Race Preview: McNaughton 150

April 2007: 100 Miles - 34 Hours 15 Minutes


April 2008: 100 Miles - 33 Hours 33 Minutes (150 DNF)


When: Friday, April 10, 2009
Start: 12:00 PM CDT
Distance: 150 Miles
Terrain: 10 Mile Loop x15 - 100% Roller Coaster Single Track Trails + 2 Creek Crossings Per Loop.
Goals: 1.) FINISH
2.) Sub 45 Hours
3.) Sub 43 Hours

I'll be twittering from the event LIVE.
Follow along at the following address: www.twitter.com/sherpajohn
You can also follow along here: http://www.timetorun.net/Results/results.html
----------------------------------

The time has come to return to Illinois. I'm always excited to return seeing as it's the place of my first 100 miler back in 2007. I'm excited until that gun goes off and the race starts. Then everything becomes all too familiar once again. Every tree, every stone, every blade of grass... you remember it all from the years past. It all melts together again.. and on the very first loop you all ready feel like you've been out there forever. 10 Miles loops, 15 times. The same 2 river crossings, 15 times (= 30 crossings). On and on and on. It never ends. When the race is over, and you leave the park.. it haunts you in your dreams. More loops, more crossings. It's all you think about. You run the races through your head, replay mistakes and plan for the future. The future is finally here, the future it finally now. Now it's my time to get out there and correct the mistakes, take on the challenge again. Keep moving forward. Keep running through the journey in my mind, and conquer the 150 miles at the park.

It's Easter. That means it's that time of year again when I remember my best friend. My grandfather passed away on April 11th 2006. He'd be so proud of what I've accomplished. The places I've been, the people I've met... the money we've raised. I know he's watching. As I pack my bags I pack up the laminated obituary, his dog tags from WWII, and the shirt I have with his face on the front. He spent the last 14 years of his life in a wheelchair... I'll run the miles he couldn't in his memory as I have the last 2 years this weekend. I'll be thinking of him the entire time.

So off we go to McNaughton Park. I feel as ready as I possibly can right now. It's been a long road through this past winter given the depression and the surgery. Hopefully we hold up well mentally and physically. I'm feeling good. I have a nagging hamstring but I don't see it being a race problem. Good luck to all else who will be running! Please, feel free to say hello. If you will be in the area and want to run, I need a pacer! Otherwise, I'll be by myself on this wonderful adventure. Happy Trails!

Past McNaughton Race Reports:
2007 Race Report
2008 Race Report

Weather Outlook:
Friday: A 50 percent chance of showers. Cloudy, with a high near 53.
Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 33.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 57.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 34.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 58.

And now... my inspirational video