a team. Teams can be independent, self-supported runners than just run together, or team members can mule for one another. But teams will not be allowed to receive any outside support from non-running personnel.

     All participants must submit proof of having completed the route via Spot Transponder, GPS/Garmin/Suunto data, photographic evidence, and/or a convincingly detailed trip report/blog. If you are submitting your entry for speed based awards you MUST provide SPOT/GPS/GARMIN/SUUNTO data as proof. 

     Each entrant or team must submit a detailed blog, photo blog, video, or podcast segment detailing their trip. The more details the better, everything from technical nuts & bolts (gear list, food/fuel list, pacing, strategy), to wildlife spottings & encounters, to personal/physcological/spiritual experiences, and beyond. There are no limits to what you may include in your trip report. How you experience the trail and how you present that experience are up to you. The goal of this event is for all the participants to share and compare one another's unique experiences and perspectives.

     Everyone who completes the 2013 Ultrapedestrian Wilderness Challenge will be awarded a unique finishers' patch only available through UltraPedestrian.com, in addition to other prizes and awards based on a variety of criteria, including speed, good style, best photograph, best blog, gnarliest SNAFU, most diverse team, and numerous other aspects of backcountry wilderness adventure. 

     Sign up will be open through the end of July. All trips must be begun no earlier than August 1st, 2013, and completed no later than September 30th. Results will be announced on UltraPedestrian.com on October 15th. Prizes and awards will be mailed out (unless we will be seeing you in person soon).

     The entry fee for the 2013 UltraPedestrian Wilderness Challenge is $20.00 per person. All proceeds beyond the cost of prizes and awards will go the support UltraPedestrian.com and the UltraPedestrian Podcast.

Registration is now closed.

How to participate in the 2013 UPWC:

1. Sign up on Ultrasignup.com

2. Between the dates of Thursday, August 1, 2013 and Monday, September 30th, 2013 complete the Devil's Dome Loop

3. Email your proof and documentation to UltraPedestrian@gmail.com with the subject line, "2013 UPWC PROOF & DOCUMENTATION"

4. Visit UltraPedestrian.com and Ultrasignup.com on Tuesday, October 15th for complete results & awards

5. Watch your mailbox for your UPWC swag envelope
     
     Complete results will be posted on UltraPedestrian.com on Tuesday, October 15th, 2013.

     Please post any questions below in the 'comments' section.



photo by Ras

photo by Ras

photo by Ras

photo by Ras

photo by Ras

photo by Ras

photo by Ras

photo by Ras

photo by Ras

photo by Ras

photo by Ras

photo by Ras

photo by Ras

photo by Ras

photo by Ras

photo by Ras

2013 Badger Mountain Challenge Race Report


2013 Badger Mountain Challenge 100 Mile Race Report


photo by Kathy Vaughan
by Ras


     Overall, I ran well at Badger and I was happy with my performance. I got off course for a 2 mile or so out and back following left over paint markings from last year. This was just after I playfully mocked Matt Hagen for carrying a course description, maps, and a GPS, so I'll content myself with the thought that it was cosmic retribution, rather than a fault in my navigation.

     Despite that, after I got back on course I ran well all day and slowly reeled in most of the people that had passed me during my off-course escapade. There were also some nice improvements to the course, eliminating a scary run along the shoulder of a highway after dark. 


     This race has what to me is a lot of asphalt, about 15 miles by my count, and last year it left my feet swollen for a week. This year, running faster but wearing Altra Lone Peaks instead of the Inov-8 Roclites I wore for so many years, I had no swelling afterwards, as well as no blisters or hot spots. The midsole really made a noticable distance for me on all that blacktop.

     As with the Fort Ebbey Kettles Trail Marathon in February, I didn't feel like eating during the race. I did consistently eat a little bit while I was running, but I was mostly sustained by half-sandwiches (soy slices, sprouts, tomato, & onion on ezekiel bread with veganaise) Kathy was giving me at the various aid stations where there was crew access. I ate far fewer calories than I would consider normal for a 100 miler, and far fewer than I had planned on. Since last summer I have been making efforts to train my body to metabolize fat as its primary fuel source, so I am concluding that my body was metabolizing more stored fat and demanding fewer bulk calories.

     The weather was perfect for the whole race, warm during the day and temperate at night. Just before and after dawn it got pretty cold, but I was able to just run through it until things warmed up again. My layering was right at the minimal end of perfect.

     I finished with a 100 Mile PR of 27:17:00,  a big improvement over last years 29:51:08.




photo by Kathy Vaughan
First race in my Ites, Gold, & Green running kit for 2013

photo by Kathy Vaughan
Physically and mentally prepared to grapple with this course
     
photo by Kathy Vaughan
A rare photo of me paying attention at the pre-race briefing. Although it looks like Matt Hagen is paying closer attention
photo by Kathy Vaughan
Once again, it begins. I love the excitements at the beginning of a 100 mile race.
photo by Kathy Vaughan
George Orozco not giving any indication of the gigantic
blister that was devouring his foot


photo by Kathy Vaughan
About 18 miles deep, and enjoying my first sandwich.
I always eat heading into big climbs, to allow time to
digest before I'm running again.

photo by Kathy Vaughan
Linh Shark on the way to finishing her first 100 mile race, paced by her husband
Jonathan, and later by Deby Kumasaka.

photo by Kathy Vaughan
Greg Manciagli doing what has to be done to George Orozco's blister blighted foot. Yes, that splash of fluid on the blacktop was drained from George's blister.

photo by Kathy Vaughan
I was craving fat and salt and this did the trick. Seventy nine miles in, and Kathy had just come on to pace me the rest of the way.

photo by Kathy Vaughan
A welcome sunrise after running through the night.

photo by Kathy Vaughan

photo by Kathy Vaughan
Allowing myself a one minute sit break. My Woolrich wool shirt with a sSmartwool neck gaiter, two fleece hats, and cross country ski gloves made a perfect layering system through the night.

photo by Kathy Vaughan
Kathy was pushing me to keep moving, choosing landmarks for us to run to in between walking breaks. She said, "Let's run to the end of that irrigation line." I agreed. Then we came around a slight curve and I realized it was the longest irrigation line I had ever seen. "Nicely played, Kathy," I thought to myself.
photo by Greg Manciagli
Landing my customary 360 at the finish line.

photo by Kathy Vaughan
With Jacob Puzey, winner of the 50k


photo by Ras
Complete 100 Mile Results