What About Hills

 

 

 

Do you run hills?  I have always incorporated running hills into my training.  They are great in the winter when doing track work is impossible because of the snow.  They help you with strength and form and let’s not forget about the mental toughness you get from running them.

 However, there are other sides to the hill.  There are hill races that are on the roads and trails.   There are exploring runs that can take you to extreme heights  and we can’t forget about downhill.   Yes, there are down hill races of all distances like Jack and Jills downhill marathon. 

I have had the honor to participate in every type of these runs.  I am sure many of you have also.  Here are a few of my favorite hills.

Elk Mound run to the Castle

Ogema to Timm’s hill (Highest point in Wisconsin)

La Crosse Civic center to Grand Dad bluff and back

Mt Washington Road Race (NH)

Smugglers pass  in Aspen (Co)

King Arthurs Seat Scottland England at the end of the royal mile,

 

Let us know your favorite hill near or far for we love them all!

 

Good Running  Friends!

Do you have a Running Bucket list

 Hello Friends!

Do you have a running Bucket list?

I decided that the need for a BUCKET LIST of things that I want to accomplish is prudent.  

 I think this is something that most runners should consider. The first items I added to my bucket list were simple.  I decided that I want to run a race at every possible distance up to 50K.  This was a great idea because I could also obtain some new PR’s with these new and obscure distances.    The next items were a little bit dreamy and not as easy to achieve but were well worth putting on the list.  I thought running a few more marathons were in the picture.  I decided that New York and London Marathons should be on the list and possible all the marathon Majors.  Then I thought how about trying something a little bit crazy.  I added to the list Running of the Bulls in Spain to try something with heart pumping adrenaline.  As I worked on this list I came to the conclusion that there will never be an end to my bucket list and always something I will aspire too.  I believe that every runner needs something to dream about even if you are not into racing.  It gives you a purpose to get out and run on the tough and stressful days.

Good Running

Spring Fever 2023

With Covid in the review mirror we are  honored to have brought back this longtime staple race  of ITC.  As times change and new challenges present themselves, we at ITC had to evolve also to make Spring Fever happen.

It is no secret that non profit groups struggle to get volunteers in todays environment.  ITC falls into this category.   With limited resources a small group pulled together in  November 2022 and set forth on bringing the Spring Fever race back to life.

The challenges:

For over 20 years the Spring Fever race resided in Altoona, WI. For those who live in the area know that there have been many changes to this community.   This posed a few challenges but also new opportunities,  With all  these changes Altoona developed a wonderful trail system.  After spending some time running the new trails we decide on a route that started at Hobbs and took advantage of the beautiful trail that ran along the Eau Claire river.  

The next challenge was all the paperwork  that was needed  for permitting the event. We worked with the city of Altoona  to make this happen.  They were very helpful and instrumental to make our event happen safely.  We thank you for our support of the event!  

The last challenge, volunteers for the race.  We were able to secure volunteers for the race from the Mondovi tack and cross-country team and some longtime ITC members.  All the pieces came together for race day.   

The race :

The weather was cool and cloudy for the race and better than the forecast that predicted rain.   People started showing up for registration and packet pick up. The race was close to starting and we could feel the stress as we had a new course and a lot of unknowns as it was a new course.

We called the runners to the starting line at 8:57.  Once the runners massed together we gave a some last-minute instructions  about the route and let the runners know the first half was all down hill for the first 3 miles, down to the river and the second half there were some hills, so run accordingly. Then at exactly 9:00 we gave  the start!

The lead biker was off and the runners hooked onto his tire and the conga line was off and running. As each second ticked off we were wondering what was going in the runners space.   Would they like the course , is the course marked well enough, is anybody going to get lost, were our efforts worth while.  

As we stood there with these thoughts racing through our mind we saw the lead biker and our first runner approaching .   We were now anticipating the first feed back of the race.  We stood by the clock at the finish line and then he was in.  It was Austin John a young man that never ran any of the Altoona trails before.  We walked directly to him to get his feedback.  He liked the route and said he had no issues and would not change anything.  It was a little bit of relief but he had the lead biker to follow so we still had some concerns.  As the runners continued roll in we felt more and more relief as there were very few issued on the course.

After the race we presented awards to the runners and chatted with the finishers for feed back for the 2024 race which was appreciated.

In conclusion ITC was pleased to bring this race to you and thanks you for running/walking.  We strive to put on events to help people get out the door and train for something  that helps your health!

Thank you for supporting ITC.  Your support helps  us keep putting on these events.

Here's to good running and good heath!

   

  

 

PRAYERS FOR FRED

Please join us in sending out prayers for Fred Hable, a long-time friend on the local running scene who is in hospice care in Bloomer.

During a recent visit with him we found Fred his usual friendly, upbeat self, despite a terminal lung cancer diagnosis.

This was not surprising, as Fred has always been one to take on life in classic runner fashion—head on with good cheer.

Since the mid 1980s, Fred, 62, has been a fixture on the local running scene both as a participant and organizer.

His long list of running accomplishments includes finishing over 500 races through the years. He has completed 69 marathons, 10 of them under 2 hours and 50 minutes.

As a long-time member of the Indianhead Track Club (ITC), Fred served as club president; race director of the Tortoise and Hare 5K for 13 years; and organizer of numerous other events, including the See Dick Run and Beer and M & Ms fun runs.

Fred often hosted fun runs from his family’s farm in Bloomer as well.

For his many contributions to local running, Fred was inducted into the ITC Hall of Fame a number of years ago.

Along with his long-time presence at local running events, Fred has long been a fixture at Fleet Feet on Water Street where he has worked for many years.

Local runner John Bachman put it well in a recent post on the Chippewa Valley Trail Runners Facebook page when he wrote that “Buying a pair of running shoes from Fred is always an adventure. Three minutes about shoes and 20 minutes of running stories.”

With his kind soul, gift of gab and many years of running experience, Fred definitely has many great stories to tell.

One of our favorites is not so much a story as it is Fred’s take on what it’s like to experience a good run.

“It’s like catching a wave,” Fred says.

Thanks Fred for all of the fun waves that you’ve brought into our lives over the years.

Whatever the future brings, we know that you’ll be catching many more of them in the years to come!

Have you felt Foxy today?

 Have you Ran today?

Tell us about your run, we always love to hear from you!

Today it was -2.8 when I woke, I made coffee and the aroma consumed me as I thought about what I was going to wear on my long run.  I poured my first cup of morning joe and slowly sipped on it as I laid out my running gear. 

I opted for my medium cold weather gear, and I was out the door to meet my running friends. I arrived at our meeting point and waited for people to arrive.  The sun was peeking over the morning horizon, and it was time to go.  We took off on our run and I mentioned there was less than 100 days before Boston and I needed to ramp up my training as I was going to run it this year.   It has been 15 years since I ran Boston and I have forgotten what training for a spring marathon was like. 

 I have always run year-round regardless of the weather, but the importance of quality training is now at the top of my list.  As we ran, we talked about how we have trained in the past, the good the bad and the ugly. The miles flew by as we talked about training and the importance of a few rest days in the training plan.  As we hit 4.5 miles, we saw an eagle by the Chippewa River sitting on a branch looking at us as we ran.  The winter sun was shining on this huge bird, and we wished we had a camera to catch this wonderful sight.

As the miles built, we ran buy the high bridge.  This is a bridge in Eau Claire Wisconsin that we ran across for years, but it is currently under repairs.  We stopped for a minute to examine and marvel at the work that was being undertaken.  They built a temporary road across our wonderful Chippewa River to make the repairs to this bridge which we wished we could have run across.  However, after a minute we were back on the run putting one foot in front of the other.  The miles were clicking off again and we were again chattering like chatter boxes about our upcoming races or possible races.  As we finished this great 11 mile run, the sun was bright and the cold was not cold for the sun made the day wonderful!

As we parted ways, I felt the runners high on the way home and I basked in the winter sun feeling wonderful as I drove.  When I got home and pulled my vehicle in my garage.  I entered my home and I looked out my back yard window.  I saw two foxes frolicking in my yard by my garden.  They were so beautiful, there fur was so full and thick, and their play was addictive to watch, and I could not stop.  They dug in the snow and played all day and then they curled up in little balls on top of the snow and they slept away.

I knew after watching their play, my running could not wane. So, Sunday’s run will be full of play as I run 10 miles frolicking like the foxes in play.   I hope you too have a great day running and frolicking like foxes in play!

  Say la vie

 Have you Ran today?

Let us know if you have ran!

Today's topic  The Original Eau Claire Marathon

 

In 1981 guy named Rick Kettner walked into the office os Ken Van Es who was then the Superintendent of Recreation For the City of Eau Claire Parks and Recreation Department. Rick was not a runner. He in fact owned a sign Company here in Eau Claire that did BillBoard advertising. Rick indicated that he wanted to sponsor a marathon. His vision was to grow it into a marathon that would compete with Grandmas” marathon in Duluth. Between Rick and Ken they put together a committee consisting of Lloyd Fleig, Roger Hubbard, Jerry Foote, Maggie Foote (no relation)Lynn Sondreal, Joan Angell, Mark Vollendorf and Dr. Gene Enders. This group comprised representatives a cross section of the community including Veteran Runners, public safety, public relations and local businesses.

 

The first race was held in May of 1982. The course Started in Downtown Eau Claire. Wound out to the roads in the Town of Seymour and came back across highway 53 on Birch Street to finish at North High School.The race had 95 Finishers and was won by Andy Schultz from Arcadia in a time of 2:43;07. Rick Recker from Minneapolis was second and Dave Fitzgerald was the Top Eau Claire finisher in Third place. His time was 2:48:16. The first Women’s finisher was Pamela Jones from River fFalls in 3:36:42

 

The second marathon was held May 8th 1983.Again it started in Downtown Eau Claire but this new course went out North Shore Drive all the way to Hwy K and then wound around to finish at Lake Altoona Beach. Barney Klecker a record holder in the 50 mile race showed up at the starting line 15 minutes late. Without much warm up he started the race. Bill Danielson from Eau Claire was leading the race but by mile 17 Klecker caught him and passed him. Klecker won the race in 2:24:18 Danielson was second in 2:36:00. John Kann from Rice Lake was third in 2:37:16. The first female finisher was Sherry Stuber from Eau Claire. She finished in 3:31:11. There were 93 finishers that year. It should be noted that the Marathon was broadcast on the radio locally that year with Lloyd Fleig doing the color commentary. It should also be noted that 1983 was the year when Don the Marathon Man came to Eau Claire.m He was running a marathon a week and chose the Indianhead Marathon as one.

 

The Marathon was held again in 1984 and 1985. Peaking with approximately 125 entries. After the Fourth event it was decided that it was not growing as the Steering Committee had hoped so the Marathon was stopped at four

 Say la vie