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| | Dont Stop Me Now! | | |  | WESTERN STATES 100 REPORT! FINALLY!
   "There are some things you learn best in calm, and some in storm" Willa Cather Western States....a humbling, beautiful, brutal and another learning experience. LOVED IT! The final of the Montrail Cup series....one word to describe WOW. Everytime I would ask someone how they would compare Western States to any other hundred...the response would be similiar "Its Western States, there is no comparison". And I will have to agree. From the terrain, the amazing crowds, the incredible organization....it was by far a 10 on my list. __________________________________________________________ Almost 2 weeks later and here is my race report, finally put into words. This explains the awe of such a race that really now can I muster up what it was all about. OK, and coming home to 5 kids who are out of school and full of energy...makes it difficult to sit down! Back to the WS100 report..... Looking at profiles, elevation charts, pictures, reading previous reports...doesn't really mean much until you are physically there. Coming from the east coast to the west coast and seeing these BIG HILLS was a reality check. The day before the WS start of the race I looked up at the mountains above and immediately downsized my expectations. I did not train for this type of race- coming from flat 24 hour training in a matter of weeks to hill training is a big reality check. So, I knew I was going to give it what I had but if I want more...I will have to adjust training for next time (there will be one!) and really train for this race. It is worth it...this race is amazing!  The weekend started with meeting up with my Montrail teammates - it was so great to put a personality to a face. What a wonderful team - not just amazing athletes but the personality to go with it. I loved learning about all the new amazing shoes that were to come as well as exchanging our favorites and why. All around it was wonderful to stay in the "Montrail House" and really feel such a welcome.  Sean Meissner and Chris Eskew, two AMAZING athletes as well as now becoming awesome friends, were both crewing and pacing for me. When Sean had agreed to pace me, I felt so honored. When he also told me that Chris would help too...I felt extremely special! So I had a chance to meet Sean again as well as Chris for the first time. OK...the race. The morning of, I felt very rested. One very important element in any ultra race....getting rest. It is the natural steroid to boosting your energy. I did focus on the rest. I had all my gear in check and ready to go. It helps to have your crew be familiar with the course (thankfully they both were!) and knew what to do, where to meet me. We went over little details. The race started at 5:00 am. And what a welcome, to big hill #1. Up and up and up and into snow,snow, slush, mud, streams - all added to the craziness of trying to keep your feet on the ground instead of your butt - which I did happen to fall on my butt! A group of us went of track for a little bit but regrouped and got back on. The top of the first incline,Watson's Monument, I was told to look back at the sunrise. Amazing. And then....like the top of a roller coaster....a down, down, down take off...flying down! So the hills, mountains(compared to my east coast hills!) were many! The uphills, rough (Devils Thumbs switch backs, 37 of them!) but the downhills...whoa, just as rough. My butt was in need of some serious rubbing!  Western States is both organized very well with volunteers at the aid station but especially at the medical. The weigh-ins were many, which are a very good indicator of dehydration's, hyponetremia, and other factors that could come up. My first weigh-in, up 8 lbs. Shocking to me since I thought that I was drinking a sufficient amount as well as salt in-take. So I increased the salt. At Michigan Bluff I was held for awhile until I could pee (since my weight was still up). I wanted to figure this one out. And what dawned on me was my fueling....I believe that my drink of choice had to be changed since it was not agreeing with my celiacs. And so, from Michigan Bluff on...I completely changed my gels and drinks. The first 50 I was poisoning myself, the second 50 I was recovering. Thankfully due to a conversation with a teammate of mine the day before who also has celiacs, I learned that he could not have what I was fueling with....and since I have recently been taking this fueling for the pasts 6 months I concluded that after a couple of mishaps that maybe this is not working for me. It took a tasking race like this to put my body into rejecting processing this to figure it out. In all races...we can have A PLAN....and keep in mind that PLANS CHANGE...often. Having the ability to adjust and trust your instincts are a key in ultras, especially the ones that are more tasking on your body.  At Michigan Bluff, I definitely knew I was not in a competitive field so I downsized my race again and just wanted to learn and have a healthy race. So...I had fun. I enjoyed the views, in awe of the beauty, alot of "who am I" moments....the peace, the being alone, the thoughts of the wild, loved it. Loved being alone in the middle of nowhere. Took it all in....but, I wasted ALOT OF TIME! I planned on going under 24, thought that would be no problem, but of course I had too much wasted fun! I sat in one of the rivers for awhile, got a massage, took my sweet old time at the aid stations. And came to find out that I truly was in pamper, relax mode! And so, with my amazing pacers who had patience, yet motivation to keep me going....they kept me on my feet and in good spirits. And we joked, and laughed.  Sean and Chris are both strong in body and strong in spirit and they sure were going to keep me moving by the time I got to them. While we were running we learned that our teammate Geoff Roes had won the race and broke Scott Jurek's record. Geoff is a strong runner and an amazingly humble guy. We also learned of the other teammates, Annette Bednosky, and Joelle Vaught came in the top ten. Truly amazing...so happy for them both! It brought a high to me as I was making my way up and over and up and down and progressing forward..... Two sunrises later....I made it in...FINALLY! The longest I had ever been on my feet! Western States...you humbled me, but didn't defeat me...I'll be back. And stronger and wiser next time....  Thank you so much Sean and Chris for giving me your time and crewing and pacing for me! Thank you Montrail for such awesomeness not only in a company of amazing shoes but a company of amazing people! " Some people will never learn anything, for this reason, because they understand everything too soon". Alexander PopeLooking forward to the next one - and looking forward to meeting up with all the amazing runners out there! Everytime I do these races I collect more and more amazing stories, amazing friends, and of course amazing experiences that make me who I am. | | | | ...and don't forget to add "What works for me...."
"No amount of experimentation can ever prove me right; a single experiment can prove me wrong" Albert Einstein
(my teammate Annette and I...we are constantly sharing our ideas and learning from eachother!) Through this ultra journey that I have been on, the part that I had no idea I would be focusing on is "What works for ME" So many different ultra runners out there with different ways of fueling, training, etc., that you can get mind boggled. And the better a runner is, the more you want to know "What is it that makes them so good?" But remember, what works for them, may not work for you. My suggestion is to use those training runs to find out what works. Experiment, journal, test the waters....and learn. Sometimes, we learn in our races - hopefully not too many! But sure enough, the more experienced you are the more you will find out what works for you. So.....here are just some suggestions I would recommend: 1. Your distance per week - at what point do you feel that you have over done it? Some runners can handle triple digit weeks and some are wasted. Some actually run better with less miles and more quality. That is where your journal plays in. Quality is more important than quantity. 2. Fueling - how much per hour can your body process while still maintaining a quality run? How about the salt tab intake (and that can vary on the temperature). How about dehydration issues? Tummy issues? 3. Shoes - are you wearing the proper shoes? My little add in for Montrail - I have yet to see one lady that I have recommended Montrail shoes to that doesn't like them...they are the true experts for trail running shoes! But see what shoes are the best fit for your feet. 4. Sleep - are you getting enough? Sleep is the best way to recover and rebuild so keep a close eye on that. 5. Injury - are you prone to certain injuries? Some of us are blessed with great bio mechanics that can just keep going and going injury free...while some have tendencies. DON'T IGNORE THEM. An injury not taken care of will haunt you and possibly permanently stop you. There are times when mind over matter can conquer, but not many. An injury that is not healed, from what I have seen, will never heal - and possibly travel to something else. Thankfully, I have a wonderful friend, chiropractor, active release, graston expert who is great for making sure all is still aligned and working well. Not a bad investment if you can have a tune up every-so-often. Those are just some ideas...I try to make sure that when I am telling someone what I do that I say "This is what works for ME, but may not work for you". _______________________________________________________________ "The true method of knowledge is experiment" William Blake We are an experiment of one....have fun discovering!
| | | | Mental Strength.....
My kids...my secret weapon!   Tough Mom's! Mental strength for me, comes from a few things: age in which you acquire wisdom, circumstances that you are put in to, pushing yourself beyond your comfort zone over and over again, and definitely being a Parent! Those are some but there are many more. My running, I am fortunate to have such a love and to thankfully be healthy and motivated to train...yet some of that success comes from the inside out and I owe it to my Mental Strength and a big part of that is my kids. My group of Whole Running ladies, being mostly Mom's, are full of mental strength. I so much enjoy watching them grow and pull that toughness out! We should all feel fortunate that its tough to balance yet we all have this "secret weapon" for our races, for our training that we Mom's understand. It's a nod and a smile at each other knowing the inner strength we have. It is maturity that takes the ME out of our lives and turns that M to a W....WE. WE is stronger than ME. Looking back before I had the many little munchkins that I have....I most definitely am stronger in many ways. As one of the girls has on her shirts (and she is a super tough chic) - "My warm up is chasing my kids". That is so true. "A Mother's strength is the fuel that enables a normal human being to do the impossible" "Mother's are like teabags, you never know how strong they can be until they get into hot water" Eleanor Roosevelt There is hill running, speed training, heat training, fuel training, sleep depriving,...that has surely helped me and is surely needed for my many races coming up....but it doesn't pull through without mental strength - and that comes from life experiences. And for some of us, many little life experiences! | | | | Adapt or Adjust?
  On a run with a friend as we were discussing and trying to solve the issues of the world (well at least our issues, our own worlds!), the topic came up of different personalities. And as I like to compare running as a metaphor of my life - here are two things to consider about yourself.....are you an adapter or an adjuster? We were running and it was warm, yet I am currently training for a very warm race soon to come...so with my warm jacket on I was "adapting" to the uncomfortable feeling of being hot. As I looked over at my running friend, I noticed she too had her jacket on. And the comment was "I am an adapter by nature, but if it were my husband...he would adjust and take off his jacket to feel more comfortable". Hmmmm....had me thinking which one I am and which one is better. I suppose they are both good in their own way at different times. This topic can go even deeper to questions like "are you a minimalist or maximalist?" How many gadgets do you need?
Now getting back to this run and the thoughts going through our heads and how I compared it to training...there are no clear rights or wrongs(that is to either adapting or adjusting!) but just reasons for why you do what you do. For me, personally, I would say that I go in and out of both an adapter and adjuster. It all depends on the circumstances.....ex. I am training for extreme heat, so I need to adapt to the heat, I want to feel warm and love it and adapt to it. If I wasn't training for this race I would probably adjust the attire be stripping down the layers as the heat set in! Another example, I was running a quick clip but managed to get lost, and with the low amount of fuel I had, it was time to adjust the speed to be able to make it back feeling good!
Personally, I think there is alot of strength in an adapter who needs to accept the way things are at the moment and carry on. Adapt to the climates, the terrain, the mental situation at the moment. So my friend on the run, the adapter, just one more reason you are one strong chic!Plus that Boston jacket looked so good on you, heat and all! adapt: to make or become suitable to a specific situation adjust: to bring to a more satisfactory Which one are you???
| | | | What is it that makes you tick? I see lots of WR girls ticking these days....and I LOVE IT!
  I feel so fortunate to be surrounded by such amazing Mom's who have truly grown in their athletic ability. To be on this end to see it happen is wonderful Not only in their ability, but their attitude. Which as we all know, alot of our ability comes from our mental focus, our attitude. I can tell just from the faces of all these ladies that they are "ticking". The hills come, and they conquer them. Its raining out, hot out, buggy out, and they show up and "go for it" (with a smile, mind you!). They have a choice to take the short path or the longer one...they choose the longer one. Option of adding a steep hill to their speed workout, they do it. I love that. You reap what you sow. When you put the work in, it pays off. I have seen this with many of these women, and their strength is much greater than they could imagine. And to top it all off....THEY ARE MOMS! That makes it that much more amazing. There are a few races coming up that our Whole Running group is planning and I see the nervousness, excitement, the "Do you think I can do it?". We are so fortunate to have such a strength among this group - with the support of each other, the many training partners, the many times that someone is out running (odd hours, look for me!)..surely it is definitely achievable. And achievable with alot of laughs and fun. Consistency, endurance, and then speed. Consistency is number 1. That is why having a goal keeps you committed that much more. As I see the number go up for signing up for these events, I know they are all a little concerned about the "fitting it in" their schedules - it is a choice of what is done on our time - and it is always necessary to have "your own time". Think of the wonderful investment that you are putting in to your health - think of the wonderful example your kids see. For me...its worth it. As my son has a saying on one of his shirts that has a big soccer ball on the front "Set your goals high, and don't stop until you get there" it reminds me of the importance of being persistent. another few that I like: "It is not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves" "To think to long about doing a thing often becomes its undoing" "Live your life as a mission, not as an intermission" --------------------------------------------------------- So, what makes you tick? What makes you go? Dare to step outside that comfort zone? | | | | Sehgahunda Trail Marathon Fun....
 Sehgahunda Trail Marathon - a wonderful run! Wonderfully organized! All around 10! Thank you volunteers for all the effort you put into an inaugural run...sure to visit you again! More on this report at the end of this..... My training weekend....this past week and weekend were about allot of things - but two very important - fueling and heat. How to handle both. So, I ventured off on many solo runs in the woods in temps and humidity...above 80, close to 90 to be an experiment of one - myself. Sometimes we can learn a system that works for us - which can work for awhile, but then be in need of a change because its not working anymore. Or, we get a little bit slack and loose on important things. My comparison, my kids - I can have a system that works for them and me, and then they change, they grow up, they need different motivations, maybe a closer eye on them, a new system to motivate and keep things rolling forward. Change is good...keeps you sharp, keeps you growing, keeps you outside of your comfort zone.  For me, this change was in need of reevaluating my fueling. What worked in the past is in need of change. My body and miles feel very strong yet my fueling is not sustaining for what I am putting it through. This past week was a major breakthrough....and I am stronger both mentally and physically for it. One of my long runs this week I weighed myself before and then after. I was out for 5 hours - and lost 6 lbs even though I was regiment about drinking and fueling...I guess it was not enough for the energy I was expending - this made me realize that I need some adjusting. So I upped things a bit on both electrolytes, fueling and a bit of food. Monitored it how I was feeling, the temperature outside, my heart rate and my sweat. Something I am not good at doing since I generally like to go on full zen. The next three runs that were long which ended with 20 today and yesterday a total of 40 (including the Sehgahunda Marathon) I lost 1 or nothing. Perfect. not only that, but my body was not weak at all in the runs nor the next day recoveries. It feels like another ahaa moment. I am always still learning - and these are bits and pieces you can take from others...yet we are all so different in the way we operate that it is hard to compare. Its important to be intuitive to your own chemistry. Never did I think ultra running would go so deep into learning....and I am loving it for it. You have to look at your falls and see what went wrong and correct it...there is always a reason, its solving it which is the challenge.  Now getting back to the Sehgahunda race......I loved it! I loved the rolling ups and downs, the creek crossings, the roots, ....I loved the moments I was alone and the moments I had a few around me to talk. I loved coming out of the woods to the aid stations and feeling like a rock star have the volunteers call out your name and be at your service. Everyone was wonderful. Temps were a bit warm, but I loved that for the training of heat. My obsession of the Finger Lakes Trails continues and I am glad that I was able to experience yet another part of it. I hope to run into many of those I met yesterday again...always neat to see new faces and learn new stories of other runners! And looking forward to yet another day out on the trails...this next week will be warm - bring it on! Its all good.....
| | | | MONTRAIL New Hampshire Mountain Race Report
 Yesterday, May 22nd, my son Patrick and I participated in the Montrail - Mountain Hardwear USATF Norfield Mountain Race (long title!). I was going there to represent Montrail - show off their awesome trail shoes, give out swag, mingle. I was excited too to spend time with my son and run with him (until the end when his fast twitch muscles took off right before the finish!). Patrick ROCKS! (Jill and Paulr Kirsch)  This race is one of six in the New England Mountain series. Due to some trail construction, the race was shortened to 5.3 miles. Race Directors Dave Dunham and Paul Kirsch really put on a great race - well organized, well marked, lots of awesome energy. ( Dave taking charge at race sign up!)  (pic - male winner!) I had the privilege of talking to many participants about Montrail shoes (amazed at how many were wearing road shoes!). All in all it was a wonderful day! If you like hills on a shorter course, this is a challenging series! And don't let the shorter course fool you...its not a walk in the park!  Jill talking about SHOES! Montrail shoes vs road shoes: you will have a better grip, more traction to be able to handle the grass, rocks, roots....having the stability will give you the confidence to ROCK N ROLL on the ups and downs, lefts and rights, under and overs, etc. throughout the trails. Definetly an all around positive difference!  Jill finishing and laughing at my son Patrick and his fast twitch! STAY TUNED AND CHECK IN SOON...WILL BE ADDING A RACE REPORT FROM MY SON PATRICK - WHAT BETTER PERSON TO WRITE ONE! "If you can give your son or daughter one gift, let it be enthusiasm" anonymous  Here we are...a great selection of Montrail shoes - not only are they cool to run in...but they look pretty cool!  Giveaways!!! Patrick setting it up! | | | | There is something to be said for keeping at a thing, isn't there?" Frank Sinatra
And...I fell, but what my yoga friend would say..."in these situation, when your balance is off, don't get frustrated, say Thank You...because that is when your body learns." And I say to that "Onward, forward...my happy spirit is still there!" I have 5 kids, and I am their example....these are the greatest examples to them.
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The Worlds 24 hour race was an experience...too many words to describe it, but will leave it at that - experience. In your mind, you play it out and imagine what it would be like, especially for a first timer like me at a Worlds 24 hour event...but reality changes all that you imagine.
Unfortunately and fortunately, it turned out in ways I did not imagine. The word clarity comes to mind. I am so thankful that I was able to participate in the ways that I did, so thankful for my crew Deb...who was selfless in all ways. She is a truly giving person and not only gave all of herself to me but spread it among the other runners too. For all those others behind the tent who were fully giving to support the runners....honestly, this is not a one man team - its a success of the selfless and self together. Each 1200 meter lap was an exchange of activity between the two. Not sure which was more tired - the runner or the crew. Dr. Andy and his med students were incredible. Dr. Andy is 75 years old and he has so much energy and so much wisdom...I could listen to him for hours and absorb all of his knowledge - his one life can compare to about nine lives of the average person with all that he has done. His comment to me every time I was in awe "You go through this life once". Simple reply but lots of strength behind it!
And now, getting back to my personal situation and what happen at Worlds... - I made a very amateur mistake - dehydration. I am prone to it and should have known better. Without going into too many details...I was not drinking the amount I planned per lap (first mistake), hour 6, I had a headache (sign of dehydration!), hour 8 I wanted water (already dehydrated when the thirst had set in)....and the hour I finally gave in I was a bit dizzy and had the leg cramps settling in. I went to the race and was focused on the RUN...without making adjustments to the FUEL system that I had planned. Should have, could have doesn't help. It is back to the basics and lesson learned.
I am a trail runner by love of it, it is my passion. I am at ease with a euphoric feeling the farther and deeper I get within the beauty of nature. Single track, technical, hills, ....awesomeness.
I am a road runner by the mental challenge...the feat and desire to fight the challenge and strive to achieve goals that I have put in my head. I have times that I keep in my head, and try, try again until they are achieved - and sometimes it takes many tries. I look to it as a metaphor of life.
Failure is not a defeat - it is the will to learn and go out again with a new set of eyes. A race that did not go planned should not be something to beat yourself up on.....it should be one of the greatest lessons learned - puts you in check, back to the drawing board, back to the basics. The excitement is still there....the ahaa moments are still there. The, "OK, now I see", is there.
Paris, France...was a great place to visit. But America...we are lucky. I love this country!
So....to leave you with some little trivia from some amazing people who I keep in my head -
Michael Jordan was cut from his high school team. Jordan once observed "I've failed over and over again in my life. That is why I succeed."
Babe Ruth is famous for his past home run record but for decades he also held the record for strikeouts. He hits 714 home runs and struck out 1,3330 times in his career (about which he said "Every strike brings me closer to the next home run"). John Wooden once explained that winners make the most errors.
After Carl Lewis won the gold medal for the long jump in the 1966 Olympics games, he was asked to what he attributed his longevity, having competed for almost 20 years. He said "Remembering that you have both wins and losses along the way. I don't take either one too seriously".
"Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising every time we fall" Confucius
| | | | Preparez Pour la France!
  France....I'm ready for you!!  Training is done, count down is on and taper madness has started! France, here we come. And watch out, USA team is super strong this year. I am going to give it my all. It is a true honor to be representing our amazing country. Due to my serious love for the trails, it has been an effort to take my feet to the roads and train my muscles and body to adapt to the asphalt. My personal opinion, if you are running roads, train on them. If you are running trails, train on them. Look at your race, and find a route that will simulate the course, and then love it. And the best time to get out there is when you don't want to. The Worlds 24 hour race is held in Brive, France - May 13-14. This event is held on a course that is just under a mile in length. Yes, that would be over and over and over again...for 24 hours! From the website, it looks like there are over 25 different countries represented. Just imagining all the different languages spoken is mind boggling! If you would like more detailed information, check out their site: http://24h-brive.fr/ . So, my training for the 24 hour race has been a .9 loop right outside my house on the school grounds that my kids go to. I have a walking section that I've worked into the loop. This has been wonderful for me to work out my pacing. Also, being that this loop is so convenient, I get out at crazy times for short jaunts to just throw me off my comfort. Important to run when tired, run when you want to sleep, all a part of training your mind and body to deal with stresses that come up, which they will...especially in a 24 hour race. Last week I did a 6 hour race as a training run. I raced the clock, not people. Not an A race...for the most part, stuck with my plan. 41.26...with alot left in my engine. All a part of muscle memory, strategy planning, confidence building. Planned my fueling, walk breaks, pacing. Now I feel completely good to go. So now what, with a little over a week to go? Well, this week can make or break my race. I can keep testing the waters and keep pounding away the miles but that will not let me build up and rest - that will break me down. What I can do is get enough rest, make sure to eat healthy, visualize my goals, clean my house (yes, a part of taper madness) and start packing (and unpacking, and repacking, and over packing....). Now is the time to have an ATTITUDE. To say, Yes, I am ready, Yes, I am strong, Yes, I am going to represent this awesome USA team and kick some serious asphalt. ....and, after that, be happy to throw those road shoes aside, slip on my Montrail shoes, and head out to the happy trails once again..... | | | | A GOOD TRAINING RUN...TO GET READY!
 This past Sunday, I ran the BPAC 6 hour run to get ready for France 24 hour. I wanted to run on pavement, plan my pacing and fueling and wrap my head around France. Since I have been running in the trails so much, especially on my long runs, I thought this would be a great idea to refocus. And it turned out to serve its purpose. One thing about running races as your training runs, is it is important to stick to your plan. Plan of saving yourself for your "A" race and not pushing the limits on the current race. I was proud of myself in that respect. I felt that the whole time I ran BPAC, I was running slow. Although I did run it a little faster than planned, I still managed to feel strong the whole time and definitely had a ton left in me to keep going despite the cold, rainy weather. I must say, for timed races, it takes discipline to run slow and not race the clock but stick to your pace. A whole different way of thinking on timed races versus set distance races. In all races there are things we do right and things we can improve. What I did right in this race, my fueling was right on. Everything I took worked well for me, Endurance drink, Acc Gels, a total of one banana, couple of sips of coke...that was it. Perfect. Never felt bonked. What could have been improved was that I was using this as a training run for 24 hours. I walked every lap to slow myself down, however it was still hard for me to run the paces that I had planned. Being that this was a 3.something mile loop versus a .9 loop, it may be easier to slow down due to having more walking breaks. The weather on Sunday was MISERABLE. Cold, windy and rainy....my gear was fine. My favorite jacket, the Montrail Windstopper - it totally ROCKS. I wore that and felt awesome, not too heavy, completely repelled the water, and was breathable. It was nice to see everyone loop after loop on this course. My local UM group, great to see them with their good attitudes despite the weather. Nice course, wonderful race director. Was able to meet Charlotte Vasarhelyi who will be running on the Canadian 24 hour team. My friend Matt Chaffin came in first male and I came in first female. Thankfully today, I feel 100% and now...ready for the serious taper! Here comes the clean house.....(in much need) | | | | PICS OF KIDS ON ONE OF OUR MANY HIKES
"Children are born naturalists. They explore the world with all of their senses, experiment in the environment, and communicate their discoveries to those around them."The Audubon Nature Preschool There is no such thing as a leisurely hike with my kids...they run, and run and run, like little elves in the woods. Their feet are light, their mind is free...my little teachers for me.  Monday , the first day of break, I took my little training partners on another trail adventure that was new to all of us. Do not under estimate the power of a child....I believe they can out energized me on most given days. They are always trained and ready for an adventure. Its funny how we analyze our training runs, get on our computer world to report them to so many, in need of our egos to be boosted by our big miles this week and that week (which I love to report in my own head)...but kids, they can just go without any clock or concept of miles. Their "wonder" is always in full force...and that is their drive. When I am around my children in nature, they help me to remember to be free of so much.  On this trail adventure, their feet were in full force. It amazes me how far their little feet take them. We ran over bridges, through creeks, through mudd (that I will clean up off their shoes!), through cedar swamps, a very old white pine forest, bushwacking off the trail a bit. Pure fun. We saw woodpeckers, blackcap chickadees (mastered that whistle!), hawks, turkey.  I could go on and on....but it was a "one with nature day". I have been out with my kids in the woods so many times - and what is great is to see them get IT.  IT, being the appreciation for being together, the simplicity of silence (well, not all the time), the beauty of nature when undisturbed, the visual exercise, the lost in time.....many words can describe IT. IT is a wonderful thing.  We were suppose to go to an Indoor Waterpark...but I just can't justify it when we have so much beauty around us....and the weather has been perfect. We are healthy and my kids have too much energy that needs to be used up. My kids are growing fast, but for now, they are keeping me young! "Teaching children about the natural world should be seen as one of the most important events of their lives"."Along with milk and vegetables, kids need a steady diet of rocks and worms. Rocks need skipping, holes need digging, water needs splashing, bugs and frogs and slimy stuff need finding" ANONYMOUS | | | | I LOVE MYSTERIES! And love to RUN on this one...
 Frank Lloyd Wright - Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature, it will never fail you.
I have recently been enjoying and exploring the different portions of the Finger Lake Trails. Being that it is Spring, the flowers are just starting to bloom, ferns coming alive, water streaming down all of the crossings, and many places to become a muddy mess in the Spring...but I love it! And the waterfalls that pop out of nowhere are breathtaking (such as the one in the pic above).
I have always enjoyed the Virgil Mountain area of the FLT...but a friend of mine, who is also getting obsessed with the trails, has told me about some new and unique places which we are both following. I love the mystery of not knowing what steep hill is to come, what waterfall will be around the next corner, old grave sites hidden from years past...it keeps my passion in the woods to keep going and going and going. When I go out on these excursions, I am out for hours and could continue for hours! Lost in the beauty - steep climbs, many stream crossing, shoe sucking mud in some parts, mighty waterfalls...a change of scenery in an instant. That may be why I like the mystery of a new course...I loose track of time and am moving with pure excitement to discovering what will be next.
The main FLT is 561 miles long, in addition to 6 branch trails, 14 loop trails, and several spur trails totalling an additional 351 miles. Several sections of the FLT have been certified as part of the North Country National Scenic Trail and when completed will extend 4,600 miles across seven states, Eastern New York to Central North Dakota. Who maintains all this - the volunteers and at least 15 organizations (also volunteers) as well as the US Forest Service. So thankful for them!
So, I'm sorry to say to my past trails that I have enjoyed...I will still be on them and run them...but my legs and eyes and heart are learning something new here...and I am always up for a challenge. And those who want to join...would love the company, but be up for a challenge, plenty of fluid (thank you 70 oz Nathan Hydration Pack, you saved me on this last one!), a good attitude, and a childs imagination. My kids were with me on a some of this trail on Monday...and their excitement just magnifies mine.
I think of all the poets who wrote about their times in the woods and it all makes sense to me.
LOST
Stand still. The trees ahead and bushes beside you are not lost.
Wherever you are is called here, and you must treat it as a powerful stranger, must ask permission to know it and be known.
The Forest breathes. Listen. It answers, I have made this place around you, if you leave it you may come back again saying, Here.
No two trees are the same to a Raven.
No two branches are the same to a Wren.
If what a tree or a bush does is lost on you, you are surely lost. Stand still. The forest knows where you are. You must let it find you. David Wagoner
One of my favorite lines in a song by Coldplay "are you lost or incomplete". When I am in these trails, I do not feel lost, I feel like I want to keep going to get the complete of it. And...I will. Many years to discover and complete.
| | | | Proper fueling will keep your motor going....
(picture...Whole Running girls...out on the trails!)  This has always been a struggle with me, to figure out the right formula to keep my motor going during competitions. It is a mixture of pace, mental strength, proper taper, proper rest, but the most obvious in all of these is fueling.  The first ultra I did, it was ridiculous on the many crates filled with snacks, drinks, gels, etc. I had no idea what my body would crave, really what was going to work and not work. It was all a mystery to me. I am a true experimenter and have tried many different products. I can't say that I have mastered this, but I do know what doesn't work as well as what does...and that is a big breakthrough. The pictures you are seeing in this write up are Endurox, Accelerade drink and gels. These have been a very popular fueling source with not only me but my local running club Ultramatters. Here is a description of each with a little added info from me:  Accelerade: the only sport drink that contains carbohydrates and protein in a patented 4:1 ratio, provides rapid re hydration and helps athletes perform better and recover faster. - extends endurance 29% - reduces muscle damage by 83% - improves endurance up to 40% in a subsequent workout the 4:1 Advantage: It is the unique ratio of 4 parts carbs to 1 part protein which fuels superior endurance, performance, hydration and recover. My favorite: The lemonade and fruit punch. It sits well in my stomach, has a wonderful taste to it, even after mile after mile after mile....
Accel Gel: - extends endurance 13% more than regular sports gel rapid energy, speed muscle recover. ....I love the chocolate 20% caffeine gels...but I also love the orange, lime, vanilla....not too sweet and sticks with me! And I am not your typical gel loving person...but these are AWESOME! I even have to hide them from my kids! and finally Endurox R4: This is typically for exercise lasting more than one hour: Endurox contains the patented 4:1 carb to protein ratio to speed muscle glycogen replenishment and rebuild muscle protein after exercise, antioxidants to reduce post-exercise muscle damage and glutamine to help reduce muscle stress. Although this is used for some as an after drink, I use it during my endurance runs to keep me sustained. I know this has worked for me as well as my training partners which we frequently discuss. Fueling is something to be proactive when running endurance races - start from the beginning and be regiment throughout your race. I know for me, this is what has worked....and if you are still wondering what works for you, I would suggest giving Pacific Health Labs a try. The yummy flavors alone will get you hooked...and the sustained energy will keep you! OK...going out for my run.....
| | | | A weekend of no pressure trail runs...
 What a great weekend! Started out on Friday night with a bunch of Whole Running girls at my house for a casual get together. We talked about our reasons for running, struggles and how we get out of them, fueling, etc. I really enjoyed hearing every ones stories. I'm sure this accounts to most people, but for me I am constantly learning about myself through mistakes, through friends, through different circumstances which make me who I am today. And tying this into running....it is always neat to see where we have come from. It makes me admire these ladies that much more. And to top it off...while we still are working on ourselves, we have little ones who we work on as well (and some of us, many little ones!). Saturday I had a most adventurous run in an unbelievable trail - much more challenging than the Virgil Mountain one which I so adore! And how wonderful it is to get off the beaten path...so many hours of up and downs, crossing streams, hoping roots, running down switch backs, mud...all good for building strength and exercising the eyes to a new place. And while I was running I sent lots of thoughts to Annette Bednosky who was running Mad City 100k and I must add, ROCKIN IT TOO! So awesome to know that she did great. I know she does the same for me (if we aren't in the same race, ha!) when I am out there too! Sunday, Green Lakes - the lovely loops which I know so well. Feeling good - my legs know this trail and know how to work it. After Saturday's run, GL felt that much easier to tackle -sore quads and all! On both of my runs, I tested out two different shoes - Rockridge and Mountain Masochist - both wonderful and easy to run with on trails, great support, flexibility, able to handle the mud, rocks, roots, etc. I also tested out my Nathan Hydration Pack made for women. Loved it. I love the front pockets which store my stuff as well as the pack being customized for women. One thing to note, make sure you are hydrating enough since there is no way to actually see how much you are drinking - three big sips for me equals roughly 5 ounces. This weekend, with as much running as I did, there was no pressure and much peace and passion. As I always say and still try to live by...step outside of your comfort zone - do something different, listen to different stories...all the growth will make you stronger and appreciate that much more what you have when you have it. This week...one more week of slamming out the miles, and then its back to taper! | | | | Rockridge shoes are AWESOME!
 Kids and I out for a short run in the woods! And thankfully, the weather is nice and all are healthy and full of energy...including me! Since Umstead has been over, I have had the chance to really test out the Montrail Rockridge shoes...dedicating all my miles to see just what these shoes are made of. And yet again, Montrail has another amazing shoe.   In an earlier report, I compared the Rockridge feel to the Streak feel....but here are the slight differences - Rockridge has a slightly wider toe box which is wonderful! Since I am a forefoot runner and sometimes a toe runner, I love to have that space in front. Another quality, the shoe has a lighter feel to it and a nice flexibility. Most trail shoes feel clunky (that would be other brands!), but not these. I could see me wearing these shoes on and off trail. Another added plus, they have a good arch support - yet another pair of Montrail shoes that I have no need to wear my orthodics in. So Rockridge...or what I have been mistakenly calling them Rockyridge....lets keep moving and enjoying some new trails yet to be explored! Rockridge ROCK! Let my feet do the talking for you.... | | | | Lets talk about some ROCKIN SOCKIN SOCKS!
   In my last post, what I didn't elaborate on is the socks I wore for Umstead....more so, the socks I wear for all of my running! Umstead 100, I was to do almost everything I did the year before, which included wearing the same socks, Drymax. Most people will say (especially those who do not run crazy distances), what is the big deal about socks? If you want your feet to be happy...those little motors to keep you going and going...you need to have ROCKSTAR SOCKS! My Drymax socks are ROCKIN and I am so thankful for how they amaze me everytime to deliver me with no blisters as I cross the line of finish crazy miles. And others would say "Well, maybe you are not prone to blisters or problems with your feet. " Not true! I have had my feet in many different brands of socks before Drymax and still on a slim occasion will wear a pair of "other socks" on training runs. In previous socks my feet had many, many blisters...all different size blisters, different color, different degree of pain (feel like I'm ready to break out in a Dr. Suess song about blisters!). Also, the socks would slide down, slip around within my shoes (another cause for blisters). So, the magic is not in my feet, it is in my socks....and that is how I am able to keep moving. Socks with an awesome pair of trail shoes, road shoes...and you are ready to fly...really. Drymax socks absorb all the moisture from my feet whether it be from sweating or wet weather so that they will stay fresh. Umstead, they were fresh...not one single blister on those little pads of motors. Now, I had the opportunity to run Umstead with some of my local running friends. Some wore drymax, some made the decision not too. The ones that did not, had stories of how their feet were not happy. So, why take a chance......I know what works for my feet......I will stick with what I know at let my feet do the talking for you. And this is a true one for you....I have quite a group of women that I train....and some of them are true diehard drymax fans....one story " I only have a few drymax socks amongst my other pairs. I can not go out for a run with out the drymax on my feet!" My answer to that "get rid of the other pairs! They taking up unnecessary space!" Thank you Thank you Thank you...for once again, delivering my feet to the finish line, happy and dry and ready to BRING IT ON again for the next race...and you bet I will! | | | | FINALLY...Umstead 100 mile race report....
 This past weekend was the Umstead 100 mile race, second time in a year I have done it. I love this race for its "family atmosphere". The southern welcome surely shined through all the miles. Blake Norwood was very organized and had a great pool of volunteers for support. Umstead is an 8 - 12.5 mile loop course, trail but not technical. Yes, there are rolling hills, a couple of steep ones on the back side of the course...but definitely runnable throughout. Temps were perfect for running! This first picture here are of the WR girls in Central New York, who started running the same time I did in NC! Wow, what energy across the states! You girls ROCK! OK....and back to Umstead, NC...... I wore my Montrail Streak, Montrail race shirt - my drymax socks....no blisters! Montrail Streak are very smiliar to Rockridge...both are light, flexible and a good shoe to wear on nontechnical trails. I wasn't sure which ones to wear so I stuck with the Montrail Streak which I had worn for the year before. Never changed my shoes once, didn't need to. Truly amazing shoes. I met up with my friends Ryan O'Dell, Jim Lampman, Ed Edington, Mack Duett, John Enholt, Paula Carrigan, who are all from a local club called Ultramatters that supports a wonderful and warm group of ultra runners filled with many experiences and lots of knowledge. And the star for this group that was the glue to hold us all together...Beth Bidstrup. What an amazing woman! Not only did she crew for me, but she crewed for Ryan, Jim, Ed, and Mack! And not only did she crew, but also entertained with her costumes that changed every lap. I know she made a difference for all of us. So...continuing on..... There is a mystery in all races, but the longer the distance, the more you are entering a mystery, a challenge, a will to go beyond what your body and mind might be telling you. I think to myself "OK Jill, lets hang on for this wild ride today, bring it on whatever this day may bring. And I'll be damned if its not with a smile". I suppose some people mock me for smiling at races, but as most of us agree that this distance is mental...I would prefer to be mentally happy!  And with any and all of these long races is another question "Who will be my friend for the day?" And as you look at this first picture, Thomas, who ran at least 1 lap with me (I know it was a little more than that) became the first friend! Thomas has diabetes and I am so amazed at the power and determination to not let that overtake him. Truly a strong man and I am sure this will not be his first 100. So, we ran the first maybe second lap together and talked about life, silly and serious. But, I was always aware of my pace to not go out too fast...racing with clock, not people.  So, somehow Thomas and I lost track and I was wandering on my own, enjoying the lovely weather, being regiment with my fueling, aware of my pace. What I didn't let on is I did have a bit of a stomach bug from my kids being sick the past week so I made many many stops at pretty much every port a potty! But, being regiment about my fueling is what kept the motor going...I didn't stray from that. Nor did I stray from my pace. I looked forward to seeing Beth, my amazing crew, at every lap. I looked forward to seeing what wig, tutu, outfit she was going to wear on the next lap! I had to laugh because I had "blond wig, big glasses" in my mind, only to be surprised by "black wig" on the next loop! She was awesome! I was in and out of every aid station without a pause and just kept moving forward. As the day went on, I could see people that went out too fast struggling and slowing down drastically. So I definitely made headway. I met up with Sabrina Moran who was ahead of me for awhile. She is a young athlete and so talented! I look forward to keeping in touch with her. We exchanged some nice words and I moved on. I moved on to another runner named Jay...and became quite silly singing School House Rock songs. We stuck together for I believe a lap. He is quite the strong runner, and and very consistent with his pace. Throughout the race, I would see glimpses of my fellow Central New York runners, Ryan, Ed, Jim, Mack as well as other runners I knew, Paula (love that smile Paula! You are a tough, strong woman!), Anthony Portera (the Italian with his surrounding mafia at all times!), Shannon (another super happy girl out there!!), Tammy, Hugo, Rosie (who I always said from Virginia but was corrected that she is from Kentucky!), Dane R who we are now face to face friends and not just facebook friends, and many, many, many more....the ultra world is a wonderful close knit world! One of the many reasons I love it. What was getting me very excited was that my Montrail Teammate, Annette Bednosky was coming down to pace me the last two laps. So as I was coming in off my 5th lap, I look over to Beth and I see this long blond haired chic and come to find out, its Annette with a wig on! She arrived early! Annette and Beth hung out and talked and shared stories during my 6th lap (and I'm sure they were busy crewing for the other men too) When lap 6 was over, Annette jumped in! Annette and I ran the 7th lap, talked, took pictures, acted silly, talked about farting (yes, we did!), and other ridiculous things! Not sure if you know this, but Annette is a flying fairy and I'm the rock rolling elf.... Lap 7 was a very talkative lap. But not Lap 8......  Lap 8 was a quite lap. No talking. All about breathing and focusing. My quads were tight. I have a certain way of going down hills which I did not do during this race...and I paid for it on lap 8. So, Annette, being the intuitive chic that she is, sensed my need to go within. And so we both went within. Annette and I both had the same foot rhythm, in synced with our breathing...it was cool. I know she was doing this on purpose to help me relax, without saying a word. She truly is knowledgeable and an amazing pacer and friend in many ways. We both went stealth, no headlights, in the dark and loved it. The moon was full and strong casting amazing shadows, the stars were bright...as Annette commented, it was magical. I knew that I was ahead of the other women by quite an amount so I just became relaxed in my pace and enjoyed the moment and didn't overly push myself...guess I should have focused on one of the men ahead...but all in all, lap 8 - was tough, but magical. Annette and I ran in just under 16 hours - 15:58 and change - Wow. For such a long day it sure seem to fly by. I finished, went into the lodge and met up with all of the other runners...mostly taking a break between laps. I think I sat down too quickly....I do not want to elaborate too much on the after race ordeal - I was overwhelmed by all the people, the man who was videoing me, etc etc...I did get sick and had a hard time drinking. I agreed to an IV (which can be miracle worker) thinking it was on the premises..but, no. And such goes the ridiculous other story of "those who do not understand that running a 100 miles does throw off your levels of everything". Another lesson learned.....and that will be in its own post. But as I sit here with my many little munchkins, piles of laundry and body feeling great a few days later....I am thankful for what my body was able to do "in that other magical world". Now its a tiny bit a rest...and another BRING IT ON..very soon...and I know I will.....I'm ready. This is a selfish sport supported by completely selfless people... I am very excited to be on that "selfless" side for both Beth and Annette and all the others that I can be. Its truly what makes me balanced. It is a give and take.....and its what makes my running strong. s  BETH - YOU ARE AN AMAZING WOMAN WITH ALL YOU DID FOR ME AND THE OTHER GUYS! ANNETTE - FOR TRAVELING 4 HOURS TO RUN WITH ME AND PACE ME. BOTH OF YOU, ABOVE AND BEYOND IN MANY WAYS. And to ALL the volunteer that came out there to help, who may have not known anyone there but just for the sake of the love of the sport and the give to others...thank you. You all truly made this wonderful for many and changed lives, attitudes, and help others achieve there goals. | | | | Helping others succeed....
 Yeah Shamrock girls!    Amazing Adirondack Girls!   Some of my Ultra Running Buds! ...can only bring success to you.
Today I attended the annual Ultramatters meeting. It was great! What I loved about it was seeing my training buds who have become friends as well as meeting new runners. It was wonderful to have a look at every ones accomplishments....and what I really enjoyed is knowing that each of us who train together are a part of the success of each other: The many miles that we have ran in all different temps and conditions, the conversations go from silly to serious, time in which we've needed the other to pull us along, etc etc. I could go on and on...but it made me thankful for them all....and that is something that can not be found on a race website with your finishing time. Only those training partners can fill in all the blanks it took to get you to that number whatever it may be. You look at eachother with a nod and a smile and true happiness for their success. Training partners ROCK.
I do truly love running alone as well, yet the camaraderie of the strength together is precious and hard to truly describe in words. It is wonderful to encourage each other to strive to do their best....and then watching it come out in their races whether you are there or not.
So as my race season is now in full force...I am thankful for all those who have helped me get to where I am...surely have not done it alone. Much learned and much to learn. All of my Whole Running Girls...a big thank you to you...you are a big part of my success...and I only want to help you succeed as well. A big high five to the four runners this past weekend at the Shamrock Marathon...awesome!
"Talent wins games, but team work and talent wins championships" Michael Jordan
TEAM - Together Everyone Achieves More" unknown
"It is literally true, that you can succeed quickest and best by helping others succeed" Napoleon Hill
| | | | TAPER -The work is done....now...RELLLLAAAAXXXXX...
  Taper - a crucial part of training. Depending on what distance you are tapering for can change the length and amount that is needed for the proper tapering. And what is the proper tapering? All depends on what works for each individual, we are an experiment of one, not to be compared but to grab odds and ends from others as well as all of our own experiences in the past. My taper week is very mental for me. I look back at all my training, all my races and gather what I have done right and what I have done wrong. So much can be learned by just looking back and evaluating your own performances. The races that were the struggles are the races that provide the biggest lessons learned. "A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity. An optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty". Winston Churchill. Taper week is not a week to test the waters and test those legs "just one more time". Its done. Rest. This is not a time to keep breaking down, this is a time to build up. Recharge those muscles and more importantly recharge your mind. You are as ready as you will be. When I approach that start line, I want to feel like I am ready to ROCK AND ROLL. I can't wait to run. I feel like a slug and I can't wait to move this body. Again, giving advice on taper is something you can only get from yourself. That is the beauty of being unique - you work your own way and you will learn from yourself. Look back, what have you learned from you past races, past training runs? Fueling? Resting? Speed? And another little tid bit - ALL POSITIVE THOUGHTS. "Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference" Winston Churchill Ok, gotta go...back to taper.... | | | | Know your PLAN BEFOREHAND.... a reflection on my past 2 50ks...
  Caumsett 50k...had a blast. Met alot of wonderful and talented runners. Went with three of my WR girls (I need pics girls!) as well as met up with my amazing friend and Montrail teammate Annette Bednosky who ROCKED and Phil McCarthy who is on the USA 24 hour team...who also ROCKED. Six Degrees of Separation and you know everyone...and the circle of friends in the Ultra world keeps getting smaller and smaller - amazing how we all keep running into each other! I was very fortunate to have been able to do two 50k's back to back. These were two races that I was not setting my sites on as "A" races, but races that will help me accomplish my A race which is yet to come. The lessons that were learned are very valuable. It is the way I look at my life, my kids....when something goes not as planned...look at your options, critique with constructed criticism...try, try again. In all races and all things we do in life, it is a lesson learned. It is an experiment, experiences that you will grow from and for most of us to relearn or even redo a mistake that wakes us up and get back to the drawing board - back to the basics. So some of the basics for my racing I let go on two vitally important components for success...
My first 50k...rest. Didn't rest. Had no choice due to travel. That was an easy one to pinpoint. The second 50k...well, I knew better. I went out waaay tooo fast. Out of control. I went in without a plan in my head - funny that I went out a minute faster for the first half this year and ran 6 minutes faster last year. I knew it when I was running and was just waiting for the bite...and it bit me hard! But I held on with a smile and noted that mistake "this will not happen again". In all things lessons are learned, and I am glad I had those lessons learned. Never do I get down and out about a race. It is a joy and passion and I think it is a miracle that I even make it to the starting line (kids are healthy, plane arrived, I am healthy, etc etc...all the things that fall in to place to get me there...). Hardly ever do we have a PERFECT race. There are those lulls that may happen even when all is going well, or fueling issues, or the others such as rest and controlled pace.....and that is why as in life...it is all a lesson learned and should look back with constructive criticism so that the next time to get out and try, try again. It is when you stop learning and stop challenging that the growth begins to stop. I am always learning. So....I will fortunately take these lessons learned and use them to make me stronger and wiser and ready to keep growing and moving forward. Bring on the next one, and the next, and the next......ready to rock and roll! "Challenges are what make life interesting, overcoming them is what makes life meaningful" Joshua J. Marine | | | | Mt Cheaha 50k - A Rockin Beauty!
     50k race wearing my Mountain Masochist...and thankfully my feet were happy the whole time...read on.... I just returned from my 50k race in Alabama, Mt. Cheaha. The travel getting there was beyond an ultra, delays, cancellation, plane issues...on and on. But finally, after the many hours of waiting and transferring flights...I arrived - late that is. By the time I got to my hotel room it was past midnight. By the time I got to bed, it totalled a full 2 1/2 hours sleep. For a race like Mt. Cheaha, sleep is a necessity! And you will soon know why.... So, I headed on over. The start of the race had alot of energy. My teammate Annette was bubbling with energy. I could see she was going to have a great day. I was just trying to keep awake! When the "Sweet Home Alabama" song went off, we started. And off we went. The trail was beautiful, but very, very technical. Take your eyes off your footing and you will fall flat on your face, or butt, or legs, or hands. My hand modeling job will never exist...they are beyond desired. I had thought I broke my pinkie at one point and all I could think was "well, who needs a pinkie but for picking noses"...actually I said it out loud. I played leap frog with a man almost the whole race and he had the benefits of hearing my gibberish. Such has "g...dammit" and "gosh darn it" and "for pete's sake" and "frickin rocks" and on and on...for every fall. Oh yeah, sleep...maybe would have prevented some of those falls! Concentration...for the elevations, the rocks, was very important. Rocks...all kinds of rocks - my, my. For the many times I slammed my feet I am surprised how awesome they held up, again, thank you to Mountain Masochist. To add to all the gibberish, I just became comical about the whole thing and was thinking of a good Dr. Seuss book that could come out of all of this: "Rocks, Rocks, Rocks, big rocks, small rocks, flat rocks, tall rocks, how many rocks can you hop before you fall. Rocks over creeks, rocks over roots, rocks over leaves, rocks under trees...lets talk about Rocks". yes, my leap frog runner had the benefits of listening to that too. Sorry man! So, I actually started to wake up a bit as the race went on. At whatever add station (4 maybe) I was in a rush to get in and out. So I grabbed whatever and just took on down the fire road, which was a very steep downhill...and I loved it, and I flew, and I was looking for those little pink flags, and I ran, and then I heard a van which a person yelled out "excuse me runner, you are going the wrong way"....and I just had some choice words under my breath to myself. I was pretty much out of my way which probably took about 15 min. They drove me back up the hill to get me back on the trail. Awesome volunteers, didn't have to do that! Oh yeah, sleep would have probably prevented that mistake! Ok, so I made up time and passed a few men (Annette was a flying fairy and passed me with much energy, I already checked it off that I lost her, especially after this last excursion). I eventually ended up on an asphalt road. Getting into my lala land, I of course, decide to follow some pink ribbon around some trees thinking that is where I go. And, lost again...but figured it out pretty quickly and hopped back to the road (its pink flags Jill...wake up!). So, after many creek crossings, rolling rocks, up and down, trails on the edge of the mountain, I come to the last aid station. And only 3 miles to go...."its all downhill from here...heee heee" yells the volunteers. And a sign within a few feet from them "VERY STEEP 1 MILE CLIMB". Running along the trail which was progressively going up, I thought "This is not bad" and then I see the arrow directing me to the left and there it is...the rocky (all big boulders) climb. And yes, it was an all four limb climb for the most part. Using those arms to pull up on some portions. After that it was an easy go...and then the finish and then thankfully done. Great atmosphere afterwards. Great representation of Montrail. My Mountain Masochist shoes served me well...my feet were in awesome shape. Crossing the water creeks, the tough rocks, my drymax socks held up AWESOME as usual. The grey and orange are incredibly strong socks, both in support and wettness - not one blister. Truly amazing. After that, I had my traditional margarita that night which put me to bed very quickly...much needed rest. Go figure, the flights home were smooooth sailing. Next time, I will arrive with much time to rest before hand, because that has been one of the keys to good races for me. Until next time! All in all, Mt Cheaha 50k is a 10 in my books. LOVED EVERY FALLING, ROCKY, STREAM CROSSING bit of it. And I would do it again! Montrail, you know how to pick the races...organization and course have all been wonderful! | | | | The Run off the Beaten Path...and other thoughts...
 What a wonderful day! Running in the trails, off the beaten path. It was tough, but it was beautiful! I so admire the strength and determination of all of these women. We are all Mom's of children of various ages...yet the support we give each other is amazing. And getting out in the trails...we go. It is an escape from the ordinary world. We leave our "Mom World" for a moment and let our feet and minds wander....let our eyes get the exercise of beauty in the peaceful woods. Which brings me to two of my favorite authors, Henry Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson. Two Men who strived for the simplicity of life. Something about the woods, nature, and how just being out in it can really bring out so much joy, so many deep thoughts solved, so much energy....if you can avoid the treadmill...avoid it at all costs! I have been in the woods at all hours of the night, all levels of snow, and am loving it. The other night I had such an amazing run in the dark through the rolling hills, running in the off the beaten path and the deep snow (high knees!)..feeling like a kid flying up and down - and the feeling of being free. Silence, the glow of the snow, the simple sounds. Running....it is such a natural simple sport - always discovering, exploring.... "an early morning walk (run) is a blessing for the whole day" Thoreau "in my afternoon walk (run!) I would fain forget all my morning occupations and my obligations to society" Thoreau "In wilderness is the preservation of the world" Thoreau
"A life is an experiment, the more experiments you make the better." Emerson "Always do what you are afraid to do" Emerson "Beauty without expression, is boring" Emerson "The creations of a thousand forests is in one acorn" Emerson I hope all of you girls enjoyed the run today! I did, and can't wait to take you to new and exciting places to explore!!!! | | | | A day of Escape and Dreaming!
 "Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones that you did do. So throw off the bowliness. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." Mark Twain rocks.... I am not a creature of habit. I like variety, I like mystery, I like to explore...always have. Imagination runs wild, especially when I am running in the woods, especially when I am running on a new path. Today was an ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS day! Being outdoors in the snowy woods was amazing. All by myself. A friend of mine told me about a single track trail along the rim (and you know who you are!!!)...and so I took it today...and loved it! Going under fallen trees, hoping over them, looking down the cliff...I felt like I was exploring. And this run couldn't have happen at a better time...the energy I get from running a new route is wonderful. I guess that is why I like the mystery of my races. All I need to know is "Is it hilly?"...ok, practice hills. "Technical" ok, find some rocky, rooty areas,..and on and on. Because when I run these new races, my imagination goes to places that I have yet to explore.... So thankful for this day. Tomorrow girls, you may just have to explore this terrain with me! Lets get off that beaten path.... | | | | Enjoying the Little Ones!...
 
Pictures:
Patrick at 7yrs old..his first Chili My 3(of 5!) kiddos before the race. ___________________________________________ "We worry about what a child will become tomorrow, yet we forget that he is someone today"Stacia Tauscher Not only do I feel so fortunate to have my passion for running, but to have my 5 kids to share it with when I can. I am thankful for my health and for their health! So, it has become an annual run for my kids (well, just the three boys this year) and I to do the February local 5k. My 10 year old son and I ran the 5k together. The other two boys ran with a friend to help him along (12 and 9 year old) which was so nice and kind of them. I realize how much my 10 year old little man is like me...he doesn't want too much coaching, just to get in his zen. He has his plan in his head, doesn't share it (well, until I dig it out at mile 2...geez Jill!) and goes out with a smile and fun. Wonder what would have happened if I wasn't next to him. Anyhow, in temps in the low teen's, a couple of hills....a 7:26 pace is pretty darn good! All that aside, all of these short 5k races are so fun to be at. A different feel than ultra's...a more family feel about them - so many different ages (amazed at all the little ones out there in the cold) and plenty of time to celebrate afterwards! OK little man, next race...full zen! Let's see what we both can do! | | | | Health - appreciating the little things
     "The first wealth is health" Emerson
OK, a little sentimental today - recently I have known, no someone who knows, a friends family member, a neighbor...etc., who has been diagnosed with an illness, whether terminal, in the midst of a battle, remission, or thankfully overcome it. Until it hits home does it really bring us to our own awakening - which brings it down to, don't take your health for granted. Doing everything right still may not prevent something from happening yet appreciating everything when it is right and doing what we can to make it that way, will help you truly live. As I was running with the girls today, I had mentioned to one in one of the groups (granted, there were three groups!) who was having a bit of a struggle while everyone else seem to flow..."It is easy to compare ourselves with those who seem to fly by, yet look at how fortunate you are to be out here and doing what you can with what you have when you have it". We all go through our ups and downs of running - which to me is a metaphor of life. As long as you can give your best for that given day because each day, each workout, each interaction with whatever situation - will be different. Godspeed...get out there and give it what you got...today, we were blessed with some serious sun, and all who live here know that it is a precious day when there is sun in February! "One day your life will flash before your eyes, make sure its worth watching" anonymous |
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