Run With Garrison

Aloha Everyone,

This weekend we will be running the HURT 100 trail race here on Oahu. The race consists of 5 20 mile loops with a total elevation gain of 24,500 feet. Last year I made it thru 2 laps before dropping out. This year, I am much better prepared (mentally and physically) and we are ready to go. Training has been going well with the exception of the last few weeks. I picked up up some random illness and have been sick for 5 days. However, I am viewing this as a positive thing that should keep me sticking to the race plan.

Speaking of the race plan….The entire goal is to finish under the cut time of 36 hours. That means I will try to set a nice easy tempo and stick to it all day/night/day. I am racing against nothing but the course and nobody but myself. Pauline has already told me that I have to walk home if I drop out because she is planning on staying at the course for 36 hours to crew and help runners. Finishing is clearly the only option!

We have assembled an amazing crew for Team Run With Garrison this year with Pauline, Sister Katherine, Joe Pope, Jeff Snyder, and Shelby Thirkill handling the crewing and pacing duties. I am tremendously blessed to have this amazing bunch with me this year and we are going to have a great time out there. We may also have some local rock-star friends coming out to spread the Aloha at the various aid stations. I am pretty sure I will get fired up to see everyone–especially during the back half of the race!

That being said….I have to say that one of the brightest parts of my 2014 running has to be the amazing welcome that Pauline and I have received into the trail and ultra community here on Oahu. The HURT bunch has been amazing this year and we are quite grateful for them accepting us into their Ohana. Please check them out at http://www.hurthawaii.com/

Speaking of Ohana, I am super stoked to announce that I will be a Taste Agent for the best sports drink out there…Skratch Labs again for 2015. Please check them out at http://www.skratchlabs.com Pauline will also be cooking up 6-7 recipes from The Feed Zone Portables book by Biju Thomas & Allen Lim for the Team to eat during the race. Yep, you guessed it, this book is filled with tasty & healthy snacks to eat on the run. Mahalos to Allen, Aaron and the entire team at Skratch Labs.

Onto the race info..I am bib number 43 and you can follow along in a variety of ways. Here is the link to live results on ultrasignup https://ultrasignup.com/live/live.htm?dtid=16815

Pauline will also be posting photos and updates to our Instagram and Twitter accounts. Please follow along @runwithgarrison on both IG and Twitter. She will likely not be typing too much on the blog, so these will be the best ways to follow along. I am also guessing that she will relay any of your messages along to me during the race.

Here is a brief list of the gear that I will be using during the race:
Shoes: Primary–Nike Zoom Elite 6, backups—Salomon Speedcross, Adidas Adizero XT
Hydration Vests: Ultimate Direction AK and SJ 2.0 packs
Shorts and tops: Nike
Socks: Injinji
GPS: Garmin Forerunner 920XT and 910XT
Hydration by Skratch Labs
Food by Pauline via Feed Zone Portables and Allen Lim Potatoes
Likely first post race beer: Rogue Dead Guy Ale

See you on the other side,

Michael