I did a progression run this morning for a little over 4 miles before daybreak. It got chilly again down here, 38.

QOTD:

Running: It is hard to say. I think finishing my first 100 mile run was great, but I was pissed off when I crossed the line. I think finishing Pinhoti was my best running moment because I was able to stick to my plan and finished very comfortably after totally blowing in previously. I wouldn't say it was easy to finish, but it was very efficient and pleasant the whole time. At least, that is how I remember it. Oh, and pacing Kelly to his first 100 mile win was pretty awesome. I'll never forget that day.

Non-running: I don't know. I have so many "greatest" things that have happened that fall into so many different categories that I can't put my finger on one greatest moment. All three of my girls are very special. And my wife is a greatest thing. Calling up turkeys is something that really gets me fired up, too.

Going to head off to bed for a few hours and hopefully get in a nice 5-6 mile run this afternoon before work. Depends on how cold and windy it is. As always it's the wind that I hate and not the cold. If it's blowing in the teens I'll probably pass and jog on my junky TM. For some reason I hate running on this thing, it just feels so, well, hard .  It's just a cheap one that I picked up for a few bucks and is really only designed for walking.

Speaking of TMs. The last time I was to the gym, before yesterday, I ran on their newest one. I was doing intervals at up to 9 mph. That's fast for me and I probably could have done more.  Yesterday I was on a machine that I've run on a lot and is only about 3-4 years old. I wsn't feeling the best but I didn't go over 7.5 mph. Any faster and I was asking to vomit.  Going by my perceived effort and HRM that was consistent with my road speeds right now.   Somehow I think the new Cybex machine is not calibrated quite right.  Maybe I should take advantage of that and set some speed PRs .

QOTD:  Best running moment???   Well maybe my first race at Rothrock. I put in a decent time, was spent at the end but felt good. Since then I don't know that I've been totally happy with any race and while I've enjoyed a lot of good non-race runs nothing stands out.  So......lets talk biking.

1st best moment in biking was topping out Mt Washington back in '09 during Newton's Revenge.  That was pretty cool because I was so spent I could barely walk down the steps to the parking lot.  2nd best was in '12 at the race up Mt Evans in CO. It wasn't so much the ride up because the elevation kicked my butt. But that left my legs with a lot of energy for the 28 mile downhill ride.  From 10000' and down I was hanging with some of the really fast guys.  Nothing like carving the curves on a descent of that length.

Non-running?   I'll go with the first time I took DS deer hunting and he came home with a really nice buck. That was really special because he made a great shot and I made a even greater shot on a doe and we shot simultaneously. My buddy who heard it though it was only one shot.   While not just a moment as it was strung out over 5 weeks, was out 2003 trip to Alaska. All four of us in the pickup that I was going to try to restore.  On the road together for FIVE  weeks. We all returned alive, happy and ready to do it again .  Almost 14 years ago and now I'm helping a buddy plan his trip and kind of realizing that I may never get back up there, at least not by driving.

10.7 miles yesterday on my Horseshoe/rail trail loop.

QOTD Favorite running would be crossing the finish line of first 5k race I did. The longest I ran before that was 2 miles so the fear of failure was looming!

I would say the usual, sons birth, getting married and buying a house. The best of the best would be my son graduating high school. He had some tough times academically (he has ADD and struggled with some things and we would have epic battles trying to get homework done)  and he ended up doing great!  He is a volunteer firefighter and got his CDL driver license while still in school. He had a job driving a concrete truck lined up as soon as he graduated!

I ended up not running after work yesterday, traffic going home was a bitch and I didn't feel like it when I finally got there.

I got up early this morning and did 5 pre-dawn miles.  40 deg and really nice.

qotd running: there are many, but the one that always stands out is while I running Western States.  I was going down the first canyon right after Last Chance, about mile 43 or 44.  Six months earlier I had gone to California to be there when my Mom died, she had been failing and we knew I should get out there quickly even though I'd been there only a few months before, while just the two of us were there I told her all about WS and that I'd be back to do it later that summer.  Not sure she could hear me but her breathing would grow smooth and peaceful when I spoke, she passed a day or so later.  Months later while I was cruising down that canyon, I was by myself and it just seemed so peaceful as well.  She just popped into my head, and I just said out "see Mom, told ya I'd be back", my eyes filled up and I could barely see the trail, but I also felt this sense of effortless floating and peace.  I can't really explain it, but it just felt like I was in the exact right place.

qotd non-running:  also too many, but yeah I'd have to say getting married and the births of our DS and DD.  I also have this distinct vision of my DW smiling through her tears when our DS was driving off to college for the first time - I'll never forget it.

I think one of the most awesome things about running 100 miles for me is that they really just strip me raw on every level. I think we need that. It makes us better people. I don't know if you can get that at any other distance.

I agree Burke.  It also usually happens when you are out there alone, in some very remote place, and on the edge (mentally that is, not always literally).