Orcas 50+K!

What a fun weekend! It was my first trail race since Pine to Palms in September of last year and I was so excited to hit the trails. My friend Jeanine was running as well, her first trail race, she did the 25K and what a whopper of a race to do for your first one. She did great. Also, Orcas is sentimental to me because it marks 2 years since Owen and I became "official". So it's year number 2 for us. Hooray!

We made the 3 pm ferry and got a chance to catch up with a few fellow runners which was nice. I got to congratulate Linda personally on her HURT 100 belt buckle that she had on, what an accomplishment! Laura Houston and I 'perched" just as Echo taught us to do in pilates, getting our glutes activated before our run the next day. After the ferry ride, we all got our numbers and then Jeanine, Owen and I went to our hotel and ate dinner then layed around until it was time to sleep.

Saturday morning we all headed over to the race start together. The 50k started first then Jeanine would start 10 minutes after us. I was pretty excited. I knew I had not put the training in that I had last year and I was not as prepared as I would have like to have been, but that is what recovering from an injury does to a person and I did not care. I was just happy to be out there. I started off in the back as I thought I would have had to stop as usual to adjust my leg. But that did not happen this time, PROGRESS! So I started off slowly and got into my groove. The weather was perfect, perfect for the 3rd year in a row. That is unusual for the PNW in the winter time. The first 12 miles went fairly well, got back to the start/finish/aid station in just over 2 hours. I headed out to the power line. I don't have photos, but I do have a memory:

I struggled initially on the power line trail. My heart rate soared and my leg was taking a beating. But as I made progress, I began to feel better and got into the climb. I was wondering what is harder, Section Line at Tiger or the Power Line. I don't know the answer to that or if it really matters, but I was glad that I at least got a couple of hikes up the section line to get me ready for the power line. At the top, I was looking forward to the best part of the run-that fun cushy downhill that follows. I love to run as fast as I can downhill, (who doesn't?). I went a bit conservatively as I knew my longest actual run before this race was an hour and my longest time out on the trail was 2 hours. I didn't not want to blow my wad early so I was a bit conservative. At the bottom and running around the lake before we hit the climb to Mt. Constitution, I was really feeling bonky and the lack of training. My quad was acting up and started my "ultra shuffle" early. I was actually looking forward to the climb up Constitution b/c then I could walk. I wound up making my way up there with Mike from Portland, (don't know his last name, but I do know we are both fallen Catholics) and Matt Hagen which was fun and kept mind off my deterioration. At the top, I filled up my back pack and headed down. I did ask how many more miles and when I heard 10 and then looked at my watch, I thought, NO WAY, I am much slower than last year. As I headed down I saw Scott Krell and Tracy, Scott commented on me taking it easy and I thought.....whoa, I am not in the shape I would like to be in....but then I remembered that patience is a virtue and I was working on that one, so I relaxed and enjoyed the run down. I got to the lake and it seemed like a long time until I actually crossed that finish line. But I finally did and I quickly learned that the course was longer this year by a few miles. I have to admit, I was glad to hear that b/c I thought I was super duper behind that eight ball with regards to training but it actuality, I am not that far from where I would like to be. And I am on my way to being healthy, so really, no complaints.

As usual, James put on a great race. Tough and beautiful. It was great to see everyone and catch up.

Kudos to my friend Jeanine for kicking some butt on her first trail race. She is now going to sign up for her first 50k. Um....another ultra runner in the making!

The Section Line Burn

See where I'm pointing? See the redness around the bum? That is where it hurts. My bum is an achy sack from the stroll up section line on Tiger Mt. yesterday. I guess it's been awhile since I've climbed up a big steep hill. But I was lucky enough to run into Eric Barnes, Steve Stoyles and Sara Malcom at the top so I caught my breath and chatted with them. Orcas 50k will be a challenge for me......I am really looking forward to it.

Who thinks this picture, below is real? Is it possible that it is real? It's so funny.

A New Attitude

Ok, it's started. I'm so happy about it. I am usually not one to make New Year's Resolutions and really, a new attitude is not a New Year's Resolution, however, it is an intention that I've made and it happens to be January. Taking advise and ideas from people that I find inspirational has lead me to introducing such tactics and attitudes in my life, or maybe just making them a bigger presence in my life. Also, I've just spent several evenings watching Bud Greenspan's Olympic movies. The special on the Universal Sports channel titled "9 Nights of Glory" has been so interesting. Bud Greenspan made lots films about the Olympics and focused in on certain sports and athletes. I found it fascinating, inspiring, humbling, educational and motivating. There is just so much emotion in sports and not just coming from the athletes, but also the fans. To see someone cry on the medal stand or watch the medal stand feeling defeat is a real slice of life. Victory and defeat can cause intense emotion. These Olympic athlete's spend their whole lives preparing for high level competition and when it goes sour, it's devastating to watch, when it goes well, it's fantastic and surreal to watch the emotion of these athletes, it must be the biggest or at least one of the biggest moments in their life.

As the saying goes, victory is sweetest when you've known defeat. Bud Greenspan captured a lot of that in his films. There was the Dan Jansen story; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dan_Jansen and the Zola Budd/Mary Decker story, and many other stories of real people who are outstanding sportsman and graceful in their victories and their defeats. Of course, I am just a recreational athlete. I am in awe of these Olympic athletes. I have never been that talented in that arena, nor will I ever be. But what I can strive for is the essence of these athletes in terms of courage and grace. The last Bud Greenspan film I watched had a piece on the Irish track and field runner Eamonn Coghlan, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eamonn_Coghlan. I wish I could produce the link to his interview on the film, but basically it said----show up. Showing up and giving it your all is the only thing you can do-it all aspects of life. Of course he worded it differently and much more eloquent, but his message hit me where it counts.

Anyway.....that's some food for thought.

Beside that. . . I have recently started doing some work for REI. It's been fun. They are starting to use videos on their website in addition to photos. They wanted to do an short video in running in minimalist shoes. For the past 6-9 months, I've been running in the Nike Free's for most all my road runs. I will say, that for a person who once relied on orthodics, the switch to not using orthodics and then to Nike Free's was interesting. I can really see where the leg length discrepancy effects my running gait. I started wearing the shoes and also started pilates and with these 2 additions, my running style has changed a bit. I feel more aware of my muscles, which ones I am using and over-using and then also, which muscles I am not using and should be. Anyway, the experience working for REI had been fun. I'm looking forward to seeing the final product.

Until then. . . .I keep my rhythm going.

Debbie Downer- No More!

No More Whinning!

It's official! After reading so many pleasant blogs, I've decided that mine is lame! It's lame because all I do is complain! So, no more Debbie Downer.....

It's all giggles and laughs from here.....

I'll start with the next post, coming soon.....

Patience is a Virtue

Does anyone remember the old commercial for Nestle Quik? There was that cartoon rabbit and he loved Nestle Quik so much that he could NOT drink it slow, no matter how much he tried. There was the whole jingle about it and then he would say, "patience is a virtue". For some reason that has always stuck in my head. I wish it didn't; it's like having a stupid song stuck in your head all day but this is my whole life I'm talking about here....

Anyway, let me get to the point!

So, I'm so excited about running this year, more excited than I have been in a long time. I have a schedule picked out for the most part, assuming I get into those races, a new training plan, a new outlook even a new play list on my ipod. So Bridle Trails comes and I was so excited about it. I've never done it, it's a race in the dark, it's a fun run with lots of familiar faces, etc. My running is going great....yada yada yada. Just less than a week from the race, I slip and I tweak my adductor. I think....well, it'll be fine by Bridle Trails. I try to run on Monday, it hurts but I still get in a decent 70 minute run. Tuesday rolls by and I can't really run without pain so I make it a short run. Wednesday- it's worse, Thursday- I don't run, Friday- I can't run, it's baaaaaad. Saturday, I volunteer. Don't get me wrong, I like volunteering at races, it's always good to give back to a sport that gives me so much. Plus I wanted to support my friend Jeanine who was running in her first trail race and to support Owen and see my friends. So, it was not a bad experience, in fact, it was great. Just not the one I had been expecting. So, as I heal up and keep up some rhythm before Orcas, I am just left feeling like this is year is starting out like last year and it seems like there is always something preventing me from going for it and frankly, I'm a little frustrated where running is concerned. So, I keep thinking about the Quik rabbit and remind myself that patience IS a virtue and while I am working on that virtue, I might as well work on some of the others as well. It's only January 18, so I have time to heal and get strong and get back into it. I've promised myself I won't worry, but I secretly do, don't tell anyone.

Well, it's been a long time

Yup, it's been a long time since I posted anything on this blog. . . .there are 2 main reasons for that. The first being that I don't currently have Internet in my house right now and the second being that I have taken a hiatus from running and am getting back into it just now. After the DNF at CCC100, which was hard to swallow and perhaps a turning point in learning about myself and running and the value of both, I was determined to finish Pine to Palm. I didn't care how long it took me. I didn't care what I had to do to finish but just wanted to finish to get my confidence back. It had been such an unsatisfying year as far as running goes and I didn't want to end on a DNF.

So Owen, John and I drove down to Williams and did the P2P. I finished, despite lots of vomiting and really bad weather, rain and wind. But, I did it and I was ready to take time off and let my running issues heal and take a mental break from hitting my head against a wall.

A few months went by and I started to get the itch to run again. In the interim, I did lots of swimming, yoga, pilates, eating, cooking, hanging out with Struth and reading, relaxing, putting my feet up. Also, had a beautiful trip to the Enchantments!

Now I am back at it and refreshed mentally and physically. I'm actually excited about running again and don't feel too much pain in that nagging leg. I still have to stop once on most runs, but it goes away and generally, doesn't come back for the rest of the run. How peaceful, how delightful, oh how I missed running without pain!

I ran the Ghost of Seattle Marathon 50k at the end of November and felt pretty good. I hadn't run that far since the P2p. I went about a mile out of my way and had a slow start, but managed to squeak by just under 4:50. It was after that run that I was itching to get back out there and run. So since then, I've been putting in some miles and even though most of those miles have been in the dark and the rain, they have been fantastic. Fantastic! Next up is Bridle Trails 50k. I've never done that run and am looking forward to a muddy run. So, as the end of 2010 is approaching, and quite quickly, I close the year with many lessons learned. As the saying goes, patience is a virtue, I truly believe this.

In the meantime, Happy Holidays from Struth and me!

Rollin' with the Punches

As I was gearing up for Cascade Crest, which is in less than a week, Owen, John and I did an out and back on the Wonderland Trail. It was awesome! I can hardly wait to do the whole thing. Whenever I am at or on Mt. Rainier, I really feel like I have gone somewhere magical. It's such an amazing place. We were traveling through clouds and sun, snow and rocky shale, sledded down on our bums on the snow in places and saw a mama bear, her cub, a mountain goat and a bunch of marmots.

It seemed like the perfect run post White River and pre CCC100. I was feeling like with all the challenges I have had this year with my leg, I have finally accepted the fact the year with regards to running was not as I hoped it to be, but that I had learned a lot of things about myself, what drives me, how to stay inspired and how to feel the love for running again.

The following Wednesday, just over a week ago, Owen and I take the dogs to Cougar Mt to run an hour or so just to enjoy one of the remaining summer nights at Cougar. I was feeling pretty good, had to stop a few times at the start again, but was feeling pretty good. As we rounded a corner with a few miles to go, Ella turns around and runs towards me and BAM, right into my knee. Ella has a huge head, she is part pit bull and weighs about 65lbs. The impact sent immediate pain up and down my leg. I stopped, sweared and bent over in pain. I could not put any pressure on it for at least 10 minutes. I could not believe my (bad) luck. When I felt I could put pressure on it, I hobbled back to the car. When I got home, I iced it and put Traumeel on it. I have been doing this ever since. Initially, I thought that it was just a funny bone type thing but after I tried to run the next day, I realized that the damage was much more than I had anticipated. I have been to ART therapy a few times and now the swelling has gone down and I can squat without pain. I did not run for a whole week, instead I went swimming and rested, which was not easy. I tried to run last Friday. I went 4 miles and I can honestly say that if Cascade Crest was this weekend, I would not have started. There is no way I could have run 100 miles with that level of discomfort. I worry that if I do it, I will cause more damage to myself. It's a hard thing to decide. I still have a few days to decide what to do which I will measure by trying to run a bit either every day or every other day. I'm about to go out now for a run and I am hoping for the best. As I am processing the possibility that I may not be able to do CCC100, I am realizing that this year is really trying to teach me patience, acceptance among many other things. With this time off, I've experienced a lot of emotions but ultimately, I have come to the conclusion that this setback is a personal disappointment and in the grand scheme of things, I try not to let that disappointment get to far out of balance with the other things that are important to me. Ultimately, you win some and you loss some, that is life. Right?