Running Free: A Busy Week

Saturday, July 12, 2008

A Busy Week

Well, I am a little late getting to my blog writing. My daughter and I took a road trip to Southern California to her freshman orientation to the University of Southern California(USC). We had a great time there and were treated like Queens. USC is a private school and they definitely wine and dine you there. On August 20th we move her down there. A very sad and happy day for us. I also got to spend a little time with my daughter Chelsea and my son, Caleb. It felt so good to spend time with the three of them.

Last Sunday, Suzanna, Leslie, Chris and I ran 38 miles at Pt. Reyes. We had a perfect day of running and fun. I pushed myself and was happy to feel great afterwards. It was one of those runs where everything just feels good. Well, not really that good, but the run went by quite fast and mentally I was strong. I went to the gym twice this week and worked on my upper body too. It was a productive week. On Wednesday, Suzanna and I met and ran together before Courtney and I started our long drive to L.A. I was unable to exercise during our stay in L.A., so I hope the layoff does my body good.

Next Sunday I am running the TRT 50 mile. I hope I have a good run there. I haven't run this race since 05. I am definitely looking forward to running on the beautiful Tahoe Rim Trail.

6 comments:

Olga said...: Kelly, best to you at Tahoe 50! Have fun and enjoy gorgeous views, oh, and run well!; July 17, 2008 at 5:51 AM
Deanna Stoppler said...: You go girl! Have fun and good luck.; July 17, 2008 at 11:06 AM
Dave Harper said...: Good luck at TRT!; July 17, 2008 at 7:14 PM
kelly said...: Thanks, everyone!! It will be beautiful up on the TRT course!!; July 18, 2008 at 7:41 AM
Doodlestreet said...: Kelly! Yer so funny...I just saw that comment on my blog you left. Totally cracked me up!! And of COURSE, being a cartoonist, I had this visual in my head of a whole crowd of people chasing after me to rub my butt! And then I'm in the lead, running ahead of them, HOLDING MY BUTT, screaming.."One at a time!!! One at a time!!!"

Ps....my butt's sore now.

Pss...I don't think I ever wrote 'butt' so much in one sitting....er...no pun intended.; July 19, 2008 at 1:28 PM
Greg said...: Hey Kelly, I answered your question on my blog. Hey, have you signed up for TCC yet? I can get you 5 percent off the price. Spread the word to your friends, too. Email me at U2boy14@hotmail.com for details. Hey, 5 percent is 5 percent : ); July 21, 2008 at 8:38 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.''