Not This Day.

This was taken from the Ultra List. I have enjoyed being a member of this list for several years now. Some people think it is just a big waste of time. Sometimes I agree. When Lazarus Lake from the Ultra list posted this, I realized again what keeps me on this list. Thank you, Laz for inspiring me. You made me smile and cry a little tear today. You reminded me to slow down and enjoy the journey and appreciate the fact that I can still be out there covering mile after mile. Thank you for your unwavering courage. I hope someday to meet you......

i did two miles yesterday in 50 minutes.

you people dont know how lucky you are
that i am not on here every day
babbling like a middle school girl
over every step i take.

my running career has just about gone the full circle.
it seems only yesterday that everything was always on the way up.
that i was endlessly breaking new barriers
and setting new PR's.
working my way up thru the different running sports
track, cross country, road racing, marathons, ultras,
and eventually all the way to multi-days kept me on the upswing
well beyond where the natural curve should end.
because whenever i did something i never did before
it was a new PR & felt like improvement.

but we cannot be newbies forever.
eventually the PR's stopped happening.
running became all about maintenance of effort.
the only new "accomplishments" were cumulative;
measures of many years & many miles of running.

in recent years it has become a battle against slippage.
the wear and tear of what is approaching a 50 year running career.
the cumulative cost of a sometimes wild and dissolute lifestyle.
(no, i would not change a damned thing. but thanks for asking)
the cruel tricks of genetics and age.
little by little i have watched my running choices dwindle...
and my "career" wind down.

over the last 3 years have had some rough spots.
i have had to face the fact
that i could no longer actually "run".
i have had to settle for walking along & keeping the threads going.
the past two years, when i finally notched the 30+ effort
to keep my streak (now at 34 years) alive
it was a big thrill.
finding a timed event where i could participate has become a treat.
and when i actually "beat" someone it has been quite a thrill...
altho it sure doesnt say much for anyone i do beat.
(c'mon people, have more pride than that!)

i reckon i must have thought i could live forever
as long as i kept training
because i was surprised to find that i could lose ground
even while i continued to push myself.
that my speed and endurance could just dwindle away
despite using my legs every day.
but to this, like everything else we encounter in life,
we just have to adjust.

so it was a big thrill when i had a dr tell me
it was possible i might run again.
to be fair, his emphasis was that i needed surgery
to save my leg.
but you guys understand, i am sure,
possibly being able to run again
(even just a little)
was a powerful incentive to agree.
and seemed like a good place to set my sights.
it was a pretty tough surgery,
just the sort of ordeal that ultrarunning prepares us for so well.
accepting some discomfort
to pursue a goal that is too far away to see.
the hardest part was being patient during the early recovery
waiting on the instructions i know how to follow:
"at this point, the more you can stand, the better you will get."
what sweet words.
moderation is so difficult to achieve.
excess is what we are natural at!

so i am on the road again.
it has been sort of tough.
but i know ya'll understand when i say;
"not any of us would want it any other way."
every day i hit the road thinking;
"if this is as good as i get, how long will it take me to finish this year's 30 miler?"
(this year *IS* goinG to be # 35!!)
when you are having to stop every 20 yards to let the pain recede
and taking over an hour a mile,
the prospect of doing 30 miles in a stretch is sort of intimidating.

at the end of last week,
i finally got 2 miles under an hour.
monday, for the first time,
i walked an entire mile before i had to stop.
and yesterday, yesterday was glorious.
for the first time,
at the very beginning of my "run"
(before the leg started to hurt)
i felt the urge to break into a slow jog.
i resisted, because it isnt quite time yet...
but it is coming soon.
i made it nearly a mile & a half
before i had to stop the first time,
and finished the 2 miles in 50 minutes flat.
(the first mile in a sizzling 22 minutes!!)

ever since the first time i had to accept that i could not run any more
i have looked at this as the last great contest.
time is trying to take me off the road.
i am not planning on going down easy.
time is a tough opponent,
it never quits, it never tires.
and i know that some day time will win.

but not this day.

laz

Guess how far I ran?? LOL

"Your outlook on life is a direct reflection of how much you like yourself." Lululemon

Leona Divide!!

Leslie and I headed down south for the Leona Divide 50 miler in Palmdale, Calif. on Friday. We were both excited to run a race that we hadn't run before. Mer and Paul were staying at the same motel so we visited with them on Friday night.

Before I begin this race report, let me say that Olga admitted to me that I am not a very good race report writer. Duh, Olga. With that in mind, I am just going to give you a few details about my race there.

I guess you would say that LD 50 is run in the high desert. The air was dry and I was very thirsty even before the race started. The course is very runnable and the trails are soft and nice. There is a lot of single track and that makes me like it even more. The volunteers are the best and I got to try Carbo Pro for the first time. Carbo Pro is what they served at the aid stations. I know that they say to never try something new in a race, but this was just a training race for me and I figured, "why not?" Well, I think I found something that may work for me. We will see. I am going to try it at Miwok and see what happens. Maybe magic!! lol. Carbo Pro is 100% pure complex carbs and does not have any protein or electrolytes in it. It is tasteless and it works!! Oh, and it's gluten free!

I felt good running on this nice course and I tried to work on my less than good, down hill running. I am strong on the hills but I just suck when it comes to running down them. It's down right embarrassing. I think I did better than usual this go around. I finished in a time of 8:26 and finished 4th woman. I was first in my age group and that made me happy.

Leslie DNF'd due to an asthma attack and I felt so sorry for her. She needs to figure out what to do about that as Bighorn is quickly approaching. She was going to call her Doctor today.

Saturday night we had dinner with Errol, Lisa and John. It was nice to catch up with old friends.


Next up is Miwok 100k. Another race and more "time on my feet." All for my goal of finishing Bighorn upright and healthy. So many miles, so little time.


Thanks to RD Keira for putting on a great race. I will be back!

Thanks to Drymax for sponsoring Meredith, Olga and I to blister free running. We couldn't do it without these amazing socks!

Gluten-Free for Athletes

I have decided to try a gluten-free diet again. I am going to commit to 30 days and see what happens. Ready. Get Set. Go!

I think you will enjoy this article from The Real Athlete Blog by Courtney Hall.

If you have unexplained aches and fatigue, headaches, joint and muscle pain, bloating or digestion problems, gluten may be the culprit. Gluten intolerance is a condition gaining recognition as a contributing factor to many health issues. "New evidence suggests that as many as 1 in 7 are gluten sensitive, or gluten intolerant. Many chronic illnesses are associated with gluten intolerance: Fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, rheumatoid arthritis, thyroid disorder, and diabetes."[1]

So what is gluten? Gluten is a complex protein found in wheat, barley, rye, and some oats. For many, these proteins do not digest properly, and the body reacts with the symptoms described above. If you are gluten sensitive or gluten intolerant, all you have to do is remove gluten from your diet. Easy, right? Actually, it's not so easy, especially if you're an athlete.

Athletes typically depend on the carbohydrates derived from wheat, barley, rye and oats to give them the energy and endurance they need throughout a workout. When these foods are eliminated from the diet, there is a chance that the athlete won't have all the power they need to successfully complete a workout. Additionally, they might lack important nutrients like vitamin B, iron, and fiber.

But don't worry - if you're an athlete with gluten intolerance, you may have an edge. Often times, in order to "carbo-load" for a workout or athletic event, athletes will eat foods like pizza and pasta, which aren't particularly nutritious and often times cause "sugar highs." By eating gluten-free carbohydrates, like rice, gluten-free cereals and breads, fruits and vegetables, athletes can obtain the carbohydrates they need to sustain energy and eat healthy, nutritious food that won't cause symptoms like headaches and bloating.

Although gluten-free foods are hard to find, the demand for them is rising and they are beginning to show up in grocery stores everywhere. Companies are beginning to recognize the importance of making these foods available for people who are gluten sensitive.

Athletes may have to go the extra mile to find and prepare gluten-free foods; however, there's a good chance that it will pay off in the end.

If you have unexplained aches and fatigue, headaches, joint and muscle pain, bloating or digestion problems, gluten may be the culprit. Gluten intolerance is a condition gaining recognition as a contributing factor to many health issues. "New evidence suggests that as many as 1 in 7 are gluten sensitive, or gluten intolerant. Many chronic illnesses are associated with gluten intolerance: Fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, rheumatoid arthritis, thyroid disorder, and diabetes."[1]

So what is gluten? Gluten is a complex protein found in wheat, barley, rye, and some oats. For many, these proteins do not digest properly, and the body reacts with the symptoms described above. If you are gluten sensitive or gluten intolerant, all you have to do is remove gluten from your diet. Easy, right? Actually, it's not so easy, especially if you're an athlete.

Athletes typically depend on the carbohydrates derived from wheat, barley, rye and oats to give them the energy and endurance they need throughout a workout. When these foods are eliminated from the diet, there is a chance that the athlete won't have all the power they need to successfully complete a workout. Additionally, they might lack important nutrients like vitamin B, iron, and fiber.

But don't worry - if you're an athlete with gluten intolerance, you may have an edge. Often times, in order to "carbo-load" for a workout or athletic event, athletes will eat foods like pizza and pasta, which aren't particularly nutritious and often times cause "sugar highs." By eating gluten-free carbohydrates, like rice, gluten-free cereals and breads, fruits and vegetables, athletes can obtain the carbohydrates they need to sustain energy and eat healthy, nutritious food that won't cause symptoms like headaches and bloating.

Although gluten-free foods are hard to find, the demand for them is rising and they are beginning to show up in grocery stores everywhere. Companies are beginning to recognize the importance of making these foods available for people who are gluten sensitive.

Athletes may have to go the extra mile to find and prepare gluten-free foods; however, there's a good chance that it will pay off in the end.

[1] Dannette Mason Rusnak, "Gluten Intolerance: The Culprit Behind Many Chronic Illnesses." Optimal Nutrition Inc. e-Newsletter, June 2009.

Check out this for a Q&A with First Endurance Athletes and gluten-Free living.

Growing Old Aint for Sissies!

Thursday found me flat on my back on a gurney in the ER. This stomach, back, feeling really tired thing, became unbearable and I decided to give my friends in the Emergency Dept. a visit. Lot's of Morphine, Zofran, and Benadryl later, and a butt load of tests found me okay. Soooo I guess I need to quit complaining and suck it up!!! It's time to move on with my bad self. This growing old ain't for sissies! This picture of me is just terrible, but I just had to post it. Always something..... For all you Morticians...STOP! I'm not dead yet! I just look that way! After seeing this picture, I needed a confidence booster, so I made my way down to our local Walmart. I really felt dumpy and frumpy when I walked into that place and walked out a different human being. Actually, I strutted out of that place. I have nothing to complain about. End of story.

With only a week before Leona Divide 50, I am just a tad bit nervous. I am going to take it easy this week and see how I feel. I am anxious to run on a course that is new to me. Another 50 miler in preparation for BH. Exciting.

Congrats to my BFF Suzanna Bon for her 4th place finish at American River 50 today. She finished with an awesome time of 7:30.20!! Way to go, Suz!

A big shout out to my sponsor First Endurance who supplies me with all my ultimate endurance nutrition. I received a box today and it felt like Christmas. Thank you First Endurance!

Today was a big money day. College Tuition, Property taxes, a new Gas Grill and face moisturizer!! Whoo hoo! I hope your day was as exciting!