Ice Age Trail - Kettle Moraine

I had the chance a few weeks ago to run a portion of the Ice Age Trail in Kettle Moraine State Forest - Southern Unit. The weather was cool and partially cloudy when I started. Perfect, I thought, for a nice trail run.


Knowing tick season was in full swing, I layered on the precautionary DEET, wore long sleeves and hat, and headed out. The first mile and a half was smooth and really enjoyable. Unfortunately, the humidity rose, the sun appeared bringing on a lot of heat, and a huge infestation of bugs decided to feast on my face and neck. I know it's a forest and am no stranger to bugs, but this was crazy insane! It got bad enough that I was constantly blinking my eyes, behind full sunglasses, to keep them from entering my eyeballs. Moving faster didn't deter the suckers as they found a way to repeatedly feast on the back of my neck when swatted away from my eyes and the front! Luckily, speed was on my side and I was able to break into open fields and enjoy not only the sun but some nice flowers along the way.


As I was doing an out and back route, I had to once again return to bugtown at my 10 mile turnaround. Seems as though sweat only encourages the bugs more! This time I was prepared - I put my hat on backwards so the bill (lowered) protected the back of my neck, put my head down, and made an all-out assault. Yeah...well...that was fun. The bugs found that my forehead was equally as tasty as the parts they previously sampled. The result was my neck and head looking as lumpy as the Toxic Avenger.

So, what have I learned? To run this trail in the early morning! Somehow the noon day sun just brought them out in mass quantities! Also, I think running it in spring or late fall might be a better option.


Am I disappointed with Kettle Moraine? Hell no! It was my own decision to be there and it IS a forest after all. The trail was absolutely awesome and I'd love to run a marathon or ultra up there in the future. I just need to plan better.

The Answer? Maybe...

So, for the past 6 months (+/-), I've been fighting a nasty IBT/piriformis issue with marginal results in improvement. New shoes, foam roller, stretching, massage, yoga...you name it, I've been trying it, including reducing my running. Nothing has seemed to really remedy the issue. Frustrated, I looked back into my past before the issue flared up to see what has changed. Surprisingly, the answer may be that I put orthotics in my shoes. Originally, orthotics were recommended because I had a constant issue with ankle sprains and was told that I significantly overpronate. While the orthotics are supposed to help remedy such issues, it only works if the fit is correct. In my case, I've been experiencing discomfort since obtaining the orthotics, even after a refit. So, I decided to get back to where I originally started - no orthotics. Low and behold, I'm seeing a marked improvement in my ITB and piriformis. Do I think this is the solution? Maybe, maybe not. I'm not sold on the whole "barefoot runner" concept, but know that I ran on these legs for many years without stability shoes, orthotics, etc., so it makes some sense. Maybe I just need to keep getting refit until they work for me. Not sure, but the experiment is benefiting me at present. I'm finally able to increase my mileage and get training in for MCM and a few other Fall races, so I'm sticking with what works for now. Will re-evaluate things later this year.

Strong Survive

Saw this commercial recently on Vs. I believe it originally aired during the Tour de France. What an awesome message!



Game on, friends!

Focus on the here and now...

"Look to this day, for yesterday is but a dream and tomorrow only a vision. But today well lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness and every tomorrow a vision of hope." - Sanskrit

With all of the stresses of life, it's good to remember that we cannot change the past nor predict the future. The only thing we can affect is the moment in which we are currently living. If we follow this mindset, personal peace, happiness, and hope will be the result. This certainly rings true with me in dealing with my current piriformis/ITB issues. Concerns of family, work, the economy, etc. can be a mental weight that prevents me from stretching, icing, and doing all that is necessary to take care of myself. By letting go of that which I cannot immediately address, the mind is able to focus of that which is present. Taking care of yourself and living in the moment, in turn, opens the door to freely address the other issues of life as they move from the periphery to become front and center. One thing at a time, one day at a time...

Wish You Were Here...

The past 3 weeks have been hell. I went back home to visit my dad for what was anticipated to be a quick surgery to repair a collapsed lung and instead ended up at his funeral. Not that his health was great (emphysema, colon cancer), but you don't anticipate the end when the operating doctor seems optimistic. Thankfully, the surgery was scrubbed and we had a little time to be with him before he passed though he spent much of that time sedated on morphine. Cruelly, one of the best lessons I've learned from my father is to live the opposite of his lifestyle - eat well, exercise, sleep, and protect my overall health. He was a very kind and loving person who died too young and is greatly missed. I truly wish he was here.

Needless to say, I've been away from running during this time due to long days at the hospital and the subsequent family concerns. If there's a silver lining, maybe it's that I've given my legs a chance to recover so I don't cause undue damage to myself. In more ways than one, I now begin a time of rebuilding.

Just a little patience...

"Patience and fortitude conquer all things." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

The leg is slowly but surely doing better. Icing and stretching combined have begun to relax the ITB & piriformis allowing me to run again. I've been slowly building my weekly mileage back up and trying not to get over zealous (something I'm definitely not accustomed to).

This past Saturday, I joined in a group run with the Fox River Trail Runners and their fall marathon training group. Though I somewhat drop in & out of the group runs (due to weekend travel obligations), I really enjoy the people in the group and these runs. Running with others is a good way to regulate your pace which is exactly what I need right now. Saturday's run was at the Great Western Trail.
(Photo courtesy of: http://www.about-bicycles.com/great-western-trail/GreatWestern02l.jpg)
The Great Western is a rails to trails conversion from the former Chicago Great Western Railway and runs approximately 30 miles in total. It is a combination of dirt, crushed limestone, and asphalt lengths and is relatively flat. Although it parallels a highway, the trail is rural enough to let you escape the noise & traffic and be alone in your thoughts if you choose. We logged 12 miles and I only felt mild fatigue in the leg within the last 1/2 mile or so. Not too shabby. It's just a matter of time, moderation, & patience and things should start getting back closer to normal.

Thought of the Day

"Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever." - Mohandas Gandhi