My name is
Joshua Pauley and I am enjoying the process.
I have
just completed my first year of trail and ultra-racing. It has been a year of
lows and highs, learning and patience, and some tears but mostly laughter. I really could
not have asked more of this past year. I am truly blessed. Here are some
high points from the year plus a short synopsis of my last few races.
- I ran 10 races ranging from 50k-100k.
- 5 top 3 finishes (three of those being wins), 4 DNF’s (sucks to suck)
- My wife and I moved to Flagstaff to train
- Stayed generally healthy for the entire year
- Became a member of Trail Racing Over Texas
JFK 50-
This was my biggest race of the 2014 for me. A true learning experience above
all else and also my first completed 50 miler. I finished 11th over
all in roughly 6:30.
Brazos
Bend 100 (50 mile) – This race was just three weeks after JFK and I had quite a
few issues here. Ranging from still being fatigued after JFK and battling the
humidity. I decided to drop at 50k in hopes of leaving some in the tank for
Bandera 100k just three weeks after. One day I’ll run well while Rob Goyen is
around.
Bandera
100k (US Championship) – Here I was having the race of my life. Everything was
clicking. I had moved up from 13th all the way up to 7th
and showed no signs of stopping. It was really one of those days where everything just clicks. It was almost perfect. Then I took a small fall and was just planning
on walking for three minutes. And long story short I got hypothermia. I don’t
remember a lot about that portion of the race, I just remember “coming about”
in a camper trailer with some awesome people trying to warm me up. This was the
biggest bummer of the season I think. I couldn’t have asked for things to go
any better up until then. But what do you do? The Lord was definitely looking
out for me and it is so evident that people were praying for me that day and I’m
glad that it was nothing more severe. His provision really is all I need.
So now
what?
Now I look
to ride out the winter here in Flagstaff and shift my focus to a spring
marathon. I don’t think you can ever have to many tools in your arsenal of
ultras so I hope to add a quick marathon time to that bag of tools. I’ll be running under the guidance of long time
mentor and coach Jacob Phillips. To learn more about some of his coaching
options check him out here: Phillips Coaching . After the
marathon I don’t really know what The Lord has in store from me. Maybe a quick turnaround
to a 50k that summer. Or maybe another marathon. Who knows, only time will tell. Races always pop up.
A year ago
I decided to set out on a journey of becoming an elite ultra-runner. But that
is a long process. Let me say that again. It is a long process. It does not
happen over night! I will continue to train and to learn. I have an amazing
community and support around me so I know I cannot go wrong if I just keep
plugging away. All in all I would say I had a decent year. It’s a step in the
right direction. I just need to be patient (which is really what I struggle
with most).
As I
conclude this I do want to thank some people. My wife Mary, who always supports me and all my crazy ideas.
She is so much braver than I am – and I really do admire and love that about her. If I raced as brave as she lives then anything would be possible. My family
whether they were helping out financially or just through words of
encouragement: my gratitude for them is insane! Rob Goyen (Rob's races), this guy just
keeps believing in me and giving me opportunities. He’s like some sort of weird mix
of brother/insightful uncle/old friend. It just works for us.
And all my
running friends, from Texas to Flagstaff. There is really way too many to list and I
would certainly leave someone out. Whether it was just lending an ear to hear
my thoughts, write training, kick my butt on a run or give me insights about a
race…it has just been great. Speaking of which, if you are interested in getting
some great coaching check out Chris Vargo’s website (Vargo Running) – you cannot go wrong by trusting your next
training block to this rad dude!
Thanks for
keeping up with me. I know I have been a little inconsistent with my blog, but
as I have more time this spring I hope to be a little bit better about writing.
Whether I win every race or drop from every race all the glory to The Lord –
only His love can sustain me.
~Keep
Moving Forward,
J. Pauley.
