Angeles Crest 100 - 27 Hours

Running down the El Prieto Trail, less than 4 miles from finish

A BIG thank you to Vibram for letting me run in some prototype FiveFingers and Green Foods for Magma Plus which I know had something to do with a 5 hours+ improvement on my time compared with last year!

At the award ceremony

Coming into Islip photo by Christina Hennessey

Thanks to Wild Mountain Runner founder Freddie Perez for giving me a ride to Wrightwood and support during the race. Big thank yous to Arturo Valdez and Jose Hernandez who paced me from Chilao. Thanks to Chris Rios, Deb Clem and Sunny Blende for aid station support...it helped a lot.


Coming into Buckhorn photo by Christina Hennessey

More to come...

Video of me entering 52 mile checkpoint

My report to the Ultra group:

Howdy Folks

I surprised myself big time this weekend.

My goal was to finish better than last year.

Last year's goal was simple: to finish...alive.

Last year's time: 32:16 This year: 27:00

How?

Prerace: pizza and beer with Freddie Perez in Wrightwood. Two
Newcastles and 7 pieces. Also, spaghetti dinner.

Sleep: not so good at the Methodist Camp in same building as the
visiting Tarahumara along with Chris Rios and John Radich. Only slept
a little, but Jenn Shelton visited me in my dreams, so can't complain.

This year I ran in two different prototype FiveFingers that cover the
entire foot preventing crap from getting in the shoe. I had NO chance
to test the shoes before the race. I also wore Injinji socks borrowed
from Robert Andrulis as I left mine at home. These helped me
tremendously.

Finally had a chance to wear my Dirty Girl gators, and my Moeben
sleeves that Gary Hilliard threw at me as a prize as I was leaving the
Mt. Disappointment post-race party. Both were extremely effective
although Ken Hamada said I looked unusual, i.e., like a freak.

Nutrition. This year I used drop boxes. I prepared my own powder
using a mixture of malto dextrin, soy protein, Green Foods Green
Magma, E-Caps powder and Chia seeds.

GU: 2 an hour

Watermelon at many aid stations.

Progresso Chicken soup, drank cold out of the can 2 times, trick
learned from Flaco Mendoza.

Idlehour aid station: solid food and Miso soup. Thanks Joe. This is
the place to stop and eat at mile 82.

Pacers from Chilao to Chantry and Chantry to finish, Wild Mountain

Runners Arturo and Jose.

BFT, Freddie and Arturo at the finish

A lot of help from my friends.

BFT

PS. I leave for Greece on Saturday, filming and crewing for Scott.

Wild Mountain Runner Club - Condor Peak

Condor Peak (far peak in middle of photo) viewed from home.

Elevation 5440 ft.

The last 4 Sundays have been spent running with the San Fernando and Hansen Dam Wild Mountain Runners.

Today was one hell of a run. Starting at Sunland Park, Freddie Perez and I ran up into Big Tujunga Canyon all the way to Gold Creek Road. We were heading to the famous Condor Peak. We didn't plan on going all the way to the top, but we tore of a pretty good chunk out of it.


In the 80s and 90s, WMRs would park at the entrance to Gold Creek Road and do training runs to the top of Condor Peak. This is extremely wild country despite how close it is to LA. Amazing.

BFT

PS. Wore my huaraches. These made the insanely rocky trails totally tolerable.

Wild Mountain Runner Club - 14 miler above JPL

The Gatos at Hahamongna Park next to JPL

Sunday did some great running with members of the San Fernando branch of the Wild Mountain Runners. We do a lot of trail running in the Angeles Crest.

We ran up a very tough 14 mile trail that starts at Hahamongna Park, goes along the side of the famous Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) campus and on up to the top of Mt. Brown.

I used to run up this very gnarly trail barefoot, and still can, but coming down was always very difficult and usually made my feet hurt for the rest of the day, especially if I ran fast.

Well, wearing the FiveFingers has helped me to be able to run this trail completely pain free. I still get the feedback I need through my feet, I just avoid the terrible pain that one can get in the arch by making one false step.

I am currently wearing the same pair of Vibram Five Fingers to run in everyday trying to get an idea of how long they will last. So far, I must say, these suckers are holding up very well.

BFT

Nike Podcast Interviews at Griffith Park

Photos by Ona McDonald







Today many of us Wild Mountain Runners were interviewed for a Nike sponsored podcast featuring running groups from all over the country.

We were joined by the famous Barefoot KenBob of RunningBarefoot.org

Some runners did not participate, because they thought that their endorsement contracts did not allow them to be in a Nike sponsored film, even though it was not a ad. I thought that was strange, but more room for us hams to yap.

After the group interview, they also interviewd me about ultra running (which I am new at). They decided to use the backdrop of my infamous 1966 VW Beetle. I proudly wore my Clif Bar visor and my Vibram FiveFingers jersey, shoes and shorts.

Any inspiration I can give, I will give. Hopefully it is not all hot air!

Best Regards, Barefoot Ted

Griffith Park Thanksgiving 2005

Some, but not all, Gatos on Turkey Day 2005

Griffith Park Barefoot Running with Fellow Gatos

Some of the GP Gatos & Friends



San Fernando Gatos assemble for an after run refreshment

Perfect November weather, actually a little on the hot side.

Most of the San Fernando Gatos did the Lake run 14+ miles. Chris and I did a couple 10 mile trail loops with Guillermo and Flaco. Guillermo Medina came in 1st place this year at the Angeles Crest 100. He did it in 19:33. I remember seeing both Guillermo and Flaco arrive at the 81 mile aid station still looking fresh. I think that he has been second several times. This year was his first win. Truly great trail runner. Had a chance to hear about some of his training techniques. All very useful information hopefully leading to a successful completion of the AC 100 next year.

Guillermo says that he often does 3 of these 10 mile loops on Sundays at Griffith Park. I may make it a habit leading up to the Avalon Benefit 50 Mile Run on January 14th, 2006. I need to run it in order to qualify for the AC 100.

Best, Barefoot Ted

Hansen Dam Cross Country 10 Miler

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Beautiful day for a run. The course we ran today included crossing a dry river and running in very rocky, sandy terrain. The entire run was off-road.

Best, Barefoot Ted

Big Tujunga Canyon 20 Miler

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Beautiful weather. Freddie and I ran up to the second bridge for a total of 20 road miles. The others ran over to the lake.

I wore some experimental sock/shoes on the downhill section to spare my feet.

--Barefoot Ted

Olive View Hospital to San Fernando Rd. Loop 14 Mile Road Run

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Road run. Dago, Ruben and Mario start us off fast on this rolling hill course. Many sub 7 minute miles before the hills.

--Barefoot Ted

Veterans Memorial Park, Sylmar, CA 14 Mile Mountain Run

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7 miles up, up, up. 7 miles down. Fast.

The fire road asphalt was so rough that it slowly sandpapered down the callous on my feet. My feet were sensitive for the rest of the week.

--Barefoot Ted

Hansen Dam 10 Miler Race

Me and my medal!



Hansen Dam 10 Miler Race Group Photo



Hansen Dam 10 Miler Start


Hansen Dam 10 Miler Start

--Barefoot Ted

Little Tujunga 12 Miler

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Preparing for next weeks 10 mile race.

--Barefoot Ted

Griffith Park Gatos Gather - Labor Day Weekend 2005

Sunday September 4th, 2005


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--Barefoot Ted

Hansen Dam Challenge

Antonio at the finish






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A bunch of Gatos from San Fernando and Hansen Dam got together today for an inpromtu 9 mile race. SF Gato Antonio beat'em all. All had a good time before it got too hot.

--Barefoot Ted

Olive View Run

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San Fernando Gatos run in cool summer weather.

Gatos Assemble at Griffith Park

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Another beautiful running day in Los Angeles. Look forward to more updates and running schedules in the near future.

Best, Your Gato Friend, Barefoot Ted

Mt. Wilson Toll Road Trail Run

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Run starts at Eaton Canyon Nature Center. 1750 N. Altadena Drive
Pasadena, CA 91107 (626) 398-5420 and heads up to the top of Mt. Wilson.

For a Mapquest Map to the area, click here



Best, Barefoot Ted

Lopez Canyon Mountain Run

Some runners continued up into the mountains from the horse area. Betty, Patty and Abel came in a little later after the photo. Excellent weather. Nice cold beers at the end thanks to Danny and Apache.

17 Miler with the Wild Mountain Runner Club

We ran up on the Santa Monica Mountains from Reseda Blvd. out to an ocean view point and back. Beautiful weather. Felt a bit tired, and the feet were sore in some of the tougher sections of this up-and-down out-and-back run.

Olive View Mountain Run 10 Miles - SF

Got up early and ran with the WMRs on Sunday pushing me over 30 miles of barefoot running for the weekend.