Lake Sonoma 50 mile

Yesterday I ran in the second annual Lake Sonoma 5o mile race in Healdsburg, Ca. It was a beautiful day for a run, despite the temps being in the 80's. I was wondering how I would do, as I have only run one 25 miler, a 20 miler, and a few 3 hour runs since TCC. 50 miles is a long way, so I tried to be conservative out on the course. I enjoyed running and talking with Luanne Park for several miles. We hadn't seen each other since TRT last year. Kevin Sawchuck filled me in with all kinds of interesting things he does when he fast packs on the John Muir trail and my ipod filled my head with all kinds of different songs from rap to John Denver.



My goal for this race was to finish faster than last year. I finished 2nd woman last year with a time of 9:53. This year I finished 4th woman with a time of 9:22! I was 19th overall. I am happy with my time and I felt that I did the best that I could do for the training that I had. I had some issues with my left IT band and I had some cramping in my feet, so I tried to keep on top of that by taking Succeed and keeping hydrated. I did run out of water at the last aid station and ran the last five miles without any water. I was suffering big time because I was so thirsty. It was a stupid mistake in that I didn't check my hydration pack to see how much water I had left. My bad.

The swag was wonderful. I got a nice Brooks jacket, a Brooks skirt, a running shirt and lots of other goodies in my bag. For being the first oldest goat across the finish line, I also won a HUGE bottle of wine! See, getting old ain't so bad! Well, it has a few advantages!

Today I am wiped out and feeling the effects of a long day on the trail. Thanks to Stan Jensen for the above photo taken at his aid station.

IT'S TIME TO MAKE A COFFEE RUN

From today's NYT:



By GINA KOLATA
Published: March 25, 2009

WELDON JOHNSON first tried caffeine as a performance enhancer in 1998. He was not a coffee drinker but had heard that caffeine could make him run faster. So he went to a convenience store before a race and drank a cup of coffee.

For the first time in his life, he ran 10 kilometers in less than 30 minutes.

“I remember being really wired before the race,” he said in an e-mail message. “My body was shaking.”

From then on, he was a convert.......




Full story here:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/26/health/nutrition/26best.html

Nostalgia

I found this pic the other day and it brought back a lot of memories. This pic was probably taken about 17 years ago. I was running 19 min. a day then, three times a week. I used my stairclimber on the other days. Why I ran 19 min. a day, I am really not sure. I do know that it took me 19 min. to do this certain run and I never ever did more than that. I would drop Courtney off at my friend Patty's house (next door), and then after my big run we would have coffee while the kids played. This pic is of my two daughters and the neighborhood girls. I don't recall why my son is not in the picture, but I am assuming that he didn't want to be THAT close, to that many GIRLS.

This weekend has been very cold and windy. I ran with Wally both days and it was nice to be out on the trails without rain. Next weekend I am running the Lake Sonoma 50 miler and my goal is to finish faster than last year. Last year my time was 9:53, and it was ficken blasting HOT. If we have a cooler day this year, I should be able to beat that time. We'll see!


I am excited to tell you that I am going to the Grand Canyon to run the r2r2r in May. We are going to have an absolute blast! I did this run 2 years ago, and it was so much fun. A real adventure. Let me rephrase that, it was a real tough adventure. But hey, after TCC nothing is too tough!

I am happy to report that I am still employed. I don't want to complain about my job because I am just so thankful to be working. Times are tough and we must continue to move forward with a positive attitude. When I look around and see so many people struggling with their health and so many other issues, I have to be thankful for what I have. Stress can kill you, so in this trying time, try to get out in the fresh air and MOVE. You will be so much happier for doing so.



Don't brood. Get on with living and loving. You don't have forever. Leo Buscaglia

Your biggest challenge isn't someone else. It's the ache in your lungs and the burning in your legs, and the voice inside you that yells, "CAN'T," but you don't listen. You just push harder. And then you hear the voice whisper, "can." And you discover that the person you thought you were is no match for the one you really are.---unknown

Quality vs Quantity

Yesterday, I met a friend whom I met in Costa Rica at Rodeo Beach for a 1.5 hour run. He was here for a wedding and I was anxious to show him the Marin Headlands. He lives in Iowa and so it was nice to show him some local trails. Unfortunately, it was very foggy and we had some rain, but the run was great nonetheless.

My running buddy, Karen shattered her wrist at the C2M race this weekend and is scheduled for surgery on Friday. I feel so sorry for her because she has been running so well and she has several races planned this year. Hopefully she will have a fast recovery and be out on the trails real soon.




Are you in a rut? Do you run the same trails day after day? Do you finish every run at almost the exact time that you finished yesterday? That my friend, will not get you the results that you are seeking. I believe that we must continue to run different loops, at different speeds, varying the speed and effort every time. That will make you a stronger runner. That will make you a faster runner. Try and make every run a quality run. It doesn't really matter if you only have a half hour to run. Make that half hour count. Quality over quantity.

I love this quote: Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results--Albert Einstein

I am Angry

Life has been crazy lately. Blogging has been the last thing on my mind.

Running has been going well. I feel good and I have gotten in a few good quality runs. On March 28th, I am running Lake Sonoma 50 mile so I hope I have a good run there.

I am full of all kinds of different emotions today: anger, resentment, sadness, loss of control, chaos. My mind is spinning and my heart is heavy. My Mom is sick. It's hard to even say the word.... Cancer. There, I said it. I wish it would go away. I feel sick inside. I don't want my Mom to be afraid or to feel pain. I only want a perfect life for her. Stress can make you sick. Cancer sick, I don't know. I suspect lingering stress can cause disease which is exactly why I don't want it bottling up in my body. It has been, though, and I must find a way to release it. I want absolutely no part of sick. I think I will go out for a run.

Cancer insists on its own time. If you try to defy it, it can break you, physically and spiritually. It doesn't know deadlines and vacations, it doesn't care if you are old or young. Cancer is analog in a digital world. If you have a Type A personality, you will need to adjust to Type C-for cancer. Each phase of the disease, diagnosis, surgery, radiation and other treatment- carries its own distinct sense of stepping outside traditional time, its own bitter flavor of dislocation. Cancer has a way of sneaking into a perfect world and silently taking up residence. Cancer sucks, and I hate it.