Sunday, 04 February 2018 08:58

Desert RATS Bio 2018 – Sue Heineman

Stage Race Sunday! Who’s coming to play in the desert this year?

Hailing from our Nation’s Capital, will our returning female champion Sue Heineman bring her bassoon for the evening’s campfire?

Marital Status: Married

Occupation: Bassoonist (i.e. I play in a symphony orchestra)

Years running: 3+

Years running ultras: 1+

Ultras I have done: PHUNT 50k, Greenbelt 50k, Bull Run Run 50 miler, Desert RATS.

Favorite race and why: Definitely desert RATS because it’s in Utah!

Best results in races: Somehow I won this event last year (among the females) but only because several much better runners got sick at some point from the heat.

Tell us something about yourself, running related or other: I feel pressure to come up with something clever here. That probably says something about my personality. Generally I am enthusiastic about life and try to see humor and adventure wherever I go.

What’s your favorite way to train for Desert RATS: Trail running with my rescue pit bull Bella

What are your goals for Desert RATS: Just to have a good time and enjoy the experience.

Have you ever heard the expression, “We’re all an experiment of one?”  Especially in trail and ultra running, we each respond differently to training, food, drink, weather, and distance.  In this article, Olympian Craig Pickering brings some interesting data to this axiom.

At Gemini Adventures, our goal is to make the race personal to YOU, meeting you where you’re at with what you need.

“If you’ve ever trained a group of athletes, you’ve probably noticed something peculiar. Even though you give the group the same training program, at the end of the training block, there are vast differences in how much those athletes improve.

Some athletes will respond really well to that specific training, and see huge improvements that carry over to personal bests in the competition period. Some athletes won’t respond well at all, and as a result might underperform in the next competitive season. Most of the athletes will show a fairly average response; they might set a few new personal bests and have a decent season, particularly if they’re young and developing, but it might not be anything special.
Over the course of a several different training periods, these effects can add up. Those who respond really well to training will likely compete at a very high level, while those who respond poorly will likely fall by the wayside.
Psychological factors can also impact exercise adaptation through several different mechanisms. Exercise is a form of stress, and each person’s response to that stress is highly individualized. Every brain interprets stress differently, with past experiences modifying this response. How our brains interpret a stressor impacts the release of hormones, and these hormones can affect how we adapt to exercise.” Read more…
Sunday, 28 January 2018 08:57

Desert RATS Bio 2018 – Jeff Knakal

Stage Race Sunday! Who’s coming to play in the desert this year?

Jeff Knakal is coming down from the humid Pacific Northwest. His training secret? Parking his car in the sun and driving with the windows up and heat on!

Marital Status: Married (to Desert RAT Theresa)

Number of Children: 2 (Both out of college)

Occupation: Boeing Engineer

Years running: Since the Nixon Administration

Years running ultras: 8

Ultras I have done: Many Rainshadow Running and Northwest Trail Running Races, Volcanic 50K (Mt. St. Helens), Chuckanut 50K, Rainier to Ruston 50M. No 100 milers – those people are crazy

Favorite race and why: The Grand Canyon R2R2R was epic. Desert Rats is just as good and the people are more fun.

Best results in races: Most of my best results are in Rowing races, but in running, I did qualify for the Boston Marathon at the Boston Marathon!

Tell us something about yourself, running related or other: I’m thrilled and amazed each day I wake up healthy enough to explore the world using the power of my own legs and heart and lungs.

What’s your favorite way to train for Desert RATS: I generally follow the Runners World 50 mile plan with a few variations. I also park my car in the sun and drive with the windows up and heat on. We have a sauna too!

What are your goals for Desert RATS: 1. Survive/finish. 2. Beat Sue by TWO minutes. Is she coming again? Don’t tell her. I don’t want to get her fired up.

Friday, 26 January 2018 08:56

January – Letter from Reid

 

January Letter from Reid |

Adventurers,  
 
Welcome to 2018! Time for New Year’s resolutions? I believe if you live your life right, you don’t have to make resolutions.  BUT – now is a time to plan the year to come. Family river trips, adventure weekends and races – planning them is almost as much fun as doing them.  
 
I’m not sure what this year will bring; I’m still recovering from a broken leg. While I’m walking pretty well, I’m still not ready to run. The hard part is not knowing. I received the gift of an entry to the Run Through Time on March 10th from my wife. It’s a little soon and I think I may have to drop to the half marathon. Will I have to drop to the 2 Mile Fun Run? 
 
If I have to tone things down a little to cut down on the recovery time, I’ll have to do that. Anything to be ready for the year ahead. Check out the video of my 2017 adventures.
 
My plan for 2018? To have at least one great adventure every month.
 
Reid Delman
Gemini Adventures
Wednesday, 24 January 2018 08:56

Multi-Day Adventure Prep

Multi-Day Adventure Prep

While the venues may change, the heart of stage races remains constant. From the deserts of the Kokopelli Trail to the alpine of the Himalayas, what gear do you consider essential for multi-day adventures?

Eric Schranz of UltraRunnerPodcast shared his preparation for the Himalayan 100 Stage Race. Read the full article.

What Worked and What I Forgot For My First International Stage Race

Main travel bag: The Beast Gear Hauler by Orange Mud ($100)
This sucker is huge, has minimal bells and whistles, and gave me plenty of confidence. I packed my smaller bag (which is huge itself) in the Beast, along with my shoes, sleeping bag, food, and everything else I needed. Nice!

There are no pockets, no extra compartments, just raw, secure, space. It’s made of some type of un-rippable material, is essentially waterproof, and the zippers are huge. Nothing worse than blowing a zipper, and I didn’t have that fear. The straps are made of seatbelt material and are meaty, though weren’t long enough for me wear on my back.

Bonus: Bright orange makes it easy to find in luggage claim. And yes, it complied with size requirements for all airlines I’ve used (domestic, international, and inter-Indian.)

Orange Mud is a valued partner of Gemini Adventures.
Use the code DESERTRATS and receive a 15% discount on their products HERE

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