QotD - August 24-28

To be added to the QotD list, contact Jim Harris at james.a.harris@delphi.com.

August 25th
"I have to run just to stay in place."
-George Sheehan

August 26th
Anniversary Poem, from a OH Man to his PA Woman

Collards is green, my dog's name is Blue and I'm so lucky to have a sweet thang like you.
Yore hair is like cornsilk a-flapping in the breeze. Softer than Blue's and without all them fleas.
You move like the bass, which excite me in May. You ain't got no scales but I luv you anyway.
Yo're as satisfy'n as okry jist a-fry'n in the pan. Yo're as fragrant as "snuff" right out of the can.
You have some'a yore teeth, for which I am proud; I hold my head high when we're in a crowd.
On special occasions, when you shave under yore arms, well, I'm in hawg heaven, and awed by yore charms.
Still them fellers at work, they all want to know, what I did to deserve such a purdy, young doe.
Like a good roll of duct tape yo're there fer yore man, to patch up life's troubles and fix what you can.
Yo're as cute as a junebug a-buzzin' overhead. You ain't mean like those far ants I found in my bed.
Cut from the best cloth like a plaid flannel shirt, you spark up my life more than a fresh load of dirt.
When you hold me real tight like a padded gunrack, my life is complete; Ain't nuttin' I lack.
Yore complexion, it's perfection, like the best vinyl sidin', despite all the years, yore age, it keeps hidin'.
Me 'n' you's like a Moon Pie with a RC cold drank, we go together like a skunk goes with stank.
Some men, they buy chocolate for Valentine's Day; They git it at Wal-Mart, it's romantic that way.
Some men git roses on that special day from the cooler at Kroger. "That's impressive," I say.
Some men buy fine diamonds from a flea market booth. "Diamonds are forever," they explain, suave and couth.
But for this man, honey, these won't do. Cause yor'e too special, you sweet thang you.
I got you a gift, without taste nor odor, more useful than diamonds...
IT'S A NEW TROLL'N MOTOR

August 27th
Frustration is the first step towards improvement. I have no incentive to improve if I'm content with what I can do and if I'm completely satisfied with my pace, distance, and form as a runner. It's only when I face frustration and use it to fuel my dedication that I feel myself moving forwards.
-John "The Penguin" Bingham

August 28th
"When was the last time you did something for the first time?"
- Kobi Yamada from "Ever Wonder"

Are you signed up for YUT-C yet?

QotD - August 17-21

To be added to the QotD list, contact Jim Harris at james.a.harris@delphi.com.

August 17th
You have a choice. You can throw in the towel, or you can use it to wipe the sweat off of your face.
-Gatorade ad

August 18th
"It's elevating and humbling at the same time. Running along a beach at sunrise with no other footprints in the sand, you realize the vastness of creation, your own insignificant space in the plan, how tiny you really are, your own creatureliness and how much you owe to the supreme body, the God that brought all this beauty and harmony into being."
-Sister Marion Irvine, 2:51 PR and 1984 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials qualifier

August 20th
"The worst thing one can do is not to try, to be aware of what one wants and not give in to it, to spend years in silent hurt wondering if something could have materialized - never knowing."
-Jim Rohn

August 21st
A morning spent in the woods with friends is time well vested.
-Ben Franklin ( not really from Mr. Franklin, but I like to think that he would agree)

National Trail Runnning Day - August 22

What Is National Trail Running Day?

National Trail Running Day is taking place on Saturday, August 22nd and is a day to promote, celebrate, and experience the sport of trail running. Trail running is one of the fastest growing sports in the United States with runners taking to the trails of varying difficulties and distances to connect with nature and the environment, while also building strength and more technical running skills.

What should you do on National Trail Running Day? National Trail Running Day is a day for runners to come together and celebrate the sport of Trail Running. Everyone should participate and anyone can plan an official event for National Trail Running Day. Some of the events planned are trail races, group trail runs, or trail clean-ups.

MMD 50K

Last weekend, NEO Trail members Bob Combs and John Dewalt took part in the MMD 50K in New Hampshire. Many argue that the event is the most difficult 50K trail race in the country!

The course traverses New Hampshire's White Mountains taking runners over the Northern Presi’s before running over the Cats and Carters. The Presidential Range, pictured below (click to enlarge), is a series of peaks named after prominent figures and Presidents of the 18th and 19th centuries. Completing all the 4,000+ peaks from one edge to the other has become known as the Presidential Traverse.


About 15 runners finished the trail race, including Bob in just over 16 hours and John in 24.5 hours. For a detailed report of the day, click here for Steve Pero's report.

QotD - August 10-14

To be added to the QotD list, contact Jim Harris at james.a.harris@delphi.com.

August 10th
There is no "Y" in running. Believe in the run.
-Nike ad

August 12th
When I'm 3/4 of the way through a tough ultra, wondering why I'm out here doing something (again) that at the moment really doesn't seem like any fun at all, I invariably end up answering the question gnawing manically at my brain by responding, "This is what I do.

This is who I am. That's why.

When running 30 miles+ isn't just something you do occasionally, but becomes part of your own self-image, then you can call yourself a REAL ultrarunner. And you won't need to tell anyone else and you won't care what anyone else thinks.

You really wouldn't want to know what they think about it anyway!
-Mark Swanson

August 13th
My will shall shape the future. Whether I fail or succeed shall be no man's doing but my own. I am the force; I can clear any obstacle before me or I can be lost in the maze. My choice; my responsibility; win or lose, only I hold the key to my destiny.
-Elaine Maxwell

August 14th
It's not over for me though. I will be back. I will test my soul again. I will push my limits. I thank God everyday that I am still here to do that. I can't tell people how to live, how to train, what to take for nutrition, or what they should and should not do. I can tell you this. Don't wait until tomorrow to make the decision to do that something you have always thought about doing. Don't put it off any longer. Tomorrow your life my change drastically. I never in my wildest dreams thought I would be the one with a heart problem. But to be honest, I'm glad I do. Now I can really test myself and find out what I'm made of. What I am trying to tell you is this... If you are thinking about doing something tomorrow, do it today instead.
-David Goggins, while recovering from surgery after Doctors found a hole in his heart

Qotd - August 3 - 7

To be added to the QotD list, contact Jim Harris at james.a.harris@delphi.com.

August 3rd
The most sublime act is to set another before you.
–William Blake

August 4th
Good athletes train when they want to, great athletes train when they don't.

2009 Burning River 100

Starting Saturday morning bright and early at 5 AM, ultra runners took part in the 3rd annual Burning River 100 Mile Endurance Run. The event lasted into the night and ended at 11 AM Sunday morning. Runners were forced to deal with rain most the night and some muddy trails.

Mark Godale won the event this year with a time of 16:16. On the women's side, Connie Gardner won with a time of 19:21. An amazing total of fourteen NEO Trail members ran in the endurance race today. Members that participated include TJ Hawk, Nick Billock, Greg Murray, Kurt Osadchuck, Ron Ross, Brandon Russell, Courtney Baker, Brian Musick, Dave Peterman, Bill Wagner, Frank Dwyer, Mike Halkovich, Kim Love-Ottobre and Paul Lefelhocz.

Race Reports - Nick Billock, Greg Murray, Jeff Musick (pacer)

Nick Billock's Pictures in Video - BR Videos - Greg Murray

Official results will be posted on Burning River's website. Below is a video recap of the race.

QotD - July 27 - July 31

To be added to the QotD list, contact Jim Harris at james.a.harris@delphi.com.

July 27th
The Sherpa don't believe they conquer the mountain, "they become one with it."
-Doug Freese

July 28th
I am so excited about Monday, that I am going to go to bed early, with my running clothes on shoes and all....like on Christmas Eve...
-cvctrackfan, on the first day of CC practice 2008

July 29th


July 30th I've realized that to finish you have to really, really want it. Then when you reach that point in the race where you say 'what the @#$ am I doing here?' you can say 'finishing'. If you don't really, really want to finish, you reach that point in the race where you say 'what the @#$ am I doing here?' and you answer, 'holy crap, I don't know, I'm going home.' -John H. Powell, from his 2009 MMT race report, where he finished

July 31st "You have to go into the jungle, find the lion, and spit in his face...then shoot him. You guys are not good enough to win on talent alone...you have to want it." -Herbie Brooks. coach of the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team

BR 100 Info

Good luck to all those competing in the Burning River 100 mile race this weekend at the Cuyahoga Valley. There will be plenty of NEO Trail members representing the club. Below are some links and race info.

Start Time: 5 AM, Saturday, August 1st
Start Location: Squire's Castle
Finish Time: 11 AM, Sunday, August 2nd
Finish Location: Cuyahoga Falls River Front

Important Links
Official Site
2009 Entrants
Course Guide
VIDEO: Modified Course Sections
VIDEO: Other Course Sections
LIVE WEBCAST

QotD - July 20 - July 24

To be added to the QotD list, contact Jim Harris at james.a.harris@delphi.com.

July 20th
I hadn’t really been aware of it. Not it’s weight or its form or its size. But the burden of doubt and anxiety I had carried with me from the start was formidable. My realization of its very existence came only when I began to dimly feel that burden getting lighter. As I came down off of Kern’s Mountain I was ahead of my schedule. I felt great. I didn’t feel even close to crashing. It evidently wasn’t going to rain anytime soon. My confidence swelled to fill the void as my fears floated up and away into the late day sun.
- Alan Gowen, from his 2006 MMT 100 RR

July 21st
When Mark Twain was asked how he had lived so long, he replied, "By sticking to a way of life that would have killed anybody else."

July 22nd
Accept the challenges so that you can feel the exhilaration of victory.
-General George Patton Jr

July 23rd
Pace to Finish BR100 – 18:36/mile

July 24th
You have been told that Real Life is not like college, and you have been correctly informed. Real Life is more like high school.
-Meryl Streep

Summer Buckeye Trail 50K

This past weekend several club members participated in the 15th annual Summer Buckeye Trail 50K, which is an out-and-back course that starts and finishes at the Oak Grove pavilion in Brecksville, Ohio. The weather was unseasonably cool this year with highs in the upper 60s and even some rain. A nice break though from previous years where it has been sunny and in the mid to upper 80s. Once again, Vertical Runner was able to organize another quality event and finishers of this year's event were treated to a new finishers medal in the shape of the Buckeye Trail blue blaze.

Here is the list of N.E. Ohio Trail Club members who finished this year...

Dave Peterman - 4:59:29 (20th overall)
Stephan Kremer - 5:13:39 (34th overall)
T.J. Hawk - 5:17:11 (35th overall)
Ron Ross - 5:23:16 (39th overall)
Jim Christ - 5:55:20 (64th overall)
Brett Himes - 5:57:42 (68th overall)
Brandon Russell - 6:02:07 (74th overall)
Jim Harris - 6:17:58 (85th overall)
Bob Combs - 6:23:53 (87th overall)
Daniel Bellinger - 6:25:20 (90th overall, New male 60 & over record - formerly 6:46:27)
Kurt Osadchuk - 6:27:35 (93rd overall)
Bruce McMurray - 7:02:12 (119th overall)
Paul Lefelhocz - 7:35:40 (138th overall)

For complete results, photos, and videos - Click Here

QotD - July 13 - July 17

To be added to the QotD list, contact Jim Harris at james.a.harris@delphi.com.

July 13th
In ultrarunning, the heart and human spirit have as much to do with it as putting in long miles.
-Dana Roueche

July 14th
Some men can run the fastest, jump the highest, or lift the heaviest, but no man has the corner on ambition, desire, and hustle.
-Anonymous

July 16th
Seek your dreams and goals
-David Horton

July 17th
Ultrarunning seems a lapse in reason, taking something difficult and multiplying it by four. I considered applying the ultra logic to my chaotic days at home with the children. 'Hey honey,' I might say. 'I had a terrible day with the kids. Tomorrow I might invite four times that number of children over for the day. Not only that, but I will keep them up all night and do everything with just a headlamp.'
-Marty Button, on being the wife of an ultrarunner

2009 Hardrock 100

Last weekend, NEO Trail members Bob Combs and John Dewalt both finished the 2009 Hardrock 100 held in Silverton, CO with times of 46:00 and 47:47, respectively. A total of 140 runners started the 15th running of Hardrock and 105 finished. Special kudos to John Dewalt being the oldest finisher at 73.

The winner on the men's side was Karl Meltzer running 24:38, a new course record for the counter-clockwise course and the 2nd fastest time ever! Diana Finkel won it for the women in a course record 27:18.

Hardrock Numbers
Miles: 100
Elevation Gain: 33,000'
Average Elevation: 11,186'
High Point: 14,048' (Handies Peak)
Low Point: 7,680' (Ouray)

Results - Youtube Playlist

QotD - June 29 - July 3

To be added to the QotD list, contact Jim Harris at james.a.harris@delphi.com.

June 29th

A lot of people want a shortcut. I find the best shortcut is the long way, which is basically two words: work hard. As I see it, if you work more hours than somebody else, during those hours you learn more about your craft. That can make you more efficient, more able, even happier. Hard work is like compounded interest in the bank. The rewards build faster.

-Randy Pausch, The Last Lecture

June 30th

When man runs and his worn out body and tired muscles fervently oppose his mental perseverance to continue the race, I'd say that's a pretty big challenge. My question is, how hard do you push yourself to demonstrate your own character?

-Scott Peragine

July 1st

As you know, going from a person who worked out constantly to a person that just had heart surgery is a big change. This has given me a lot of time to think. One thing that always comes back to my mind that I am going to share with you is this..... What good does all of this actually do. What does running ultra's, biking, lifting, ect. What does it do for you? Where does it get you?

For me, the answer is this. It's not about what you do in life. It is about what you don't do. The truth is running has not got me anywhere in life. I don't enjoy it. I hate it really. It certainly hasn't made an income for my family. And it definitely takes up a lot of my spare time. So why do it then? Because I can. When I was running 100 mile races back to back weekends, people never understood. They thought I was crazy. They told me how injured I was going to get. But I didn't care. I still don't. Tomorrow is never promised to you. If I looked back on those times now and didn't do the Plain 100 because it was too soon after my other race, I would kick myself. Now I can look back and say. I'm glad that I did what I did when I could.

I am not saying that this is how everybody should be. What I am saying is that I believe everybody should push themselves to their limit. Whether it be in life or in sport. If not, you will wake up one day and your limits will have been determined by other factors. Health, family, work, ect. While you have it in your power to do something, do it. Don't wait until that opportunity gets taken from you. I know I'm not.
-Goggins

July 2nd

We shall not flag or fail. We shall go on to the end. We shall never surrender.
-Winston Churchill

July 3rd

I've always sort of thought that at Hardrock you sort of live your entire life in a single day," said Roch Horton, a five-time finisher. "You'll be the happiest you'll ever be in your entire life, whenever that was, here at Hardrock. And the most ragged, lowdown, just desperate, decrepit, degenerate, sore - you're going to feel that, too, in one day, all in one continuous experience.

Cortland 10 Miler

Yesterday, the Cortland 10 Miler took place and was dominated by the Harris family. NEO Trail member Jim Harris got third overall in the 10 miler with a 1:07:32 while his son Heath won the race in a time of 1:01:25. Also capturing a title was Eric, who won the 2 mile event.

QotD - June 22-26

Every weekday NEO Trail member Jim Harris sends out a Quote of the Day (QotD) that is inspiring, insightful, or just plain funny. Sometimes it's not even a quote but a comic!

At the end of each week, the quotes he sends out will be posted on the NEO Trail blog. If you would like to be added to Jim's email list, then shoot him an email at james.a.harris@delphi.com. Enjoy!

Monday, June 22nd
Without clearly defined goals and a desire to achieve them, it is very difficult to excel.
-Rich Vrboncic

Tuesday, June 23rd

I'm an endurance athlete for many reasons. Escaping mindfulness, with all the lost brain cells that may or may not imply, is one of them. I'm also a closet control freak. Weird as it may sound, fretting about a problem and then solving it while getting hammered with a healthy dose of dopamine as I grind alone up a mountainside is one of my greatest fulfillments. I certainly get cranky when I don't get out there to train.

-Martin Dugard, from his blog

Wednesday, June 24th

If exercise were a pill, it would be the most expensive drug on the market.

-Dr. Carstensen

Thursday, June 25th

If the miles behind me could be put into words before you…
you would feel my efforts, my struggles, my desires,
most of all you would see my joy…
Watch me from afar run the trails and hills
and miles upon miles and you will see…

A runner.

Friday, June 26th

So There I Was...

Have a great adventure story that you think deserves being retold and recaptured? Whether you're defying gravity, pushing the human limits, escaping death, or just plain living it up then tell Outside magazine your story. Submit a picture and story to Outside's "So There I Was..." contest and have a chance to be featured on their online photo gallery or even right in the magazine!!

Highlands Sky 40 Miler

Presented by the West Virginia Mountain Trail Runners, the 6th annual Highlands Sky Trail Run took place last Saturday at the Canaan Valley Resort State Park.

This point to point course travels across some of the most rugged and beautiful terrain in West Virginia. Trail surfaces and scenery vary greatly throughout the run, as well as elevation which ranges from 2500 to 4700 feet. The course travels through the Canaan Valley, the highest large valley east of the Mississippi.

NEO Trail club members Bruce McMurray and Rich Vroboncic took part in the event this year. Bruce finished with a time of 11:08 while Rich followed close behind with an 11:18 finishing time.

Detailed Race Description - Course Maps

Kettle Moraine 100 Mile Endurance Run

Last Sunday, Nick Billock became a member of the 100-mile club finishing his first at the Kettle Moraine 100 Mile Endurance Run held in Wisconsin. His finishing time was 25 hours and 39 minutes. Pictured above is the hardware...err kitchenware...that Nick and other finishers received.

Nick's Race Report: Part 1 & Part 2 - Race Info