Autumn in the Salmon River Mountains

Loon Lake from 2011.  Plenty of snow on the hills above it now.

Feeling strong, recovered fast and looking to race again this month.  Took one week of doing nothing, then  felt like running...so I did.  Eight days after the Bear, I found myself at the Loon Lake Loop (10 miles) on the last warm and sunny day of the year.  I had some lingering stiffness in the hips and calves, but it was clear, my body wanted to go.  I managed a PR on the Loop by nearly 10 minutes- 7:30 pace.  The gain on that one is about 2400' and it was muddy and lots of trees down.  This clearly showed me that my body was still in peak form and still viable in a race.  I am considering a "fast" hundred for a change of pace.

See anyone familiar on here? http://www.ultrasportslive.tv/athlete-profiles/.  My friend Myles from Michigan Bluff Photography hooked up this interview.

Link to Bear Splits.  I crunched out the numbers for the Course Record splits vs mine.  Pretty easy to see where it got away from me.

This is interesting. Look closely at the next 2 pictures.  The top picture is pre-Western.  The bottom picture is pre-Bear.  My face tells the story of both outcomes.  I look like I should be sleeping at WS, just a minute before the biggest race of my life.  I looked liked that for weeks before the race.  Pre-Bear, I look fresh and hungry.

Bags under eyes, sleepy feeling.  That feeling just got worse all day until I passed out and DNF'ed at Rucky Chucky.  That is the look of a "slowly poisoned central nervous system...staleness"  Add that to the list of things to watch out for while training.  

Much better.  Agitated, coiled and ready to spring.  Notice B never changes her clothes.  As always, Matty's beard commands respect.

Moving on to recent McCall adventures...

Cold and tired, just 2 days post-Bear.  Still got the "100 mile swol" in the face.  I was psyched to walk about 6 miles in the snow without too much pain.

The girls have their final fall fling on Bear Pete Mountain.  This is what happens when women go into the woods unsupervised!

A decent start.  Harmless fun, what could go wrong.

Must women always be making arts and crafts?  Katie's Natur-Gaiters. The natural gaiter.  

Before you know it, things have devolved into a twerk-fest. Bear Pete (a real guy) is turning over in his grave.   Serious disrespecting on hallowed ground of the IMTUF course.  Do you see what you've done Miley! Their 50K run aspirations are cut in half and suddenly beer is mentioned...ending all hopes of athletic achievement.  

They take the party to Bergdorf for more drunken debauchery.  The hot water adds to the buzz, as any IMTUF 100 runner can attest.

Mark and Bryce join the party after their day of biking Ruby and Loon.