Running Free: Happy Mothers Day

Sunday, May 10, 2009

Happy Mothers Day

Happy Mothers Day!!
Today Matt and I hiked for about 2 hours. It was a beautiful morning. It was a great way to start the day. This afternoon we all went out to lunch, Grandma's included, and then walked around the plaza in Sonoma. Both of my girls were with us, and Caleb called me on the phone to say hi. It was a nice day spent with special loved ones. My brother gave me a little book called, The little things. I will include quotes from that book often in my posts on my blog. I think you will enjoy them..

My foot and ankle are feeling so much better. I see light at the end of the tunnel. I can't tell you how relieved I am. I will continue with the swimming, though, as I think the crosstraining will do me good.

On Friday, a few friends and I are leaving for Arizona to run the double crossing of the Grand Canyon. This will be my second time doing the R2R2R. I am so excited and can hardly wait. I have a feeling that it is going to be HOT out there. Another hot, fun adventure!

Living with intention.
We each have only a limited amount of time here. We have to do more with it, pay attention , explore, be open to all of life. Because we have only one chance, we have to make life seem longer than it really is. viggo mortensen

6 comments:

Anthony Brantley said...: Kelly,

Glad to hear your foot is healing, keep it up it's working.

Good luck on the R2R2R, I plan to go for the first time in October so I'll be looking for a report from you.

AB; May 11, 2009 at 6:59 AM
Cynical Dirt Doll said...: Happy Mothers Day! Good luck on the R2R2R... I love hearing about your adventures!; May 11, 2009 at 8:18 AM
Caleb Ridgway said...: happy mother's day. I love you so much.
Love,
Caleb; May 11, 2009 at 11:38 AM
kelly said...: Thanks, Anthony. I will fill you in on all the details of the run when we get back. I hope your training is going well.; May 12, 2009 at 12:53 PM
kelly said...: Hey Cynical, thanks for the comment. I am glad that you got to spend Mother's Day with your Mom. I hope you both had fun. I enjoy reading about your adventures as well. Keep running well.; May 12, 2009 at 1:02 PM
kelly said...: I love you too, Caleb. Mothers Day was not the same without you there. I wish I could see you today. I will see you soon, though. I miss you!; May 12, 2009 at 1:04 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.''