Running Free: A LONG run

Friday, December 7, 2007

A LONG run

Tomorrow, starting at the butt crack of dawn, 5 a.m. to be exact, my friends and I will begin our long run from Pt. Reyes to the Golden Gate Bridge. It is approximately 66 miles. We will have a fun day out on the beautiful trails. We will run on all kinds of terrain and the day is suppose to be clear with no rain. YIPEE! A few of our generous good friends will provide some aid for us along the way. I hope we see a lot of wild animals out there as the National Seashore is just a paradise for wildlife.

Running long for me always makes me feel powerful. Running long also makes me feel vulnerable. One thing that I can always count on is a lot of time to think while I am running along. When I feel powerful and vulnerable, I always find that prayer comes easy to me. Talking to God is so easy when I am out there with myself. Tomorrow I will dedicate this run and many prayers to my Mom. Last night we found out that she has Cancer. My heart felt like someone was squeezing it so hard and I could hardly catch my breath. It's hard to breathe as I type here now. My Mom has always been my rock and it was funny that last night after my brother and Sister and I told her the bad news, she told me not to be sad, as I was her Rock. I will pray for God to give her strength and courage as she begins this fight. I will pray for myself that God gives me strength and courage too, as I am HER rock and I must be strong for her.

Have a wonderful weekend!!

6 comments:

jorjep said...: My heart and prayers are with you my friend-gpv; December 7, 2007 at 6:27 PM
kelly said...: Thank you so much.; December 7, 2007 at 8:00 PM
Anonymous said...: Kelly,
Your blog just shocked me......and my heart is very sad! I know how much your Mom means to you.....and obviously you to her. I, too, will pray for you guys ..........do good on your run Kelly.....love,
Valerie; December 7, 2007 at 9:41 PM
kelly said...: Thank you Val. I will fill you in when I see you. Have a nice weekend.; December 7, 2007 at 10:06 PM
Olga said...: Kally, so sorry about your Mom...66 miles is a tribute to health, and lets all pray she'll be able to recover and have more life going for her.; December 10, 2007 at 9:03 AM
kelly said...: Thanks, Olga.; December 12, 2007 at 9:17 AM

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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.''