Games bloggers play

I’ve been tagged by Peter Lubbers in a year-end round of “blog tag” for trail runners.

I’m not necessarily a fan of these reindeer games, nor do I consider myself a true-blue trail runner. But who am I to rebuff a nice guy like Peter?

1. Most memorable moment on the trails… The end of the Miwok 100K. A mix of pride and awe. It felt great to rally so strongly in the closing miles and record the #4 time in race history — and also humbling to finish over 20 minutes behind a guy I had never heard of. Upon being introduced to him (Lon Freeman) and told of his time (8:09), words failed me … so I just gave him a big hug. I’m NOT the “hugging type,” but that 8:09 really shook me up.

2. Best new trail I discovered in 2007… The Chief Sealth Trail in southeast Seattle, which opened in May. Its smooth paved surface is perfect for runs with the baby jogger!

3. My best performance of the year was… The Bridle Trails 50K in January. I felt strong from beginning to end, stayed on my feet during the dark evening laps, and broke my own course record by over 20 minutes. The new record isn’t Steidl-proof, but it’s darn good.

4. I do not know how I previously survived without… My online calendar. Oh, wait, is this about running gear? I wouldn’t describe any new acquisitions as indispensable, but I did start using gaiters to keep pebbles and dirt out of my shoes, and I also switched to PowerGels, which I find tastier than other gels.

5. The person I would most like to meet on a trail in 2008… Hmm, tough one. Rising ultramarathon stars Anton Krupicka or Kyle and Erik Skaggs? Prolific blog commentator Corrado Giambalvo? Fellow ultra-blogger Paul DeWitt, whom I met briefly in 1999, before either of us was an ultramarathoner or a blogger? Good choices all.

6. The race I am most excited/scared about in 2008 is… While I haven’t yet committed to any upcoming events, I hope to compete in a 12-hour race (where the goal is to run as far as possible in a 12-hour period) sometime soon. I’d like to see how close I can come to the American record of 98 miles, set by Rae Clark in 1989. If my schedule permits, I’d also like to run fast at the next Mad City 100K to atone for this year’s poor performance there.

Who’s next? Justin? Kendra? Matt? I hope at least one of you would like to play along.