❣ Chile in a Photography ❣
Not today Justin
i don't do bad sauce passes
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I'd rather be in outer space 🛸
DEAR READER
noise dept.
dirt enthusiast
祝日 / Permanent Vacation
Kiana Khansmith
Stranger Things
we're not kids anymore.
Jules of Nature
taylor price
trying on a metaphor
Cosmic Funnies
Cosimo Galluzzi
Monterey Bay Aquarium
tannertan36
he wasn't even looking at me and he found me
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@trailwookie
Contract signed and ready to go! I am officially on the Airia Elite Team! It's going to be such an interesting yet beautiful road from here on out. #northfaceendurancechallenge here we come. #airia #airiarunning #TNF #tnf50 (at Covenant College)
The Atlanta FA50k HA25k
After my last 1st place finish at my first Guts event (Pine Mountain 19), I decided to hit another event from this series because they are super well directed and super fun. Naturally I wanted to do the 50k, but 2 weeks out, i dropped from the 50k to the 25k due to some tibia trouble and I was worried that I would hurt my it even more doing a 50k. I did not want to hurt the tibia so much that it would effect my important races later in the year. I took no chances 25k it was for me.
Although I decided to run the 25k, this still was not a super easy course. But I love trails like these! The course was three fun 5.2 mile loops of mostly single track and scrambling up boulders. And on top of the awesome course, we were blessed with 35 degree conditions with super soft trails from rain the night before! My favorite!
Then 8:00 am finally came. A few other faster runners and I rushed to the front of the start/finish to hear our last instructions.
3...2...1... Go!
Me being exactly who I am... I did not listen to the very simple directions. I just want to race! Thus, I had no idea where I was going. However, I was not smart enough to start slow and follow other runners, I went off the line like a kid running the 100m sprint. Then I thought to myself “I should ask the others where to go”. I stopped running and yelled “ Im an idiot! Where am I going?!” James Bickelhaupt, yelled from the front of the lead pack, “turn left and follow blue markers!” After this idiotic delay of mine, I hopped onto the trails and unloaded a few fast miles to create some distance between the others and I.
The first lap was super fun and easy, and I had a good idea of how the course was played out. I was confident enough to keep the pace fast on the second lap. Coming into the aid station at 5 miles, my little brother (Crewing Master) handed me a new ultimate direction handheld bottle with more Honey Stinger Gels in the pack. It was now time for my zealous 2nd lap.
Sprinting off for my 2nd lap I thought that this was going to be cake, I hopped onto the blue blazed trails and just started hammering the 4 mile section of flat/down hill. Then when I started running up the only hill on the course at around mile 8-9 ish my heart rate must have been the highest it has ever been. At this point I was passing some of the people at the back of the race (still on the first lap). I yelled out “ Ahhh This Sucks!” (In Pain) and continued to charge the hill. The people I was passing just stopped moving all together and just kind of stared at me as I unloaded my victory screech and ran up the hill for the second time.
At last I finally got to the top and hit the last aid station. I took in one last Honey stinger gel and chugged a bottle of First Endurance electrolyte mix. I asked how far back the nearest person was to me, and the race director told me I had a gap of about 7-8 min. This meant that as long as I didn't bonk, I had the win in the bag. I then decided my next goal was to attempt to break the course recored since I was on track anyways.
I then began my last lap! I started out feeling great at the pace I was running. But it was going to be close, and I knew that I had to keep my pace consistent through this last lap to break course record. So my goal was to just average 8:20 min miles for the last lap. I hit my goal pace no problem through the 4 mile flat/downhill section. But then the last climb came, and i could not keep my turnover high enough up the climb with the ground being so wet and not having ran for 2 weeks due to the tibia pain. The when I reached the top, I knew that I had lost a significant amount of time on the climb. I ran as hard as I could to the start finish. Sadly I fell just short of the CR.
Aside from this minor set back of falling 20 seconds short of the CR, I had an amazing time in the FA25k and still took home the win! It is such a blessing to be able to have ran this race completely (tibia pain) free! It was a super well run race with quality people/runners. And the post race chili was all class!
God has just been so good to me by keeping me safe through this race. To go from having pain in my tibia and not being able to run 1 week before the race to coming close to a course record, it is just a slight sight of Gods goodness and blessing given to me.
1st place finish with a time of 2:10:50, and awesome chili. What a great way to end my Christmas break.
Thanks for reading guys!
Until next race,
Michael Conkel
Today was a fun day at the Atlanta Fat Ass 25k! Absolutely beautiful course and perfect conditions to race in. Although I missed my goal of a course record, I still took home first place! Thank you to my awesome sponsors and family that give me so much undeserved support! It is such a blessing. @honeystinger @rudyprojectna @firstendurance #teamhoneystinger #stingorbestung #HSHIVE #honeystinger #runsimple #firstemdurance #firstendurance #rudyproject #runforhisglory
For those of you that wonder...this why I do it. #firstendurance #rudyproject #honeystinger #HSHIVE @honeystinger #teamhoneystinger #stingorbestung
Hey guys! So I have a really big favor to ask. It would mean a lot to me if y'all would like my athlete page. My current sponsors and future sponsors determine a lot upon online presence in the community, including a FaceBook athlete page. The link to my page is on my FaceBook.
Again, it would really help me a lot to have y'alls support by pressing like. :) Thanks guys! #therudyproject #honeystinger @honeystinger @rudyprojectna #rudyproject @firstendurance #firstendurance #runforhisglory #irunsimple
As 2015 comes to a close, I took a look back at my 2015 race season. In this past year I have made podium at 4 of my 5 races and taking the overall win at 2 of them. I'm super happy to keep my top 10% rate in every ultra I have done. As I look into my 2016 season, I'm excited to have the blessing of being able to continue to do what I love. A big thank you for all of the encouragement that has been sent my way from friends, family, and sponsors. Get stoked for 2016! #wildtrails #honeystinger #thehive #stingorbestung #firstendurance #rudyproject #therudyproject #simplehydration #runforhisglory #irunsimple @simplehydrationph @rudyprojectna @firstendurance @honeystinger
This is pretty cool! My 2016-2017 racing singlet to represent for my sponsors! Thanks to @rudyprojectna @honeystinger @firstendurance , this season is going to be gnarly! #HSHIVE #honeystinger #thehive #stingorbestung #firstendurance #rudyproject #therudyproject #getguts #runforhisglory (at Covenant College)
Pine Mountain Trail Run 19 Miler
One month out from my last race of 2015, I was feeling faster than I have ever felt. I was consistently dropping 6-5 min miles in my mid distance training runs. However, around 2 weeks out from the race my achilles tendon and a localized part of my tibia started hurting to the point that i could not run. So I started a very long and early tapper for the PMTR.
I was so unsure of how my tibia and achilles tendon would hold up in a fast paced race. And after much prayer and lots of resting, I decided that I was still going to try and end 2015 with a bang.
The day before the race consisted of lots of praying, and lots of driving trying to find where packet pickup was. I was fortunate enough to pig out a Cracker Barrel with my mother and little brother that came up for the race.
Race morning had finally come. I woke up and ate a whole half of home made banana bread (Thank you mommy) and headed to the start/finish. The weather was absolutely outstanding for a race in December! Mid 40′s and dry trails!
With so much doubt about my injury’s, I toed the start line at 7:00 am in the dark with a bunch of the same talented runners that I have been running with all year. 3...2...1...GO!
I bolted off of the line and shot out ahead of the others within the first few seconds of the race. I wanted to use the quarter mile road portion of the race to my advantage.
Once I hit the trails, I hit four 7:30 min miles just to get some sort of a gap formed between the lead pack and I. and this is where most of the climbing of the race was!
After I unloaded those 4 miles, I looked behind me and saw nothing but trees, however that means absolutely nothing, I knew that the others were close behind. So I continued my efforts in hopes to keep my gap open.
As the sun started to come up I got to see the most amazing sunrise running on top of one of the ridges, it was just the thing I needed to remind me that I am so blessed to be able to run these races, yet see the glory of God through his creation while competing.
Miles 4-10 were some super fun rolling yet technical trails. And I had not felt any pain in my tibia or achilles so i decided to keep pushing.
I came to mile the Fox Den aid station around 12 miles in and by this point I still had my gap open somehow. But through running so hard up and down the hills, i blew out my climbing legs and any hills i was going up my heart rate would rise significantly. This is the point to which I knew that this was really going to take some guts. Because I had already done 12 miles averaging 7:40 on trails; now the rest of my run was to keep my gap open.
I stole 3 PB&J sandwiches from the aid station and began the harder portion of the race that had gradual yet long climbs.
Hitting 13 just hurt, it was my slowest mile @10:30 min mile. I knew that I had to kick my pace back down to at least an 8:30 pace keep my lead. Doing this was made easier because the the super runnable rolling trails. @mile 15 I took a Honey Stinger energy gel pack to help get me through the next 4 miles.
Knowing that my turnover was gone, my efforts were pretty high nearing the end of the race. At mile 18 I kept telling myself that I only had one more mile to go and that it would be worth it to just keep moving fast. Before I knew it, I was running toward the finish line, once last kick through the finish and my journey was complete!
Crossing the finish line at 1st place over all and claiming the course record @2:44:17 averaging 8:39 per mile, Thomas Armbruster (Race Director) was waiting on the other side to shake my hand.
I want to say thank you to my family, friends, and sponsors. God uses every single one of you to encourage and build me up, it is truly a blessing.
Until next time,
Michael Conkel
Super excited to have won the Pine Mountain 19 miler! It is such an amazing blessing to have ran the entire race with 0 pain in my tibia. All praise and glory be to God, for he is so so good to me. And a huge thank you to all my sponsors! @rudyprojectna @honeystinger @firstendurance @simplehydrationph #pinemountain #honeystinger #thehive #stingorbestung #firstendurance #rudyproject #therudyproject
Well guys I'm here on Pine Mountain Ga for the Pine Mountain 46/19. #therudyproject #honeystinger #thehive #stingorbestung #firstendurance #rudyproject #therudyproject #pinemountain
Race week! Getting absolutely stoked for the Pine Mountain 46/19! #HSHIVE #honeystinger #thehive #stingorbestung #firstendurance #rudyproject #therudyproject #pinemountain #guts @honeystinger @rudyprojectna @firstendurance
It is days like this that it is so easy to see God's love and beauty through His creation. And it reminds us... WE ARE ALIVE. #runforhisglory #lookoutmountain (at Covenant College)
How old are you and how tall are you? (:
20 years old. 5 ft 10in
I just don't understand where all of this is coming from. Its honestly crazy. I have picked up the Rudy Project as one of my sponsors for the next few years! This is such an amazing opportunity. Praise be to God for these so undeserved blessings! #rudyproject @rudyprojectna #runforhisglory (at Covenant College)
It is insane to see how much things have changed for me in just 2 years. Once a band geek and now today I was given a pro deal from First Endurance! It is such a great blessing to have their support. This is some awesome motivation for the Pine Mountain 46 miler on December 6th. @firstendurance #firstemdurance #pinemountain40 #pinemountain
Lowest Of The Low (Stump Jump 50k)
It was the beginning of September when I realized that I had about one month of training left until the 2015 Stump Jump 50k. So typically, I trained the exact same way that I did for the previous year since I was deemed successful in my 8th place over all Stump Jump finish. My block of training was absolutely stellar, probably the best block of training I have ever had. I was confident that I would do much better in the race standings compared to last year.
3-4 days out, all race participants got an email that the course for the 2015 stump jump 50k would be changed, and essentially made harder. I was excited yet absolutely terrified of what was to come.
Before I knew it race day had come, and so had the rain that would cause me pain throughout the day. I was anxiously waiting for the start. My good friend Chris Carter and I left at 6 am to get over to signal mountain by around 7. I warmed up for an hour and prayed for a safe race.
And after much anticipation, 3, 2, 1, Go!
Right off of the starting line, I felt my stomach turn and feel like I was about to barf. I said to the other runners “well this is going to be fun”. Those of us in the front pack immediately took off and settled into a solid pace that separated us from the rest of the runners.
I remained in the lead pack for 13 miles, and then all of a sudden I started throwing up everything I had in my stomach. I obviously knew that this was not good especially this early into my race. As I continued to dry heave I decided there is no way that I'm not going to over come this. I kept running.
I had never felt this bad in any race. So this was new territory for me. I have never had to deal with stomach issues in a race. I had to keep pushing and moving forward even when my body was failing. The goal in mind was for me to keep reaching the aid stations, one after another.
Throwing up was not the only part of the race that I had to worry about, the entire SJ course was on a slanted trail. And due to the rain that was coming down hard, the trails were straight up mud. Although the lugs on the bottom of my maximalist running shoes were made for messy terrain, I had 0% traction the entire way. So not only was the course harder, but every step I had 0% confidence in my footing.
Despite all the setbacks, I proceeded to keep moving forward. AND THEN, THE ROCK GARDEN CAME. Which honestly is no bad when dry, however, when wet can be very dangerous. I was forced to walk this portion of the race so that i would not get hurt. Especially the the Upchuck 50k and Pine Mountain 46 miler coming up.
By the time I left the rock garden I was still throwing up everything that I would put in my stomach, and mile 22 I started throwing up blood. I had every reason in the world to stop; but thinking of all the training/passion I put into this particular race, I could not just give in to the odds.
At Mile 22 I was relieved to see my Family and Chris. It was exactly what I needed. After seeing them and also taking down a PB&J sandwich, I headed back onto the trails for the last 9 miles of the race. Although the distance is essentially short, I still had a significant amount of climbing ahead of me.
I started feeling much better after the BB&J Sandwich, and started hitting a better pace “ for my condition”. However, it was already to late to recover. The race leaders were long gone. I had to stick with what I had and try not to get passed by more runners.
When I hit 28 miles I knew that I had one more big climb, suck creek to mushroom rock. I ran that climb as hard as I could, and then once I hit the summit I started blowing chunks of throw up everywhere and the spectators to my left just looked at me and said “bruh”. I instantly yelled “don't worry about it!” and continued to run as fast as I could to the finish.
I hit mile 30 and had one to go. This was the longest mile of my day yet one of the fastest. I just wanted to see my friends and family at the finish. As I flew out of the woods I listened to some sort of a roar like thunder coming from my amazing friends. When I saw them my entire face just lit up. It was the best feeling I had all day. As I slowly but surly made it to the finish line I just kept saying “Thank You God”.
I crossed the finish line at 6:06:48. An atrocious time compared to my goal & previous results. However, despite throwing up blood, dry heaving, and the wet muddy trails, I placed top 18 overall male. I thought I did way worse, i was thinking i placed top 50 or something like that.
The race director said that everyones time was an hour longer then they should have been due to the terrain. Although I did not podium at this race like I wanted; I'm glad that God gave me the strength to pull through an rise above.
At the end of it all, I finished and got an amazing day out in the woods. Signal Mountain never disappoints.
Whats next?
Upchuck 50k November 14th
Pine Mountain 46 Miler December 6th
Until next time,
Michael Conkel
Simple Hydration Run Team
Doing some speed work to get ready for Rock & Root 30k in Oak Ridge Tennessee. Really feeling the ability to break the course record. I've had an amazing block of training and now it's finally time to execute. #simplehydration @simplehydrationph #headsweats @headsweats #altra @altrarunning (at City of Forsyth, Georgia)