Friday, December 13, 2013

A few pics




I enjoy having something to show after a run other than the readout from my Garmin. I'm always excited after a long run to see how some of the pics turned out. Its great having little mementos to keep in order to remember the good times out on the trails. Above are a few recent pics.

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Explore, within reason



We all know that trail runners love to explore. Mountains, fields, dirt roads, forests. Those are the pictures captured on every trail running product, because that’s the heart of trail running. 

Sometimes, however, when I decide to explore a new route, or a new junction on my normal route that goes off into the unknown, I wonder if I am alone in the following though process: ‘What if this trail ends just up ahead, and I don’t achieve the distance I planned to? Then I will have to go back, find another trail to make up the distance, and run a route that isn’t neat!’ 

Heaven forbid we should run a route that isn’t a simple out and back, or circular route. Nothing ruins a run more than running little bits and pieces simply to achieve the distance you set out for. 
That’s probably why I find such comfort in my well known Saturday morning route! 

Are runners OCD, or is it just me? 


Monday, September 30, 2013

UROC

UROC (Ultra Race of Champions) took place this last Saturday.
What interests me about international trail running is that there really isn't a 'World Cup' type of event, that everyone aims for to see who is best (sure, there is an event called the World Cup, but hardly any of the main sponsored athletes attend it). This was the Ultra Sky running final, but by no means was it a true representation of who is best in the world. Somehow, I really feel like this is a good thing.


Cameron Clayton at mile 18- Pic: Travis Trampe


Firstly, the reason I say it wasn't a true representation is that many of the big names were not able to run UROC due to injury. Many of the big names didn't make it to the race due to their focus being on other events on the calendar. Notably Tony Krupicka, Tim Olsen, Miguel Heras, Ryan Sandes, and a few other big names weren't running due to injury or other race focus.

Trail running is so dynamic, with so many different disciplines, that there really is no way to put your finger on who is best, and I think that really keeps things exciting. I also feel like that represents the challenge of trail running on a more personal level: You may train hard with extreme focus on a specific type of race, only to find that the training doesn't necessarily carry over into a different discipline, and as such there is no way to ever really conquer it. You may train for a short mountain race, only to find that you simply can't keep up on a long flat course, or visa-versa. You may train for a hot race, and find that even with all that training under your belt, you just can't handle a cold course.

UROC showed that despite our best predictions of who is the best in the world, everything can change on race day. When the runners line up on the start line, we can guess all we like, but no one will know until the finish line is crossed who will be the best.


Kilian and Dakota- Photo: Rob Timko


I find this inspiring and challenging. Even the best of the best who contended at UROC will never be able to stand back and say that they are unbeatable. That inspires me in my own running to know that the real battle, the real challenge and the real race is just me against myself. The people who I might race against are really just there to join me in the journey.

(Photos taken from irunfar.com)


Wednesday, September 11, 2013

There's joy after a fall

There's a wonderful trend I have noticed among trail runners. The fall from success to failure always seems to bounce back into rediscovery of the core joy. What I mean is, when a trail runner doesn't hit what they are aiming for, it seems that nine times out of ten, the result is that the failure leads them to discover the real reason they run.

This year seems to have been a tough one for a lot of the international athletes in the trail world. News of injury, sickness, and even mountain rescues have been on the blogs of the top athletes. Each story of failure is followed up by a story of rediscovery. I think this pattern is inspiring and shed's some light on the heart of the trail.


A great pic from the Trans-alps run last week. This captures something of the heart of the trail for me, although I bet their legs might not agree with that, 3 or 4 days in!


Last weekend Kilian Journet was rescued from a mountain with his climbing group after their climb didn't go as planned, and his main comment was along the lines of 'well, sometimes the mountain reminds you that it is stronger.' Anna Frost from Salomon international is taking a break to remind herself of her desire for the trail. Anton Krupicka had a DNF in the UTMB a few weeks ago, and still comments that it was one of the best trail experiences he has had. Ryan Sandes spent a weekend in the mountains not running according to a program but just having fun trying to get the passion back. 

Every one of these athletes have done two important things in their failures (I use the word failure simply to express how they missed their original goal. The overall result, however, is far from failure and is quite the opposite): They have firstly acknowledged their disappointment in missing their goal. Secondly, they have taken a step back from the pressure of performance in order to find their heart once again on the trail.

The example they set can be used for the day to day runner as well. There are ups and downs in running. Sickness, injury, fatigue, lack of enjoyment. These things are going to happen, even in the course of training for a big race we will have such ups and downs. 

When we are down, it's time to remember why we run. 

It's time to forget our weekly mileage and our shortcomings. 

It's time to remember the joy of the trail, of being alone with our heartbeat and our steps on the dirt. 

Only then will we find our legs feeling lighter and our run feeling stronger.


Wednesday, September 4, 2013

The first gear review of many, or, do the French always drink like this?

When you are out on the trail, gear is important. It's vital to be comfortable, light and agile in your kit, as well as having the means to take into the back country the necessary items. Despite being a gear-head, I also love feeling light and free, and I always marvel at how freeing it is to go for a run in just a pair of light shorts and running shoes. I believe there is an important balance between minimal running and being prepared.

That's probably one of the reasons I love Salomon gear so much, particularly the S-lab range, because a lot of time and effort has gone into this exact challenge: keeping it lightweight, but also being able to carry enough for the demands of a long trail.

I've been hoping to review some gear for a while, and thought I'd start with the Advanced Skin S-lab Belt. 



Thankfully someone has designed a running belt that isn't big and chunky and uncomfortable! When I first saw the soft flasks and felt how light and practical they were, it made me wonder why I have been using hard plastic water bottles! It just makes Sense (excuse the cheesy Salomon pun).

The S-lab Belt is really lightweight, and fits snug and tight around the runners waist. The first time I put it on I was confused and didn't know which way the belt was supposed to be worn. I have since learnt that the idea is for the two soft flask holders to be in front, and the two zip pockets at the back. I find that it is also just as comfortable wearing it the other way around, but slightly harder to access the water. Also, people might think you are 'challenged' for wearing it backwards. I used to wear those 90's fanny packs on my side, convincing myself I would set a new trend. Today, no one uses fanny packs. Moral of the story: wear you S-lab belt the right way around.

The belt works nicely with either one or two of the 250ml (237ml actually) soft flasks. For a medium length run, 500ml total is really enough, without having to take too much weight. The soft flasks fit in very comfortably and have a small elastic to secure them in. The back zip pockets are great for keys, cell phones, or other small supplies. I find that if I just use one soft flask, an iPod fits perfectly in the other front pocket, and i can easily whip it out while running to change tunes along with my fussy music moods.

I do have one complaint about the belt. The two securing clips really do clip in nicely, however, the plastic slide to adjust the tension tends to allow the webbing to slip very easily. This can be frustrating when the belt tension keeps changing while running. On some runs I have resorted to simply putting a knot in the webbing to stop this slip. I have yet to try re-threading the webbing like a rock climbing harness. I suspect this will work, in which case my only negative aspect of this product will be irrelevant.

All in all, this is the best solution i have found to hydration and gear storage for short to medium runs. The belt is very comfortable, and with no hard edges due to the soft flasks, it really deserves it's 'Skin' name, as it fits so snugly. I am hopeful the designers will fix that one issue, which will give this belt 11 out of 13 ice cream cones on my own personal rating system, the '1 to 13 ice cream cone scale for hydration belts.'

It seems relevant here to talk about the Sense Hydro S-lab set. Or, you may know them as 'those weird glove things some people run about with.' 
I first saw these used by a Salomon athlete in the Western States a few years ago and was eager to try them out. When I saw some at an REI store, I grabbed them and told my wife I needed them.



As it turns out, they are another out-of-the-box thinking kind of product by the S-lab folk. Essentially, instead of wearing a bottle on your hand, like with normal bottle carry systems, you wear a glove-type hand cover, and a soft flask tucks into that. It is very comfortable, and while I tend to enjoy having my hands free, I hardly notice that I am carrying water when I wear these. You don't have to even try close your hand to keep hold of the flask, it just sits comfortably in your palm, waiting to be consumed. And maybe that is the main problem: having water so accessible makes me want to drink ALL the time. So, the main downside for this product is that it makes water too easy to drink. Next  I will be saying they make shoes too comfortable...

Wait, I do have one more downside. The fact that the soft flask sits in your palm tends to warm the water up pretty quickly in warm weather. In fact, I calculated that during my regular run, if I stick to my personal rule of 'no water before the halfway point, or 5km, whichever is first,' the the water was normally warm by the time I indulged. 

Despite this, H20 is still H20, and I was still hydrated by it, and thus I will have to give this product 5 out of 6 chocolate eggs on the '1 to 6 chocolate egg rating scale for carry bottle systems.' There is of course a rating scale for everything.

Well done Salomon. I obsess about your products for a reason. They capture what trail running is. Light, fast and free, while at the same time practical. 
And awesome, of course.

Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Waterfall running

Something about finding a waterfall on a run makes it seem more epic. I enjoyed this photo taken by my wife while we were out on a trail in Wilderness, South Africa. Great place for some forest trail running!


Tuesday, August 27, 2013

The Man. The Mission. The Gear to get him there.


Most SA runners, and many international runners, have heard of Ryan Sandes. As part of this blog I hope to profile some the top athletes in the trail running world. What better place to start than with Ryan Sandes. In this interview I ask him some questions I’ve been wondering for a long time, about his goals, motives, main competition, and of course, gear! Here are the answers!

Kolesky/Nikon/Lexar
Quick Profile: Ryan Sandes
-Age: 31
-Height: 178cm
-Weight: 66-69kg
-Years as professional: 2009-present
-Sponsor: Salomon, Red Bull, Velocity, Oakley
-Career highlight: Winning an ultra on every continent
-Min/Med/Maximilist runner (gear): Medium
-Current/best shoe: Salomon S-Lab 6 Custom
-What makes him cool: Stumbled upon his talent and has become a national icon for South Africa


Races:

We have seen you now in various trail running disciplines, from multi-day to single-day ultras. What type of race do you feel is your true strength ?

I really enjoyed every experience I have done. For now I feel like I am done with the multi-stage thing, and want to focus more on 100k to 100mi sort of races, where the competition is more fierce.

With the exception of Lion Heart last year, we haven’t seen you in shorter intense races like the vertical kilometre or Skyrunning. Any chance that kind of race is on your radar screen? Possibly a Skyrunning series one year?

Like I said, at this stage, my main focus is on some of the bigger, famous 100 mile sort of events. I wouldn’t mind trying the Skyrunning series, but to be honest I am more attracted to the warmer, longer races. The European cold, wet races are not too appealing to me at the moment. I’ve done lots of shorter distances here at home in South Africa, but Internationally I am sticking to the longer ones for now.

You had the couple year focus on Racing the Planet. Any plans to explore those again?

For now, no, but in future I wouldn’t mind looking into a Trans-alps or something.

You tend to pick a few races and focus on them, whereas some athletes seem to race every couple of weeks. Does that have to do with where you live, or your preference, or what?

Some guys, like Kilian, who is currently racing slightly shorter distances, are running a lot of races. They run some races as build-ups to others. I think that takes a lot of discipline, to hold back and run a race as a training run. I prefer, with my longer races, to focus on them and make sure I reach the start line in the best shape. I might look at entering a few shorter (50Mile) races as build-ups, but not specifically at this stage.


                                     Leadville 2013. Photo: Ricky Gates


Gear

I noticed that in Leadville it looked like you used pretty simple gear: No Exo shorts or shirt, and just all in all a pretty basic setup. What was the motivating factor for this, and how has your gear choice changed in the last year?

Yeah, I tend to enjoy a more natural clothing choice. I just ran with the new Sense shorts, and a normal T-shirt. I do use the EXO, but mainly in training. It’s just a personal choice, in terms of comfort and style. I do enjoy the Twin Skins and EXO shorts, but with Leadville I just kept it comfortable and simple. A lot of the European guys enjoy the compression gear, especially the Germans.

It looked like you had the new AVD S-lab skin pack on. Is that the one without the built in bladder? How did it feel?

Correct. You can put a bladder in it, but it's made more for holding the soft flasks in the front pockets. It is great, and even an improvement on their last model. This one has pockets that are a bit more accessible, and you can refill the soft flasks a little quicker at aid stations.

You tend to go with standard S-lab shoes instead of the Sense. What’s the reasoning in your shoe choice?

I do use the Sense, but normally for shorter runs. I feel for the long runs I need a bit more cushioning than the Sense has. So I use the S-lab, which is custom made for my foot.

How many shoes are in your rotation during a normal sort of training month?

Maybe not in a month specifically, but I probably have about 15-20 shoes that I use. I vary the model from time to time, but try to do my serious runs in the model that I race in. I do some runs in the Mantra, which is a very cool shoe as well.

Any talk of new gadgets coming soon from the S-Lab?

(Sighing and thinking) Err, they may shoot me if I reveal secrets! But they do have some great new shoes coming out: Some shoes that are designed for City Trail running (http://salomoncitytrail.co.uk/city-trail.html).

I’ve noticed that the calf sleeves were a bit of a craze. Why do we not see many people running in those anymore?

They are not used so much, although I do still use mine from time to time. I think they are used more for recovery, which they are really great for, along with the knee-high recovery-style compression gear.



                        Leadville 2013 Photo: Ricky Gates


Your Inspiration

Which guys on the international trail circuit worry you the most?

There really are so many competitors out there. When I was running with Scott Jurek a few weeks ago, he was talking about how when he ran many years ago on the Ultra trail scene it was a little different, with limited races and only certain distances. There has always been lots of competition, but in those days the distances and variation were limited. Over the last years it's become very competitive over all distances. If I singled someone out I would have to say Timmy Olsen, as he is the main challenge on the course that I am currently focused on, The Western States.

Kilian obviously stands out in the elite as someone who almost seems on another level. How do the guys in the Salomon team view him? I mean, is it accepted that when running with him you are all fighting for second place?

Not really. The vibe is always very friendly. But there is never the feeling that we are lining-up to compete for second. Running with him pushes others to just race harder. But he is a great athlete, and the things he has achieved and done are really amazing.

Training as much as you do, at any point has running become like a job for you, or are you still motivated by the sheer joy of it?

I am still motivated by joy. You go through tough times, like this year and recently with the injuries, but I still love it. The opportunity it has given me to travel and see things has also been incredible. So I wouldn’t change it for the world.

If you could only choose one album to listen to for a 100mile race, what would it be?

One Album? Well, on the Fish River run I only had about 18 songs. I listen to such a variety. I would have to say something like The Kooks, maybe.

When are we going to get to see Wandering Fever, and how will we be able to see it?

Definitely that is in the pipeline. The guys are working on a screening of it very soon, and then its into a process with the Sundance Film Festival. Depending on what happens there will determine what happens to the documentary. We will probably be looking at sometime around March next year for that, obviously depending on the process at the various festivals. We are hoping it will be good, as it has a bit of a story line to it as well as being a documentary. When that is released, it will possibly be screened at certain places, or available online. All of this really depends on what happens to it at the festivals.

You’ve had only about a week or so to think, but any chance you have decided on the next race?

Well, I am running again, after a couple visits to the chiropracter. It turns out that due to a fall I suffered about 10 days before Leadville, a couple of my discs were compressed and one of my legs was about 2cm shorter than the other! But I am getting out a bit, and went for a run on the weekend, so hopefully able to aim for some races soon.
Before the injury I was considering UROC, but that plan has changed. I have a few ideas, and we will see how it goes. Maybe a race in Hong Kong later in the year. Next year my focus is on Western States. I also have plans for a record in the Drakensburg Mountains. So lots of ideas and plans in the pipeline!


Training in light, basic gear.


Note from Caching Runner: The three main focus points of this blog are to profile top international runners, keep focus on the joy and heart of running, and to get down to the nitty gritty of gear! Ryan helps to cover all these bases, and is a great inspiration. A big thank-you from me for his time, and passion for the sport.


Saturday, August 24, 2013

The Legend of Kilian

After setting a new record up the Matterhorn this week, as part of his 'Summits of My Life' project, Kilian finished off by winning the Sky Running Ultra World Cup. Just another week for the legend.


I run because I want to


I have this 10km route that is flat, peaceful, beautiful and relaxing. It’s the route I lose myself on. My mind drifts to far places. Sometimes I get to the end and think, ‘Oh, ok, I guess I am done.’ Today, as I found my comfortable, relaxing pace, my mind again started to wander. I started to think about why I do what I do. What is my motivation for running?
Pondering in rhythm with my feet crunching the gravel, I realised a simple fact about my running heroes, people like Scott Jurek, Kilian Journet, Ryan Sandes: They run to run.
Yep. They run to run. In other words, they don’t run because they want to lose weight. They don’t run so that they can escape the office. They don’t run so that they can win races. They run, because of running.

Two of the three athletes I mentioned above have books out. What strikes me about the way these guys describe running is how vital it is to their existence. Read the first page of Kilian’s book ‘Run or Die,’ and you will be out of breath, gasping, desperate for this guy not to stop running, because if he does it seems like he would die on the inside. Scott Jurek, in his book ‘Eat and Run,’ gives such a passionate, holistic account of how he moved up in the ultra marathoning world, that the reader is left with the deep realisation that everything is his life works together to make him an incredible athlete. The title is no less dramatic than Kilian’s. Scott explains how running is just as vital to him as eating.
Passing the halfway point on my own run, I took a gulp of water, and shifted my thoughts away from my heroes to what motivates us to run. For many of us it’s a goal. To lose weight. To increase fitness. To run a PB. These are not bad things, of course, but if we really sit back, we will realise that we run to...(insert your goal on the dotted line).

The heroes of the sport are motivated by something that goes much deeper. Their need to run is deeply ingrained in them. It’s not a chore. It’s not something else on their daily to-do list. Running brings them freedom.

There are stories of Kilian, many hours into a gruelling race, where everyone else has their heads down, desperately putting one foot in front of the other, and he runs along, gazelle-like, brushing the passing grass with his hands and lifting it to his nose to smell, lost in the freedom and joy of the experience. Another story tells of how he stopped mid-race, to wait for his friends to catch up so he could enjoy the sunset with them. He runs because he is in love with what running brings. Freedom. Joy. Peace. Life. This motive, I believe, is what allows him to get stronger as the K’s pass by, while everyone else becomes weaker.

What this challenges me to do is to re-evaluate why I run. It challenges me to put my watch away, to forget my times, to forget what day I am supposed to do speed work, or hill training, and to find the reason I run. I truly believe that if we search our motives, and if we run for the sheer love of running, we will be surprised by how much fun we have, and surprised at how much better we perform.


The surface under my feet changed from gravel to tarmac, reminding me I was almost home. I think tomorrow my watch will stay in the drawer.


Friday, August 23, 2013

Thoughts about Leadville 2013

All week I have wanted to write about Leadville. It all happened last weekend, and some thoughts have been turning over in my head since the race. Lots of interesting things happened, and I have some comments about people, attitudes, and gear.
Firstly, the people.
 My wife and I had our eyes mainly on two people for the win. I was hoping Ryan Sandes would repeat his 2011 win, and being a big Salomon guy and South African, my hopes were on him. My wife, being a Brooks wearer and American, was hoping for Scott Jurek to bag the victory. Both of us were wrong, but not at all let down by our running heros.
Following on FB, we were both sad to hear Ryan pulling out at the halfway point. I’ll admit that part of me thought ‘why doesn’t he just finish the race, even if he is nowhere near the front?’ But then I heard the logic behind it and it all made sense. In the Olympics, athletes are encouraged to give their all, and dropping out is frowned upon as being unsportsmanlike. Most of those races, however, are short and sweet, and the same logic cannot be applied to a 1500 meter race and a 100 mile race. Had Ryan run on and tried to push though, he would certainly have done lasting damage to his back and hip. The conclusion to this is that a 100 mile race is an entirely different animal, and ‘just finishing’ is not always the healthiest thing to do.
We have to respect someone who has trained so hard, had a rough year with injury, and still gives of their all, to the point that injury is inevitable. So, our respect for Ryan remains intact, and we wish him well for whatever he sets his sights on next.


And then there is Scott. We were hoping the veteran would be able to show us how it’s done. He did a great job of holding on and putting in a good race, unfortunately not managing to catch the leaders in the last half. But there is something about Scott that makes a great sports hero. In an age where so many sports have athletes guilty of doping and cheating, and where the person with the best technology and gear has an advantage, we have Scott who seems to have run most of the race just in his shorts and shoes, fueled by vegetables and burritos! Not only that, but Scott is known for staying at the finish line to welcome in the runners who finish later. Once again, despite his lack of a race win, we were not disappointed in the runner.


The Leadville race demonstrates so many things that are great about trail running: the lack of TV coverage (a good thing), the attitude of competitors, the brutality and unpredictability of it, and the gear!

What I think is so interesting about gear in trail running is that much of it is available if you want it, but it’s not essential. There are top level competitors who run a 16 hour race in a pair of shorts, a good pair of shoes, and maybe a hydration vest for a few of the legs. On the other side of the coin, if you love the gear, there is a great selection of equipment that can definitely keep you motivated during a run like Leadville.

All in all, Leadville wasn’t what we thought it would be this year, but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t awesome! Once again, it inspired and made me wish I had the time and energy for 100 miles! 

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Behind the name

Running is about freedom. When running fails to set us free, we are doing it wrong. As I set out to capture thoughts and ideas with this blog, I am motivated by a lot of media and public assumption that running is simply a sport, or a culture. If running is approached like this, it fails to be understood in its fullness. If we just approach running as a sport, then it becomes about what races we are entering, and what times we have set, and what medals are on our walls. 
If running is a room, then those kinds of things make up one small corner of what's inside. In the middle of the room is freedom. And adventure. Discovery. Joy. Fatigue. Under some of the furniture are things that are hidden, which you can only find when you run. Oh, and there is gear...lots of gear!
The name behind 'Caching runner' is two-fold. Firstly, and more simply, it's about the simple fact that I am a runner and I also spend lots of outdoor time Geocaching, as a way to discover new trails. But the bigger idea behind the 'Caching runner' name is this:
When we truly run for enjoyment, we will embark on a journey. On this journey we will be looking for certain things. Sometimes goals. Sometimes new experiences. Sometimes just a finish line. But in finding those things we are not fulfilled. Rather, we are fulfilled in the very act of searching for them. Just like the sport of Geocaching (www.geocaching.com), where we search for 'treasures' which are usually just worthless plastic things. The treasure isn't the physical thing we find, it's the experience of finding it.