TrailFactor 50k May 28th Portland Oregon

TrailFactor 50k Trail Races Forest Park, Portland OR May 28, 2012

Just a few days away till the local 50K Trail Ultra! I'm very excited to run the beautiful trails of Forest Park. I have been training hard there for the last year. Following the weather report it looks like wet and muddy trails! What more could you ask for?

Here is a description of the course and race:

Get ready for a course that will show you the true beauty of the diversity of the trails in Forest Park!  A course that was developed by runners who have spent many hours finding the secrets of the park.

Half Marathon runners will find a fast, but challenging course that rises quickly above Lower Macleay Park on Wildwood Trail.  Once you think you have leveled off a bit, you will get to experience a climb to the top of Wild Cherry and Dogwood Trails before descending again to Wildwood.  A quick section along Wildwood will take you to the turnaround at Firelane 1.  Then it's back the way you came, another quick climb up Dogwood Trail and then a nice fast descent to the finish!

The 50K course will follow the same first seven miles of the half marathon course, and then the fun begins.  Runners will plunge down Firelane 1 to Leif Erikson and then enjoy a relative flat section before winding their way up Nature Trail to reconnect with Firelane 1 and then Wildwood Trail.  After heading up Wildwood, runners will turn on Maple Trail, enjoying a beautiful downhill to Koenig Trail.  Then it's up Koenig Trail to Leif Erikson for a break and then straight down Firelane 4 to reconnect to Maple.  After running the full length of Maple Trail, the course will hit Leif Erikson to Wiregate Trail, then back on Wildwood Trail.  Half-way there!  Runners will then enjoy a burly uphill to the top of Firelane 5 and and the third aid station at the top.  

Then its time to cruise down Saltzman Road for over a mile before turning back on to Wildwood Trail for five rolling miles to the last aid station at the intersection at the top of Firelane 1.  From here, it almost all down hill to the finish . . . Except for the little climb back to the top of Dogwood Trail and Wild Cherry.

Watch this video of sections of the course, courtesy of Animal Athletics.

"I'm highly recommending this race for anyone that is one the fence...The course is challenging but not to overwhelming, absolutely breathtaking, and it's sure to be a great vibe." Read the rest of Yassine Diboun'sdescription of the 50K course.

Course Maps and Elevation Profile
Click the map to see the course and elevation profile:

We have a handy turns and distances chart you can download for reference.

Aid Stations/Drop Bags:
There is one well-stocked aid station for the Half Marathon and three for the 50K. You can count on GU in a variety of flavors, GU Brew, PB&J, bananas, potatoes, chips, M&Ms, gummy bears, water, and other ultra-fare. You are welcome to carry your own aid.

Paul Nelson

http://www.teambuilders.tv

http://www.paulmnelson.com
http://animalathleticspdx.com/

xocai teamx88 adampaulgreen paulmnelson jj birden

                                                                   

Avalon Benefit 50 Mile Run Review
Ultra Runner and Extreme Athlete Paul Michael Nelson (Portland, Oregon) has an Supreme Secret Training Advantage Over the Average Joe Runner (Xocai Healthy Chocolate) Who Participates in the Avalon 50 Miler in Beautiful Crescent & the Pier, Avalon, CA - Santa Catalina Island

Annual Avalon Benefit 50 Mile Run
Saturday January, 12th at 5:00 am
History of the Avalon Benefit 50 Mile Run:  One of the country's most challenging and scenic 50-milers. No cars, no smog, just great terrain, incredible views, fascinating historical sites, a well-organized race, nice people, great food . . . and even an occasional buffalo sighting. ALL proceeds from entry fees and sponsored mileage go to charity and is a fundraiser for the Avalon Lion’s Club.  http://www.avalon50.com/Welcome to the 32nd Annual Avalon Benefit 50 Mile Run! This race is known as one of the country's most challenging and scenic 50-milers. No cars, no smog, just great terrain, incredible views, fascinating historical sites, a well-organized race, nice people, great food . . . and even an occasional buffalo sighting.  http://www.avalon50.com/race-directors-letter

We strive to manage an extraordinary running experience that not only offers you a beautiful & challenging run, but also some insight into this fun historic run! In return, we wish to remind you that this is a "BENEFIT RUN" and all the money raised (small or large) is greatly appreciated. Please note that all of the entry fees combined, depending upon the total number of entries, barely covers the costs of putting on the race. Therefore, the sponsor pledge sheets are the only way we raise money for our various charities. Charities include: Avalon Hospital, Avalon High School Scholarships, the Catalina Island Conservancy, the Bill Putnam Health Care Fund and other local organizations.  http://www.avalon50.com/race-a-registration-info 

Early Fee: $85 run only; banquet ticket $30 each (make check payable to: Avalon Lions Club)
Late Fee: $100- Starting on Monday, December 3, 2012; banquet ticket $35 if purchased race weekend
Course: 50-mile out and back on scenic fire roads from Avalon to the Isthmus and return; takes runners through island's interior, which is generally closed.
See Course Map and Aid Stations Locations.
Aid: Eight aid stations with water, Gatorade, defizzed cola, bananas, oranges, pretzels, M&Ms, and Gummi Bears (Drop bags at Little Harbor only!)
Drop Bag: Remember to bring clothing that will adapt to the weather and a flashlight for the early morning start and initial run.
Be sure to label any articles you want back! (Drop bags at Little Harbor only!)
Age Group Awards: 18-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-Over

                                                                              Paul Michael Nelson 

So you may be asking yourself "Who gets up at 3 am to run 50 miles?!". I was asking myself the same thing the morning of the race. This was my first 50 miler and I was running with some of the best runners in the world, even Barefoot Ted was there, you may recognize his name from the book "Born to Run".  

I had studied the layout and elevation changes of the race diligently..... hadn't thought about it being pitch black during those first 5 miles of straight up! There were certainly more hills than I had remembered, but the beautiful coves, the wild buffalo, and the great support from the team and aid stations made up for it. At the 28 mile mark, my feet were very swollen ( I had been combating plantar fasciitis for some time now ). One of the aid station volunteers sprayed my shoes down with a cooling agent that felt awesome and certainly made the difference in getting me back on the road.As I was running along side the ocean I thought several times about how good it was going to feel when I soaked my aching feet in the cold ocean at the end of the race. The last bit of race was straight down for 6 miles. I broke a brutal 7 minute pace completing the race strong. The torture I had just put my body through was deadened only slightly by the cold water and my adrenaline rush. My body became overrun with inflammation.

In training, the inflammation was there, but I had been controlling it well with a natural anti inflammatory supplement. Now I was planning on hitting it hard with Xocai's High Anti-oxidant, high polyphenol, anti-inflammatory chocolate shake. Cocoa in its natural form combined with chia and other powerful ingredients has made Xocai's shake an essential part of my training and recovery.    

htt://www.paulmnelson.com

http://adampaulgreen.com

                                                                  

                                                                                                           

                                                                                                               

   

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Paul Michael Nelson, 32nd Annual Avalon Benefit 50 Mile Run, Avalon Hospital, Avalon High School Scholarships, Catalina Island Conservancy, the Bill Putnam Health Care Fund, Xocai, Healthy Chocolate, Xovita, Xoservice, X Protein Shake, Xe Energy Drink

The North Face Single-Track Hayasa Review

The North Face Single-Track Hayasa Review

Steamboat100 Trail Run

Extreme Athlete’s Paul Michael Nelson (Oregon, 97267) is Running Colorado’s Rigorous “Steamboat 100” All Loaded up on Xocai’s Healthy Dark Chocolate Products

Posted on April 5, 2012

Xocai delicious Healthy Chocolate is going to be running and participating in the 6th Annual “Steamboat 100” Ultra Marathon (http://runrabbitrunsteamboat.com/).

The 2012 Run-Rabbit-Run will be held September 17th and it always is exciting!

(http://runrabbitrunsteamboat.com/100-mile-course) The course is a spectacular 50 mile run through the beautiful Colorado mountains and fall colors of the Routt National Forest of northern Colorado. The race starts bright and early at the Steamboat Springs ski area (elevation, 6,900 feet) and proceeds up, up, up to Mount Werner (elevation, 10,568 feet) then goes up and down and up and down some more and then across the Continental Divide to Rabbit Ears Mountain (elevation, 10,500 feet) before heading back and way down to the ski area. The course will have nearly 22,000 feet of climbing. This course will test the endurance and spirit of any runner, whether you’re a tortoise or a hare. The Run-Rabbit-Run course is very much like life, in that there are many, many little and not so little ups and downs in between the obvious highs and lows. Be prepared. Any resemblance between the course profile and rabbit ears is purely coincidental.

Paul and Jocelyn Nelson have owned and operated their own electrical contracting business (Nelson Electric) for over 10 years where they have helped 1000’s of people create “light.” Paul Nelson and Jocelyn Nelson were introduced to Xocai by Mixed Martial Arts coach Robert Follis, Team Quest (Oregon, 97627), who has trained some of the best know, Mixed Martial Art Fighters in the world including these standouts: Matt Lindland, Randy Couture, and Dan Henderson to name a few. Robert knew that Xocai’s High Antioxidant and restorative capabilities would help Paul in his training recovery. As a side benefit, they have shared the Healthy Chocolate with friends and family and ultimately have replaced Jocelyn’s income as a Physical Therapist and supplemented their Electrical Contracting income in Oregon (97267). Paul and Jocelyn Nelson are using the products exclusively in all of their sports activities. They have found their recovery time and endurance to be improving immensely.

Paul Nelson Steamboat 100 Xocai