Running Free: H.U.R.T sure does hurt!

Thursday, January 24, 2008

H.U.R.T sure does hurt!

The HURT 100 was just an amazing race. I had the honor of pacing my good friend and running partner, Suzanna Bon, to 1st woman and on top of that she finished in 5th overall! All this in just a tad under 32 hours. 31:56!!

The trail was just gnarly with deep soupy mud, roots, rocks, and lots of technical trails. The weather was warm and humid and the rain forest was just beautiful. We ran through bamboo forests and crossed a river with the help of a long rope. I saw a 160 ft. tall waterfall and watched Suz perservere despite a leaky hydration bladder, and a led light that was just not up to par. Despite everything, she managed to keep her sense of humor and dug deep both physically and mentally. Even as she continued to run with a very painful knee, she remained focused and strong.

I have to say that the HURT 100 is a well put on race. The aid stations are well stocked and the volunteers are top notch. Thank you to Luis Escobar, Cindy Goh, Jeff Vierya, and to everyone else who helped make our time in Oahu fantastic.

I better start saving my money as I just might have to go back and run this race myself next year. That gives me a whole year to prepare for the hurt at HURT!

Matt and I are enjoying ourselves while we swim and snorkel at Makaha, which is on the west side of the Island. We are enjoying the warm sun and sand in our condo on the beach. We have seen several turtles while we have been swimming and the fish are just so beautiful. Aloha for now.

8 comments:

Valerie said...: Hey Kelly,

Glad to hear from you ... and so glad you and Matt are having fun ....enjoy the SUN.....it is freezing here! Miss you, Valerie; January 24, 2008 at 8:51 PM
Anonymous said...: Say hello to Matt!
Wow, I like the last photo, looks like a good carnage shot of you and Suz. Any chance of you making the Bandit run this Saturday?
Paul; January 24, 2008 at 11:11 PM
GB said...: Wow! Congrats to your running partner (and you, her pacer) for such a great race. Maybe you can pace me for my first ultra trail run, the Ohlone 50K. ;) I'm finally sucking it up and doing it. Can't wait!; January 25, 2008 at 1:02 PM
kelly said...: Hey Val, it's been 80 degrees everyday. Eat your heart out! Hope work is going well.; January 25, 2008 at 7:15 PM
kelly said...: Paul,
I felt a lot better than that pic shows. LOL. I will still be in Hawaii for the bandit run. Have fun.; January 25, 2008 at 7:17 PM
kelly said...: Hey GB, I would love to pace you at Ohlone, but I don't think you can have a pacer at a 50k. Thank you anyway. That is a tough 50k, but you will love it. Good luck!; January 25, 2008 at 7:18 PM
Olga said...: Kelly, congrats to Suz and you, gals! I heard the conditions were the worst ever there! Tough gilrs you are, and enjoy your time off with Matt!; January 25, 2008 at 10:11 PM
kelly said...: Thanks Olga. Have you run Hurt before? It's one to try!; January 26, 2008 at 9:37 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.''