BOSS, the ultimate cross-training, part 1

I finally heard Jessie shouting out to me that I've gone past the entrance to BOSS, the Boulder Outdoor Survival School (“the oldest and largest traditional living skills / survival school in the world”). So zoned out was I towards the end of that almost nine-mile walk back to BOSS, under an early June starry night sky, from where we and the other 10 students had thought—hoped?--was the last stop of our 7-day Field Course, in a clearing next to an aspen grove by the side of SR-12 (aka Scenic Byway 12), in Garfield County, Utah.

The Field Course (which is also offered in 14- and 28-day versions) is, as described in the BOSS web site (http://www.boss-inc.com/), “Ultra-light travel through Southern Utah's mountains, mesas and canyons with little more than a blanket, poncho, and a knife. No tents, sleeping bags, stoves, or backpacks, and definitely no watches, radios, or cellphones.” The goal is “to learn to 'live in the now' … and the skills of Ancestral Puebloan cultures.”

The only running in the course was that for the Cooper test, conducted as part of the first-day orientation. Though I was tempted to run those final nine miles back to BOSS, I was in hiking shoes, and I was really, really fatigued, at the end of that last full day (Day 6) of the course. I got up early the next morning (Saturday), under a pavilion next to the fire pit around which we all had gathered in fellowship the previous night after the “walk” and then had slept in drained bliss. I went out and ran; but it was only a half mile test run, in my hiking shoes, between BOSS and “downtown” Boulder (pop. ~200).

So, why am I writing about an outdoor survival course in a running blog?

Because experiencing a BOSS course was very similar to running a marathon. From that first, "Impact" phase of the course, starting some time after sundown the first night, on some road where we're dropped off, to that last uphill segment, which began from where the group of us 12 students had taken a rest-water stop just north of East Deer Creek and ended at that aspen grove by the side of SR-12, similarities abound. Indeed, the final 100 meters or so felt remarkably like the end of a marathon, with a quickening of my pace to the "finish line."

Here's a view of that clearing next to the aspen grove, from SR-12 (Google Street View).

The similarities are physical, mental, and spiritual. And, for both a BOSS course and a marathon, one goes through those three levels in that order.

But, even before starting off on a BOSS course or crossing the starting line of a marathon, there is something else that's similar: both are minimalist in their core. "Know more, carry less" is one of BOSS' core philosophies. Here are all the required back-country stuff for the 7-day course, including everything I was wearing. The same with food: basic, only what's needed.

Though controversy swirls around minimalist running and shoes, it should be uncontroversial to say no sport or activity is as naturally minimalist as running, in terms of what are absolutely needed to engage in it. In Dressing for running, from cold to warm, I'd noted that, once temperature gets above 100°F, my running gear changes to what are shown in the following photo. (jk--but, only in part!) And, even those items are not absolutely necessary. The Cretan runner or the Tarahumara runner shows how minimal is the need for running gear and food.

In part 2 of this post, I'll provide some examples of the physical similarities between a BOSS course and a marathon, or why BOSS is the ultimate cross-training!

A 19-minute difference (Golden Gate Trail Half Marathon race report)

That's what a proper pair of trail shoes makes. I ran the Golden Gate Trail Half just north of San Francisco three weekends ago, over almost the same course as that for the Golden Gate Headlands Half Marathon, which I'd run earlier this spring. Instead of the Vibram FiveFingers, I wore my new Brooks Pure Grit. And, it was pure joy not having to focus almost exclusively on the trail surface and being able to just run and enjoy the gorgeous views! Here's one from about half a mile out from the start line and looking generally south across Rodeo Lagoon at Bird Island in the background. 5-Mile runners can be seen coming up the Coastal Trail of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.

And, here's a view from higher up the hill, with Bird Island at about the center of the photo and Rodeo Beach now visible.

These two photos and the following one were taken by my daughter, who ran the 5-Mile race, along with my son. The first half of the 5-Mile course was the same as that for the Half Marathon. There were also the 50K, 30K, and marathon events. The three of us together, we run several local races near home every year, which I really enjoy! The Golden Gate Trail races were our first ones away from home.

The course was tough--but fun!--right from the start, Here's a view of a slower section of the first couple miles, which a friend of mine noted as reminiscent of Moses leading the chosen people out of Egypt to the promised land. Except that it didn't: the top of the climb in the background of the photo, above the stair-stepped section with railings, was just a respite.

Here are the course map and elevation profile (for the Half), both from the race Web site (Coastal Trail Runs).

This race, compared with the Golden Gate Headlands Half Marathon that I'd run earlier this year, was generally better organized (though I'd still happily run the latter). For this race, the course was somewhat better marked, though that could be because it was my second time running it. The start-finish line actually looked like one. More importantly, it was located north of Rodeo Beach, and, thus, there was no run across the beach--and sand in the shoes. The aid stations were better stocked, with more variety; I took mostly orange slices and salty snacks. I brought my own gels. I also refilled my water bottle at the second station (~Mile 9). The volunteers at the stations were very helpful (as they were in the earlier race). There were plenty of food at the finish. Early arrivals before the start of the race got to park closer to the start/finish line, about 1/4 mile away, which was what we did. Later arrivals parked about a mile away. It would have been nice if there were also a few porta potties at the parking lots, beside those at the start/finish line. Registration included a tech shirt, with printed race year.

This race had medals for all finishers and for those who placed. I came in second in my age group (2:15:27), some 29 minutes slower than my PR for the half. For such a course, though, I was pretty satisfied.

My 30-second review of the Brooks Pure Grit: Nice fit, fairly light (for the amount of sole cushion it provides), toe box could be squarer/larger, sure grip of trail surface, carefree running!

So, the bottom line or, rather, the "bottom of the shoes": To properly run a trail race, one needs a proper pair of trail shoes (duh!).