first of the month

During my group run Saturday morning through First Landing State Park we were advised to keep an eye out for a jogger who has been missing since Thursday. Said to perhaps pass out somewhere in the 3,000 acre park from heat exhaustion. I would say there were at least 100 volunteers out there searching that morning. Not something we see too often out there. Anyways they did find him, not a good result though. The humidity seems worse this year if thats even possible. When I finished my 16 mile run that morning, it looked like I had been swimming for a while. Shoes completely sopping wet. After that tough run I jumped in the ocean for a while then got home chugged some water, ate half a watermelon, some almonds and went on a 70 K bike ride. Dealt some cramping in my calfs during the ride, but wow when I got home everything cramped up from my feet, calfs, hamstring, quads, abs, neck. Needless to say I had a rough couple hours of "resting". I lost so much water during my run. Cycling afterwards just put me over the line. I really didn't think salt tablets were necessary but man was I wrong. Also, I should have been supplemented my water with electrolytes big time.

During a triathlon in Louisville, KY a man was hit during biking and killed immediately by a driver, who proceeded to drive away with the bike stuck in the windsheild. Their area a million things wrong with this, but I really don't want to get into it. Also, Greg Bennent pro triathlete was hit cycling this weekend during a training ride. He survived but it's not pretty. Needless to say cyclists and cars walk a very very thin line. In more positive news as a result of a memorial/protest ride for a cyclist (father/navy seal) who was killed a few months ago on one of our popular cycling roads the speed limit was reduced from 45 to 35 mph in hopes of increasing drivers reaction time to cyclists. Nowadays drivers are doing everything in their cars, but paying attention to DRIVING.

The Elusive Trail Runner...
They are not joiners and they often run trails to get away from it all. With 6.2 million individuals in the United States identifying themselves as trail runners, and a reported 38 percent growth rate in trail-running enthusiasts between 1998 and 1999, you'd think the outdoor industry would know who these people are, or would want to. A simplified profile might describe trail runners as folks who run on surfaces other than streets. But even that characterization is flawed because there is a substantial crossover among trail and road runners. Then there is the question of whether adventure or cross-country runners count as trail runners since they often run off-trail.
Understanding who trail runners are requires going beyond issues of running surface and gear. Just as the separation between "roadies" and mountain bikers in the cycling world is a distinction in attitude, so is the dichotomy between alpine skiers and telemark "pin heads," sport climbers and traditional climbers, flat-water kayakers and white-water kayakers, track skiers and ski tour types, and road runners and trail runners. Trail runners tap into the off-road running experience as a freeing escape that allows them to recharge their emotional and spiritual batteries while they commune with nature through physical exertion. Road running by definition requires a road, which translates into a connection with civilization. Road runners are often forced to maneuver their runs to contend with auto traffic in what are often hostile encounters. Those stressful interactions are not the best way to unwind or recharge.
Trail runners are people who like adventure, variety, challenge and excitement. The essence of trail running is the ability to deal with constant change. No two steps are the same on the natural obstacle course of off-road terrain. Even if you run the same trail day after day, you will soon learn that the trail has a life of its own. One day it may be dry and hard, the next it may be wet and sloppy. There are also the seasonal changes and the effects of temperature, erosion, foot traffic and plant life. Of course, there are also the flowers, trees, birds, insects, squirrels, rabbits, deer, and if you are lucky--or unlucky, depending on your aversion to risk--the chance encounter with coyotes, bears, mountain lions, moose and other big game. It is this constant change that brings the trail-running experience to life.
Trails offer the opportunity to retreat from the masses, and to escape to a place of tranquility where your mind may wander without any concern for traffic. The distraction of having to scout each footstep can lull you into a peacefulness that cannot be found in a paved and populated environment.
Many more ultramarathons are run on trails than they are on roads. The ultra community is a more mature, experienced crowd that has learned that the road to injury is paved, especially in races longer than 26 miles. Ultrarunners are often characterized as aficionados of natural beauty, which is why the biggest and best ultras are run in some of the most awe-inspiring places.
Although many trail runners tend to hale from adventurous, athletic backgrounds such as rock and mountain climbing, triathlons, mountain biking, and backcountry and cross-country skiing, others are road-running converts who have turned to the trails to revitalize their athletic lives. Many converts appreciate the forgiving qualities of the trail, and have learned that running trails decreases the chance of suffering overuse injury, in comparison with the pounding of pavement that offers little variation in stride length or foot strike, mile after mile.

I'll close this out with some pics my sister took at the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens.