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Afton State Park with John Storkamp

December 23, 2015 (Morning)

Exercise Type: Run

Weather: 30, RAIN!

Comments:
Woke up feeling terrible. I had what amounted to "tainted meat sweats" last night: fever and mega-sweating in my sleep. I could feel gut pain all night, but it gradually improved as the night went on. However, I still felt terrible upon waking.

The plan today was to run with John Storkamp - the RD of several of MN's biggest ultra trail races and one of a couple "faces" of MN ultrarunning - and my friend Matt at Afton State Park, a forest-and-prairie park on the bluffs above the St Croix (almost Mississippi) River. This river bluff system is really the only place in a 200-mi radius where you can get some serious vertical, so it makes for great running. We used to take our HS kids there for pre-season camps, because it's close: 30min by car, but only 10 miles, crow-flies (no bridge from River Falls).

I really wanted to meet John, since he's a pretty great guy in the community and, at 34, still doing some bad-ass stuff (google John Storkamp Trail Runner Magazine for a cool profile). He's definitely learned some life lessons!

So even when waking up ill, Matt texting to bail (he was sick) AND John offering me an out ("you don't have to run in the rain, but I'm gonna run anyway"), I still went. I had to run, too, and who gives about some cold rain, right?

Met John at an otherwise empty visitor center parking lot. The weather was maybe 32.1 degrees and rain, but it didn't bother me. We suited up and got after it.

I'd kindly asked John for an easy day, but the sickness almost precluded ANY running to be easy. We did go easy on the downs, which were quite slick over grass, leaves and limestone as we made our way down to the river. We ran right past "Afton Alps", where I grew up downhill skiing", then over to an extensive trail network of plateau prairie loop and ups and downs through the woods to and from the river.

We had some good chats: about his background and racing experiences, about some local guys (including a young ultrarunner who's coming to intern at MY clinic in two weeks!) and other things.

But while we ran and chatted, I STRUGGLED! John, characteristic of the average trail runner, was pretty mellow on the downs and flats and grinded the ups - where I fell back.

And I wasn't even controlling my HR! In fact, it was outrageously high! I was rolling along at 145-150, which told me something was definitely off. On top of that, my guts were grumbling and I had to request a bathroom stop. We stopped at a bathroom next to a three-walled ski shelter. He told me about how he's training for Arrowhead 135M (which is a ski, bike, or run race where you pull a sled of your shit through the snow, often in sub-zero temps). He said that he'll come out to Afton, "power-hike for about eight hours, then take a nap in this [shelter], then go hike some more". HARD CORE.

We did only 7 miles, but damn, that was plenty! Did about 900 feet of climbing - solid, but not terrible. 9 minute pace, AHR 146!

Post-run, we'd talked about breakfast but I almost didn't. But I was enjoying chatting with him, so John led us to a awesome little place in tiny Afton, MN (like one street). Had eggs and a small Americano. I was FREEZING but came around.

Really good to meet John. Great guy and ambassador for the sport. Before leaving he gave me some RSR (Rocksteady Running - his event company) gear.

PM: felt TERRIBLE, but had to Christmas shop. Made precisely three trips (including for another decaf Americano), then went home.

After cleaning up, I laid down to rest in front of mom's gas fireplace...and slept for 4.5 HOURS!!

Felt better after that, but still off. No beer in the PM. Started watching "Orange is the New Black" on her smart TV, which rocks.

NO second run. I gotta get over this!