JUST ADDED: Runner Bios!

Which one of us has already completed four 50-milers (hint: he likes green hoodies)?

Who ended up in the "I need help because I'm pathetic tent" after a marathon on his birthday?

Who served in the Peace Corps and plans to run the Boston Marathon for at least ten consecutive years?

Find out by reading our bios: Craig, Dave and Andrew.

How did I get to JFK?

I first learned of the JFK 50 Mile race in 2000 while on a headhunt for someone to speak to a group of young leaders about global warming. One afternoon at a book store downtown I picked up a book called God’s Last Offer: Negotiating for a Sustainable Future, by Ed Ayres who was the editorial director at the Worldwatch Institute. The short biography of Ayres mentioned how he was the only person to ever win both the New York City Marathon and the JFK 50 Mile Ultra-marathon. Wow! I had found my man.

I bought the book, read it and Mr. Ayres graciously accepted my invitation to help educate our students. Since then, Ayres has become a personal hero. He’s a guy whose life was devoted to the study and reporting of environmental sustainability issues and he could chew-up huge mileage in a pair of running shoes. Since my first interactions with him in 2000, I seem to have modeled my life after his – running these ridiculous ultra marathons starting in 2003 and then joining up with NWF.

A few years ago Ed retired from Worldwatch and moved to California, but his running seems to continue on track. I hope to see him in November because he is registered to run the JFK again this year.

AP

A Good Reason to Get Up Early and Run

On Sunday, September 24, our planned long run was threatened by weather. A strong cold front pushing in from the west had dropped tornados and torn up towns throughout the midwest. In addition to some anticipated soreness during and after such a run, we'd likely encounter heavy rain, winds, and maybe thunder and lightning. Instead, we ran in high humidity as the front neared and by 7 AM and a quick break at around 4.5 miles, we were treated to a double rainbow and the beauty of the landscape around us.

By 1 PM that day, long after we were back from our run, the winds and clouds combined to give my wife Jean and me and visiting friends our best back porch hawk-watching since the day after 09/11, five years ago. Tree swallows, gone from our certified Backyard Habitat for over three weeks, returned as late passers-through from Canada or perhaps Maine and briefly joined 6 broad-winged hawks headed to Argentina.

Attack Duck at Former Mosby Hide Out

This past Sunday's 23 mile training run looped Dave and me through history repeatedly; newly discovered native American encampments along Newlin Mill Rd; the village of Unison, a one time Quaker community now threatened by Loudoun County's rampaging development; three passes in front of the historic mansion of the Wellbourne estate.Wellbourne Inn—see photo-- and hundreds of acres that surround it-- is a beautiful, early 19th century estate owned continuously by the same family and now operated as a b&b. During the Civil War, John Mosby and his troops often checked into Wellbourne for supplies. The Dulany family's Swiss tutor apparently passed on supplies needed by the Gray Ghost and his Rangers. For just of hint of what life was like here 150 years ago, click here.

Passing by especially at dawn or dusk heightens my curiosity and it becomes easier in those hours when the sun isn’t illuminating every to starkly to think back to those war years and envision who may have been hiding behind the next stone wall or cluster of trees. My experiences to date here have been encounters with wild turkeys and deer. No Gray Ghost. No Rangers.
During the Civil War, the Dulany family likely had their guard up and may not have been appreciative of Yankees running back and forth in front of the estate. They probably would have dismissed us as crazy. But maybe we are.

I would caution you not to attempt to fraternize with the guard ducks that protect the entry to Wellbourne. I almost lost a finger!

If You Think A 50 Mile Run Is Crazy...

Take a look at these other ultramarathons:

Badwater 135 - This is a 135 mile race in Death Valley - during the heat of the summer!
Western States 100 - A 100 mile race with over 38,000 feet of inclines and declines.
Massanutten Mountain 100 - This race is virtually run on rocks and boulders for most of the 100 miles!

Break a Leg, Craig!

Photo: Anne Senft and her husband, Tom Malloy

"The greatest oak was once a little nut who held its ground."

~Author Unknown

Milestone: $5,000

A special thanks to everyone who has donated thus far. In less than a week, you have already raised over $5,000 with 23% employee participation.

What a great start!

Out at Dawn for 23 Miles

Sunday morning, September 24 dawned, eventually, BUT Determined Dave and Crazy Craig beat the sun and hit the roads of western Loudoun County, Virginia near Crazy Craig's lair.

After a send-off clarion from the local barred owls, we hit the gravel roads at about 0615 hours.

I'll blog much more about this run in subsequent entries but for starters, see if you can tell which one is Dave and which one is the oak tree.

Hint: Oaks often have squirrels living in them.

During this run, the dynamic duo traversed St. Louis, Unison, and Willisville. Can you find them on your Virginia map?

Fueling on the Run.....

The team's shorter training runs of 5-10 miles around NWF Headquarters and often over lunch mean fueling and hydrating-- two key runner's concerns-- before heading out and if you can, grabbing some goodies along the trail. Don't try the mushrooms though.

Longer runs and races of 4-12 hours require carrying potent fuel like those sticky wonders known as gels and goos, beef jerky, drinkable foods like Ensure or Perpetuem, and even more important, having your crew or race volunteers offer you donuts, M&Ms, sandwiches, salted potatoes and lots of other real food at a support station.

On the right, Andrew demonstrates the unique "run, jump and snap" method of procuring fuel on the trail. He was able to consume 30 of large fox grapes, the wild ancestor of our Concord grapes, before disappearing into the wilds of Reston and soon experiencing significant stomach cramping.


Maybe GU isn't a bad way to keep energized!

Green Hour in New York

Dave ran the six mile loop in Central Park. It is a wonderful park with over 26,000 trees, covering 152 species within the deciduous and coniferous classes of trees. And for those with children - 21 different playgrounds!