Running Free

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

I saw this poster in the subway in NYC. I really liked it. Wouldn't it be cool to have your picture on this poster?

Our trip to NYC was just fantastic! We had a tour of New York University and we just loved our time in Manhattan. A beautiful city. As I've said in this blog before, we went to NY to see NYU. Courtney had narrowed her college choices between NYU and USC. Last weekend she had spent in Southern California and then we were off to NY. I kept my opinions and my thoughts to myself because I didn't want to influence her either way. I was secretly hoping that she would choose USC. After spending several hours at NYU, she told us that she liked USC and wanted to go there. Phew! We all thought that NYU would be a great place for Graduate School. Courtney feels like it just isn't the right fit for her at this time. So now she will be a USC Trojan!

Saturday I am running in the MiWok 100k in Sausalito, Ca. I have run it several times. The 100k is not a distance I do well in. There is something about running 12 miles longer than a 50 that gets me. My strategy this year is to go out much slower and try to pace myself so that I can run stronger the second half. I think that if I can keep the calories going in and be smart about the race, I can run a smarter race. I would like to run under 11:30 for 62 miles. I feel confident that I can do that. Olga is running MiWok too. It will be fun to run a race with her again.

If you happen to see me at the race on Saturday, please introduce yourself!

2 comments:

Mechelle said...: Hi Kelly, I don't know of another way to contact you so I'd thought I would try to leave a comment. I am a runner recently diagnosed with lupus (1/08) and can not find any information regarding runners WITH lupus, I find a lot of people running FOR lupus, but I need help with maintaining the quality of life I am used to and that includes lots of running, biking and tennis. I would love a chance to ask you some questions about your own journey with lupus. My email is belugiesfarm@hotmail.com

Thanks, mechelle; May 2, 2008 at 4:28 PM
kelly said...: Thanks Mechelle for commenting. I look forward to talking to you. Good luck with everything. Just remember, don't give up!!; May 10, 2008 at 9:52 PM

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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.''