Profiling HURT (DVD Review)

Profiling HURT is a new documentary DVD that follows ultrarunners through Hawaii's grueling HURT 100, arguably one of the world's most difficult 100-milers. It's a great taste of the people, spirit, and challenge behind this monumental challenge, and it's already become a staple in my DVD library (now getting plenty of 5am cycling trainer use). I would highly recommend it.


Profiling HURT (FINAL) from Barry Walton on Vimeo.

Ultrarunner Mark Gilligan (known to many as the co-founder of ultrasignup.com) is the energetic and self-professed bordeline-attention-deficit-disorder athlete at the center of the story. We catch up with him training for his 2nd HURT 100 after a great 6th place debut the previous year. He soon ropes in his rookie friend, Scott Guild, and we follow them through a season of training and reflection. Much of their day-to-day shows the kind of drive and dedication that 100-milers must have to tackle such a huge adventure, whether it's running flights of stairs daily in his office building, taking a 4am 40-mile fun run with friends on a freezing beach, the endless food and caffiene abuse, dealing with injuries, and a positive attitude that pervades everything. The HURT 100 is his great white whale, his fixation that allows him to take his training to the limits of injury and mental exhaustion just for the challenge. I chuckled at many of the scenes, realizing how many people must see me in a similar shade of insanity. All this for a belt buckle?

The HURT 100 course, beautifully captured by film maker Barry Walton, is staggeringly difficult. There are roots, mud, and vertical at every turn, heat that barely subsides in the night, and rarely a section long enough to actually run. I found myself pausing the video on many occasions and just shaking my head...how in the world are these guys doing this?!? The aid station volunteers, manned by the always-smiling Hawaii Ultra Running Team (HURT), are like angels in the hills. It really gives you an appreciation for this well-respected race.

HURT from Barry Walton on Vimeo.

You can check out more at the Profiling HURT Web site, or buy it at Ultrasignup.com. I think you will like it!

- SD

Source: http://runtrails.blogspot.com/2010/08/profiling-hurt-dvd-review.html

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UTMB 2010

Wow,  imagine lining up for the biggest event of your life and having it canceled 20k into the race due to a landslide in Italy..the mental let down and disappointment was unmeasurable. As I entered the Saint-Gervais aid station (20k) there where runners everywhere on their phones standing around in the pouring rain?  I went [...]

Source: http://mountainrun.wordpress.com/2010/10/29/utmb-2010/

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Ironman Canada Race Recap

Last weekend at Ironman Canada it would have been impossible not to notice the Newton presence. We had one of our biggest company showings ever?around 30 Newton staff and athletes showed up to race, spread the Newton word, and raise money for the Prostate Cancer Foundation. Here are some highlights: Jerry Lee and Winter Vinecki at [...]

Source: http://www.therunningfront.com/events-expos/ironman-canada-race-recap/

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This Season's Official Training Has Begun

Not that I had a chance to take much of a break from training this winter, but officially the 2010 training season has begun!
I am trying to squeeze a couple of swims - three sessions a week would be ideal, a couple of spin classes - at least until I can consistently get the bike out on the road, and somewhere around 25-30 miles of running per week.  This millage will continue to go up as the date for the Country Music Marathon gets closer.
There are a few demons I have to face, fight and conquer.  Primarily is the one that fights with me to get up early in the morning on Mondays and Wednesdays to go swimming.  This week was a good battle, but I can proudly say that I won, for on both days I made it to the pool!  Step One has been taken.  Next week, Step Two.  It has been said that it takes two weeks to create a habit.  I am hoping that to be true, for if it is, and I make it out of bed on Monday and Wednesday this coming week, then my chances of success (in this area) have been tremendously improved.  But man, getting up at 4:15 sure is a struggle.
Second and not such a battle is the one that challenges me to do two workouts on Monday and Wednesday.  After the pool in the morning, I have a spin class scheduled for Monday afternoon and strength conditioning on Wednesday afternoon.  These are not to bad.  I think these can be managed.
The third battle is taking the day off when I'm supposed to take the day off.  Putting a little smarts behind this one, could easily be conquered.  I think!
My schedule for the next week is as follows:  (and I post it here for accountability purposes)

Today:  Afternoon Swim (1200-1500m)
Saturday:  14 mile run
Sunday: - OFF
Monday:  AM - TriSwim, PM - Spin
Tuesday: 7 mile run
Wednesday: AM - TriSwim, PM - Strength
Thursday: AM - Spin (optional), PM - 7 mile run

 Additionally, I have started a program called "One Hundred Push Ups".  I am on the second week of a six week program which, if completed according to plan, will get me to 100 push ups.
'til next time...

Source: http://www.triathlonat55.com/2010/02/this-seasons-official-training-has.html

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