Pud's path

Birmingham Stage Race Report- 2 Mountains, 2 Days, 33 miles (one mountain and a few miles short)

What a privilege to participate in the inaugural Birmingham Stage Race this weekend! Beautiful trails, fall weather, friends and teammates, limitless carb loading- I can’t imagine a better way to spend a weekend. I’ve been looking forward to this race for a while now, and it definitely did not disappoint!

Friday morning dawned cool and humid at the start of stage one. I was happy to see many familiar faces, including Phil and Michael, my fellow A/O teammates. We jogged some to warm up and chatted with everyone. The race vibe was super chill; it was really more like a community run. There were two guys dressed up as pirates (one of whom beat me! you shouldn’t judge a runner by their attire!). Ruffner Mountain never fails to humble me. Before the first mile went by, I was already re-thinking my grand plans of winning and even finishing as the unforgiving climbs left me gasping for air. Thankfully in this race, the longer I ran, the better I felt. I eventually settled into a rhythm (although there was definitely some hiking involved) and escaped the mountain unscathed. Hanging out after the race was awesome, as everyone lounged around the parking lot in the hot sun, eating pasta, drinking, and swapping stories. The rest of the day I enjoyed the accomplished feeling of an honest morning’s work.

When Saturday came, I was ready to do it again! Red Mountain is one of my favorite places to run, and the trails are much kinder than Ruffner in terms of elevation. However to my surprise, the Red Mountain stage left many runners eating dirt and nursing bloody knees (including me!). More of the team was there for this stage, including Alison, Kristina, Mary, John and Brett. I dressed up as Pocahontas, although I lost my feather somewhere during my journey through the forest (just around the river bend? haha). I ran with John and a guy dressed up as a devil, until John peaced out to show us who was boss! I struggled through the last couple of miles of single track, epically falling twice. However, I did beat the devil, and almost caught John, if that counts for anything! I saw Jillian, another teammate who came to cheer us on at the finish! We hung out for bit, but the temperature kept dropping and my leg was throbbing. After resolving the minor fiasco of me throwing my car key away, I went home to warm up and rest.

Later, I assessed the damage of my falls and discovered I strained my quad. Hoping for a miraculous recovery, I set my alarm for the race Sunday, but my quad would not have it. I have no doubt that the Oak Mountain stage was extremely memorable, and I am so sad I missed it! But hey, there’s always next year! Congrats to my teammates Michael (7th overall for the 3 days) and Brett (1st overall for the Saturday/Sunday stage), who were the only team members strong enough to “Show Up and Win” on the days that actually mattered! I have a lot more respect for stage races now, as few people are strong enough to keep it together and stay focused for three days of racing!

as some of you know, i've recently become *mostly* vegan and am generally trying not to eat processed foods. this afternoon i got a strong hunger for something sweet and filling, as dinner was hours away. plus, i just aced a test and felt like treating myself. here is the perfect simple treat that is actually super healthy! the perfect balance of fiber, carbs, and protein also make this a great snack to eat before a run.

-1/2 cup old fashioned oats

-1 heaping tablespoon of peanut butter

-1 tsp. cinnamon

-small handful of carob chips

-1/2 cup or so almond milk

When I should be studying, what more productive means of procrastination is there than blogging? The correct answer is- none! Ahh, if only I wrote the test questions!

Another great weekend has come and gone, leaving abundant happy memories and scraps of leftover takeout behind. Aunt Lori and Dad came in town to visit me this weekend, and we had a great time! Lori loves to be entertained when traveling and gave me strict orders to plan some new and exciting things to do when she visited. I took the directive as a personal challenge and planned and executed a perfect weekend in Birmingham. I’ll detail the happenings below in case you are ever in need of such an agenda.

Friday night, Dad, Lori, Whit and I dined at Brio to “carb load” for our race the next morning. Then, we took home cheesecake from the Cheesecake Factory and relished every decadent bite with coffee (more carb loading? haha). Saturday morning started off with a beautiful trail run/hike at Red Mountain Park. Dad won his age group in the race, I won the female division, and Lori filled her pockets with numerous free items from the race vendors. Next, we explored the Pepper Place farmers market, enjoying locally brewed coffee and delicious samples galore. After a scenic walk through Railroad park, we headed to downtown Homewood for a divine lunch at Urban Cookhouse and some shopping around the fine local retail establishments. We treated ourselves to an afternoon pick-me-up at Dreamcakes and Edgewood creamery (couldn’t decide which, so we had both!), then played Frisbee and napped in the warm sunshine at Homewood park. For dinner, we savored tasty pizza and brews at Slice, then drove to the Vulcan to see the panoramic city views at night. We finished the evening with steaming cups of hot tea, leftover cheesecake, and murder mystery tv shows at the hotel. Sunday morning we brunched at Over Easy, then my sweet family headed back to the swamp lands of Louisiana.

Yesterday I ran the Ruffner Crusher 21k trail race. Ruffner Mountain Park is a hidden gem in a sketchy neighborhood about ten minutes from downtown Birmingham. This really beautiful nature preserve is on the site of old iron ore mines and quarries. There was close to 5,000 feet of elevation change in the 21k course, so double that for the marathon! I couldn’t believe it when my friend Annie decided to do the 42k as her first marathon. What a bad ass! My goal going into this race was to finish, as painful memories from the Chicago marathon have lingered in my legs all week.

One of the things that I love about trail races is they draw all different types of people. If you look at the front lines of runners at a competitive 5k road race, most fit the typical runner stereotype - lean, toned, and clad in trendy neon running outfits.  But, with trail races, and in particular ultramarathons, great runners come in all shapes, sizes, and styles. For example, some noteworthy participants at this race were two high school girls with braided hair that wore matching goggles and spandex outfits. No one knew why they were wearing those peculiar goggles… maybe to avoid getting their eyes poked by sticks?! They were sisters, and their dad ran with them, whispering covert race strategies along the way. Anyway, these odd girls ended up winning the 42k. So, that just goes to show you that there’s nothing predictable about ultrarunning. I love that because it makes the sport accessible to everyone and keeps the competitors humble.

The course was a ton of fun, if you’re the kind of person who derives pleasure from experiencing pain. The seemingly never-ending climbs, loose rocky descents, and teasing out-and-back segments definitely kept it interesting. The first mile of the course was completely uphill, and then a steep descent in the second mile laid me out on the ground! Ouch! I managed a somewhat graceful roll from my fall, dusted myself off, and kept trucking. I ran with Phil for the first 4 miles, which proved crucial to my success in finishing this race. Phil is an excellent pacer, and I followed his lead, hiking most of the huge climbs. I picked it up after 5 miles, and finally my body started getting into a rhythm. The longer I ran, the better I felt, and I ended up passing several people in the last few miles. The Dave Matthews song “Crush” powered me through the low points (well that, and the fear of the goggle-eyed teens catching me!).

“I adore Chicago. It is the pulse of America.” - Sarah Bernhardt

I’ve been recovering the last couple of days from a whirlwind fall break full of adventures. Whitney and I road tripped up to Chicago to see the city, run the marathon, and visit a good friend of Whit’s from high school. Chi town has got it goin oooon! Let me just pass on three life-changing words to you: deep dish pizza. As Frank Sinatra said, Chicago is definitely my kind of town!

We stopped in Nashville on the drive up for pancakes at the famous Pancake Pantry. The sweet potato pancakes were delightful, but I guess I’m biased because I thought my pancakes were just as good (or maybe even better). The rest of the drive passed quickly, and we rolled into the city at rush hour listening to Lil Wayne with the windows down, breathing in the crisp fall air. And boy was it crisp! We had great cool temps the entire weekend, ranging from 35-55 degrees.

Staying with Whit’s friend Jesse was such a blast. Jesse and his boyfriend Brit were excellent hosts, treating us to the most delicious dinners at great local spots, touring us around the city in the comfort of their car, and always providing the best advice on what to do and see. They were some of the most enjoyable and kindest people I’ve met in a while, and our trip wouldn’t have been nearly as fun without them! On one of my favorite nights we spent with them, we ate the best Ethiopian food I’d ever tasted, then had frozen custard at the cutest ice cream shop ever, then drank hot tea and watched Whale Rider in their lovely apartment. Yes, we ate a LOT!

And of course, the marathon- where even to begin? I could detail the long list of things that went wrong, clearly pointing that this race was not meant to be (my lack of sleep, walking all over the city the day before, missing the train, riding in stranger’s cars to barely make it to the start on time). However, I had done ONE thing correctly- carb loading! The streets were packed with enthusiastic spectators the entire 26.2 miles. The energy from the crowds was so incredible that I was too absorbed in the moment to think about what I was doing. I just ran without any reservations, without any thought of consequences. Since I had started in wave 2 with the slower crowd (because I was using my friend JC’s number), I literally passed thousands of people during the race, which was a magnificent feeling. When I realized around mile 20 that I could break 3 hours, I was shocked at how good I felt and I picked up the pace. Whit was at the finish to congratulate me and laugh at my salt-crusted, victorious face. That whole day I was high on my accomplishment, and everything felt so surreal. My life had changed, but I still felt like the same person.

“There is new life in the soil for every man. There is healing in the trees for tired minds and for our overburdened spirits, there is strength in the hills, if only we will lift up our eyes. Remember that nature is your great restorer.” –Calvin Coolidge

Whenever the opportunity arises, I try to garner wisdom from more experienced runners. I love listening to their stories about training, racing, and life because they have done things I hope to accomplish one day. This weekend I was listening to a talented ultrarunner talk about some of her running experiences, particularly a 100 mile race she attempted but could not complete. After going into great detail about the unpleasant medical ailments that hampered her from finishing, she said something very simple but profound. She said, “Everyone who runs these crazy races has a story. No normal person just wakes up one day and decides to run an ultramarathon.”  

Since then, I have been thinking about what my ultra story is and the reasons why I keep running day after day. I haven’t pinned down a straight answer because there are so many factors that go into my desire to run farther than most people would ever dream. Some of these reasons include- because no one ever told me I couldn’t; to show gratitude for the people who inspire and believe in me; to do crazy shit for my brother who no longer can; for the sense of self satisfaction and accomplishment; to release the hurt in my past and stress in my present life; to lose myself and become part of something greater; to explore my body’s limits; to obtain that complete zen state when I melt into the trail and begin to fly.

What an epic weekend!

The 40th annual Birmingham Greek food festival furnished our city with good times again on Friday night. This was the fourth consecutive year I attended this fine festival with my dear friends Whitney and Jordan R. Great memories always abound, including one of the highlights of our freshmen year- dancing on-stage with swarthy young Greek men, unknowingly during their choreographed routine! Whoops, or...OPA! The chocolate baklava is always the show-stopper of the event, although the gyros, wine and music are all worthy of the gods as well.

Saturday morning I ran a 10k trail race on the rugged Pinhoti trail at Mount Cheaha, the highest point in Alabama. Whitney graced me with her presence despite our early departure time, perfectly playing the role of "race mom" by providing hot coffee in thermoses for the trip. It was a beautiful drive up to the Talledega National forest. While I was enamored with the views, Whitney found her own entertainment with the variations of pronunciation that one can use while saying this word: "Cheaha. Cheeeaha. Cheahaaa. CheaHA. Cheahaw. CHEAHA!" We met up with my friend and teammate Phil at the race, and Whitney had the opportunity to visit with some other interesting characters while I ran. I could still feel some fatigue in my legs from the ultra last weekend, but I just adjusted my pace up the steep climbs (aka added some hiking breaks) and I managed to get second place. On the way home, we feasted at the Barrel of Crack, throwing back coffee and lumberjack sized breakfasts like we hadn't eaten in days.

Saturday evening I had the opportunity to cheer on Whitney in her first 5k road race, a total role reversal! This time I carried the bag and jogged the course, yelling out meaningful messages of inspiration to the road runners. Whit's special  message was: "The pain of quitting on yourself lasts longer than the pain of pushing on!" I had WAY too much fun cheering, experiencing more of a runners high than after my own race that morning! Seeing other people stretch themselves and reach their goals was truly amazing. It was also an excellent moment for the Trailblazers, the school running club I started, as we captured a group picture with our school president, sweet Andy!

“I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.” –Thoreau

Here's a little something I wrote to commemorate the great times I had last weekend at the Autumn Equinox Ultra. This was my first ultra marathon, consisting of 32 miles of pure trail bliss at Oak Mountain State Park. It was a small, but outstanding event! I definitely had the most fun I’ve had at a race in a long time.

Upon my arrival, I recognized a few familiar faces- Annie, my good friend from school; Phil, my friend from Alabama Outdoors; some other people who regularly attend the group runs at Red Mountain. The weather was an ideal 53 degrees, and the sun was beginning to think about rising.

6 months after first getting the itch to run an ultra, my time had finally come. The only word I can think of to appropriately describe my emotions is…STOKED! We took off at 6:30am for our first loop of the red trail. I tried starting conservatively, but quickly made my way to the front of the pack, following Phil and John. What a great decision! These guys kept the conversation interesting and fun for the entire first 16 miles, plus they are just stellar people. I was rolling, feeling great, and having a blast, laughing all the way. I stopped looking at my watch and just went with how I was feeling. I knew my death would be certain on the second loop since I had no experience with this distance or pace, but I reassured myself that running with John and Phil was totally worth it.

We came through the halfway point and took a quick break to refuel and chat with the race volunteers. I was soon ready to get back on the trail, so I took off, knowing Phil and John would quickly catch me. For a few miles, I was actually leading the race! It was kind of surreal, and I tried to dampen my excitement by reminding myself that the pain was coming. I saw the 16 milers heading toward their finish, and I was truly inspired by their encouragement and positive spirits.

Well, the pain never came. John passed me somewhere around mile 20, and for the rest of the race I ran solo. I just ran what I was feeling, and I was feeling grand. I don’t even know what I was thinking about, I was just enjoying the beauty of nature, singing some songs in my head, and I became one with the trail (as crazy as that sounds!). After I made it up the three mile long “climb of death” (as my friend Kelsie calls it….she is obviously from Louisiana, too), I knew I would finish. From there it was basically all downhill and I just enjoyed the feeling of flying over rocks, flowing down the mountain, making forward motion.

I am Pud.

My quirky grandfather, who we call "Chief", gave my brother and I the nicknames "Pee" and "Pud" respectively, at birth. He is obviously quite fond of nicknames. Chase shook his sometime during our childhood (granted, his was more embarassing than mine), but somehow my identity as Pud has persisted to this very day. So, as I pondered the perfect name for my blog, Pud was the only name that felt right.

So here it is! What all my fans (all four of you, you know who you are :) have been waiting for! A blog filled with my thoughts, travels, races, recipes and everything in-between. I am convinced that none of my thoughts or experiences are completely unique, but I am committed to sharing my story in hopes to connect with, support, and possibly even inspire others.