Running Free

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Well, since my last post the only thing worth writing about in terms of running has been my finish at Silver State 50k, ( I'm glad I didn't do the 50 miler), and a long run from Foresthill to Rucky Chucky and back on the Western States trail. Silver State went well, but I could feel the cumulative effects of my back to back races and my legs screamed at me quite a few times. In fact, I contemplated walking across the finish line, but then I heard Suz's voice in my head saying "you can run this", and I pushed myself down the trail and across the finish line. I felt totally trashed after that race. It wasn't a hard race, but my legs were tired and the elevation.......who knows? I'm just not a high mileage runner and I seem to do well on lower mileage than most. I hope I have done enough to finish Bighorn without injury or illness. It's scary with rhabdo still fresh on my mind.

Running from Foresthill to the river and back is always a blast! Leslie and Karen and I had a long day of "time on our feet". The weather was cold and overcast and we were shocked to run that section with jackets on. Every time I have ever run it I have been hot and sweating like a pig. Not on this day!!

The gluten free diet is going well. I am feeling much better and I am actually sleeping better than I have in years. I'm feeling quite good right now and that is refreshing. This weekend is going to be a high mileage weekend running back to back days on the Western States trail. I am hearing that there is a lot of snow in the mountains so it will be good training for BH. Have a great weekend of running or whatever makes you smile.

If any of you or any of your friends are interested in running the TCC/Adventure races, the discount code for 10% off any of their races at the time of registration is KR2010. As you know, running The Coastal Challenge in Costa Rica in Feb. 2009, was the greatest adventure of my life.
Go to here to register.

5 comments:

meredith said...: Looking Forward to running with you this weekend!!; May 27, 2010 at 9:36 PM
Drs. Cynthia and David said...: Wow- no wonder you were trashed afterwards- you ran it so fast!

Glad to hear gluten free is working for you. That's great, and you're sleeping too!

why is rhabdo fresh in your mind? something you're not telling us?

Have fun this weekend.

Cynthia; May 28, 2010 at 2:32 AM
kelly said...: Cynthia, I have had Rhabdo twice while running Wasatch 1oo. I ended up being hospitalized for a week each time. Scary stuff!; May 28, 2010 at 4:42 AM
Olga said...: Hang tough, last push!; May 28, 2010 at 9:06 AM
Drs. Cynthia and David said...: I went back and read your Wasatch report. Scary and heartbreaking! At least you know what signs to look out for now. Do you think that acclimatizing would help?

Cynthia; June 4, 2010 at 1:06 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.''