Running Free: Training for TCC

Thursday, January 8, 2009

Training for TCC

Last Saturday's 10 hour planned run turned into a 7 hour run for me. 14 friends and I met at Rodeo Beach for a long day of running. This was to be Suz's last really long run before HURT 100. It was a beautiful day for a run. The sky was so clear and the city of San Francisco glistened in the distance. We all kept commenting on just what a perfect day it was.
It was 31 degrees at the start, so it was a bit nippy. It's funny how fast you warm up though, when you are running. Everyone ran different distances, with only Suzanna running the whole enchilada. I bailed with 3 hours to go, my PF and my right ankle kept reminding me that they were tired, so I decided to be smart and stop. My friend Pete gave me a ride back to my car at Rodeo Beach. I ran about 30 miles that day.

I got the most amazing camera for Christmas from Matt, but I didn't bring it along because I thought it might rain. Oh well, I think I will have to use a picture from Ricks blog to show you just how pretty the city looked.

Beautiful, huh? This pic was taken at the butt crack of dawn.

I ran with Wally today and I felt good. I saw a lot of Mountain Lion tracks on the trail and it always amazes me that we never see one. Suz did see one the other day at Annadel and she said it was just HUGE. She couldn't believe how long it's tail was. I'm jealous that she saw one on one of the days we didn't run together. Boo hoo.

24 more days to TCC. I can't wait. Staying injury free and healthy are so important now. I just read on the internet that Costa Rica had a big earthquake today. I just HATE when that happens! I hope that the earth stops shaking by the time we get there. Have a great day!

"Be willing to let anything happen" Dr. Wayne Dyer

5 comments:

Olga said...: Wow, you were smart and stopped - must be serious about this TCC! :) Good for you, Kelly!; January 8, 2009 at 6:56 PM
Victoria said...: I've been thinking about you and the upcoming TCC, and I am SO excited for you! You will have a fabulous time-- I wish I were going, too!; January 12, 2009 at 11:17 PM
Drs. Cynthia and David said...: Hi Kelly,

You've been training so thoughtfully that I'm sure you are well prepared and will do great!

What is PF anyway? Piriformis? If so, do you have any recommendations on keeping problems down in that area?

Thanks for sharing.

Cynthia; January 15, 2009 at 1:01 AM
meredith said...: Sounds like a great training run, with a great group! Please send the best of luck at HURT to Leslie and Francesca (misspell?) and Suzanna!! I will be in Napa to cheer for the marathon the first of March. If y'all are nearby and around, I would love to meet up for a run!

The countdown is on for an amazing race!! m; January 15, 2009 at 7:30 AM
TonyP said...: That pic that Gaston took is incredible.; January 24, 2009 at 11:26 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.''