I spent five months training, planning and getting clear on why I want to run the Mt Hood 50 miler. Today is the day, I am off to the races, I am off and away.

My alarm sounds at 4am. I am awake in a quiet campground filled with people, horses and animals sleeping near. I brew some coffee, use the restroom and spend the next hour preparing for the adventure ahead. My morning routine is relaxing and consists of nothing more than nourishing my body, some reading and getting dressed. All of my gear was in order the day prior.

5am rolls around and my supportive girlfriend jumps out of bed to drive me half a mile to the start line at Clackamas Ranger Station. The wait is almost over.

I checked in, got my bib and lubed up the areas of my body that would otherwise suffer.

530am: The race starts in minutes and I cannot help but just feel an overwhelming sense of peace and gratitude. I guess all the training truly did prepare me for this moment. 

After a few announcements and some race information from the coordinator we are off.

My girlfriend Nicole stops at mile one to make a silly comment. “Go Scott! You only have 49 miles left.”

The miles begin ticking by as I enjoy some early morning conversations with fellow runners. Little do I know but I am running with an international fleet of 100+ crazy ultra marathoners all with one common goal. Finish a 50 mile foot race in less than 12.5 hours. The elites will finish in sub 7 and by the end of the day more than 25 people will DNF.

Aid station 1 by Little Crater Lake is manned by some cheery and smiling faces. At this point my body is just warming up for the challenges ahead. My mind is at peace and it is just me, the forest and runners spread wide.


Aid station 2 at mile 9.2 was energizing. I saw my parents for the first time and a few other people that braved the early morning hours.

Mile 10 blessed me with an incredible view of Mt Hood and a truly meditative experience. I paused for a few minutes to take in the view, forest and just how incredible it was to be experiencing what I was. A true adventure!

Aid station 3 near Frog Lake was my first turnaround at mile 14.2. I took my time (2 or 3 minutes) to consume some calories, salt tablets and share my thanks to those that volunteered to help support us. Again, I was off. I settled back into a comfortable 10 - 12 minute / mile pace.

Within a mile the elites who started a whole hour after me crossed me running in the opposite direction only to pass me up within a few miles. Wow! They were cruising at sub 8 minute pace. Incredible to see what the body is capable of with the right team, tools, training and attitude. Inspiring!

At this point in the race my mind and body are still feeling full of energy. I feel alive, present and grounded. The miles continue ticking.

Around mile 24 I did not pick my feet up enough and got SLAMMED. I am grateful that my body crashed onto a soft section of the trail. There were several other runners that were not so lucky. These crashes resulted in bruised and battered body parts, twisted ankles and in many cases DNF’s. Who said running was a safe sport? If you try to beat nature you will inevitably lose.

After my stumble I stood up, brushed off the dirt, laughed a little and picked my pace back up.

I hammered out the next 6 miles at sub 10 minute mile pace. My mind and body were floating down the trail toward the start line which represented aid station 6. I spent 5 minutes with my feet resting on a cooler, filled my body with nutrition (coke, candy bars, banana and blueberries) and I was off for the second half of the race.

From this point on things got hard. Real hard. Mentally and physically I could feel myself slipping in and out of states that I had never experienced before. At times it seemed as though the temperature got higher with each foot step. It was only 11am and pushing 90 degrees. Not ideal for a run. 

Aid station 7 at mile 33 was fully exposed. The volunteers offered me up a hat full of ice and filled my water bladder with ice. This was truly a life saver. Right before taking off from AS7 someone wished me luck with this statement: “Good luck! The next 11 miles are the hardest.”

Leading up to mile 38 there were many times in which I wanted to turn around and go back to the start or just take a nap on the side of the trail. I made it through some of the most challenging mental and physical moments of my life. For that I am grateful.


The video below was taken during some of the harder moments of the race. I was question why I was really out there. For the challenge I guess. To see what I am really mentally and physically capable of. 

I started running again a little more than a month ago. After a month and half off you could say the running legs were rusty. Several weeks of rapidly increasing my mileage and summoning up the willpower to experience my first ever birthday marathon was one of the best choices I made all year. And, this was my 26th birthday. Perfect!

My strategy for the day was to run slow with a 3:1 run:walk ratio, pack all of the food and water I would need into a small backpack and run on only trails. The day was partly sunny, mild temperatures and full of positive energy.

I set foot out of my front door at roughly 9am and started running down the peaceful river trail near my house. The miles ticked by as I enjoyed the music pumping through my mind and the sound of my feet pounding the trail.

Near mile 16 I approached a slope with ice and BAM. I crashed straight the the ground, land on my tail bone and instantly begin questioning the worst. Did I break or bruise anything? After moments of self check I realize i’ve managed to scrape up my arm pretty good, but other than that all is well. I recollected myself and starting running again.

As I approached mile 22 I could really start to feel the miles wearing me. Oddly my mind was in stronger running condition than ever before and was ready for the final miles ahead.

Mile 26 clicked on my watch as I approached my neighborhood and as always I was engulfed in a feeling of euphoria. My eighth marathon is now in the books.

My 26th Birthday Marathon Stats


Summit as friends!
Scott Rowley

Today's Goal: Run my first 50KM ultra marathon; happy, healthy and free. 

I started my run at 7am this morning and quickly settled in to a comfortable pace that included a 3:1 minute run:walk rhythm. This strategy would prove to be a leg saver for the later miles of the race and provide a rather quick recovery.

Around mile 7 it started raining. 3 miles and a few hundred feet in elevation later that rain turned to sleet then to snow. It is at this moment that I screamed with such enthusiasm that the runners behind and in front must have thought I was mad. At this point I realized just how happy I was to have a pair of fleece gloves and a hat. Fo me, these two items were the difference between hypothermia or an enjoyable experience.

I saved the last few miles for some rather deep personal reflection on just how far I have traveled these past few months and how important my environmental support has become. Today, I am truly grateful to have a group of loving family, friends, mentors and colleagues that support my journey. We need always remind ourselves that a team is one of the strongest assets we hold and without it our goals will be much harder if not impossible to reach. 

Huge thanks to the volunteers at this years Flagline 50K. You guys were awesome and and helped aid me in achieving my goal today.

Thanks for reading!

Scott

Today, I set out on Six Lakes Trail for a 20 mile run in preparation of next weekends Flagline 50K in Central Oregon.

I experienced a true sense of meditation. I saw only two people in the first few miles then not a sole for the next 15. I experienced a peace of mind that allowed me to leave everything and only focus on where I was and what I was doing in that very moment. I was present.

It was beautiful to carry my body down the path and hear nothing more than my own footsteps, breath, the wind and surrounding wildlife. With each passing lake I learned a little more about myself, where I was and where I now am. I am grateful, happy and free. 

The forest is full of magic like this. It can transform as person. It can make a rude person nice, a sad person happy and stressed person at peace. It will not talk back to you and will always give a second chance as long as you respect it.

Stats from the Run - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/375725095

My marathon training and recovery journey started roughly four months ago. My mind and body were in a dark and disconnected state. To put it honestly; addiction was killing me on the inside in more ways than one. I was spiritually dead, my health was suffering and my mindset was poor.

I have come to realize that there is so much more to life. I started running again, really laughing, learning who I am and loving me for me. I am truly grateful today for having an epiphany on South Sister in May that has literally turned my life 180 degrees.

It was June 2nd 2013. I had been sober for 23 days and my energy level was powering up. I knew deep down my spirit for the marathon and dream to qualify for the Boston Marathon was still a smoldering ember. I was not willing to let that ember die.

To me, the marathon is a 26.2 mile run that provides a testing ground for the human minds physical,  mental and moral strength. It is a confidence builder that teaches the individual to dig deep inside for energy stores they never thought existed. My desire for another test began burning hotter with each passing day.

I made the decision June 2, to sign up for the Sunriver Marathon for a Cause. This time I am running with clear purpose. My mission is to get healthy, run strong, fast and free and ultimately qualify for the Boston Marathon. I call my dad "one of my biggest fans" and share my latest goal. 

I am going to run a marathon in three months and put forth as much effort as I can to qualify for Boston. My dad and others have their doubts: bearing in mind that training for a marathon is generally a six month endeavor. Not to: mention I have just given up a very unhealthy addiction that was controlling my life.

I pick up my marathon training book written by Jeff Galloway and turn to the training plan for a goal pace of 2:59:00. I have had this page bookmarked for years, but always failed to follow it due to a serious lack of commitment and perseverance. The plan started 14 weeks ago and I now have 12 weeks before Sunriver. I hit the fast forward button and start my training according to week 15 of the plan. I do not advise anyone take such action.

Training goes quite well for the first 2 weeks. I ease into running 10 miles, go to yoga classes regularly, cross train and lift weights. Sunday June 16th calls for a set of 10-12 one mile repeats at 6:45 minute / mile pace. My mind and body are yet to become interconnected again at this point and I fail to realize that my muscles are still far too weak for this pace.

That days training results in a strained and highly inflamed knee that will take weeks to heal and set my training back. Or so I thought! 

The next week all of my runs are replaced with aqua jogging and cycling. I was not mentally prepared for the set back caused by the knee injury and really needed a long run to build my confidence. The day before IRONMAN Coeur d'Alene I manage to convince my body that a 22 mile training run is going to happen despite picking up my training only 3 weeks prior. This utterly pissed my knee off. I now know something is really wrong and cannot help but think of the worst case scenario. MRI's, surgeries and months of rehab continue to run through my mind during the next few weeks.

In the weeks that follow I take my standup desk down at work, stop running and supplement every run with an aqua jog session in the pool, ride my bike more and start swimming.  Miraculously, I come to enjoy swimming, something that I truly disliked up to this point and my knee begins to feel better.

Injury provides athletes with a great opportunity to learn and grow or be defeated. If we choose defeat we will either lose out on a miracle or repeat the same mistake later in our career. It is entirely up to our mindset and actions that follow  whether we thrive off a set back or allow it to ruin us. I took this as an opportunity to stare my fears square in the face, adjust my training program and push on. Several weeks later I was able to ease back into running on trails, pavement and building my mileage. 

July was a month filled with amazing experiences and key training sessions. On the fourth of July I was blessed with the strength to run Mt Bachelor and Tumalo Mountain in Central Oregon.  This training day set in motion a huge confidence booster that would guide me in the weeks to follow. My knee was no longer in agonizing pain and things were moving back on track. Two weeks later my friend Lucas and I slept on the summit of South Sister and awoke to a truly magnificent sunrise. And, the following week I soloed Middle Sister via the Pole Creek Trailhead after a 10 mile morning run that was just under goal pace. Mountain climbing was just icing on the cake to a month of perfect training. Each footstep was strong, healthy and brought me closer to the starting line.

August was a reflection of July with more energy, strength and faith in my program. My training called for a run of 30 miles, which was just not enough for me. I had to follow that run with a a climb of Mt. Adams in Washington at over 12,000 feet. In just under 48 hours I completed a 30.33 mile run and summit of Mt Adams. This provided a huge sense of accomplishment that I do not think I have ever experienced. The human mind and body a truly capable of amazing things we just have to set them in motion.

After this run my training program calls for weeks of taper. This is a period in which I ease back on training and let my body prepare itself for a race. The weekend following my 30 miler I set out on a short afternoon trail run in a thunderstorm that spirals out of control. I ended up taking a wrong turn and running 20 miles down the Horse Creek Trail in Central Oregon.  After this screw up I take a few days off of training to reflect on what I learned about myself and determined that this was just one more step on my journey to the marathon.

With each passing day my anticipation builds. At this point I have done all I can to best prepare for a race that will change me forever. I try not to build doubt into my mind, but a piece of me knows that three months is simply not enough time for the human body to go from running 0 miles to 26.2 at a 6:52 minute mile pace. I adjust my goal accordingly and set zero expectation for myself. I simply have a goal to run the best marathon I can and enjoy every moment.

Marathon day is here!  I awake at 5:30 to a star filled sky, cycle through my hydration and nutrition routine. Read literature that sets my mind in a positive direction and affirm myself that I have taken all the steps and done all the work to get to the starting line with confidence.

My kind girlfriend Nicole and her sister drive me to the start line. We arrive 45 minutes early and I use this time to warm up. I run 1 easy mile, 4 * 200's and do some light stretching. The morning is crisp, beautiful and full of positive energy. My family and some friends wait at the start line and I have friends afar cheering me on.

At the start line I look around at the 200 some participants and realize our stories of what brought us here may differ but at this very moment we share one common goal of finishing the marathon. As the minutes shrink to seconds before the start my mind fills with an overwhelming sense of joy. The announcer starts counting down from ten and we are off.

I start running at my goal pace of 7:00 - 7:15 minutes per mile. I plan on walking for 15-20 seconds at the beginning of each mile after the first. Mile one ticks by and my sudden stop clearly shocks the group I am running with. I pick up my pace again to 6:40 minute miles. This pace will ensure that I stay within my target mile pace range. My 5K split is 22 minutes. I am right on target for today's  goal.  At 10K, 13 Miles and even 16 miles I am still on target, but I feel the great marathon wall approaching. 

As I near mile 18 my body begins screaming at me to stop. Just walk for a mile! You can give up now! 

I see Nicole and get a short stint of energy that carries me through those negative thoughts. As I near she begins screaming words of encouragement, tells me I am doing great and that my family is just around the corner. Despite all the moral support my body was not taking it. My muscles were begging for a slower pace. With an ever climbing heart rate and sense of pain my body's physical ability to maintain 7:00 - 7:15 minutes per mile pace begins slipping away and quick.

I share a smile with myself as I settle into an 8 minute mile pace and begin thinking back on all the work I put into get here. I have worked as hard as I can and am going to continue at a pace that keeps my body happy, healthy and free. Each passing step gets harder, but brings me closer to the finish line. I think back to a chapter of Jeff's book titled "Magic Marathon Words". I am truly thankful for this section.  I continue uttering words like relax, power and glide that are followed by positive affirmations. 

With each passing mile I come to peace with a little bit more pain. I am in a true state of zen. This time allows me to reflect on the miracle of the marathon and how it can really transform an individual. How it has transformed me.

"These last few months have taught me some pretty serious life lessons that have completely changed who I am as a person. If you knew me before I was sober then you would know both sides of my personality. One of the biggest things I have learned is that failing to reflect on our mistakes will almost certainly ensure that we repeat them until we take a moment to stop. Injuries are part of being an athlete and simply part of life. They create opportunities for us to learn and grow as individuals. With a positive mindset almost anything can become reality. Even a marathon in three month's time! And, freedom from unhealthy addictions is possible. I am living proof."

At mile 26 part of my mind is telling me to walk to the finish. This thought is quickly washed away with a feeling of the finish line so strong that I feel it pulling me along. I can hear the announcer and screams of excitement growing louder as I feel my body moving closer to the finish line. I feel a sense of accomplishment blowing over my shoulders as I approach the finish and my family and friends come into view. Their excitement flows through me and creates a huge sense of energy.

I cross the finish line in 3:15:51, just short of my personal record by 10 seconds. My friends and family congratulate me and I share with them my gratitude for them being present. I spend the next hour nourishing my body and nursing my muscles back to normal function. I can say the Sunriver Marathon was beautiful and a huge success for me. I will be back again.

I really want to thank my mom for her patience, love and kindness through this, my dad for his support at every marathon Iv'e set out to run, my brother for his guidance, lessons and wishes, my sister for her positive energy and happiness, Nicole for her loving heart, smiles and non-stop energy, Bobby Lindstrom for guiding me on this journey and everyone else that supported me and continues to support me to this day.

I still have my mind focused on running a sub three hour marathon in 2013 and completing the Flagline 50K on September 22. This journey has only just begun! My mind and body feel interconnected again and I have a true sense of purpose. I am certainly not the best person I can be, but as I strive for excellence each day I get closer.

Thank you for reading!

Scott

In the face of fear we cannot give up, for that means we have succumb to that fear and fear is the root of evil.

My girlfriend, her friend Jessie and I cruise to Elk Lake late Friday afternoon where we plan on a relaxing afternoon with her co workers, followed by an evening of camping at Wikiup Reservoir. I save my marathon training run for this afternoon so we can leave town a little sooner. My intention is to run an 8 mile loop through some beautiful forests and past Horse Lake (a place I had visited last summer).

Prior to departing on my run I meet Nicole's coworkers whom are kind, welcoming and eager to convince me against running in a thunderstorm.  Unlike most people I love the rain. It refreshes my life, washes away some of my craziness and reminds me to be grateful. Today's, storm had my name all over it. I share some last words with everyone, they think I am crazy and i'm off with no more than 16oz of water, my GPS and the clothes on my back.

My run starts in a thunder, lightening and rain storm at the Horse Lake Trailhead across from Elk Lake Resort in Central Oregon. My feet carry me down the trail to a trail junction. One of the trainers told me I should turn left here. This left turn would have welcomed me with an enjoyable 5 mile loop and beauty. However, I followed the voice in my head that wanted something more. I continue down the trail to Horse Lake. The feeling of rain, thunder and lightening is all around me. At times the thunder is so fierce that I feel it pounding inside me like a second heartbeat. Miles of the trail soon turn into a creek that is 1-6 inches deep at times. The longest creek section I ran must have been a continuous 1/2 mile. I remind myself of a backpacking trip through the Olympic National Forest years ago in which it rained for three days straight. Although, I am soaked this current experience does not compare to the prior.

By the time I arrive at the lake my body has experienced natures bath. I had been running for just over 40 minutes and was eager to get back to the company of others, warm food and a relaxing couch. I recalled the loop that Nicole and I had ran the summer prior being just over 8 miles. Perfect, I thought! What I failed to recall was us running back to the trail T and taking a right. I continue running around Horse Lake and down the Horse Creek Trail, unknowingly towards HWY 126.

I feel a growing sense of being lost and lonely that I cannot seem to escape. The miles tick by and the forest environment changes. The trail slowly disappears for longer and longer sections and it is vaguely defined in the thickening, moist forest floor. During a 1/2 mile section I feel totally lost. The trail looks like nothing more than an Elk herd had recently walked it. As the trail fades back into one that is well defined and highly traveled my mind returns to a state of sanity. Any normal person would have turned around when they realized they were not on the same trail they recall. At this point I am 10 miles down the trail, my mind begins to fill with thoughts of others and how worried they must be. Turning around is not an option. That means I will have to run 20 miles which is not on the agenda. Or is it?

My feet continue to carry my body downhill towards an un known destination. At mile 11 I see a sign pointing towards the Horse Creek Trailhead. This sign is a motivator for me that soon drives me insane. Often times seeing trailhead signs means you are within a few miles of your destination.  Today, this is not the case.

My GPS ticks 12 miles and I make a joke to myself that I just might run a trail half marathon today for the first time in my life. I hit 13.1 miles and a trailhead is nowhere in site. 14 miles, I scream vulgar words of anger. I can't help but think of the others that are stressed and worried for my safety.  The resentment towards myself  builds as my mind fills with the poor decisions that brought me to where I am now. Mile 15 , I continue telling myself that despite being in a beautiful place I have the right to be just plain pissed off. I YELL! I WANT OUT OF THIS DAMN FOREST. Mile 16, finally a state of relaxation. This is the mind state that I am usually in during adventures when myself and others are not worried about my safety. Mile 17, I cross the Horse Creek foot bridge and feel that the forest is controlling my mind. I am going crazy. 

Finally, mile 17.09! I reach the trailhead only to be met with an unfamiliar gravel road. Where the hell am I? I quickly decide to start running down the gravel road. I approach a T in the road after a 1/2 mile and a sign that says "HWY 126 - 9 Miles". I SCREAM! At this point my emotions are out of control. I know Nicole and her coworkers are worried sick and likely soon to be calling Search and Rescue. After all, I was only going on an 8 mile run. My mind wants me to sit down and cry. My body and strength continue dragging me down the road. I cannot expect anyone to travel up this random road at 7:00PM this evening.

I must come to terms with the fact that I will be running a full marathon today, in wet sneakers. All of my prior marathons included plenty of water, fuel and support from others. Today, I have 16oz of water, no food and no cheers from others  to power me along. My body is tired and depleted of vital nutrients, but I find the strength to keep moving forward. 

Mile 18, my water is empty and the sound of Horse Creek makes me want to just run down and fill up. I envision myself puke sick as a result and start telling myself that I am not thirsty and I am not hungry. It works, at least for a little while.

Mile 19, my stomach begins to cramp reminding me that I have not eaten anything for more than four hours. During runs of this length I start fueling after the first 45 minutes. Not today! I reaffirm the thought that I am not hungry.

Mile 20, I approach a bridge where the gravel road turns to pavement. I still have 6 miles before reaching the highway. I can't even begin thinking about what I am going to have to do to get home to Bend.

Mile 20.08, I see a Jeep heading towards me. A rush of happiness and gratitude fills my body. The driver stops and I tell him I have been running in an unknown direction for over 15 miles. I ask the driver for a ride. He replies yes I am willing to drive you back to the McKinsey Bridge. I hop in! He introduces himself as Herb. He was heading up the road to a fire lookout for the evening. You are far from where you started. You know? Yeah! Roughly 25 miles as the crow flies Herb says. Wow! I really got myself in a pickle. Herb asks what my plan is for getting home. I am going to call Nicole and try my luck at a hitchhike. He laughs, still amazed at my recent adventure.

Herb drops me off at the town store in Mckinsey Bridge, I thank him and he drives off. Again, I am alone. I ask a lady for 10 cents to use the pay phone, which by my luck does not work. Great! What is next? There are no cars coming and I need to make contact with Nicole to let her know I am ok.

I start walking across the highway towards the Inn. There is sure to be a phone there. As I start crossing the highway I see a car traveling in the direction I need to go. I throw up my thumb and by faith they stop. A car full of three girls returning from Eugene ask me where I am headed. I tell them my short story and they welcome me in. There names are Tammy, Faith and I do not recall the third. Faith lets me use her phone. I call Nicole and she is in tears. As I tell her I am ok, I can't help but choke up a bit myself. She tells me Search and Rescue is on there way to the trailhead and she has been talking with the Sheriff for some time. I ask her to please call off the rescue. I am safe and found! We tell each other we love one another and and hang up the phone.

Words can hardly express my gratitude for this ride all the way to Bend. I was provided with a sandwich, soda, tea and fruit snacks. I begin to feel alive again. Tammy and I share a spiritual conversation and she helps calm my mind and forgive myself for my mistake. The girls read some poetry and sing music as we travel into Sisters. Tammy offers to drive me back to Bend and I happily accept. Nicole and I agree to meet at her sisters house. 

I arrive at Elena's home around 9:15PM where I am welcomed with dinner and a warm shower. These girls are amazing and I thank them for all there help and acceptance.

I can honestly say that I learned some things about myself and life in general during this awesome adventure.

• I really care about myself and the impact my decisions have on other people.
• Indeed, to fail to plan is to plan to fail.
• I can drive myself insane at times, but these moments will always pass.
• For me, hell is dark, wet, lonely and resembles a place that no one ever wants to travel; at least with me.
• Humility is necessary for growth.
• Fear is always hungry! It wants you to give up during trials and tribulations. When faced with fear we must persevere.
  

A huge thanks to - Nicole for her patience, care and action, all the trainers from the Athletic Club of Bend for their patience, help and acceptance of the situation, the Search and Rescue team that did not have to rescue me, Herb for saving my legs an additional 6 miles, Tammy and her daughters for driving me back to Bend and Elena for hospitality at the end of the road.

At the end of the road we are faced with a choice to learn from our experience or hold a resentment which will prevent our growth. I choose to learn! 

Thanks for reading! 

"Summit as Friends"

Scott         Link to GPS stats - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/356560262

Today's workout consisted of a run to the top of Mt Bachelor followed by Tumalo

These endurance challenges make me stronger mentally and physically. I feel normal!

The journey to any finish line starts with a dream. Only after you take that dream and make it a vision by changing the way you live your daily life does it start to mold into something that is so real you can see yourself standing at the finish. Through dedication and perseverance Nicole completed her first Ironman on 6/23/13 in Cour D'Alene, Idaho.

Nicole's road to Ironman has truly inspired my life in in hundreds of different ways, many of which I am yet to even realize.

Nicole - "You are an Ironman!"

Thank you for being a part of the inspiration for me to permanently redirect my life, focus on what really matters and learn to love again.

"A dream does not become reality through magic or by mere luck, it takes sweat, determination, hard work, early mornings, emotions and so much more."