tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41769243931275613282024-03-12T19:14:53.406-07:00Persistent Runnerhttps://www.facebook.com/PersistentRunner
Persistent Runnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00347040192945913436noreply@blogger.comBlogger131125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4176924393127561328.post-19959235642415030382020-05-14T03:02:00.000-07:002020-05-14T03:02:11.408-07:00Just when you need it most…. A perfect thing comes along.<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
Every race for the foreseeable future is canceled, which for
a person like me that doesn’t actually DO many races, shouldn’t seem like a big
deal. But for someone that uses a ton of vacation time every year to volunteer at
races, it is. Spring normally brings with it horrible allergies and the start
of my favorite season…. ULTRATEERING SEASON!<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, as the pandemic reality set in, it became obvious…. Everything
will be different. I mean, duh…. Of course it will be. I mean, virtual races
have been a thing for years and if that’s your jam, go for it. It really wasn’t
mine because I didn’t much care about participating in real races anymore, so I
had no need for virtual ones. <br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Enter the Head Goat 50k in May. One of my favorite racing companies
Running Fit Events decided to put on a virtual race in May this year, because….
We got nothing else to do, right? But it’s a streaking event. Move a mile a day
for the whole month of May and voila! You’ve done a 50k. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, of course I signed up. And of course my knee and calf
are messed up so it’s been mostly walking. But so far, it’s also been this
magical, supportive, and perfect group with a goal that has kept my spirits up
and a smile on my face. There’s themes for the day, bad jokes, terrible puns,
inspiring stories, and just a ton of good people supporting and laughing and
moving together/apart. It's a somewhat silly thing, but maybe I just needed a silly thing to focus on instead of all the terrifying awful things around me.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There’s this great line from the last season of The Office:<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I wish there was a way to know you’re in the good old days
before you’ve actually left them.”<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I am gratefully aware of this special moment I am in with
these special people. AND I’ll even have a t-shirt from it. But for now…..I
gotta get my mile in. </div>
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<![endif]-->Persistent Runnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00347040192945913436noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4176924393127561328.post-46120252828314915392020-04-27T11:54:00.000-07:002020-04-27T11:54:06.398-07:00Running Goals? Strange times indeed....<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I meant to keep this thing updated, or at least semi
regularly updated. But then….. Life happened.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Then a pandemic happened.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Then I ran a half marathon in my neighborhood after the
pandemic canceled my race.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And now my knee and calf are bothering me. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And that’s just where things are at. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m a stubborn gal, so when my race got canceled I decided I’d
go ahead and do the virtual race in the dumbest way possible… one mile loops in
my neighborhood. So on race day I got up and did the thing. I think it was
maybe a blessing in disguise for me. I don’t love road races like I used to. So
many people, so many…. Roads. It was cool to do the half marathon distance
again, I can’t remember when I did that last, but it hurt…. Road running hurts.
But it was nice to have a potty and water bottle every mile if I needed it. So,
that happened. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And then the knee and calf pain also happened. It has still
allowed me to walk (which has been key to stay at home order sanity for me),
but I haven’t tried to force running. Just a little dabble here and there. The
walking and running I have been able to do are a godsend, but I wasn’t
interested in a new running goal….and then….</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A group I do lots of volunteering with set up a virtual
race/run/we are all just trying to get by where you run, walk, skip, bike, row
a mile a day for the month of May. Do that, and you end up with a 50k. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, now I oddly have another running goal in 2020? I thought
I stopped making those years ago. Of course, I thought I stopped writing in the
blog years ago too. I guess this weird reality calls for weird goals and life
choices and I am IN!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
JOIN IN THE FUN! Let’s make goals and see where it takes us!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
https://runningfitevents.redpodium.com/2020-head-goat-50k-in-may</div>
Persistent Runnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00347040192945913436noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4176924393127561328.post-13597129524866533322019-10-23T03:39:00.000-07:002019-10-23T03:39:35.944-07:00St Pats 24<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-68jqu0lHnGc/Xa7nixq6dOI/AAAAAAAABJE/USt5EZ84EWwLZGqJKKEppKraDjJw2kIrACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/5A4E27E8-C8ED-4C1C-AA63-68C971C99264.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-68jqu0lHnGc/Xa7nixq6dOI/AAAAAAAABJE/USt5EZ84EWwLZGqJKKEppKraDjJw2kIrACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/5A4E27E8-C8ED-4C1C-AA63-68C971C99264.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: gainsboro; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span class="s1"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span class="s1"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span class="s1">I was never a person that always wanted to do the same races every year. I like trying out new things. What were different challenges? What did different trails look like? But for four years I always came back to st pats 24 hour.</span></div>
<div class="p2" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 20.3px;">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span class="s1">Maybe it's the great food, maybe it was my friend Sherri that's always there, the camping onsite, the flushable toilets, the row of pine trees at the end of the loop, the glow sticks at night, the fact that it was a fundraiser? But every year, it felt like magic.</span></div>
<div class="p2" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 20.3px;">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span class="s1">And this year was no different. </span></div>
<div class="p2" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 20.3px;">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span class="s1">I'm not much of a runner anymore, so why would I sign up for a 24 hr race? The main reason is that for 24 hours, I get to ignore everything else and just adventure. And whatever I accomplish during the race is a win. </span></div>
<div class="p2" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 20.3px;">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span class="s1">This year I went in with one ten mile walk and lots of ultrateering (time on feet) so my only expectation was to have fun. Mission accomplished times a million.</span></div>
<div class="p2" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 20.3px;">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span class="s1">I made new friends, saw old friends, laughed until I almost cried, ate until I almost couldn't eat sugar anymore, walked, laughed, and walked some more. </span></div>
<div class="p2" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 20.3px;">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span class="s1">There's no standard race report here. It was a 3.1 mile loop, with .25 mile out and backs for the last half hour. I did 32 miles total. I slept for at least six hours and had a full day and night of time in nature. I feel rejuvenated and ready to face all the shit that comes next.</span></div>
<div class="p2" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 20.3px;">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span class="s1">My feet hurt and they were mighty swollen when it was all said and done. I am currently a bit creaky and it takes me a minute or two to get moving. It was all so worth it. </span></div>
<div class="p2" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 20.3px;">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span class="s1">I guess this is one of the things I do miss from running races. That feeling that you participated in something magical. That time stopped for a bit and you could just focus on a goal even if the goal was to just stop time for a minute. And you can hold that magic with you when you face the real world garbage that hits you the next day. </span></div>
Persistent Runnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00347040192945913436noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4176924393127561328.post-53300607877133145522019-10-07T12:19:00.000-07:002019-10-17T03:08:43.986-07:00Defining and redefining<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Defining yourself is a weird thing. Redefining yourself is
even weirder. But just allowing yourself to be seems to be the most fun.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When I started this blog I was a runner. I obsessed about
running, I had goals about running, I read about running, I talked about
running, I lost sleep about running… well you get the idea. Then I had the
great thyroid shit-out of 2015. I had multiple breakdowns that involved me
screaming BUT IF I CAN’T RUN WHO AM I!?!?!? That’s not a great place to be for
someone who has struggled with depression for as long as she can remember. It
was terrifying. The thyroid shit-out forced me to slow down and reassess, which
was super lame… but helpful.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Four years later, I really enjoy Olympic Weightlifting, I
love hiking, I love walking, my shoes last for MONTHS, I read a lot of books, I
enjoy doing puzzles (did I mention I’m a 100 year old lady), I see my husband
more, I volunteer at races A LOT, and I still run. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I didn’t run much at all for a year or so, but started doing
it more this summer, just a mile here and there or a bit of jogging thrown into
my walking. And the difference was, I was just doing it because I liked it. I
do miss the feeling after a long trail run when I sit and space out with a
travel mug of luke warm coffee. I don’t miss that it took my entire Saturday EVERY
Saturday to get that feeling. But I love that now that I’m not training for a
race constantly, I can just do whatever feels good. Some people can train that
way, I never could. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, I don’t know if the bit of running I’ve been doing has
gotten this blog back in my head or if I was just ready to publicly babble
again. But I thought about the name…. and I guess it still fits. I’m still
persistent about running, but I don’t define myself by it anymore, and so far
that has been fun.</div>
Persistent Runnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00347040192945913436noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4176924393127561328.post-59338482748135860012017-02-10T15:04:00.000-08:002017-02-10T15:04:33.636-08:00And now for something completely different…..<br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Blog much? No, not really. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5Wt56wRdlgs/WJ4-76OBWcI/AAAAAAAABFU/oR79-jrLEkg/s640/blogger-image-1238627268.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5Wt56wRdlgs/WJ4-76OBWcI/AAAAAAAABFU/oR79-jrLEkg/s640/blogger-image-1238627268.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">So what’s been going on? Something that is TOTALLY NOT
RUNNING!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">After I ran a 50k at a 12 hour race last year and decided I
had zero interest in running the 50 mile race I had trained for, I kind of
found myself floundering. I had spent so many months fighting back to running
an ultra and then, viola! I ran one! And then, hmmmm…. Ok what next? In a past
life, what’s next would be, what are the next 3-7 races you can train for? Please
note: that is the kind of thinking that got me into the great thyroid mess of
2015, so that’s out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I’ve been a member at an AMAZING gym for 5+years now. In
that time, I have done mostly semi personal training. My coach and I would talk
about my goals and then my coach would design a workout for me. It’s made me a
healthier runner for sure. But even that was starmting to feel stale. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Enter Olympic lifting (not Crossfit, not that there’s
anything wrong with Crossfit when done safely… end disclaimer). My gym has a pretty great Olympic lifting program and they have been offering an
Olympic Lifting for Dummies class (it’s not actually called that, that’s just
how I felt when I signed up for it). So, even though I’m scared to death of new
things and change, I thought, what the heck, let’s tip toe out of this comfort
zone just a bit and see what happens. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">What’s happened is…. I LOVE IT! It’s way different from
endurance running and that’s kind of a good thing right now. In fact, my sacred
Saturday long runs have turned into lifting days! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I haven’t stopped running, but lifting heavy weights with
big movements has certainly changed how often I run and how successfully I run.
For the first month or so most of my runs made me feel like Godzilla because my
legs were lead weights from lifting. But three months in, my body seems to be
adapting a tad. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Most of the “lifting only” lifters can’t understand how or
why I run and most of the “run only” runners can’t understand how or why I’m
loving this type of lifting. And I’m just in the middle trying to figure out
how I can make them work together and not destroy my thyroid again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The cool thing is that adding Olympic lifting has made me
appreciate my running more. I love being in the noisy gym with people cheering
each other on and dropping loud weights everywhere, but that environment has
also made me appreciate the silence and Zen of a nice run even more. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I’m still not sure what all this means as a runner, an
unltrarunner, a lifter, and all the other labels I’ve given myself through the
years. But I do know as a person, I’m really enjoying this new stuff. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Oh and also, who gives a sh!t about all those labels? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Persistent Runnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00347040192945913436noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4176924393127561328.post-76580049361340713202016-10-21T11:13:00.002-07:002016-10-23T10:11:32.457-07:00FUN!<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-MQrXjyc5-c0/WAzvQy5BKaI/AAAAAAAABEs/LpvBm9m24VQ/s640/blogger-image-1647898825.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-MQrXjyc5-c0/WAzvQy5BKaI/AAAAAAAABEs/LpvBm9m24VQ/s640/blogger-image-1647898825.jpg"></a></div><br>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">When one of my nephews was about 2 or 3, he was playing in a
fountain. He was so overwhelmed with pure joy and that all he do was scream<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">FUN!!!!!<o:p></o:p></span><br>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span><br>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">That’s kind of how I felt for most of the race I did on
Saturday. <o:p></o:p></span><br>
<br>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I had a plan of running 31 miles during my 12 hour race and
calling it a day. I had planned on using the race as a test to remind myself
what a race felt like, to test nutrition, to figure out shoes, to get a
training run in at a different location, and to see if I had any interest in
running a 50 mile race in a month. What hadn’t planned on was having so much
fun.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I don’t have a play by play to describe the race. It was a
three mile course that had a little bit of everything. A little uphill, a
little downhill, a little grass, a little pavement. It was good. The food at
the aid station was great. The weather was perfectly overcast. The participants
were wonderfully supportive.<o:p></o:p></span><br>
<br>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">It was freaking magic. And it freaking hurt. Holy crap I
haven’t run that far in a while and my feet were killing me. But I felt so
content. I was/am so grateful I was able to get to this point healthy and be
able to enjoy it. It’s been two years since I’ve run that far and although it
hurt it felt amazing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">And I don’t want to run 50 miles in a few weeks. Like, at
all. I thought that after twenty some odd miles but I told myself I can’t make
that decision while I’m hurting in the middle of a run. But I’ve been rolling
it around it my head ever since. <o:p></o:p></span><br>
<br>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Am I just scared?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Am I just tired?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Am I just ready for a taper?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Am I just worn out from a long training run?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Well, yes, to all of those. But the other factor is. I just
don’t want to do it. Why would I show up at a starting line when my heart isn’t
at least 90% interested in the race?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I’ve worked really hard at finding a balance between my
health and my love of ultra running. I’ve worked hard at actually trying to
listen to my body and what my head is trying to tell me. And I’ve worked really
hard at finding out that I just like to run and I don’t need lots of races a
year to prove that. There’s nothing wrong with lots of races a year if that’s
your thing, but there’s nothing wrong with no races a year. And I think I had
to convince myself that there’s nothing wrong with saying… Screw that, I don’t
want to do that race I signed up for anymore. I think I’d rather just take my
victory and move on to the next thing. Whatever that is. </span><br>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">So, I think I’m out for a 50 miler this year. But it was
super fun training for it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Here’s some other tidbits on the weekend.<o:p></o:p></span><br>
<br>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">1.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Animals spotted during/after the race: 2 snakes,
1 woodchuck, 1 opossum</span><br>
</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">2.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Sleeping in my car was genius and surprisingly cozy.
And the moonlight was amazing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">3.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "calibri";">I seriously need to figure out a shoe solution.
Cause dang my feet hurt.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">4.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "calibri";">I stood at the aid station for what felt like 10
minutes eating bacon and pickles at one point. I think that ultra running might
be the closest I ever get to understanding pregnancy food cravings.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">5.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Fall is an awesome time to be a runner (also a
minefield for those of us with puny ankles).</span><br>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span><br>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">6. Leaves caught: 2</span><br>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">7. Only music on my iPod that I liked: The Ramones.</span></div>
<br>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">8.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Sometimes making peace with grown up decisions feels
like garbage. But other times it feels like a win. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Persistent Runnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00347040192945913436noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4176924393127561328.post-69289660331417495312016-10-10T04:56:00.000-07:002016-10-10T13:47:47.127-07:00Ready Set..... GO!!!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-mM9AkpjZ3SU/V_vCdetjACI/AAAAAAAABEM/dNf8B5-tJEw/s640/blogger-image-1552806400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-mM9AkpjZ3SU/V_vCdetjACI/AAAAAAAABEM/dNf8B5-tJEw/s640/blogger-image-1552806400.jpg"></a></div><br>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">It’s been a weird year. Due to some hypothyroid stuff, the
last race I ran was in July 2015 and it was a half marathon that I knew I
shouldn’t be doing, but it was a great excuse to hang out with a friend on some
new trails for a few hours. Shortly after that race I finally found a doctor
that agreed that there was something wrong and we set about treatment. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">In December, we looked at some new bloodwork and saw that
everything was WORKING! I wasn’t out of the woods, but the things I had been
doing had made a huge impact. We were both thrilled, well cautiously thrilled.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Then I told him my plan/dream/possibly stupid idea for the
year:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I want to run a 50 miler in November.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Here’s why I love my functional medicine doc, he didn’t
laugh. Ok, he might have rolled his eyes, but he listened to my proposal. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">We think that part of the reason my thyroid went to sh!t was
because of over-racing (of course there were other factors too). So, I sat down
and asked myself, if I could only do one race this year, what would it be? And
the answer was the Tunnel Hill 50 miler. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">This will be the third year I’ve signed up for this race.
Year one, I DNF’d. Year two, my thyroid hated me and I went with a friend to
crew for her/hang out. Third time’s a charm? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I signed up and didn’t really tell anyone. Maybe because I
was/am scared. Maybe because I couldn’t handle all the supportive Facebook
style rah rah stuff (what a jerk right? I just couldn’t handle feeling like I
might let these supportive people down). Most likely because I needed to
convince myself that this was a worthwhile project. <o:p></o:p></span><br>
<br>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">So here I am. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">This weekend I'm doing a 12 hour race. Not because I want
to run for 12 hours, but I wanted a 30ish mile run (I hope that doesn’t take me
12 hours) and I thought it might be good to remember what a starting line feels
like before I show up for a starting line of a 50 miler.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I’m at this place that’s somewhere between terror and
excitement. And considering it’s been over two years since I have lined up for an
ultra I’m having a difficult time remembering if that’s normal. But then again
when have my reactions and emotions been normal? <o:p></o:p></span>Persistent Runnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00347040192945913436noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4176924393127561328.post-34120812286244765352016-06-28T14:49:00.000-07:002016-06-28T14:49:40.468-07:00Avoiding the Gottas....<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">A forced break from running, a reassessment of how I run,
and a reassessment of what I want from running in the past year have been
terribly frustrating. On a bad day, it’s heartbreaking to look at all the
running I used to do and the way I could do it whenever I felt like it. On good
days, I’m so stinking grateful for any running I get to do even if 95% of my
running is walking. Because in my mind, if I ran three steps the whole da&*
thing is a run. And if 100% of it was walking? Who gives a crap? My chances of
being an elite athlete were always zero. Now it’s subzero. Does that make me
sad? Nah, I am who I am and I’ve punished my body in the name of fitness
enough. So now I’m just trying to respect it and learn its boundaries.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">So there’s the stuff that I miss and the things that make me
sad, but there’s some good stuff too. Here’s something I don’t miss.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The Gottas</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I don’t miss saying things like:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I gotta get X number of miles in<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I gotta get a stupid run in<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I gotta run for 489 hours on Saturday<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I gotta figure out how to fit in a long run if god forbid I
want to do ANYTHING other than run on a Saturday.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I understand that at some point of training I always used to
get tired of training. I feel like that’s normal…. Or at least not unnormal.
But even when I wasn’t training for something (which really wasn’t often, over
race much?) I still felt like the I Gottas caught me a lot.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">So, what’s it like now? Well, I haven’t trained for a race
in over a year now. So, that takes quite a bit of pressure off. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I also REALLY try to ACTUALLY listen to my body. Runners
claim to listen to our bodies all the time, but frankly we are terrible body
listeners. Because seriously, a big part of running and especially ultra
running is learning to ignore the ow and push through. What I’m currently trying
to do is learn what is actual ow and what is safe to run through. UGH…. It’s
exhausting. I mean, conversations in my head can go on forEVER….<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Am I just tired or am I thyroid tired?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Is that muscle soreness normal or is it a problem?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Should I just run a mile and see how it feels?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">But the first mile always sucks, should I run two and see
how it feels?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">But if I’m going to run two, why don’t I just suck it up and
run three?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">But is three too far?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">But if three feels good should I push to four?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Maybe I should just walk?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">But am I really going to get out of bed at 5am to go
walking?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Ok, but if I don’t run or walk, will I just lay here in bed
wide awake and be pissed about it?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Oh crap, I’ve spent like 15 minutes trying to figure this
out. I mean, that could be my first mile or so….<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">And on and on and on…..<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">It ain’t pretty, but it IS nice to have the option to lay in
bed and say screw it to the whole project. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">But now I’m considering trying to do SOMETHING in the Fall.
I’m feeling better (am I really feeling better or do I just think I’m feeling
better… you get the idea, nuthin’s easy). So, I’m wondering how “training”
works when you are trying not to stress yourself out about training? Can that
even work? <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I guess I’ll soon find out. I mean kind of soon…. Should I
start soon? Should I wait til the last minute and try to cram for the test? Is
this all a terrible idea? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Oh lord…. This is gonna be interesting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Persistent Runnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00347040192945913436noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4176924393127561328.post-18719629912020176792016-05-19T14:30:00.000-07:002016-05-19T14:30:48.160-07:00Ultrateering... It's a Thing... That You Should Definitely Be DoingWhenever road runners ask me why I run ultras and how I can stand wandering around the woods on race day for 6+ hours at a time, I always have a ton of reasons.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I love the woods!</div>
<div>
It's an adventure!</div>
<div>
What else have I got to do today?</div>
<div>
I can pee (almost) anywhere I want!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
And most importantly......</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
HAVE YOU SEEN THE SNACK TABLES AT ULTRAS?</div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-AdjBt9nN3oE/Vz4APq2en5I/AAAAAAAABB4/1hS8ZcfBtTU/s640/blogger-image-73785977.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-AdjBt9nN3oE/Vz4APq2en5I/AAAAAAAABB4/1hS8ZcfBtTU/s640/blogger-image-73785977.jpg" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div>
It's like a buffet just shows up in the middle of the woods! And the longer the race, the better the snacks! </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
When I switched to trail racing more than road racing, I remember noticing the volunteers a lot more than I did during road races. Road race volunteers have a tough job, they typically stand out in the blazing sun, arm extended, waiting for you to grab a cup filled with gatorade or water. Don't get me wrong, it ain't glamorous work and I've always loved them being there. But these trail volunteers.... They're out in the woods all day and they don't just hand you a glass of water, they fill your water bottles, your hydration pack, they untie your shoes, they pull your socks off, they remind you to eat, ask about your salt pills, they cheer you up, and they talk you off the edge. They can make a race day magic. Ultra volunteers ARE magic. And you should be too.<br />
<br />
Ultrateering (it's a word now, so go with it) is one of the most satisfying and healing things I've found since discovering trail running. If you've read this blog you know I've been wrestling with health issues that require me to reassess the racing I do. I like races although I'm not a RACER. I like the feeling of a race day, the battle and the victory. I miss doing races and there's no way around it. But Ultrateering lets me be part of it! I get to feed off of all the race day excitement! As a volunteer I've watched people come into an aid station crying and come back on their next loop rejuvenated! I've seen people take a nap, get up, and kick the snot out of a race. I've watched runners make hard choices to call it a day when it isn't working. I've wiped away tears, I've hugged, and I've high fived. I've peeled off socks, I've untied countless knotted shoes, and I've made a complete ass out of myself to get a smile from a stranger in a tough place.<br />
<br />
It's hard work. And you don't get a medal or a buckle when you've finished your 5-20 hour shift. You don't get to upload an amazing run to STRAVA, and you don't get race photos. But instead of just patting yourself on the back, you get to be part of HUNDREDS people's race! You get to play a part in their victory!!!!<br />
<br />
I think about all the hours of racing I've done... I've still got a lot of giving back to do. And I love it. I watched a video clip of a guy talking about volunteering at a race he had run for years... he said something about how he had taken (run the race) for X amount of years and now he wants to give (volunteer) for X amount of years. As someone that loves racing and volunteering, that teared me up because I totally get it.<br />
<br />
If you love to race, then volunteer at a race or two or seven. Seeing the other side of the race will only make you love running, racing, and the running community more. And we could all use a little good karma, huh? <br />
<br />
</div>
Persistent Runnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00347040192945913436noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4176924393127561328.post-54788307145445697852016-02-18T14:27:00.001-08:002016-02-18T14:27:05.683-08:00Change is Weird<br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: large;">I read a few old blog posts today, which is awesome, because
it’s kind of like having a diary to go back to. It was really cool to read some
things about old races and training, what worked, what failed, what seemed like
a good idea, what was a horrible idea. But the weirdest thing was that it
almost felt like I was reading about someone else’s life. I mean, I remember
all those things, but when was that me?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: large;">I get it, things change, goals change, people change, blah
blah blah… but I didn’t realize how I have changed and how much that shows in
my running.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: large;">Last year I tried to recreate my first 50k. I signed up for
the same race, signed up for the same marathon as a training run, I wanted to
recreate that magic. Obviously, my thyroid had different ideas; I DNF’d my
training marathon and never even got to the starting line of the 50k. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<o:p><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;"></span></o:p><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: large;">And a lot of things went to crap from there….<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<o:p><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;"></span></o:p><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: large;">But a lot of things got really cool…..<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<o:p><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;"></span></o:p><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: large;">I’ve found that the people in my life that liked me for more
than just running still like me and want to be around me. And the people that
only liked me because of running now awkwardly back out of a room when I say I don’t
have any races planned, they stare at me with sad puppy eyes, they say awkward
comments that sound like/might be insults, or completely disregard that ever ran, do run now, and will run more races in the future. It’s been sad and weird
and liberating to see that happen. It makes me care less about keeping all the
plates spinning because I’ve found out that half the plates that I was spinning
never cared if it was me spinning them or someone else. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<o:p><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;"></span></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: large;">Enough about plates….<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<o:p><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;"></span></o:p><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: large;">I like running, I like runners, and I have found a new
appreciation for what I am able to do no matter how pretty or ugly it looks. And
my running has become oddly personal for a person who tends to share and
overshare many things. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: large;">So, it’s fun to see how different it is. Sure, there are
less blog posts, but that’s just how it is right now. And maybe that will
change. And maybe if/when it does change, it’ll change into something that’s
also awesome. It’s funny, because just when I think I have myself all figured out, I
don’t at all. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: large;">I guess that’s the neat part about life and running… you
never know how things are going to change. And trying to recreate a magic that
happened before will probably always fail, because that magic happened then….
Today I get to make new magic.</span> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-VJP6ixJ0PvY/VsZDZzyTb5I/AAAAAAAABBk/guDbzOBSJog/s640/blogger-image-133782240.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="353" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-VJP6ixJ0PvY/VsZDZzyTb5I/AAAAAAAABBk/guDbzOBSJog/s400/blogger-image-133782240.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
Persistent Runnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00347040192945913436noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4176924393127561328.post-91307596989868565412016-01-07T14:22:00.000-08:002016-01-07T14:22:06.293-08:00NEW YEAR! what to do.... what to do....<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-mwXRGWqtBD0/VosKr7xOFUI/AAAAAAAABBM/kCRpVD7zSPc/s640/blogger-image-2098756358.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-mwXRGWqtBD0/VosKr7xOFUI/AAAAAAAABBM/kCRpVD7zSPc/s320/blogger-image-2098756358.jpg" width="244" /></a></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It’s the time of year where people start resolving..<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’m gonna workout more<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’m gonna eat better<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’m gonna clean the toilet more than once a quarter…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">You know, the usual. Me? Well, I had a complete meltdown at
my gym the other day because my personal trainer asked me to set a goal.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Yep. Hysterical woman, table of one please?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We talked it through and I’ve thought about it a lot in the
days since. And I guess there are a few reasons why such a reasonable and appropriate question set
me off.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> 1. </span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I set goals last year. And they were all thrown
out the window when my thyroid went to hell. I lost oodles (or all) of the
progress I had made in the gym and running. It was like being punched in the
gut and then looking up and watching all of your goals and plans flutter away.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> 2.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’m a runner. We love goals. We have goal races,
goal times, calorie intake goals, distance goals, pace goals, cute outfit goals…
we LOVE goals. However, in my current recovery state I can’t really set those.
When I met with my doc I was given (and agreed with) a hard NO on spring races.
That news was expected, but still a tough pill to swallow. But moving forward
from that the plans are so wishy washy. Maybe this, maybe that, adjust daily,
blah blah blah. Words like those are like nails on a chalkboard for someone
(like me) who loves schedules and game plans.</span><br />
</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So, this paints kind of a bleak picture, sure. And I had no
idea a question like that would set me off. But what I did realize is that I have
been working on goals, they’re just different than any goals I've ever set since I began running and weightlifting.</span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In my current state it's MOST important for me to focus on what’s working NOW. When I go to
the gym it’s a victory when anything goes well. When I go for a run, it’s a
victory if it felt good during and after. My main and most important goal right
now is trying to listen and figure out what is working today, what worked
yesterday, what works in the next five minutes. If I look too far ahead, I tend
to get panicked or sad about what I can, can’t, might, or might not be able to do. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I guess it turns out I do have goals. They’re just different
goals than I’ve ever had. Maybe they are a bit less measurable, but for right now they are what I've got. And please don't ask me about them..... at least not anytime soon.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
Persistent Runnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00347040192945913436noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4176924393127561328.post-60044397945424251572015-12-11T14:20:00.002-08:002015-12-11T14:20:13.472-08:00A Much Needed Run Without a Ton of Running...<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">So, I’m in this place right now where I’m not really
training for anything. I’m more trying to train myself to understand my body. I’m
feeling better enough that my brain wants me to DO EVERYTHING! But my body,
doctor, and logical brain know that now is not the time to do all the things,
even though I may want to. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I spent a lot of the fall volunteering at races I couldn’t
run and I loved it. It was such a healing thing to be involved with the running
and racing community even if I couldn’t partake in the running and racing so
much. But frankly, I’m kind of tired of everyone else’s running. I’m ready to
do some of my running. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">And this weekend I did that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I have been thinking a lot about ten miles. Ten miles…. It’s
just a thing that I miss. And I’m not sure why. Maybe it’s just getting over
that hill of single digits to double. But I’ve always loved a good ten miler.
And last weekend, I wanted a ten miler.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">With my health right now, there’s a lot of trial and error.
If I don’t sleep well (thanks for the 3am wake up adrenal glands) or feel “off”,
I really need to pay attention to it and change my plans accordingly. This means
that every run, walk, or trip the gym is a grand experiment. I often think that
all my years of marathon and ultra training and learning to “push through” have
really screwed me over in this department. Am I blowing something off? Am I
being paranoid? I’m trying to figure it out, but it ain’t easy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Back to this weekend…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Our local weather had a “frozen fog” warning which was
bizarre, but I figured I head out in the morning and just take my time on the
drive. I had planned to do a standard route I do on the trails where you can
easily run 7-10 miles depending on adding or dropping trails, but the more I
thought about it, the more my mind changed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Because to be honest I was a nervous wreck about this run
and I could just see myself bailing out of the ten miles due to fear. So, at
the last minute I changed my mind and decided to do a much more challenging
route that contained less opportunity to bail. And the hills + plus me trying
to keep my heartrate in the 140 range would take the pressure off time expectations.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">But I still had time expectations…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">When I got going I started mathing…. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">- if I go this fast it’ll take me this long<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">-if I go this slow it’ll take me this long<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">-if I ignore my heartrate and go a little faster I could get
it done in this long<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Needless to say the first few miles were not fun. Here I was
trying a distance that I haven’t run in about 5 months and I’m stressing out
about time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I’ve been meditating a lot and just started working on a self-esteem
meditation that teaches you to “excuse” the negative or distracting thoughts
that pop up. So I tried it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">And it was good.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Before I knew it I was noticing how amazing the trails
looked with a frosty fog on them. All of the spider webs were covered in frost
and it looked like tiny tree garlands on<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>every twig. I was smiling the biggest dopiest smile and loving every
minute of it. I let go of time stresses. I had all freaking day, what’s the
rush? I walked and smiled and took pictures and smiled.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-vtfbW0XJD-4/Vms4STB4XtI/AAAAAAAABA4/w0hGvStLLoo/s640/blogger-image--2122069869.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-vtfbW0XJD-4/Vms4STB4XtI/AAAAAAAABA4/w0hGvStLLoo/s320/blogger-image--2122069869.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">My average pace for the “run” was almost 20 minute miles. I
swear I ran parts of it, but when my heart rate told me that this route was
entirely uphill (not really just felt that way at times) and I would be walking
over half of it, I said, fine by me. And it was super awesome.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">A morning for me spent in the woods “excusing” my
self-trash-talking mind was just what the doctor ordered for that day. Probably
not for everyday right now. But for that day, it was perfect.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Persistent Runnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00347040192945913436noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4176924393127561328.post-40077577425800886442015-11-25T10:39:00.000-08:002015-11-25T10:39:42.002-08:00GOODBYE THIRTIES!<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Goals for 2015:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Do a chin-up<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Do a pistol squat<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Run a 50 miler<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Actual Occurrences in 2015:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Hypothyroid<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Adrenal exhaustion <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Lost most of my progress in weight lifting<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Gained 10 pounds<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Did not start 3 races I was registered for (including 50
miler)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Oh sure this looks awful. Miserable. I think it’s really
obvious that my 39<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> year did not go as planned. I had planned to
waltz into 40 with a couple more ultras under my belt and arms that show you
EXACTLY where the gun show is. What do they say about the best laid plans?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I spent a lot of time this year crying because my body was
failing me, crying because my body failing me was turning my run of the mill
clinical depression into AN OCEAN OF DEPRESSION LIKE I’VE NEVER SEEN, crying
because that awful doctor kept saying there was nothing wrong with me when I KNEW
there was, crying because I have been able to push-ups for years and then one
day I walked into my gym and I just couldn’t, and crying because of ridiculous
things like laundry needing to be folded. For months I felt like I wasn’t me
and I couldn’t even find who me was anymore. And try explaining that to
someone. It made no sense to me, so there was no way I could make it make sense
to someone else.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Eventually I found a doctor that listened to me and believed
me. He gave me rules that I hated, but listened to like rules about not
running, how much to run when I start again, no weightlifting (for a while),
dietary restrictions. But I listened. I mean, I moaned and groaned, but I
listened because I wanted to get better.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">And some really good stuff has come out of it!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">- I started saying no.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">My doc and I think that a lot of
these problems started because of my poor stress management. Like awful. It’s
not that my life is terribly stressful; it’s that what stress I have, I’m
terrible at managing. Add into that the stresses of a 7 day a week exerciser
(which can help stress management, I know that, but sometimes it can work
against you/me), my body revolted. I found that when people ask me to be in
charge of things, I get super stressed. In fact, just saying no stresses me out,
but I realized that I have to set better boundaries about what I can give. I
had some very dear friends remind me over and over again that what I give is
enough. And I’m getting better at believing it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: "calibri";">- I started meditating.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Meditating always seemed like one
of those things that “would be good for me” but I was scared of and assumed I
would be terrible at. The inside of my brain is often in spastic teenager mode
and it seemed impossible to change that. BUT, I’ve read a few books, tried a
few apps, and I’m getting to a point where ten minutes every day seems doable and
helpful. It’s no cure all, but it seems to be helping to settle the teenage
spaz a bit. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">- I am trying to become and ACTUAL body listener.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>How
many times as a runner have I said:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Oh sure
the training has been tough, but I’m really listening to my body.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I’ve said it more times than I can
count. And it turns out I was a dirty dirty dirty liar. It’s tricky because
part of distance running is pushing yourself. You wake up tired but you run
anyway because you’re supposed to (the training schedule says so!)and because
that way you know you can do it on race day. That’s legit! Pushing myself is
why I LOVE distance running! But my medical problems this year have shown me
that maybe my macho pushing myself has gone a bit too far. And maybe I need to
listen a little closer. I’m working on it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">- Not running a race you want to run sucks, but there’s a
lot of races AND THEY HAVE THEM EVERY <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>YEAR!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I have no issues with wearing race
shirts of races I didn’t run (I know some people do, and will find this
appalling). This year’s collection can be seen here:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ZsPD6frpGsk/VlTl9FJcIKI/AAAAAAAABAg/9bzgNInOQLM/s640/blogger-image--1345208908.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ZsPD6frpGsk/VlTl9FJcIKI/AAAAAAAABAg/9bzgNInOQLM/s640/blogger-image--1345208908.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">To say it was a disappointing
racing year is an understatement, it was heartbreaking. But I had an AMAZING
year volunteering which made a huge difference. My recovering snail pace doesn’t
lend itself to much group running (and my sensitive psyche couldn’t handle the
ol go to a group run to get dropped by everyone and then get done only to find
they are all gone) but volunteering gave me back a piece of the action! I got
to help people and get misty eyed with them and celebrate with them. And I made
tons of friends and had great experiences! This was a good call on my part
because the volunteering kept my fire burning even though my body was trying to
put it out. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">So what’s next? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">40!!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-bjdq5AYv6zA/VlTl767cgsI/AAAAAAAABAY/ciBFvP7-uNs/s640/blogger-image-1295373524.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-bjdq5AYv6zA/VlTl767cgsI/AAAAAAAABAY/ciBFvP7-uNs/s640/blogger-image-1295373524.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">A new age bracket and hopefully a smarter, less stressed,
healthier, body listenier, happier me. A meeting with my doc about a potential
game plan for the coming year and hopefully lots of other good stuffs! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Sometimes things suck. Thankfully, I am surrounded by
amazing people that have stuck with me while I’m a recovering hot mess. Here’s
to another year. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Persistent Runnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00347040192945913436noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4176924393127561328.post-22363844969216123512015-10-26T15:28:00.000-07:002015-10-26T15:28:46.640-07:00I'm Sorry... But<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I used to tell my husband that when he said, “I’m sorry, but…..”
that he wasn’t really sorry.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I volunteered at a race this weekend and all day I kept
thinking…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-UqKjxfsE92s/Vi6oxdERuaI/AAAAAAAABAE/dQ3jB5M3AA4/s640/blogger-image--1941662068.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-UqKjxfsE92s/Vi6oxdERuaI/AAAAAAAABAE/dQ3jB5M3AA4/s640/blogger-image--1941662068.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">OMG this is so fun, but……<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It was fun. It was super satisfying and I got to spend the
day with tons of my favorite running friends! We stood in the pouring rain
handing out water and Gatorade, screaming our lungs out, dancing, laughing, and
commiserating. And multiple times I said that I was so happy I didn’t have to
run in this weather. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The more I do it the more I realize that volunteering should
be mandatory for runners that do races. It helps to see the other side of a
race. To feel the exhaustion of tired legs and sore throats and not have run a
step. As a volunteer you get to celebrate every runner’s race, which is overwhelmingly
powerful. I’ve hugged crying runners, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve
taken pictures of runners, I’ve helped untie shoes, given an arm for stability,
held up a towel for a little privacy during a clothing change, and I think that
all of these things make me a better runner and to be slightly dramatic, maybe
a better person? Giving your whole day (or sometimes multiple days) to someone
else’s success makes you look at thing a little differently.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">And I felt all those things and then some and it was amazing
and powerful and FUN……<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">BUT</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I couldn’t help but wonder, when will I be able to do this
again? WILL I be able to do this again?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I finally got a diagnosis for what had been making me feel
like I had no control over me for the first half of the year about four months
ago. Since my doctor figured out what was going on and we came up with a plan,
I’ve felt LOADS better. Which is fantastic, right? YES! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">BUT<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’m running a little at a 135 heart rate. Do you know what
that equates to? Walking with a couple feet of running mixed in. I can go above
a 135 heart rate if I walk up a hill. It’s slow going, for sure, but most days
I don’t hurt and my body reacts well to it, but…. It’s infuriating. I’m a slow
runner without heart rate rules, now I get to add about a minute plus to each
mile. So, I can run, but not the way I want to. I can run, but I can’t run the
distance I want to. I can run, but I can’t even think about a race.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sure, I could do a 5k, but I don’t like them (they are so
HARD). What I WANT to run is distances of marathon and longer and I have no
idea when that will be a safe thing for me to do, or even worse, IF it will be
a safe thing for me to do. Even now, with my current crawling pace, I have days
where something is off and some symptoms flare up and I have to take a few days
off of everything. And that’s low mileage and low heart rate.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’m grateful for the runs I have, I truly am, because in the
end, I love to run. I like races too, but if I had to give up running and only
run on race day or give up races, I would totally choose to give up races because I just
love to run.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">But....I miss races more than I realized. I miss that feeling of exhaustion
after a race. I miss planning for Spring racing season in October because my
Fall racing season is almost over. I miss taper dreams and wondering what I will
wear on race day. I miss looking at horrible race pictures. I miss seeing a
finisher medal that I threw on the kitchen island from a race I did a few weeks
ago. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’m also grateful that I get to share in other people’s
victory. I’m grateful that I might be able to help them in some small way. And
I grateful that I am still able to run.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So maybe it’s just two different thoughts on the same topic.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I had such an incredibly, amazing, super fun time
volunteering this weekend!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I miss doing races and knowing that my body can handle doing
races. And I'm terrified and sad that i may not be able to do them in the future.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Persistent Runnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00347040192945913436noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4176924393127561328.post-49213865374587022292015-08-29T13:00:00.002-07:002015-08-29T15:09:36.724-07:00It's not JUST about running..... Thank god.<br>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-jQFSqrvKMoA/VeILGo7QgnI/AAAAAAAAA_g/mmRCNiQ5Icw/s640/blogger-image--1258915046.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-jQFSqrvKMoA/VeILGo7QgnI/AAAAAAAAA_g/mmRCNiQ5Icw/s400/blogger-image--1258915046.jpg" width="400"></a></span></span></div>
</div>
<br>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">A couple of weeks ago I got an email from someone
asking to speak with me for an article… for the CHICAGO TRIBUNE! Once my brain
got over the initial shock and I began to process this idea, I of course
emailed back and said SURE! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br>
<br>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Then I became paralyzed with fear<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Then I started practicing what I would say (I had no idea
what I would say)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Then I started to get sick with nerves<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Then I took a deep breath and said, “meh, I’ll just give it
a shot and try not to make a total ass of myself”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
</div>
<br>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When I finally got on the phone with her, she immediately
freaked me out more when it became obvious that the article wasn’t necessarily
about running. It was more about failing…. Gracefully. She said that she read
the Runner’s World article I was in and really liked my attitude.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><a href="http://www.runnersworld.com/runners-stories/dead-freakin-last-and-proud-of-it"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://www.runnersworld.com/runners-stories/dead-freakin-last-and-proud-of-it</span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<br>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Oh crap. I can talk about running until my head falls off,
but nonrunning stuff? Uh oh. It turned out she was delightful to talk to and it
wasn’t worthy of my millions of panic attacks. And it helped me remember that
it’s not all about running all the time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Running is something I LOVE! It’s my meditation, a struggle
to overcome, a routine, it’s my friend, my enemy, and it’s brought some
absolutely wonderful people into my life. But it’s not always about running.
Working through my current health issues has made it clear as a bell that there’s
more to me and my life than running. Thank god. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I think there is a fear in every obsessive compulsive runner’s
mind of, “what would happen if I couldn’t run?” I’ve entertained the topic
briefly; however, recently I had to look that topic directly in the face. And
it’s been good and bad. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Good because I’ve
done projects I never had time to do! We finally put flooring in that room that
we ripped up the carpet in 4-5 years ago! I sorted through my clothing and
books! I started working on meditation to deal with my horrible stress
management skills. I found out I LOVE walking. And I’ve found that I can be
completely satisfied with a 4 mile run even if it is at a 15 minute mile pace.
I think I got so blinded by ultras and MORE MILES ALL THE TIME that I forgot
how lovely a 4 mile run can feel. It’s been bad because I hate not knowing when
I’ll be better. I can’t stand the fact that I’m not doing a fall race because
Fall races are straight up magic. I feel completely disconnected from the
running community that I love so much. Because, well I can’t really run much. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I've been forced to find out what I do when I’m not running
all the time. Frankly, it turns out I sit on the couch a LOT. I’m working on
that. Running has taught me a million life lessons, but I’m so thankful to
realize that I don’t have to be running 30+ miles a week to appreciate them. This
article in the Tribune helped remind me that there is more to me than running
and it’s not ALL about running all the time. I guess this opportunity came at
just the right time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
</div>
<br>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Read it here:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/lifestyles/sc-fam-0901-losing-gracefully-20150825-story.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://www.chicagotribune.com/lifestyles/sc-fam-0901-losing-gracefully-20150825-story.html</span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
Persistent Runnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00347040192945913436noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4176924393127561328.post-58416730990662088592015-08-13T08:43:00.001-07:002015-08-13T14:36:13.581-07:00It's always something....
<br>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">For three weeks I’ve done nothing but walking. My doctor
had begrudgingly given me permission to go to an eight hour race I had signed up
for as long as I was smart about it. I realized that was not a possibility (you know, being smart) and
even decided not to go to THAT! He was thrilled by my grown up decision. And as the mandatory three weeks of only walking came to a close and I started to
get nervous. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Is three weeks enough?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">How do I know if it isn’t working?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">How do I try to be a sensible runner? (turns out that people
that run ultras don’t tend to have a good gauge on sensible)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Will I remember how to run? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I came up with a game plan or at least something that
resembled a game plan. A few years ago I started running by the Maffetone
rules. Don’t know about it? Check out this link:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<a href="http://philmaffetone.com/180-formula/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://philmaffetone.com/180-formula/</span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<br>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It’s what I used while training for my first 50k. It was one
of the most excruciating (you will NEVER run up a hill) things I’ve been
through. But, I felt GOOD after my runs, I saw marked improvement, and I ran with
more comfort and confidence. That was a couple of years ago. I went back and
took the test again to figure my Maffetone heartrate. With my new age and shiny new injury history, I was
horrified at my low low low low low did I mention low target heartrate. Forget
hills, will I be able to run at all on my runs while trying to keep my
heartrate THIS low?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Reality check… I have to be SMART when I start running
again. If a heartrate alarm (that I actually listen to) keeps me in check, then
I need to do it! ARGH! LOGIC! I really don’t want to screw up the progress I’ve
made because my dumb brain wants to go back to the dumb habits of ignoring my
body’s signs (or red alerts as the case was). So, low heartrate it is!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">And today, with my heartrate alarm set, I set out with my pup
for three miles expecting to do a little running and a lot of walking. And the
weirdest thing happened….<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The running that I did was super fun and duh, of course I
didn’t forget how to run. What kind of dork has that thought? Oops. But the
weird thing is… <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br>
<br>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I immediately started to mourn the loss of my morning walks.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><br>
<br>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">What? Who would have expected that? Tell a runner not to run
and they will make up a thousand reasons why it’s ok that they run. And
typically they will ignore doctor’s orders and run anyway. I did when my doc
said no running for 3 weeks. But, when I committed to walking, I realized, I
really like it! I’ve been walking with one of my dogs in the wee hours of the
morning. And I’ve been stargazing and sunrise walking and really enjoying the stillness
of the predawn hours. When I ran today it was so different! I couldn’t just
crane my neck back to look at the stars and all of the sudden I remembered I
need to be wearing a headlamp if I’m moving faster and everything seemed so
different! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Where does that leave me? Well, I’d say that I suppose I should
try to find a way to enjoy both things (I mean aside from the fact that I’ll
still be walking a TON during my runs).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Did the run go ok? I think so, but I’ll have to try to pay
attention to how I feel in the next few days to get a real handle on it. Baby
steps….. Slow baby steps…. At a low heartrate.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Persistent Runnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00347040192945913436noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4176924393127561328.post-36997703818051157292015-08-01T04:50:00.001-07:002015-08-01T04:50:19.343-07:00Want Answers? Be careful what you wish for....<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-poasx9_pjRY/VbyxfdmIN6I/AAAAAAAAA_E/qOvXHfPhKv4/s640/blogger-image--1913579926.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-poasx9_pjRY/VbyxfdmIN6I/AAAAAAAAA_E/qOvXHfPhKv4/s640/blogger-image--1913579926.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Has it really been that long?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I started running in 2007 and once I started, I never
stopped. I think that the longest I took off from running was after my first
marathon when my coach FORCED me to take two weeks off to recover. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">And here we are….<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I finally went to a doctor that listened to me and I finally
got some answers. Turns out all the symptoms I have been dealing with are a
thing (validation!). I’m hypothyroid, anemic, and I’m low on LOADS of
nutrients. So we’re working on putting Humpty Dumpty back together again. And
in the meantime I was given a few rules (he would probably want me to call them
guidelines)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">No weightlifting for an as yet to be determined
amount of time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">No gluten <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">3.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Only one cup of high quality coffee a day (ugh,
I really love coffee).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">4.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">No running for three weeks.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">What? No what for three weeks? But but but but…. But he’s right.
Give my body a bit of time to actually heal and let the stuff we are doing work
instead of bullying through it some more. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The next question, of course, was… can I walk? He said yes.
And then the next question was…. But like how LONG can I walk because I’m a
person that runs for ten hours at a time for fun. Of course, he laughed, shook
his head, and said…. An hour. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Welp, there you go. I was entering unknown territory.
Because what the F do I do when I don’t run all the time? And then I had a
friend put it into perspective<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“OH this is great because you can take some time off without
feeling guilty. You won’t have to worry about stupid crap like… oh I should be
running. Or oh the schedule says I have to do this so I better get out there
even though I feel like crap and it’s 110 degrees with the heat index”. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Is it that attitude that got me into this mess? I don’t
know. But I’m making it a goal to make the best of this vacation from running.
Last weekend, instead of a long run, I went for a walk with a friend and her
four month old baby! My husband and I ordered the flooring for that room we
ripped the carpet out of at least three years ago. My kitchen counter is clean
like more than once every two weeks! I’m reading a book! And I don’t feel
guilty when I’m tired at the end of the day and all I want to do is lay on the
couch with my dogs. I just do it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Of course I’m already plotting my comeback. But my comeback
involves things like listening to what my body is actually saying. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I guess I’ll see how this all plays out,
but for right now, Persistent Runner has become Persistent
Rester/Walker/Relaxer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Persistent Runnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00347040192945913436noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4176924393127561328.post-72633264347686693032015-07-17T14:55:00.001-07:002015-07-17T15:02:15.723-07:00That Half Marathon Was My Slowest EVER.... and it felt like a colossal win<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">If you’ve read my blog, you’ve seen that I have a well-documented
love affair with a race series called Dances with Dirt. I’ve
done the 50K distance in Indiana and Michigan and this year I booked a hotel
for the Wisconsin race not knowing what distance I might be up for.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As the race got closer and my body and mind felt worse and
worse I doubted that I was capable of any race, any distance. Then…. A little
stroke of genius. I emailed a friend that had moved to Wisconsin and said, “hey,
I know that neither of us is trained for this, but we both know we can do it,
want to hike a half marathon with me? I hear the course is AMAZING!” I expected
a slew of back and forth email to follow. I have a habit of talking people into
races and I was ready for a fight. Instead, I got an email back saying, “ok,
sounds good, I’ll sign up tonight!” Whoa. I was floored …and committed… and
terrified.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Why terrified? Well, I’ve just been feeling awful and I
still have no idea what’s wrong with me. I’ve been through an extremely
frustrating and heartbreaking “test and retest and find nothing and let me just
throw some pills at you why wouldn’t you want to just take pills even though we
don’t really know what’s wrong with you” cycle with a doctor, and obviously
nothing came out of it except for a lot of tears on my part… I digress….<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Maybe I would lock up, maybe I would pass out, maybe I would
be unbearable sore, maybe any progress I had made on feeling better would be
gone….<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">And the next thing I knew I was at the starting line. And we
were off. Thankfully for me the race gained 800 feet of elevation in the first
2 miles. If that’s not a great way to start things off slowly I don’t know what
is! We settled into a nice power hike and reiterated that neither of us was up
for “beast mode” and we would take the opportunity to catch up on all the
chatter that two girlfriends that haven’t talked in months could pass endless
hours with. At some point we realized that the girl right behind us was looking
for the same type of race, so the three of us passed the time chatting,
laughing, hiking, and running when we felt like it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The race course was beautiful! It hit all the highlights of
the magic of Midwest trails. Fields, forests, pine trees, and an AMAZING
overlook! We took our time at the overlook for pictures and then headed down to
finish the race up.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-F8W7-LtRetI/Val3J7vauLI/AAAAAAAAA-k/MdgJdkn0KNE/s640/blogger-image-490116326.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-F8W7-LtRetI/Val3J7vauLI/AAAAAAAAA-k/MdgJdkn0KNE/s640/blogger-image-490116326.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The course was a lollipop so we got the reward of an 800
descent for the final miles. We were tired and ready to be done and as we saw
the finish line and our husbands and friends, I definitely screamed, “SUB FOUR
HOURS!!!” with my hands over my head in victory, because who gives a crap? Right?
And the spectators seemed to appreciate the humor.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As my husband and I walked back to the car I was downright
giddy over a race performance that some people would consider horrifying. I
told my husband that I don’t know what’s wrong with me and I don’t know when I’ll
get better, but spending the day out in the woods with one of my favorite women
was such an amazing gift. And I am so freaking happy that I was able to have
today and feel like I still have a place at these events.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It was a good day spent with good people. It was the slowest
half marathon time I’ve ever had. And it felt like one of the biggest wins
EVER.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
Persistent Runnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00347040192945913436noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4176924393127561328.post-82986096982550700292015-06-11T14:39:00.000-07:002015-06-11T14:39:05.864-07:00What's going on?Why haven't I been racing? Why haven't I been writing? Why has running been so weird lately?<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I dunno.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I've volunteered at a few races and I had a blast. But I didn't have the need to run them. Didn't feel the least bit weird about not running them. I've been running. About 30 miles a week, which for me, isn't too far off peak mileage. My long runs haven't been too long. But I've had a few 13+ runs, so what gives? </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I dunno.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I mean my runs sometimes just turn into a walk. Not a power hike, just a walk. And I have to remind myself that it's ok if it needs to be a walk. Because I get that macho voice in my head telling me I'm doing it wrong. There's no wrong. I'm a grownup, I can do what I want to! But if I just want to walk and run a little, am I still running? Am I still a runner? Do I even care anymore?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I've felt disconnected. From racing, from running, and from myself some. I met with a doctor a few weeks ago for some blood work HOPING that there's some "thing" wrong with me. Like, can't all these symptoms add up to SOMETHING? Something other than, well you're almost 40 and you know.... Yes, yes I know. But why does everything feel so "off" and it has for months. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br />
I did a race last weekend. A ten hour loopy thing. You know, run as much as
you want kind of thing. For some reason the lack of mileage rules and
casualness was appealing. I went into it cautiously excited but also terrified.
Because, if I don't want to run a bunch, have I failed? I was greeted with
75-80+ degree weather and 75-100% humidity. It was awful. I felt sick, I took
naps, I walked…. A lot. In the end, I got 19.5 miles officially (because 20
would be ridiculous) in a ten hour race. Granted, I slept for at least 3 hours
of the race, but to say this was disappointing would be a massive
understatement.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">It’s
funny, this month I actually had a blurb from a blog post I wrote about being
in last place at a race published in Runner’s World. RUNNER’S WORLD! My words!
In print! I should be on top of the world. Instead, I am published in Runner’s
World, and I’ve never felt like less of a runner since I started running. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">A few
years ago, a friend of mine did a mile time trial with my running group. I didn’t
go to it for many reasons, one of them being that I’m not fast and I didn’t
want that to be put on display. She and I were talking about it and she had a
lot of the same thoughts going in, but she said everyone in the group was so
sweet and encouraging. And it turns out the only person being an asshole to her
about her speed and ability….. was her. We are the biggest assholes to
ourselves… every time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Maybe it’s
time for me to reassess my running goals for the year. Maybe it’s time to stop
worrying about mileage and time and start focusing on not being such an asshole
to myself. Maybe it’s time to start working on being grateful for the runs I
have, even when they’re more of a walk. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">I
suppose it’s <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>just a different type of
training. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Persistent Runnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00347040192945913436noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4176924393127561328.post-3686219575634314372015-04-19T09:59:00.002-07:002015-04-19T09:59:17.165-07:00Carmel marathon ishLast week I casually mentioned to my husband that I didn't know if it was a good idea for me to be running around solo for hours on end in my current mental state. I've been dealing with lots of stress lately and by dealing with I mean burying it deep down inside so that it can blow up at some point. That's healthy, right?<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I had signed up for a full (road) marathon as a training run a few months ago. I'd done the race before and it seemed like a reasonable plan. But last weekend's half marathon with a five mile warm up had left me with a sore hip and back and wondering how this race would play out. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The day started with an early (even for me) wake up call and a nice predawn drive to the race. I got the car parked, slathered on some sunblock, and hit the potty. For the next half hour before the race I tried to inconspicuously take video of the bizarre warm ups people were doing, but I'm no good at inconspicuous so I went ahead and lined up for the race. We took off and I settled into a blistering turtle pace. Before I hit the first mile I was ready to turn around and quit. But this was gonna be my tenth marathon, so I thought I would give it more than a mile. I knew I was in trouble when I reached for my iPod a half hour into the race. Normally I'm a no music til half way kinda gal, but I was too anxious and hoped that a podcast would settle me down and clear my head. It did not.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Four miles in I was greeted by strangers handing out doughnut holes! I grabbed one and thanked them profusely. This was the highlight of the day and it went downhill from there.</div>
<div>
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<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-05ymMS4vT80/VTPOiQEODkI/AAAAAAAAA98/HjVqsRF679g/s640/blogger-image-2026558845.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-05ymMS4vT80/VTPOiQEODkI/AAAAAAAAA98/HjVqsRF679g/s640/blogger-image-2026558845.jpg" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I don't know that I can explain how unsettled my mind was. Running typically settles my mind, but on this day I could not calm down. I couldn't stop thinking about how much longer it was going to be and how hot it was going to get. I tried to remember to be in the moment. Look around, I GET to do this. I'm so fortunate. That worked for a bit when I was on a beautiful path section through fields and trees. But when we got to a more urban setting, my breathing got shallow and high in my chest like I was on the verge of a panic attack. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
At mile 14 I texted a friend that I knew would say something ridiculous to cheer me up. Yeah, I was texting during a race, I was so not into it I had become that person. She texted me funny encouraging words that carried me another few miles.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
But, by the time I had gotten to mile nineteen I actually approached the med tent... Which I've only ever done one other time in the Chicago Marathon from hell (2010). They asked if I was ok and I immediately started getting teary eyed. They asked their standard questions,</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Do you need water?</div>
<div>
Do you want to sit?</div>
<div>
Do you want to lay down?</div>
<div>
Do you want some Tylenol? (I might have barked at them about this one. I don't think Tylenol and long races or running are a safe combo, but that's another rant for another day)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I left in tears. My back was killing me and I was miserable. I knew the race course went close to my car before the end and I thought.... WTF maybe I'm done? </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
When I got to the 20 mile mat, I knew I was done. How did I know? I was miserable. My back muscles were so tight that trying to run was met with terrible pain, and the idea of walking six more miles was soul crushing. But I also realized I hadn't enjoyed any of it. Not since the doughnut and the little part in the field. In fact, I kinda hated it. I saw little kids cheering and thought, "ugh I'm gonna have to pretend like this is awesome". I saw inspiring people all around me and I was angry at them for their can do attitude and chutzpah. I could barely thank the volunteers because I hated everything. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
This is not who I want to be and this is not what I want running to be for me.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I pulled up google maps on my phone, realized I was 1.5 miles away from my car, took off my bib, and called it a day. People may wonder why I quit at 20 and didn't just go the stupid six miles to finish. Because I was done. Six more miles wouldn't have killed me, but what would it have given me? A medal? A banana? A broken spirit? Hatred for running? </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
It's just running, I'm not saving lives out there. And to judge my life as a success or failure based on a race would be the dumbest dumb that ever dumbed. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So I dropped. And I think it was a good choice for the day.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Persistent Runnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00347040192945913436noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4176924393127561328.post-14710745086681546932015-04-04T08:27:00.000-07:002015-04-04T08:27:37.915-07:00Quit Saying That<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KxivNEMqft4/VSABoPhwkFI/AAAAAAAAA9o/ZshqUZcyr2I/s1600/no%2Btalk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KxivNEMqft4/VSABoPhwkFI/AAAAAAAAA9o/ZshqUZcyr2I/s1600/no%2Btalk.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I can’t say that it was definitely the first time I said it,
but I remember being at my first “real” trail race and buying some stuff. The
woman I was buying it from asked me what I ran that day (the race had a 10k, half
marathon, marathon, 50k, and 50 mile). My answer:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I just did the half<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I didn’t think much of it at the time. But the more I run,
the more I hear people compare themselves to others and the more I hear it. And
when I hear it, it’s like nails on a chalkboard.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’m<u> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">JUST</b></u> running
a 5k. I’m <u><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">ONLY</b></u> doing the half
marathon. My long run is<u> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">JUST</b></u> 8
miles.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Have we gotten so far from our beginnings as runners that we
forget the first time we ran a mile and how AMAZING it felt? The first time I
ran a 5k it was before dawn, in my neighborhood, and it took me 45 minutes.
I felt like I had just climbed a mountain. In those predawn moments, I might
have cried a little because I was amazed that I was even able to do such a
thing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">What changed?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have to think that part of it is due to knowing too much.
When I trained for my first marathon, I just knew that was the pinnacle of
running and I was the king of everything. But then I heard about ultramarathons
(races longer than 26.2 miles) and I was immediately knocked down a peg and in
my mind maybe I lessened my own accomplishments a little. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">But let’s think about races and running. Typically, there’s
always going to be someone out there that can perform a little better than you,
that can run a little farther than you, and there will ALWAYS be someone that
can make it look a little easier than you. But does that make you less of a
runner? Less of a person?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Why aren’t we celebrating what we CAN do? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I volunteered at a race last year that had a 5k, half
marathon, and full marathon. I was at the finish line, handing out “stuff”. Each
finisher got a hat with their race distance on it as they crossed the finish
line (which is totally cool race directors, take note). So, throughout my shift I had lots of folks
saying they didn’t get a hat and asking if I could get them one. And when I
asked them what distance they ran, I got so many: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I just the 5k, I only did the half<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Before I got each of them their hat, I would stop and say
something like, “you ran 3 miles that’s amazing! Let me go grab that for you!”
or “You ran a 13 miles? You’ve done plenty of work today, let me go grab that”.
It was fantastic to see their faces soften with the recognition that even
though they tried to belittle their accomplishment, a stranger could see what
they had done and celebrate it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So what’s the moral here? Celebrate what you’re able to do, duh.
Sure, most of us have room for improvement, but that doesn’t mean we can’t be
proud of what we did today and make it fuel for tomorrow. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">And, if you hang out with me and use the words only or just
to describe your mileage or your race distance, I will most likely punch you
(lightly) in the arm and I expect you to do the same to me (but be warned, if you punch me hard, I will punch you back..... harder). Running isn’t easy and we should really be
giving ourselves more credit when we do it. <u><b>ANY</b></u> of it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Persistent Runnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00347040192945913436noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4176924393127561328.post-75136374726657292612015-03-03T15:22:00.002-08:002015-03-03T15:22:58.530-08:00This is bigSure, it was a big deal when I ran my first mile, 5k, half marathon, full marathon, 50k, and 50 miler. Those were big accomplishments for sure, but something even bigger has happened.<br />
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IT'S HUGE!!</div>
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What is it? Well, first a little back story. Look at all these pictures</div>
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What do these pictures have in common? I tried to help you with the arrows... Look at my shorts. Notice anything similar? </div>
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If you know me, you know I'm not big on change. To say I'm a creature of habit is a HUGE understatement. I'm not good with change. And when I find something I like, I stick with it. Like say.... The shorts I started wearing in 2009..... Yep. The last time I bought shorts that I loved was at the 2010 Chicago marathon expo. I bought a few pairs because I was sure that the style I loved would soon be "improved" and go away. I was right. The newer versions were cut weird or didn't have built in underwear or some other nonsense. But I wasn't terribly stressed because I don't run everyday and I had about 4-5 pairs of the best shorts ever. What is there to stress about? Right?</div>
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About a year ago I started to look at shorts, knowing that my shorts would not last forever, no matter how good I was to them. Here's what I found.</div>
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1) I do not weigh six pounds and therefore I am not interested in what appears to be a 1/2" inseam.</div>
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2) Shorts may appear to be awesome in a dressing room but will actually wad up into a tiny ball between your thighs two yards into your run.</div>
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3) some shorts are designed for people that want extra poof in their abdomen. Really? Why is it SO poofy between the waist and the legs? </div>
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4) Apparently some running wear companies do not believe that a runner might also lift weights. Are these shorts actually tapered at the bottom? I feel like the circulation in my quad is being cut off!</div>
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5) I'm doomed.</div>
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As you can tell, this was not going well. Nothing was working!! I thought about a Kickstarter campaign to bring back my magic shorts, but I doubt it would fly. So I scoured the Internet. I looked up suggestions, I read reviews, and just when I was about to give up hope.... I came across a pair that didn't look terrible...</div>
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Oiselle has a short called the long Roga that seemed to be made to not cutoff circulation in your quads and still looked cute. So I gave them a shot. And then the Angels sang!!!!!</div>
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<a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-2qh52cQVYaQ/VPN1eM_WZQI/AAAAAAAAA9I/EySUJ9d7EE0/s640/blogger-image-1763386148.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-2qh52cQVYaQ/VPN1eM_WZQI/AAAAAAAAA9I/EySUJ9d7EE0/s640/blogger-image-1763386148.jpg" /></a></div>
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To be fair, I haven't tested them in southern Indiana summers, but I have run 10 miles on a treadmill in them. And I love them! Maybe miracles do exist!</div>
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Persistent Runnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00347040192945913436noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4176924393127561328.post-70494452770036126382015-02-08T11:05:00.000-08:002015-02-08T11:05:03.626-08:0030 days of eating better is dunzo! So, what now?<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">As I wrote about<span style="color: orange;"> <span style="color: orange;"><a href="http://persistentrunner.blogspot.com/2015/01/im-gonna-eat-better.html">earlier</a></span>,</span> I committed to cleaning up my
diet for 30 days to start the year out on the right foot, start some better
habits, and maybe drop a couple pounds. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">How did it go, you ask?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Weeeeellllll….. I think it went ok. By the third week I
started to feel like a human again and by the fourth week I felt downright
good! Success! Here’s some things I learned along the way:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I’m
like Pavlov’s dogs. One day I HEARD a candy wrapper and immediately started
salivating. I’m not exaggerating. I’ve read that the brain reacts to sugar in
the same way it reacts to cocaine and I can kind of believe it. I smoked
cigarettes for over 10 years before I quit. Now, when I smell them, it’s not
appealing to me at all. In fact, I can barely remember the person that needed a
cigarette in the morning, before bed, when something good happened, when
something bad happened, when dinner was cooking, when dinner was done… well you
get the idea. It almost seems like it was a completely different person that did
that. But man, you unwrap a payday and I am a drool monster that is willing to
tackle a person for some delicious sugary snacks. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/--y4KeagznX4/VNeyrCtBJCI/AAAAAAAAA8E/B7Ti6RSpbUQ/s640/blogger-image-2123088447.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/--y4KeagznX4/VNeyrCtBJCI/AAAAAAAAA8E/B7Ti6RSpbUQ/s640/blogger-image-2123088447.jpg" /></a></span></div>
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<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I’m
always surprised that cheese is not a food group that is vital to my survival.
I love cheese, don’t get me wrong. But when I’ve cut out dairy, my guts tend to
thank me and I’m always surprised that my life can indeed be full and worth
living without everything being drowned in some kind of cheesy magic.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Just
because I LIKE to have beer on long run night doesn’t mean I HAVE to have a
beer on long run night. There’s nothing wrong with a delicious beer, but I
think I get into such a habit in what I eat and drink that I don’t even think
about what I WANT anymore. This helped me do that. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I
can make my own mayonnaise and it turns out when it’s not some junk that been
on a grocery store shelf for 6 months, it tastes REALLY good.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Cooking
can feel like a chore, no doubt about it. But it can also be kind of fun. I was surprised that a weekend that involved cooking some things for the week,
made me really happy during the week. Also, cooking something in the crockpot
overnight is a really good solution for those of us that assume that leaving a
crockpot on while you go to work will inevitably result in your house burning
down while you are at work. Cook it at night! Throw it into containers in the
morning and you have a delicious dinner waiting for you when you get home!
GENIUS!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">What am I going to do now that the 30 days is over? Well,
my plan is to try to keep things 90% awesome and 10% treats. But for the time
being, I have to stay away from non long run related sugar. Because I know
myself well enough to know that the sugar demon is going to need a bit more
time in the cooling tank before he can behave. In fact, I went to a super bowl
party and stayed away from the sugar! And you know what,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was still able to have fun! Who knew? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Persistent Runnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00347040192945913436noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4176924393127561328.post-53374593343642251172015-01-25T07:18:00.002-08:002015-01-25T07:18:40.172-08:00Trail memory<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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Have you heard about scent memory? Somehow maybe a smell reminds you of a specific time or place. Almost like you're right back there. You know, like when some dude walks into a room wearing Drakkar Noir I immediately flash back to every dude in high school that thought they were awesome. And it isn't just a memory, it overwhelms me. All the awkward awful high school moments and boys I had a crush on that of course liked my best friend and not me and then I end up crying again......<br />
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I digress.</div>
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This post wasn't meant to be about high school. But that's how scent memory works for me. It doesn't just remind me of it. It takes me back to it. Obviously sometimes the results are not nessecarily fun.</div>
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So this weekend I'm out on one of my favorite trails that I train on all the time and as I'm rounding a corner I flash back to a great run with a dear friend. We ran "with" the same group (she's a bit faster than me) but rarely together. This one random day we set out for a run that ended up being a sheer delight. Running with this person always felt like therapy to me. So I treasured them. </div>
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And today, on this one random trail, I got to re-feel a wonderfully therapeutic run. And it was awesome. </div>
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I've met some of my closest friends through running. Some of them still run, some have stopped, some just trained for that one bucket list race and then moved on. But I love that running helped bring these people into my life. And I LOVE that sometimes out of nowhere I get to relive some of those moments that make me extra grateful for my sport and my community.</div>
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It was a good run. Filled with stupid grins and rainbows and unicorns. Gotta tuck that away and pull it out when I'm stuck in run that sucks so badly that I want to blow chunks.</div>
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Persistent Runnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00347040192945913436noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4176924393127561328.post-6238875716789761542015-01-18T12:11:00.000-08:002015-01-18T12:11:12.577-08:00A New Headlamp = NEW FUN!After going to a few 100 milers, my brain has gotten used to the general idea that "people" run trails at night. There are even some races in my area that are specifically that, night races. But, there has always been this part of me that still thought.... That's ridiculous.<br />
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I did start the Dances With Dirt 50k in Hell, Michigan in the dark, but somehow that didn't count in my mind. This weekend, that changed and it was SUPER FUN!</div>
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For Christmas I got a fancy new Petzl Tikka RXP headlamp. I don't like to wear headlamps, but I had this idea that if I had a higher quality headlamp I might feel a little more comfortable with night running. TheTikka RXP is recharable, has a comfy headband, AND it has fancy pants reactive lighting! So, when there's more light in your environment, it dims itself, when it's really dark out, it shines brighter. It also has a wider beam than my old headlamp, it turns out that takes away from some of the tunnel vision problems I get with a headlamp. So, basically, it's magic. Like a magic genie lamp that's strapped to your head. And the strap is orange, which I also enjoy.</div>
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So, back to my run this weekend. I wanted to get on the trails, and running with someone sounded more fun than running alone, so started making plans to run with a friend. But, she had to start early.... Like pre-sunrise early. Normally, this would result in me saying, well, let's just run on roads then. But this time, we said no let's run on trails, in the dark. We somehow roped another friend into a predawn start and from there the plan was set.</div>
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For some reason, the simple act of running for 30-40 minutes on the trail before dawn, made the run infinitely more exciting to me. I couldn't wait for Saturday to come. That's a feeling I've been missing. I love to run, but it becomes so automatic for me that I sometimes forget how much I LOVE to run. </div>
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I got to the parking lot early and looked into the woods with with the light from my car lights.</div>
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I was nervous, excited, and darn near giddy. When all three of us were there we nervously chatted for a bit and then we were off. Slower and quieter than normal, I kept adjusting my headlamp to get it comfortable and trying to figure out where is the best place to look. Before I knew it there was a bit of light in the sky and we had already gone a mile. Once the sun really started rising, we picked up the pace to try to get the best view and the best picture of the rising sun. My friend behind me kept saying, hurry! We have to get to the top of that over there! And the views just kept get better! I definitely screamed NATURE with a raised fist as we skittered up to one ridge line and then next trying to get the best view.<br />
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For a recovering slightly burnt out runner, this run was a breath of fresh air. Instead of worrying about mileage, speed, splits, fuel, and bib numbers, I was out in the woods with two great friends, racing a sunrise. Runs like this make me fall in love with running all <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">over again. And that's exactly what I needed.</span></div>
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Persistent Runnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00347040192945913436noreply@blogger.com0