tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17988908.post4582444913376872296..comments2010-01-21T12:55:58.181-08:00Donaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13588564145315857856info@runningandrambling.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17988908.post-13752068473594855702008-05-14T13:29:00.000-07:002008-05-14T13:29:00.000-07:00Wow Donald, what a race and what an experience you had. All of my late congratulations to you.<BR/><BR/>I'll admit I got a bit teary at the inspiration of your last paragraph... "Best of What's Around" has been one of my life-theme-songs for a few years now & it's interesting to see how you've applied it to your running and race. You've definitely mastered the "seeing things from a better side than most can dream."<BR/><BR/>Again, congrats on an amazing accomplishment.My Life &amp; Runninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05773926028026104968noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17988908.post-50089454185089298462008-04-21T11:11:00.000-07:002008-04-21T11:11:00.000-07:00Your words used to describe the magnificant race are almost enticing enough for some of the rest of us to give it a try. Then, of course, I sit back down and consider the difficulty I have in avoiding the cracks in the pavement to keep from falling, and know that your words are enough for me.Spokane Alhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14322733412232169837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17988908.post-83762719335055115612008-04-20T22:56:00.000-07:002008-04-20T22:56:00.000-07:00Very well said Donald. I am clearly going to have to add your blog to my favorites list. <BR/>Hey, I'm in one of your photos! Well, my butt is anyway, in front of the red shorts guy, at the part where you're talking about how ultra runners smell bad. Hmm, should I be offended? Well, maybe if I was red shorts guy. <BR/>I think the photo montage was the cornerstone of a well executed race plan. Plus good pictures really bring a blog to life. You are definitely building expectations for your WS report here. :)<BR/>Great job out there!Gretchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01132576974564001603noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17988908.post-43876989142671020792008-04-19T12:46:00.000-07:002008-04-19T12:46:00.000-07:00somehow you have the ability to take a race like diablo, put words to pictures, and make it ALMOST seem normal.<BR/><BR/>it looks like a beautiful day out there, your plan seemed to work flawlessly, which has to be a big confidence boost going into ws. and, although it might take me a few days to get through it, i'm really looking forward to that race report.<BR/><BR/>and 21cm is too cute, isn't she?? :-)momohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02314577864236887929noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17988908.post-29963061478007759312008-04-18T10:33:00.000-07:002008-04-18T10:33:00.000-07:00I've been lurking around your place many times, and it seems like every time I do a search, your blog is the first to come up. You are such an entertaining writer! And I loved the pictures, although they made my heart ache for California. (I did a bunch of PCTR races while I was there, they're great!)<BR/><BR/>How is it that ultrarunners write these beautiful blogs about how great the experience was, and they never seem to mention how much it hurts?! It seems like you didn't suffer so much as a blister in 50 miles, and you look fresh as a daisy in the pictures! Solid race. Great job!Speed Racerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10906299857341904683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17988908.post-12247381874327350722008-04-17T20:14:00.000-07:002008-04-17T20:14:00.000-07:00If this is an example of what your WS report is going to be like I am so looking forward to it. Thanks for taking me along.craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056184086264489177noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17988908.post-10814531476793866752008-04-17T16:38:00.000-07:002008-04-17T16:38:00.000-07:00Great report! <BR/>I also agree, your last few paragraphs were very well written.Rahnblog.gonesomewhere.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17988908.post-3413483055703815282008-04-17T14:06:00.000-07:002008-04-17T14:06:00.000-07:00Whew! Long race. . . or was it just the report. (I'm kidding!) ;) The pictures were great - I can't believe you remembered to keep taking them. I probably would've taken one at the beginning and that would've been it. Nice running! I'm impressed with you ultra-runners!Annettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13173845803493621788noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17988908.post-78872303578217611542008-04-17T13:01:00.000-07:002008-04-17T13:01:00.000-07:00Congrats Donald! Way to pace yourself and stick to your non-competitive strategy. You are awesome. Great work out there!! :) Great pictures too, look forward to the WS Photo Essay.jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14598678568089992654noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17988908.post-72333834298711752842008-04-16T18:05:00.000-07:002008-04-16T18:05:00.000-07:00Sounds like a wonderful time out there! That was my first trail marathon last year and your post brought back lots of very fond memories. I hope you'll be bringing the camera to WS :)<BR/><BR/>Congratulations on running a smart and good race out there on diablo!Addyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16256451142660464796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17988908.post-82099828029175416392008-04-16T15:28:00.000-07:002008-04-16T15:28:00.000-07:00Sounds like you had a great time out there - good pictures too! <BR/><BR/>That was quite the salt ring you had going on your shirt there.Zachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00230676631293029153noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17988908.post-6768611045942117822008-04-16T11:32:00.000-07:002008-04-16T11:32:00.000-07:00thanks for sharing. congrats and good job on wrestling the devil. you're right the journey is half the fun of getting there.Deenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12619954455326699381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17988908.post-4353357863128824492008-04-16T08:59:00.000-07:002008-04-16T08:59:00.000-07:00Donald - Let's see the memoir from a professional! I didn't see this tag on your blog, yet.<BR/><BR/>Great race at Diablo!<BR/><BR/>1) Write your own six word memoir<BR/><BR/>2) Post it on your blog and include a visual illustration if you want<BR/><BR/>3) Link to the person that tagged you in your post, and to the original post if possible so we can track it as it travels across the blogosphere<BR/><BR/>4) Tag at least five more blogs with links<BR/><BR/>5) Leave a comment on the tagged blogs with an invitation to play!T Clarkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18220954828042695011noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17988908.post-70526652610535815602008-04-16T07:42:00.000-07:002008-04-16T07:42:00.000-07:00I used to love riding up Mt. Diablo when the hills are green and the wind sweeps the tall grass....ahhh. I should have put two and two together that Diablo 50 was the same Diablo. Nice run Big D.strongerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05064924692767548756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17988908.post-65397582487198956312008-04-16T05:29:00.000-07:002008-04-16T05:29:00.000-07:00you, sir had the devil in a head lock in that wrestling match...<BR/><BR/>loved the report "it happened"<BR/><BR/>the photo of you at the top was classic...you gotta put that one on the wall in your office. it looks like you are taking a break from jogging around heaven...wow<BR/><BR/>i was impressed that you took so many photos....<BR/>western states should be chock full of images.....<BR/>not only are you an excellent wordsmith, you can snap some real nice shots too.<BR/>thanks for the report...triguyjthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05843158282600595243noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17988908.post-82459310169574018492008-04-16T05:21:00.000-07:002008-04-16T05:21:00.000-07:00Great job out there, always smiles in the pictures. <BR/><BR/>Looked like a beautiful course.<BR/><BR/>Great race report and the last paragraphs are so true sometimes..<BR/><BR/>Rest up..RunBubbaRunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09374909500753899558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17988908.post-72153896493044291462008-04-15T21:58:00.000-07:002008-04-15T21:58:00.000-07:00Great job at Diablo. That is one tough course. I do believe that you will be ready for anything WS hands you! Good luck with your training. Nice blog, too.kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08838103329838184258noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17988908.post-10662421194532523662008-04-15T20:26:00.000-07:002008-04-15T20:26:00.000-07:00Great race report! I loved all the photos. And I liked your strategy of taking them whenever you mentally wanted to 'move on up'.<BR/><BR/>Perhaps for Western States ya do one photo per mile. If not the most text, then you can certainly take the cake for the biggest post in size (megabytes). :)<BR/><BR/>Congrats!Rainmakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00371545851492880386noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17988908.post-70537742547312446612008-04-15T16:34:00.000-07:002008-04-15T16:34:00.000-07:00Great job on the race. Way to find the positve!<BR/><BR/>You'll be in great shape for the WS 100. <BR/><BR/>Great pics and RRFormulaichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02270473203747687169noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17988908.post-71995876777713071692008-04-15T15:40:00.000-07:002008-04-15T15:40:00.000-07:00Wow, you did it (held back and still ran a sub-12)! And I will feel less guilty not bringing my camera in the future. I think you're in great shape (and mental mindset) for States.Mark Tanaka (Ultrailnakaman)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13506740152878287937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17988908.post-30620004593361566762008-04-15T14:01:00.000-07:002008-04-15T14:01:00.000-07:00Your race reports just keep getting better and better. I love the almost comic tone to this one with the manic picture-taking that almost belies the heroic effort involved in finishing under such punishing conditions. You really nailed the ultra runner too -- right down to the odor.Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04377440606704745517noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17988908.post-19237274191862302312008-04-15T12:30:00.000-07:002008-04-15T12:30:00.000-07:00what an awesome goal and report. and gorgeous photos!angie's pink fuzzyhttp://www.breakingthetape.com/onepinkfuzzynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17988908.post-34967068581118902042008-04-15T11:41:00.000-07:002008-04-15T11:41:00.000-07:003000 words race reports are too long? Damn! My Connemara race report was almost 3500 words, and that was for only 39 miles. <BR/><BR/>Why does nobody tell me that sort of things!!!!<BR/><BR/>Loved your report, btw.Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07802380462713592586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17988908.post-76499067158190782962008-04-15T11:25:00.000-07:002008-04-15T11:25:00.000-07:00Great report! Let the pictures do the talking. It really gives and idea of the journey.Lesser is Morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09545194231939568710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17988908.post-87190108730750641502008-04-15T11:06:00.000-07:002008-04-15T11:06:00.000-07:00Looks like the pre-race practice turned out to be genius! Great race report - and climbing stairs as part of the race route is just plain mean.<BR/><BR/>I 100% agree, the journey is always more rewarding and fulfilling than the destination.Wingmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00867789638868481704noreply@blogger.com