I need to get my shit together
I woke up last night in the middle of the night with a ninja calf cramp. Once I managed to stretch that one out I realized that I had that lovely red wine dry mouth. Ugh.
I had spent a few hours the past evening with my folks. They are the worst influence on me. No evening goes by there w/o a few glasses of wine.
This is stopping. Now.
It’s not conducive to my goals and aspirations. It’s just one of the few lazy things left in my life that have to be cleaned out. No wine extravaganzas should lead to less pounds and more miles.
It’s all about what you really want. I don’t want extra pounds and a drinking problem. I want to bounce out of bed in the wee hours of the morning and sprint out the door for miles and miles. No excuses.
I want abundant health for years and years and years. Quite frankly, my folks aren’t doing so hot. They’ve become a cautionary tale. I’ve reached the fork in the road and I’m not going down their lane.
So it ends here. And the new goals gain flight. I’ve marked down some races in my calendar to sign up for and get me motivated. Sometimes you just know when things have changed and there’s no going back.
June 16th – Woodside Ramble. Probably going to do the 35k as a training/prep run.
August 19th – Run on the Sly – 50K
September 30th — Redwood Peak 50k
December 15th — Woodside Ramble (again) 50k
I’m looking forward to being in shape for these races and feeling fast again, like I used to be. I’ll probably never be as fast as I used to be but I’ll be the best me that I can be at this time. Ultras are about the adventure for me and being in some incredible, out-there places. Plus hopefully making some more like minded friends.
And of course, dog will help me get there too. Woof.
PS – I DID get out for a run this morning…wine mouth be damned!
Tweak
This happens every once in a while.
I was stepping out of the shower and made some sort of wrong move. I tweaked my back. Hate that. Now I’m hobbling around. I did it yesterday, so at least at this point it’s already getting a little bit better.
My chiropractor is all booked up. Or I would’ve just gone in and got it fixed. But by the time they have an appointment available this will be solved.
Sigh.
So I missed my run this morning. Dog slept in, and didn’t seem to mind the day off too much. I will definitely be out there tomorrow running though…
Good Read!
I just finished this book. Loved it. It’s all about one guy’s experience on the PCT. I read a lot of it aloud to my hubby as he was cooking dinner a few nights this week. It’s put a bee into his bonnet about hiking the trail.
Check it out for a great armchair adventure!
Headlamp….Again
Thanks to Daylight Savings Time I’m back to running in the dark again. So, Mr. Headlamp with the blue blinking bike light attached at the back is back in action again. Yeah, that’s right, a BLUE blinking light. Unique! Freaks out the early morning commuters. Everyone is used to a red blinking light, but blue is something unexpected, unless you’ve been pulled over by the PoPo.
And this morning was the first time all year that I ran in a rainstorm. Dumping rain the whole way. Kind of felt nice actually. Unfortunately the only thing that wasn’t dumping was the dog – she didn’t do her morning business. She rushed through the whole run, which was kinda nice because we didn’t have any long sniff stops that she can be famous for. She was kinda perplexed about the rain. But I hope the hubby let her out mid-morning…
Why Do I Run?
I’m really surprised when people I meet are astonished about my running routine. “Wow you get up and run BEFORE work?!” I’d feel guilty and lazy about it if I didn’t. I can’t figure out what they do with the time they are not running.
Let’s back up a bit…
I started running when I was about 15. It was Joan Benoit Samuelson’s fault. I remember being inspired to tears by watching her run and and win the first Women’s Olympic Marathon in 1984 (how preposterous is it that it was only in 1984 that women were allowed to run the Olympic Marathon…but I digress…). I started running on the cross-country team in high school. Looking back I realize I had much more talent for track – I regularly beat even the older boys in sprints but our not too attentive coaches never seemed to notice. Being a high school girl with low self esteem I thought that there must be some reason they didn’t ask me to run track. Well, you can’t go back.
My best running partner would join the cross-country team for workouts at times. His name was Fred. He was exceedingly handsome with golden brown eyes, floppy ears and a short stubby tail. Yep, he wasn’t in my homeroom class and he didn’t take me to prom, although he would’ve been a better date in hindsight. I doubt that with all of the silly rules and regulations that abound in schools they would’ve allowed this sort of co-training of species anymore. I’m so glad I grew up in a simpler time!
I didn’t participate in college sports, I was too busy trying to rush through college and finish. I did accomplish that in 3.5 years, but I missed out on a lot of college hi-jinx and fun. I did run a few local races though. My best was a 17:06 5k.
In my early adult years I raced and had many running friends. Obviously running was pretty well ingrained and it was something that I just couldn’t quit. Plus I might get fat or something! Probably as soon as I’d hang up my shoes. Seriously, I was paranoid about that.
The funny thing is I probably really didn’t like racing all that much. But I liked running. I did put a lot of pressure on myself.
When I was busy putting a lot of pressure on myself to attain the 2:45 Olympic Trials standard in the marathon, I had a bad downhill mountain biking accident. It left me with some strange soft tissue injuries that caused painful cramping when I tried to run. Ironically, I started cycling more. I was actually a more talented cyclist and ended up competing in cycling for a few years.
I still ran though, once my injuries healed.
This combo lead to triathlon. But I couldn’t swim. I learned to swim! I even became a pretty good swimmer! (I swam through my two pregnancies).
I still ran though. And running was good. Until I tripped and fell on a trail while training for Donner Lake Tri. I badly broke my right leg. I thought I might not be able to run again.
I was afraid to run again! But my man pushed me out of the door once I had healed knowing what was good for me. I was afraid of curbs. Literally. I’d stop to step up on over them.
But eventually I got over it. I still don’t feel the way I did before the accident, even today. But I still kept running.
I had to prove that this leg could handle it. So I trained for and completed an Ultra. The leg held up.
And I’m still running. And I’m going to do more ultras! And have fun.
I don’t really know why I run, I just don’t know what I’d do if I didn’t run.
Spring Means….
Putting away my headlamp until next winter. And upping the mileage to come out of the self-imposed running slumber. I’ve been taking it easy for a while, not putting any pressure on myself. Just getting out there. But now I’m feeling the winter poundage that has crept on…and I miss the trails. And I really miss my old running friends. Many have moved on from the area, but I have to put an effort into reconnecting with those still around. Our old running group fell apart when the local retail store left the area. It was the hub of running activities. So I’ve sent out my messages to try to reconnect with the community. Saturday morning runs with friends are great!
And I think I’ll map out a plan for a summer 50k with more races in the fall. A sure fire way to banish the winter pounds!
Run on!
A Few Winter Pictures
five fingers were here!
Here’s some pictures from the cabin…with some snow and some snowy trail. And yes, I run in my Vibram Trails in the snow with no problems, not even cold feet!
A little bit of snow on the roof
Spring?
It feels like it’s here.
The weather man warns that it’s cold today, but when I go out on my run that early morning bite in the air just isn’t there anymore. I think it’s been put away for the season.
Dog and I stopped for a drink of water at a local garden we pass through almost daily. As I stood up from stooping over the water fountain I was faced with an Icelandic poppy, bright orange and smiling. First one I’ve seen this year. That kind of settled it. Our early spring is clearly here. A bit early (climate change anyone?) and a bit disturbing.
So now we’re starting on putting in a garden. From seed! Tune in for updates during the next few weeks.
Early Mornings
We are up in the dark before dawn and before anyone else in the house is awake. I give her a pat on the head as I fumble towards the bathroom to dress and tie up my hair. She follows and lays down in the doorway to guard me, probably both from boogie men and from me leaving her behind.
I use my headlamp to navigate the dark house. I’m out of the door before I give myself a chance to talk myself out of the run. I’m really only fully awake about 1/2 mile down the road, usually in front of the house with the cat who likes to chase us. Yes a cat. Either a very brave or not very bright cat.
The early mornings are magic. Some cold sharp mornings that sear like broken glass have shining, sparkling skies with Venus on high and then moon glowing. Foggy mornings can be spectacular with billowing white puffs and floating mists that shroud the world beyond my lamp. Of all the varieties of early morning they have one thing in common for me…blessed silence and peace.
Of Wolves and Men
I can’t figure out why this idea is so controversial. That humans and wolves evolved together. I think it explains a lot and is poetically beautiful. I suppose it’s the Judeo/Christian viewpoints of most that get many people all riled up. Anyway, I think it makes sense and it’s the product of some really interesting research.
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