Note: The model shown here is a prototype made from 3D printed plastic. The final version will be milled out of aluminum.

The BladeKey Bolt is a simple but well thought out device. Actually, you can probably guess how it operates just by looking at it. In a nutshell, it transforms your keychain into a pocket knife style key organizer.
No jingling. No poking. Just organized keys.

A Simple Design

The functional design of the BladeKey Bolt is something most will be familiar with. Anyone who has used a pocket knife will understand how it works because like I mentioned, it’s basically a Swiss Army knife for your keys.

Three different configurations of the BladeKey are offered and in two colors. You can order a raw aluminum finish color or black anodized aluminum model that holds three, six or nine keys. Let’s say you find yourself using the nine key model with only six keys, just add a few rubber washers and the sizing will be as snug as it’s supposed to be.

Build Quality

The initial BladeKey prototypes were made from ABS and Nylon Plastics and while strong, they eventually lost out to the look, feel and durability of aluminum. I’ve dropped and twisted this 3D printed version a few times and it’s withstood the abuse. I’m certain the aluminum version will only be better.

Bryan has the black anodized aluminum zip tie version, the BladeKey N9. That model was an early prototype as well. The Chicago bolt style is a big improvement over the zip tie version in terms of ease of use when adding or removing keys.

I know that the black anodized aluminum model will wear over time but I like having gear that shows signs of use.

Real World Use

The first thing I wanted to do when I got my BladeKey prototype was dump my keys from my normal keychain and start organizing. I quickly found out that only a couple of my keys would fit unmodified. The binding post barrel diameter is 13/64 in (approximately 5.15 mm), so make sure your keys have a big enough hole to accommodate the binding post.

Depending on what keys you have, you may be ready to rock and roll right out of the box but if you have keys like mine, you better start charging your power drill. The actual drilling was a fairly simple process and I made sure to do it with the most basic equipment. I didn’t use a vise and just held the key up against the drill bit and hit the go switch. Make sure to wear gloves in case your hands slip but it only took a minute on most of my keys.

These were the keys I wanted to add to the BladeKey:

These are the the keys that fit without modification:

Adding and Removing Keys

Once you get your keys prepped (or maybe you don’t need to), just unscrew the Chicago bolt, slide your keys on, screw closed the bolt and you’re all set. That’s really it. In just a few minutes, I was good to go. I tested it out on my door locks, mailbox and my car and it worked just as expected. No more noisy jingling keychain!

It’s simple to add or remove keys and I found that finger tightening seems to provide the best tension. Obviously the tighter you screw down the bolt, the tighter the keys will be but if you go too tight, the keys towards the outside will be extremely hard to open.

I’ve found that I like adding a small keyring to the BladeKey and attaching the entire setup to a front belt loop. This allows the BladeKey to be in my front pocket but not pulling heavily from the bottom of my pocket.

Notes and Critiques

• By removing the rubber washers, I was able to insert six keys and a USB flash drive in the 6 key model BladeKey. After trying that for a week, I noticed it wasn’t ideal though because the rubber washers help to keep the keys evenly secure.

• The obvious issue is that the BladeKey Bolt doesn’t fit all key types and some drilling/filing may be required. You can check the Kickstarter page for a sizing chart and key information. James, the creator of the BladeKey, also made a note in an email mentioning that he wanted to design and build the BladeKey from common off the shelf hardware. This was done for simplicity and to keep costs down.

• With a single side hinge, pressure on the keys can be a bit uneven making the middle keys more loose than the ones on the end. This really isn’t a big deal but I wonder if a dual-sided option may work better.

• In addition to using the larger rubber washer that was included, I toyed around with adding a smaller one to the middle of the keys. They were easy to find at my local hardware store and acted as a nice buffer/spacer.

Conclusion

I like it. I think it’s a fun and interesting way to organize my keys. A lot of people I showed it to also thought it was cool and are looking at getting one.

So, if you want to stop sounding like a janitor when you walk around, get yourself a BladeKey. Unless you are a janitor, in which case you should probably pick up a few.

Where To Get It

• $25 Pre-Order: BladeKey.com
• Source code for 3D printing: Thingiverse

Have some questions? Leave them in the comments and I’ll do my best to answer them.

Depending on where you are in the country, Old Man Winter has either moved in or is just around the corner. The temperature may be dropping but that doesn’t mean you have to stop running outside.

We’re all guilty of pulling the covers back over our heads on those blustery mornings but armed with the right mindset and gear, running in the cold can be just as rewarding as usual.

Staying warm (and comfortable) comes down to your clothing choices. If you’re used to only running during the warmer months, you’ll have to adjust a ‘tiny’ bit.

Layers

Focus on fabrics that wick moisture away from your skin and steer very clear of cotton (because it doesn’t dry easily once wet). Just remember the phrase, “Cotton is Rotten!” Even though it’s cold, you’re still going to sweat. To keep your body temperature from getting low, you need to get that sweat off of your skin.

I’m not going to get into a whole post on layering but the basics are this:

• Base Layer – Moves sweat away from your skin.
• Mid Layer – Insulates and keeps body heat from escaping.
• Outer Layer – Offers protection from the elements.

I like to start with an Under Armour compression shirt against my skin and a Nike DriFit style shirt on top of that. It’s a personal preference that I use those two shirts to make up my base layer and some are happy with just one.

That combination base layer tends to always stay the same but my next layer will depend on how cold it is. If it’s not too chilly out, I’ll wear a thin wool and polyester pullover. It’s long sleeve and does a good job of keeping me comfortable without holding onto sweat.

If it’s really cold or windy and there’s no chance of precipitation, I’ll put on a thicker fleece pullover instead. This has thumb holes which offer some protection for my hands as well as a taller neck area that I can zip up higher.

I’ll also put on a light windbreaker on top of all of this if there’s rain in the forecast. Optionally, you could go with a soft shell, as they offer a good blend of breathability and protection. Something like a hard shell will offer the most protection but they can be bulky for running and not breathe nearly as well as the other options. If it’s raining so bad that you need a hard shell, I recommend figuring out an indoor workout or just sucking it up and getting wet outside. Just run really fast (sounds legit)!

Wearing pants will be also be a personal preference. I tend to stick with shorts most of the time. Now and then I’ll wear a pair of sweat pants or fleece pants from Outdoor Research if I don’t want my legs to get wind burned.

Accessories

It’s debatable on how much body heat you actually lose through your head, some say as little as 14% and others say upwards of 40%, either way it makes sense to put a [warm] lid on it. Don’t just look for a nice knit cap but try and find something that will also stop the wind. At various times, I’ll find that my head gets a bit overheated. If you run with me in the winter, you’ll see me take my hat off during the run or sometimes just prop it up on top. Layers help to regulate your body temperature and being able to take off one layer at a time is huge.

If you find that you don’t like wearing a hat, there are a number of other options for covering your ears. Sometimes it’s those little things that make all the difference in keeping you feeling warm and cozy. Pearl Izumi makes a technical headband or you can even get single ear covers, called “ear mitts” interestingly enough.

Gloves seem to be something that everyone differs on. I didn’t like them at first while I ran, but recently I’ve used them more and more. I’ll switch between a really cheap pair of those stretchy cotton gloves and something more technical. Yes, the cheap ones are cotton, but my hands don’t sweat much and they keep me just warm enough to be comfortable. Now and then I’ll use a pair of North Face E-Tip gloves that I got as a Christmas gift last year. They have little conductive pads on the finger tips so I can use my iPhone while I’m running. If your hands tend to get cold or maybe you have blood circulation issues, you may find gloves to be helpful.

Outside Magazine just had a post about why your nose runs while cycling (or exercising in general). Sometimes it’s due to allergies but the weather could be a culprit too. Either way, it’s another good reason to wear gloves (to wipe your nose) or at least carry a hankie. A funny alternative is the “Snot Spot” but it looks to be discontinued.

Something I try not to forget is chapstick. I like the medicated kind personally as it really helps to protect my lips from getting wind burned and dry. Your mileage will vary on this though. I’ve even heard of people who put a little chapstick on their nose or cheeks if the wind is especially harsh that day.

One last bit to mention is that there’s a myth to running in the cold. Some believe that the cold air will hurt your lungs, but from what I’ve found, it’s simply a myth. While the air outside is cold, it’s warmed to your body temperature by the time it reaches your lungs. You may notice your throat feeling a bit irritated, but that can be remedied by covering your mouth with a balaclava or a Buff. I like to run with a lozenge or gum in my mouth to keep it from getting dry and sore.

Motivation

It’s hard to get motivated to run in the cold and even more so with the time change and it getting darker earlier. How do you get motivated to run? Well, this will be different for all people but ultimately, you have to enjoy it. Don’t think of running (or working out) to be a chore, do it for fun!

• Get your running clothes out and ready. I’m much more likely to get out there if everything is laid before me.
• Hassle a friend to run with you until they give in. Misery loves company.
• Load up your iPod (or music player) with some motivating music or even some podcasts. Running while listening to a podcast or audiobook helps keep me distracted from the cold.
• Run for a cause. When you sync your runs with RunKeeper or Nike+ and Earndit, you earn credits that you can redeem for real world items.
• Read about running. There’s something about running blogs that make me want to get out and run myself. I find inspiration in the stories of others.
• On my worst days, I’ll get out for at least 30 minutes. That’s the length of most TV shows. Surely you can skip one TV show for a run.
• Don’t focus on pace, just enjoy yourself. Throw in a few breaks and take in the scenery.

Do you have some useful techniques on getting motivated for a run? I’m sure we’d all love to hear them! Share your tips and tricks in the comments below.

ITS Tactical Editor-in-Chief’s note: I wanted to republish Mike’s write-up here to highlight the technology methods he used to track down his new laptop.

I was browsing Gizmodo on October 2nd and noticed they had a post with some great car photography. Looking over the gallery, the last image stood out. A picture of a laptop? That’s odd. But I read the caption for it and turns out they were running a contest. Find out where the picture was taken and win a brand new Ultrabook computer. Well, I desperately need a new laptop and I also love a good contest.

I’m in.

Just one problem… I don’t have a clue as to where this photo was taken.

Photo by Ryan Russell.

Where is this Ultrabook™?

Tweet your guess along with the hashtag #ultrabookspotted and a link to this post (here, we’ve made it easy for you: right click this link and select “Copy Link Address” to paste into your tweet) by 6 PM ET on October 9. You could win an ultra-sleek Ultrabook™ for your very own self.

I didn’t let the fact that it could be anywhere in the world deter me. Read on for my breakdown on how I found the Ultrabook.

• Since I had NO idea where to start, I simply began by looking up the photographer. I found his site and Twitter feed and was hoping to find some photos or something from the same shoot as that laptop photo.
• While on his site, I saw that his recent photos had one photo in particular that looked to be in the exact same location and was even captioned as “San Francisco.”
• After checking out his Twitter account, I scanned his Instagram feed and found a very similar looking location. A foggy shot of the Bay Area. One of his Instagram followers mentioned military bunkers and Point Bonita.
• I decided to dig for information on bunkers near Point Bonita (and subsequently the Marin Headlands) and found some history on the area.
• I needed a view of the area but I don’t really have the time to fly from DC to San Francisco and start scouting. So I fired up Google Maps satellite view, then Bing Maps Birds eye view, and even Apple Maps Flyover. Apple’s Flyover actually gave me the best view with good 3D terrain rendering.
• After Googling “bunker door marin headlands” I found some decent photos that looked to be from the same area. The style of bunker door looked familiar to the photographers shot. I continued on and came across an article on SF Weekly — It mentioned an unfinished military installation called “Battery Construction 129″ and that the “Park Service plans in December to raze the Monterey pines that now spread thickly across Hawk Hill, where the battery is located.” Remember how the Ultrabook in the image was placed on a stump that looked to be on a hill?
• I then searched “Battery Construction 129″ on Flickr and came across another photo from nearly the exact same area.
• Now I knew for a fact that I was on the right path.
• A little more scanning through images on Flickr, I found the photo I’ve been searching for. I confirmed by matching the graffiti on the bunker door. The photographer also had the location available and it was right where I thought it was; in a cluster of trees on Hawk Hill.
• I went back to the satellite views of the area but only Google had the most recent imagery with stumps shown. The other maps had trees obscuring the view. I compared the two images from the photographer, counted the stumps and found the exact spot where the Ultrabook was photographed.
• Then I mapped it out. I also obtained the GPS coordinates below using Google Maps.
• The Ultrabook in the photo was on the third stump from the door to the West (at the photographers back).

Where is it exactly?

N 37.828242 W 122.500154

After discovering the location, I submitted my entry and anxiously awaited the end of the contest. It was running until the 9th at 6PM and since that time I’ve been checking both my email and Twitter like crazy for any news. The rules stated that it was a drawing and you were allowed one tweet per day. I don’t think the other entrants read that part of the rules so I had a lot of entries in when the contest ended.

Well the other day, I got the news I was waiting for. A tweet from the Executive Director of Content for Gawker Media:

@mikepetrucci Would you mind DM’ing me when you have a free moment — I have some very good news to share with you. // @raywert

“Wha?!”

I told myself to calm down and just send him a message. I was careful to be all cool and chill… “Hey man, what’s up?” (hahah!)

Long story short, I won the Ultrabook! Technology is pretty amazing isn’t it? Being able to track down the location of a photo (with no EXIF data) using good ol’ fashioned detective work is entirely possible. It also gives you a look into how much of a digital footprint we leave behind and something to think about.

Shout out to Gawker Media, Gizmodo, Jalopnik, photographer Ryan Russell, and Intel for running this contest.

ITS Tactical Editor-in-Chief’s note: I wanted to republish Mike’s write-up here to highlight the technology methods he used to track down his new laptop.

It was a few days before I was flying to Colorado for the GORUCK Ascent this year and I was thinking that it would be great to have a device that allowed me to send and receive messages as well as allow someone to track my current location and movement.

A simple search online produced the usual results; SPOT Personal Tracker, DeLorme inReach, etc. But then I stumbled across a device that no one seemed to have seen before. The CerberLink from BriarTek.

There didn’t seem to be a lot press online, but looking over their site it seemed that it could handle my needs. I envisioned the Colorado wilderness I’d be in as the perfect testing ground for a device like this. The features list states that it’s capable of sending updates to Twitter, Facebook and email, as well as receive email and other alerts.

While looking at the options for ordering one, I noticed they had units available for rental. This was perfect because it would allow me to test it without having to spend a large amount of money up front. When I emailed them to ask a few questions, they offered to send me a demo unit for testing.

Interestingly enough, their main office is located just a few miles from my house and I was able to pick it up in person. In addition to a full list of features the CerberLink boasts, it’s also designed and manufactured in the USA. Does it get any better than that?

They’re careful to stress that it’s not a true rescue beacon, but a device that allows direct, two-way communication anywhere in the world. It uses the Iridium satellite network which blankets the globe with a large number of satellites. This also helps acquire a signal relatively quickly in most environments. If you’re in an emergency, their staff is notified and they do their best to get you the help you need.

During my time of testing and evaluating, there were a few things I wanted to keep in mind:

• Ease of use (device and website)
• Battery Life
• Live tracking performance
• Sending check-in messages
• Setting breadcrumbs with and without custom notes
• Placement of device on or in my ruck

Company History

Before I get into the review, let me give you a little background on BriarTek, the company behind the CerberLink.

While the CerberLink is relatively new (launched near the end of 2011), Briartek has been around for approximately 15 years. Their products deal mostly in safety and survivability while focusing on “man overboard” products. A variety of their units are used in the entire fleet of the US Navy.

One of their devices is in every life jacket on board everything from 5 meter rigid inflatable boats to aircraft carriers. Each life jacket has their transmitter and receiver to aid in recovery of a man overboard. In fact, they’ve also have built and are testing a version of their beacon for submarine escape in British submarines. I feel it’s safe to say that this company has their priorities in line.

I was able to spend time with some of the crew at the BriarTek office and frankly I was pleased to find such a good company. They were very down to earth and open to answering any questions, even allowing me to take photos of their workspace. They aren’t the largest company, but the quality of their employees makes the difference.

They also don’t fully produce each product in-house, but have the capabilities to do so. They even have a couple of 3D printers so they’re able to ready a mockup of any new design quicker than most. If you’re a tool geek, then you’d love their office. They have plans and prototypes on the wall and soldering irons at the ready. 

CerberLink Capabilities

The Cerberus global communication system lets you exchange messages with friends, family and colleagues—wherever you are in the world. Cerberus will send you critical alerts, tailored to your exact location. Let your friends ride along by sharing your experience on your favorite social website. Cerberus can even help you get assistance in an emergency.

I mentioned the ability to update Twitter and Facebook and with only a few minutes of setup, it worked perfectly. Although currently it can only post to a personal Facebook page and not a brand page (such as the ITS Tactical page). But that’s only because the app hasn’t been developed yet.

The beauty of the CerberLink over other devices is that they have a completely open API so anyone can write an app. If you have a really cool idea, they may even send you a unit for testing. I really appreciate that way of thinking.

CerberLink can also send and receive emails. They give you a unique email address to hand off to those you want to keep in touch with and in my test, emails both outbound and in worked great. I guess if you really wanted to get some or all of your emails, you could set up a forwarding system with filters but that would most likely end up costing you a ton of money in messaging fees.

What’s Included

• CerberLink [small, ruggedized, two-way satellite communicator]
• Laminated pocket size quick start guide
• USB flash drive containing PDF user manual
• USB cable for charging and wall outlet adapter
• Timbuk2 pouch for CerberLink
• Atomic Fireballs [a fun alternative to packing peanuts]

All of the above comes in an Otterbox case with their own branding.

Ease of Use

The device itself is fairly simple but may have a bit of a learning curve. It doesn’t take long to figure out the basics but for some, it may be best to take a day and fiddle with it until you get used to its operations. Learning which blinking lights mean what takes a bit of understanding.

While navigating the app on your iPhone, there are help popups that provide useful information. You can easily turn those off when you get used to the functions but I kept them on because they helped until I was familiar with the interface.

The website is useful but not exactly intuitive (they’re working on it). I often found myself getting lost in the navigation. Initially, I had some trouble trying to share a map of my movement but then they updated the back end of the site and made it much easier.

I was also able to use the site from my iPhone and iPad. It wasn’t a mobile specific site but the functionality was there.

Battery Life

I must say that I’m quite impressed with the life of the battery. I used it mainly when we were on the move from one location to another and a few times in camp to send messages. It lasted the entire trip (around 4 days) and only on the bus ride home did it show 4% battery left. It handled the live tracking with ease (updating every 10 minutes) and it must have an extremely smart auto sleep function. I brought a battery backup for it and never had to use it.

If you buy or rent a CerberLink and plan to use it in conjunction with your phone, be sure to put your phone on Airplane mode and turn both off at night. This helped to preserve a lot of battery power.

Performance – Using CerberLink in the Wilderness

While testing on my hike of Saint Mary’s Glacier, I wasn’t sure if a breadcrumb got uploaded so I tried it a few times. When I got to a computer later that day, I noticed that it uploaded all of them. I guess you just need to trust that the message will upload when it acquires a signal.

I was also a bit worried about where I should place the CerberLink because they recommend keeping in an upright position. Initially (during my summit and descent of Mount Yale) it was on the strap of my ruck and while that may be the optimal location, it also worked well in the outer pocket of my GORUCK GR2 under a layer of 1000D Cordura. It’s best not to over think it and worry about placement too much. Do what you can to keep it as close to the sky as possible though.

In camp with a decent amount of trees, it acquired a signal quickly and I was able to send and receive an email from my wife. Very impressive. With all of the satellites overhead, it usually only takes a few minutes at most to grab a good signal for transmitting.

The hike up to Mount Yale and back to camp was a 17 hour day. I set the CerberLink to track every 10 minutes and it performed wonderfully. No problems as far as I could tell.

Note: This map was made manually through the Backpacker.com iPad app using the CerberLink collected data points.

Setting manual breadcrumbs with notes worked great too. I could mark certain parts of the trail that we filtered water at or maybe cached some supplies. You can drop a breadcrumb on the device itself by just pressing a series of numbers, but if you want text added to the breadcrumb, it’s a simple process through the app.

I was also able to quickly and easily send a check-in message to anyone in my contacts list. You setup the contacts list in advance and you can decide if you want them to receive a text, an email, or both. It just lets them know you are ok and shares your current location.

Where to Find the CerberLink

Currently, your best option for getting your hands on the CerberLink is to purchase or rent a unit from their website. They are doing a test run at REI but there’s no word on which stores will get it for now. I’d like to see their device in outdoors stores across the country and maybe soon I will.

At this time, the prices for purchase are $499 and $799 and both plans are very different. The former is more of an annual membership and the latter is a “pay as you go” approach. Their rental plans are $64.95 for a two week rental and $89.95 for four weeks. Keep in mind that these are subject to change so check their site for details. This is meant to be just a basic guide and not a definitive list of their options, as each plan has specifics involved with them (in terms of how many messages you get, annual fees, monthly fees, etc.).

Conclusion

Overall, I think this is a great device and truly a contender for the big players out there. Next trip I go on where there is no cell phone reception, I’m certainly going to turn to the CerberLink. Its proven itself already with me and the ability to rent only when I need it is great. Your mileage may vary so if you’re skeptical, rent one for two weeks and give it a shot.

What I Would Change

The included pouch doesn’t fit the straps of my GR2 so I had to connect it with a bit of creativity. I may be the only one at ITS that doesn’t have a bunch of MOLLE pouches lying around so it’s not a real problem, just something to keep in mind.

The name of the device when connecting through Bluetooth is a bit confusing. Granted you probably won’t have a lot of Bluetooth devices popping up in the wilderness but at home I didn’t see how the name corresponded to the device. I think I was just expecting the full name instead of the abbreviation [CL_2930].

The site mentions what you can do with the device but I want it spelled out and easier to understand. Specifically the messages feature. Through your plan you are allowed so many messages. What constitutes a message? An outbound Twitter or Facebook update, an email, breadcrumbs, live tracks… It could be easy to get in trouble if you don’t know because any message over your allotment is $.75 each.

I would like to see an overall graphical and user interface improvement to the site and smart phone app. Not because I think it’s bad, but because I want it to look as good as the entire device works.

While visiting their office, I brought up these issues and they were very receptive. They are a team of technical oriented engineers and know that they have a lot to work on. Knowing that they are open and willing to grow shows that this product will continue to get revised and become even better.

View The Full Gallery on Flickr

As a side note and by coincidence, ITS Tactical Life Member Tom Rader at the GORUCK Ascent testing the DeLorme inReach and was overall pleased with it’s performance. It might be worth while to do a full breakdown comparison of each device at some point…

Disclosure: The author (Mike Petrucci) was given a demo unit with unlimited data from BriarTek for test and evaluation purposes. 

They say that the One Day Hike (ODH) may be the mid-Atlantic region’s oldest long distance hike. Even though The Sierra Club has been hosting this popular adventure since 1974, I just found out about it last year.

They have two distances for hikers to choose from, a 50K and a 100K. All but 1.5 miles of the hike is on the C&O Canal tow path as it winds from Georgetown, Washington, DC to Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. Hiking 62.14 miles in a single day is not what some people consider a day hike, but this is exactly what they are asking people to do.
Being a guy, my ego is in need of a constant check. Luckily I was able to subdue my testosterone enough and made myself promise that I would take this one slow. The mission is to complete the hike; that is all. No speed records, no bricks, just finish.

To complete the hike in the allotted time, you need to average 20 minutes per mile (approximately 3 mph). If you miss the cutoff times at any given station, they bring you in. It’s part of the rules you have to agree to but ultimately it’s for your safety and I understand that.

Note: They throttle the signups and don’t have a waiting list, so you just have to wait until they open registration periodically and grab a spot as quickly as possible.

Since this is a supported event, there are strategically placed aid stations with food, water, medicine, etc. I planned on carrying everything I could to move as fast as possible and keep stops to a minimum. I did however take advantage of the aid stations for food and water resupply when I really needed it.

Gear Loadout

• Outdoor Research Mentor Waterproof Shell
• Outdoor Research Sequence Long Sleeve Zip Tee
• Under Armour Compression Short Sleeve
• ITS Tactical ETA Kit and Trauma Kit Pouch
• Lowa Renegade II GTX Boots
• GORUCK GR1
• GR TAC
• SmartWool PhD Socks
• SureFire Saint Minimus
• Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil 50L Pack Liner
• Source WXP 3L Helix
• LokSak Bag
• Black Diamond Trail Ergo Cork trekking poles
• Fisher Space Pen M4 TAD Edition
• Rite in the Rain No 954T
• iPhone
• iPod Nano
• Zagg Sparq 2.0

The conditions for this hike could not have been better for me. I operate best in the cold and rain doesn’t seem to hurt my morale at all. In fact, for some reason I tend to welcome the rain because I feel as if it becomes a mental barrier for others. So with a low around 39 and high in the low 50′s, I was excited.

I met the organizers in a dark parking lot in Georgetown to check-in. I haven’t experienced this “feeling” in a while and it’s fun being wide awake and geared up for an adventure at some crazy hour (2:30 AM) surrounded by similarly crazy people. We are setting out to hike 62.14 miles in less than 24 hours. I think that’s crazy.

0300 – A Dark Start

After a brief chat about safety and more on what to expect, we were off. My start is fast but I’m feeling good. I’m cranking out 13-15 minute miles and listening to music. Some songs get me feeling pumped and allow an even faster pace. But the miles don’t exactly fly by and even with a slower than running pace, I’m starting to get hungry.

I keep moving as I swing my backpack around and pull out some snacks. I plan on eating as much as I need but I also don’t want to burn through all of my food before I reach the first food station. Something I noticed was that when people around me had to get something out of their bag or maybe pick a new song on their iPod, their pace slowed down. I made an effort to speed up during those times I was distracted.

Arriving at the first station I decided to adjust some things and only stay for a minute. I was good on water and feeling fresh so I wanted to get moving to the next checkpoint. Breakfast was waiting for me there and it was about 10 miles away.

Breakfast is Served

I rolled into the breakfast station at mile 22 in just over six hours. To be honest, I kind of was expecting eggs and sausage but happily scarfed down the bagels, muffins, oranges, and yogurt they laid out. I also took time to get some blisters drained by the first aid crew. The volunteers at this event are downright saints. One person will pop your blisters and bandage you up while the other is asking what they can get you from the food table, all while being as chipper as can be. Saints.

I started off slow as I left the breakfast stop but soon picked up pace. I decided to use my trekking poles and push like I was skiing and they really helped a ton. Somehow I snuck a 14 minute mile in there but eventually had to slow down as my legs began to tighten up. Also, my feet were feeling incredibly tender. Almost as if I were stepping on thumb tacks.

I blew through the next aid station at mile 30 to save time and preserve my feet. Stopping seemed to make it worse. After all, it’s only 5.6 miles to the next station which is the lunch stop.

I eventually slowed down as I neared the next station. Things are starting to get worse. I arrived at Whites Ferry (mile 35.6) at 2:05 PM. Sat for a minute until I could muster up the strength to rise and hobble to the food table. I downed a PB&J and took another as well as some trail mix for later. I left the station at 2:23 PM because it closes at 3:10 PM and I didn’t want to be out of the running just yet.

Painful Truths

About a half mile down the trail, I was by myself as I started to realize the gravity of it all. Things were hurting too bad. My pace was deteriorating. My body was shutting down. At this realization, alone on the trail, leaning on my trekking poles for support, I broke down.

I did the math and realized I wasn’t going to make the next cutoff. My goal was to finish and certainly not quit. I won’t be able to finish but at least I’m not quitting. I gave it everything I could. It was extremely difficult for me to reach that conclusion but soon I was ok with it.

It started to rain and lasted for my last 2 miles. I arrived at what was to be my final station at mile 42.5, 20 minutes beyond the cutoff. I was forced to end my hike there. To be honest, if allowed to go on, my pace would have been so slow that I wouldn’t have made the finish in 24 hours anyway.

I didn’t earn a patch but that doesn’t mean I won’t go back. I’ll return to hike the full distance and I’m still proud of myself for covering 42.5 miles in just over 14 and a half hours.

A Look Back

Now that I’ve had time to rest and reflect, I realized a few things I did wrong and what I need to do for next time. I forgot about this event up until a few weeks before I could sign up. That didn’t leave a lot of time for training and honestly, you really have to train for this. I did one hike that was about 18 miles but they highly recommend you do at least a 35 mile hike if attempting the 100K.

Looking over the OneDayHike.org website, it’s full of great advice that I’ll follow to the letter for next time. Building up your feet and legs during long days of walking will go a long way when you do the real thing. I was ill prepared and thought that a general level of decent fitness would get me through. It did not. This wasn’t something I could muscle through even though I tried.

Even though I failed to reach my goal, do I recommend others attempt this hike? Yes. It’s an amazing adventure that you should try if you have even the slightest interest. Visit the ODH site and follow their training program. You know I will.

I want to say a huge thank you to everyone that volunteered and manned the aid stations. Being greeted by a complete stranger who is more than excited to get food for me or pop my blisters while I rested did wonders for morale. The volunteers make this event what it is and I plan to reciprocate and become one sometime.

I’m not a professional runner by any stretch of the imagination but I do thoroughly enjoy lacing up my shoes and getting some run time in. I find running to be a great stress reliever in addition to the obvious health benefits.

With technology today, most people become obsessed with their stats when they really should be running more like a dog. Dogs are simple. They don’t care when they run. It could be night or day, rain or shine. They are just happy to run.

That said, it is still a good idea to keep track of your running so you can measure growth and performance. There are a number of apps and websites out there that enable you to get more out of your running but won’t distract you from enjoying the great outdoors.

RunKeeper & Nike+ GPS

• RunKeeper iOS – Free
• RunKeeper Android – Free
• Nike+ GPS iOS – $1.99
• Nike+ GPS Android [Unlikely because of contract with Apple.]

These are smart phone apps that use GPS to track your location and speed. These produce useful little graphs of your runs that you can share with others or just record and use as a for yourself. The ability to add friends is fun. You can keep track of how each of you are doing and even challenge one another to a race.

These two apps are in competition which each other and do similar things so you’ll have to try for yourself and see if you have a preference. RunKeeper has a very grass roots startup feel to it and Nike just feels much bigger. Actually, RunKeeper was first to the “game” and first to make their product free but the Nike team has certainly kept working to advance their app.

My Favorite Features

RunKeeper

If you pay for RunKeeper Elite, you can broadcast your run live to your profile page so anyone can track your progress. This would be great for races or even if running alone so you feel more secure with someone watching over you.

Nike+ GPS

The “Cheer Me On” feature. When you start running, you can tell the app to alert your Facebook friends by updating your status. Once a friend comments or likes that post, the sound of cheering and cowbells comes over your headphones. It’s actually very cool and worth checking out.

Earndit

• Website

The idea is simple. Exercise and get rewarded. Incentivizing your workouts is a great way to stay motivated and go the extra mile, literally. Once you sign up for an account, you can link your fitness accounts (RunKeeper, BodyMedia Fit, FitBit, Foursquare, Nike+, Garmin Connect) so that every time you run or workout, you’ll get points based on that activity and duration.

Their list of rewards has really gained some vendors in the past few months and it’s worth checking out. Most of them don’t require much on your part, just redeem your points and reap the rewards. The best part is that it’s completely free so there’s no reason not to sign up.

Fun Run Trainer Pro

• iOS only – Free and $2.99

If you are unfortunate enough to be forced to run on a treadmill, don’t worry, there is still an app for you. It allows you to run famous races like the Boston, New York, and London Marathons and any number of other popular locations.

You just input what your pace is set to and a faux satellite view will change, moving your position as it really would in a real run. This may or may not help take your mind off of running on a treadmill though. In my test, it appeared to make running on the “dreadmill” only slightly more bearable.

Get Your Run On!

These are just some of the tools you can use to get more out of your running. I like these in particular because they are mostly passive and don’t require attention during the run. What are your favorite running tips, apps, or websites?

Bonus

Some people run with headphones while others like the noise of the city or woods to be their soundtrack. I find myself going back and forth between the two.

I have two basic playlists I’ll turn to depending on what I want to accomplish. A longer run with no real goal will merit film scores or soft reflective music while a shorter and intense speed workout will call for some hardcore, aggressive tunes.

What do my playlists look like? Here’s a sample…

Reflective

• Your Hand In Mine – Explosions In The Sky
• On Forgetting – Jeff Pianki
• Holocene – Bon Iver
• Death Is the Road to Awe – The Fountain

Intense

• Believe – Breaking Benjamin
• Ante Up – Mash Out Posse
• Cochise – Audioslave
• Chop Suey – System of a Down

My list may be quite eccentric but that’s because it’s mine. Make yours exactly how you see fit. Experiment and see if you don’t enjoy your running more. There’s really no wrong way. Share your favorite running tips, apps and websites in the comments below.