93.9 miles

I don't even have enough fingers to count the close friends who have run 93.9 miles (or more) in one day. Unfortunately, for me, that equals the total mileage for the month of August 2009. Since I have been keeping track of my mileage, only in November of 2006, when I was running marathons 44-48 of the year, have I even come close to that few miles. My 114.8 miles that month only came on 8 runs (4 marathons and 4 two mile runs) too. But that what happens when you take a nose dive over Schwinnie Cooper.


But the bright side of things is that I am back to running. Sore, feeling supremely out-of-shape and wishing things did hurt, but running. Only twelve times in a month where I could have been getting majorly in shape I laced up my shoes with 28% of my total monthly mileage coming from Pikes Peak Marathon. And two of those times were today! (Ironically, in June, 36% of my monthly mileage came on one day as well at the Sawtooth Relay. Hmmmm).

But on a day when I earlier posted about Erik Skaggs going to the hospital I am happy to be running at all. Which leads me to an Erik update. Apparently he has been released from the hospital and while he is not completely out of the woods yet, looks like he will do just fine *fingers crossed*

And given that my posting about Erik was one of my most viewed blog postings ever, that just goes to show you what a tight knit group runners are. In fact, my mother added in an email today:

"I also made a note of Erik's situation and address....if everyone reading your blog sent $20.00 and a get well card, the man would be out of financial worries soon.....and have enough reading for a day or so !!!

Will do my part as soon as I send this to you.

Love ya, mommyR"

Even runners' moms are good people. :)

Here's to a super speedy recovery, Erik!

Help for Erik Skaggs

If you run marathons and ultras and don't know who Erik Skaggs is, you should. While his brother Kyle is best know for absolutely obliterating the course record of the 100 mile Hardrock race (a race so difficult it makes me cringe to even think about it - and I don't cringe. Seriously, it has 33,000' total elevation gain, 11,186' average elevation, low point 7,680' at Ouray, high point 14,048' at Handies Peak.) Erik is no slouch himself in ultrarunning.

Erik most recently bested the course record at the Where's Waldo 100k by nearly an hour! Unfortunately, about a day or so after the race, Erik began experiencing pain, was admitted to the hospital and appears to have suffered renal failure (kidneys). While currently in good spirits, (reports have him timing splits on laps around the hospital wing) he may be in for a battle ahead.

Taken from the Rogue Valley Runners website:

"Many friends throughout the ultrarunning community have already asked how they can help. One of Erik’s biggest concerns is the mounting medical bill. Erik does not have health insurance. He may be eligible for some assistance through his membership with USA Track and Field, but will no doubt require monies for the deductible and for the expected costs well above the coverage.

An Ashland runner and friend of Erik’s has opened a bank account at Umpqua Bank in Ashland, Oregon to receive donations that will be used to help defray these medical expenses. You can contribute by sending a check to Umpqua Bank, 250 N. Pioneer Street, Ashland, OR 97520 made out to the “Erik Skaggs Medical Fund.” Any assistance that you could provide would be much appreciated by Erik. Please note that the Fund name should be on the outside of the envelope."

In addition, cards can be sent to Rogue Valley Runners c/o Erik Skaggs, 161 E. Main St. Ashland, OR 97520.

Keep Erik in your thoughts and well-wishes as updates are posted HERE. Also, while I no doubt am sure that if Erik had thought he was in danger of hurting himself, he would have slowed down, remember that we all must listen to your bodies. There is a difference between discomfort and pain. Pain is an indicator. If you have it, listen to it.

Run safely, friends.

The First Run Back

Ever since I took a tumble over my handlebars a few weeks ago, I have been wondering not only when I would run again but also if the time off would heal some nagging other injuries as well. And while most of my energy has been spent on fixing the immediate injury, the AC separation in my shoulder, it was the bruised ribs and hip sustained on my dirt dive on Pikes Peak which seem to have the more lingering painful side effects.

Regardless of all of this, I have felt like I could run with very little pain in my shoulder for close to a week now. And as Friday evening ended, and I was feeling more and more lethargic, I decided it was time to try out the running legs. Part of it was the energy I received from the book signings the last two days at Shu's Idaho Running Company, part was my general antsiness and part was watching Spirit of the Marathon.


Whatever the reason, while I was a little disappointed that my achilles had not healed in the few weeks of rest I had given it, I was quite pleased that my shoulder felt relatively good and my ribs only hurt so-so. What was amazing to me was how quickly I had lost some of my physical fitness. sure it should come back quickly as I build my running back up, but just a few weeks off had set me back a great deal. This is the perfect example of why we, as humans, need to continue staying fit every day. This does not mean we must be working out at the gym or ding wind sprints or playing 4 hours of basketball each and every day. Rather it means we must do something physically active, anything physically active, every day. As we grow to be a much more sedentary society with each passing year, where the vast majority of us only get exercise when we set time aside to do so (because of cars and luxuries and convenience of the modern age in America) we must do exactly that: set time aside to be fit.

There are no such excuses as "I do not have the time." Yes, you do. You must MAKE the time. If that means 20 less minutes of sleep so you can go briskly walk a mile and a half, then so be it. The sleep you are still getting will be much better for you because of the exercise you are adding to your life. Exercise is absolutely critical to our existence.

I know, what do I know right? I get questions all the time from people who doubt the validity of my claims. I guess my own personal life experiences and vast amount of exercise experiments mean nothing. That's OK. You needn't trust me. Trust the Mayo Clinic and their study on the Seven Benefits of Regular Exercise.

So me or Mayo, it doesn't mater. If you are physically able to do so, get out there and do something active today. Little by little we can solve so many of the world's problems by tackling our own health (mental and physical) issues first.

And by the way, tell someone today, who you may not have told in a long time, that you love them. And mean it.

Back to Boise!

In April I made my first ever trip to the state of Idaho, with a book signing at one of the premiere running stores in the area: Shu's! And you needn't take my word on it as whenever I mention Shu's both Bill Rodgers and Dick Beardsley tell me to give my best to the owner. That's a ring endorsement if I have ever heard one!



I too showed my support for Shu's (and they for me), when I ran the 62 mile Sawtooth Relay as a solo runner back in June. Wearing his trademark socks, hat and shirt for a vast majority of my run I bested 70 of the nearly 300 teams of 6 running the near 100k!


As such, I am quite pleased to be back at Shu's today to be signing copies of See Dane Run once again at his Idaho Running Company store. While the original intention was also to lead one of his many Thursday night runs, I may have to sit this one out given my recent shoulder injury. Fortunately, it is not my signing hand, so if you are in the area on Thursday, come on down to Shu's!

On Saturday, I follow-up my signing at Shu's by heading over to See Jane Run (not a typo but a similarly named store to my book) to sign copies of my book from noon until 5 PM.


As SJR will also be having one of their biggest sales of the year, there is no better time to get your new fall gear, stock up on whatever it is you need to get out the door running and get your own copy of See Dane Run.

As Keli C. from Thunder Bay Ontario says:
"Your book - I have just finished it - I enjoyed it completely. I was wishing I was on this journey with you. It sounds like an amazing thing." I have learned to never argue with people from cities that have the word Thunder in it. Just a personal choice.

See you in the Gem State!

Anti Monkey Butt Powder

The titles of this posting seems to be a joke but I guarantee you I am 100% serious. Well, maybe 97%. But this product truly does exist and continuing with my Can't-Run-So-I-Am-Catching-Up-On-Product-Reviews section I bring you my review of Anti Monkey Butt Powder.

As I have mentioned on a variety of occasions, when I workout, run, think about working out or watch other people workout, I sweat. A great deal. I am told it is healthy and it sure makes me feel like I have done a great bit of hard effort but the fact remains I sweat. Sweating leads to chafing and over a marathon distance or longer, chafing is BAD.

Fortunately, upon my move from the greater Washington DC area to Salt Lake City, one of the wonderful things I learned about the high desert climate was the low humidity. It can somehow make a 90 degree day very bearable as rivulets of sweat are no longer coursing down my body the moment I step outside. As such, I have been fortunate enough to not need to worry about chafing when I am home. But if you just look to the sidebar of my blog here, you can see I am not home that often. And Many times I am in places with lots of humidity.

I received some Anti Monkey Butt Powder in the mail from the kind folks at the company the day I got home after spending the 4th of July in Florida. I could have used it down there no doubt! But my racing schedule was rather lax and my travel schedule much greater in July and August so I did not really get a chance to put it to good testing use.

When I went to Pikes Peak to, I thought, ONLY do the expo, for whatever reason I also packed the Anti Monkey Butt Powder. (I am enjoying typing that by the way.) I must have somehow known I was going to run the marathon. Now, Pikes Peak has very little humidity as well so I knew there was not going to be much need to talc up my lower regions. However, Pikes Peak has seven thousand feet of downhill running and I know that I have a tendency to develop hotspots when I run such steep downhills.

So, into the shoes my AMBP(what the cool kids call it) went. And in spite of the fact that I looked like I had been hit by shrapnel when I finished the race, one thing that I didn't have a problem with were blisters from sweaty feet and slippage.


Would I need to do a little more field-testing before I can say that it will cure cancer? Sure. But if it can stand up to the rigors of a 180 pound man, going down the side of a mountain with major hitch in my giddyup because of the tumble I took at mile 15 I would have to say that it will help you out as well!

POM Wonderful

One of the byproducts of being laid up from running is that I can finally get around to speaking about some of the products that I have tried recently. First on that list is POM Wonderful.

First and absolutely foremost, ANY product which is fun and audacious enough to have a flash-type animation of its product talk about my prostate, gets at least a second look.


I am sure you have all seen the POM bottles out there. Sold in distinctive double bulb-shaped clear plastic bottles, they are hard to miss. And when I received a sample of the product with its health benefits talking not only about how it will help problems not only with the prostate but also erectile dysfunction, I was curious if I was supposed to drink this stuff or just pour it directly on my nether-regions.

I am skeptical of most products. When told I need to do something to run faster or do better, I simply point to how I have not done any of those things and continue to run faster and do better in spite of a vast volume of marathons in a short period of time (which I, ironically, was told would be detrimental to my running faster or doing better.) However, regardless of what POM would do to my boy parts, I knew it was high in antioxidants, and even with as little research I have done into eating healthy (a former girlfriend pointed out I mostly eat like a 5th grader), I know that antioxidants are good for you. Just what the doctor ordered, right POM?

You can read all you want about POM's research and clinical references on your own time. I am not hear to dispute or confirm any of those. And unfortunately, because I am not running it is a little hard for me to tell whether POM is making me feel better or heal more quickly or run faster. However, I can say that the stuff tastes pretty darn good (if maybe just a tad too sharp for my 5th grade eating habit tongue) and if it is made of 100% pomegranate juice, then it must be good for you as well.

A little sidenote I was not aware of: The "wonderful" part is not just arrogance on POM's part. apparently, there is a variety of pomegranate that is called "wonderful" not unlike "concord" grape juice. Hmmm. Will it cure cancer? I have no idea. Does it have a nice bitey taste to it and is jammed full of all the things your body needs? I would have to say yes!

Maybe POM does deserve its cape.

Long Beach International City Bank Marathon

As fall rapidly approaches (really?!), the marathon schedule begins to fill! Over the next few days I will be mentioning the races that I will be running or presenting at as they are confirmed. First off, I will be spending mid-October in beautiful Southern California as I will be presenting and running at the Long Beach International City Bank Marathon.

I never thought the day would come where things celebrating their 25th anniversary would be 8 years younger than me.

Celebrating its 25th year, the race has asked me to be a presenter at its Health and Fitness expo. With a race course as unbelievably flat and fast as this, (winning times are often in the 2:TEEN range!) I could not pass up. I mean, look at this elevation profile!

Gotta love the comparison to Boston!

Helmed by Bob Seagren, one of America's greatest pole vaulters ever, the Long Beach Marathon is sure to be a treat for all as we run up and down the Pacific Shoreline come this October.

I hope to see you there!

Come on Nebraska!

Was checking out my page views today for my blog and I noticed in the last week, no one from Nebraska had looked at the DaneGer Zone. I am hurt! This couldn't be because after the Cornhuskers stole the National Football championship from Penn State following the 1994 season I wore a Nuck Febraska t-shirt around for a whole week is it? (I still own that shirt and WILL whip it out soon. Don't tempt me!)


Spending the weekend healing and signing books at the Park City Marathon expo. Going to try and track down someone from Nebraska simply so they will look at my site. Details later.

Grand Teton Races

While I was able to complete my goal of running my 100th marathon at the Pikes Peak Marathon this last weekend, I did so by paying a price. Fortunately the tumble I took did not injure my already separated shoulder any more than it already was. Unfortunately, I have laid the smackdown not only on my knee and ankle but also my ribs and my hip. Suffice it to say, I am hurting.

To clear up confusion, this is my hip. Ouch, huh?

As such, a re-evaluation of plans was in store. Speaking with my friend, Lisa Smith-Batchen, I was honored when she invited me to come to her weekend of racing in the Grand Teton Mountains of Wyoming.




Prior to my injury I was supposed to be visiting here this week anyway and we figured there was no better time to reschedule them to have me come up on the Labor Day weekend to help kick off a fantastic series of races: The Grand Teton Races!

In its 4th year, all told this weekend of racing has something for everyone: Kids races, a 10k, a trail marathon, a 50 mile race and a 100 mile race. And if you aren't a runner (and I have to say I am flattered you are reading this!) then simply head over to the Grand Targhee Resort for a massage or a swim or ride the chair lift to the top of Fred's mountain!

I will not be racing, or better yet, I SHOULD not be racing. A little over two weeks from today, I am sure that I will be in no shape to even think about running. And even if I will be healed I will be in no shape to tackle to races being put on. Instead, I will be in the Grand Teton Mountains to sign copies of See Dane Run for all of the runners there. I will also be scoping out the races as I fully intend to be there next year and give the winners a run for their money.

Now, the only question which remains is will I be doing the marathon, the 50 miler or the century? Hmm.

Charity Chaser - Mississippi Blues Marathon

I am excited to announce that I will be once again starting at the absolute back of the pack and then chasing down runners to benefit charity. This time, it will be at the Mississippi Blues Marathon, in Jackson Mississippi.




You may recall from an earlier blog that I started this year off in Jackson, making not only my first ever marathon in Mississippi but first ever trip to the Magnolia State. While we had uncharacteristically humid weather for the race, even for January, the wise runner looks past weather to rate a course and how it is run. Having now been involved with actually running races, designing courses and also directing marathons, I do my best to see a race from all angles. From the very beginning I could see the MS Blues Marathon people want to make this weekend fun and enjoyable for every single runner there.

As such, when I was asked back to take my Charity Chaser role to Jackson, I jumped at the chance. We are working out the details about how my legs will benefit those in this wonderful state but I could not hold off speaking about how excited I am that I will once again be heading South come January. An on top of everything else, I get to once again spend time with my friend Bill Rodgers.


More details will be posted as they are confirmed, but I hope to see all of you down in Jackson this January! Should be a fantastic time!