Running Free

Saturday, December 1, 2007

Bummer. I didn't get in. I. Did. Not. Get. In. Western States, that is. I was sooooo hoping that I would see my name on the lottery results. On my way home from a run this afternoon, I got a voice mail from my friend Tom telling me the GREAT news that he was in and I WAS NOT. No. Nada. Not this time. Did I say bummer?
Immediately, I went to plan B. Not that I had a plan B. Everything was going to revolve around WS. Soooo, I decided to look at other races that I hadn't run before. I decided to enter Coyote Two Moon 100k. It is a difficult run with a 26 hour time limit in the Los Padres National Forest in Ojai, California. I had to beg and cry to get in. Finally, after a big to do, I am in. GULP!! It is on March 21-23. I'm excited!

Congrats to all of you lucky stiffs who got into WS. I am jealous and resentful, but I will survive. Everyone, get out there and enjoy your weekend. It is cold and frosty here, but no rain yet. Keep healthy and injury free as we move into the winter. Find your limits and move beyond them.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...: Kelly,
Lots of folks I know did not get in. I know Florencia is planning more for a "2-time loser" option. It's okay, lots of fun stuff coming up like the Lost Coast run, Hawaii, and R2R2R - again?
Paul; December 2, 2007 at 9:44 AM
C said...: Kelly, I'm sorry you didn't get in too! I did not either, and am also pretty depressed about it. Looks like I'll have to wait to be a two time loser... I'm toying with the idea of doing Angeles Crest in September and know a good group who is also planning on doing it. It would be great if we had a lot of people doing that one. Good luck on the Dec 8th run... I may join in for some but I ran CIM yesterday and I'm hurting pretty badly. Take care.; December 3, 2007 at 9:52 AM
GB said...: That is a bummer! I'm sorry to hear that. But at least you have the 100K to look forward to.; December 3, 2007 at 1:11 PM
kelly said...: Yeah, you are right Paul. There is life after WS. I would love to run R2R2R2 again. I'm up for anything.; December 3, 2007 at 2:51 PM
kelly said...: I'm sorry that you didn't get in too. I checked for your name and didn't see it. AC would probably be a great race. I may check that one out. I hope to see you this Saturday. It should be fun. How was CIM?; December 3, 2007 at 2:53 PM
kelly said...: gb, you did awesome at CIM!! 3:19:44!! Great job. You must be so proud of yourself. You are so motivating to me. Thanks for the note.; December 3, 2007 at 2:58 PM
C said...: CIM was a disaster for me. I'm going to stick to the trails from now on. What a bummer of a weekend...; December 3, 2007 at 8:08 PM
kelly said...: Christina, you are an awesome trail runner and running on dirt is so much easier on the bod. I'm sorry it was a bummer for you. I hope to see you on Saturday.; December 3, 2007 at 9:42 PM

Not Even Lupus Can Slow Ridgway

NOT EVEN LUPUS CAN SLOW RIDGWAY Published on June 26, 2004 © 2004- The Press Democrat BYLINE: BRUCE MEADOWS Three years ago when she was diagnosed with lupus, Kelly Ridgway didn't take much time plotting her course. ``I figured I could lay on the couch and be a drug-seeker for pain or I could choose to be as healthy as I can be,'' said Ridgway, 46, an outpatient surgery nurse at Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital. Ridgway, defying the odds, is entered in the Western States 100 Endurance Run, which starts at the base of Squaw Valley at 5 this morning and ends 100 miles away in Auburn. ``I see people at the hospital in horrible shape because of lupus, but I realized I had a choice how to deal with it,'' Ridgway said. Lupus is a chronic auto-immune disease affecting mainly women. The immune system attacks the body's own tissues as a foreign substance, producing antibodies to fight it. The cause of the disease is unknown although research has shown it occurs when a specific set of susceptible genes is exposed to a combination of environmental factors such as infectious agents, certain drugs, excessive ultraviolet light, physical trauma or emotional stress. Ridgway said she has been a ``serious runner'' for 14 years and has also competed in 50- and 100-mile events on horseback. She started running to get in shape after the last of her three children -- Caleb (18), Chelsea (16) and Courtney (14) -- were born. ``I've found I really love ultras,'' said Ridgway, a single mother who graduated from Montgomery High, then earned a nursing degree from Santa Rosa JC. Dr. Lisa Kremer, Ridgway's rheumatologist said, fatigue is the most universal symptom of lupus. ``For somebody to run 100 miles with an auto-immune disease is incredible.'' Ridgway first experienced flu-like symptoms, then fatigue. ``But when I started having problems with cognitive stuff, I knew there was something more to it.'' She was having trouble doing simple math or even finding her way around town. ``I thought of all sorts of things, including a brain tumor,'' said Ridgway. Ridgway has been training with Santa Rosan Karen Hanke, 42, and Suzanna Bon, 39 of Sonoma. This is the second Western States for Hanke, who finished last year in 29 hours, 47 minutes, running the last 70 miles on severely blistered feet. It is the first Western States for Ridgway and Bon. Because of the glut of applicants -- more than 1,000 annually apply for 400 spots -- runners must not only qualify with an acceptable 50-mile run time but also get lucky by having their name drawn by lot. Bon, whose goal is ``just to finish although I'd love to do it in under 24 hours,'' is impressed with Ridgway's effort. ``Kelly is strong and smart about training,'' said Bon. ``We'll run at our own pace this weekend, not together, but we want to do the best we can.'' Ridgway sees herself as a runner who happens to have lupus. ``My case is relatively minor and medication has really helped,'' said Ridgway, who logs 75 miles a week. ``But I don't know anybody with lupus who runs as much as I do.'' She has bouts of fatigue and deals with them. ``There are days I am really tired and need to come home and rest for a while,'' she said. But this weekend there will no place to rest. ``I'm not the type to quit,'' she said. ``I will persevere.'' Kremer said people with lupus react differently to the disease. ``Some have a real tough time with it and others take it as a challenge,'' said the doctor. ``In general, a disease like lupus provokes self-evaluation ... some patients look at it as a way to straighten out their lives, physically and socially.'' Kremer said most lupus patients with a positive outlook exercise to some degree. ``For them, making an effort is a personal victory.'' Ridgway, who left for Squaw Valley Thursday, has been on the Western States course before, having competed in the Tevis Cup horse race and also working the run the past two years as a medical helper. ``It's beautiful ... I fell in love with the trail,'' she said. ``I'm excited but not nervous.'' Ridgway will be tested following the race to determine how running 100 miles affects a lupus patient. ``I know I am capable of doing this.'' She likes to run, even 100 miles, because it makes her feel healthy and alive. ``Maybe in some ways this will speak to people who are trying to make choices,'' she said. ``You can push ahead and take charge of your life.''