Mountains here I come !

This Saturday it was back to normal. After two weeks of not running with my fellow  Trail Crashers it was back to the mountains time. So what was on the menu for this weeks run.
                           The Special for March 26th
                            25 Miles of hard work
                            about 6 hours of running.
                            4,004 feet of elevation gain
                            or 5,725 max elevation.
                            We will be climbing 2 mountains.
                            1 of them twice. 

It was about 40 degrees at the start but the more time I spend in the sun the less cold I feel in the morning. This was what I would call perfect running weather. I try not to think about the starting and just start. I thought I had charged my Garmin but it was dead so off I went with no watch. I asked my friend to tell me when an hour was up so I could take a gel and that seemed to work just fine. Its always a nice feeling to run with out watch. There so big so I felt lighter and just forgot about the time. Today was no different than any other Saturday in Cuyamaca.

The sky was a bright blue and the air was crisp. The mountains never lose the huge majestic beauty. I wish I could can up this feeling you get when your out there. Its like feeling completely alive from the inside out. All the crap of life just seems to be left behind you as you move. You do not have to be a fast runner you just have to show up and move. Then suddenly you feel it. Its so freaking awesome. 

I have been working on my legs. You know gym stuff and I could tell on this run. The hills did not kill me like they usually do and I actually felt good for the whole run. That does not happen often but it happened. 

When I started with bobbie turned into real passion I expected lots of running but I really did not think about the best thing I have gained through this really really good friend. These girls have seen me at my worst out there. We look out for each other. I have made amazing friends and I am so grateful for that. 

This last Saturdays awesome group showed up in full force. We all had a good run and we ran into the man himself Mr. Scott Mills.
 Last week was my first 60 mile week. I am so happy today is a rest day. Then tomorrow its back at it. I hope you have a wonderful week and fallow your passion . Don't quite your day job just practice what you love !!! 

Spring is in bloom

This past week I got a-lot of my runs done at Hodges. It gets kinda hot there and thats really good for my training and its flat not good for my training but sometimes it is about getting done and not getting done well.  One of lives things I am figuring out is just that. My expectations of my runs has evolved. I used to belive that every run needed to be a great run but now I now that they just need to get done. 

I would love to think that every run is a good run but there is good and just get it done good. I feel so passionate about this sport. I look forward to the good ones and the damb that was hard ones. Its so crazy how after every run no matter how it goes you feel grateful you had that time. You never feel bad about having had run. I love that. 

Thoughts on the Old West 50k ultra

I went for a short run yesterday and I thought about so many things that I really loved about this weekends race . The Old West trails 50k and ultra 30k fun run. I wanted to share them because I am still just super happy about the whole experience. This race was so well organized. Starting with Larry the race director. I was receiving emails from him about 2 weeks before the race. I could feel his excitement and I knew it would all turn out well. I loved how we got these awesome Dirty Girl Gaiters for free before the race . Dirty Girl Gaiters was a sponsor and I went for the dough nut material. They worked great. I was lucky enough to stay in a little cabin the night before it was really nice. Simple warm and clean. That was all I needed. ( thank you Julianne)
I was pleasantly surprised that it was not that cold. The weather was that perfect running weather . You know what I mean sometimes you can just feel how nice its going to be. There was a really nice continental type breakfast and coffee. The bathrooms where warm and there was no waiting in line. We started of right on time. ( I love that ) Everyone was friendly and I almost forgot the race director gave us a nice send off. I absolutely love how well marked this trail was. There was no chance I was getting lost. I fallowed the ribbons and I love the feeling of knowing I am on the right track. (best feeling ever) The aid stations had fresh fruit and awesome volunteers. They had everything including clapping and cheering as you ran in. These people gave brought smiles to my face. Then there is a very special feeling in ultra-running. You cheer each other on and when someone is kicking ass you tell them way to go !! when someone feels insecure or tired you reassure them they will be OK. This race brings out so many of those runners. Then there was a huge hug I got from the race director Larry at the finish line. When I knew I had a mile to go well then I started getting tired and it was getting hot out there so I listened to Staying Alive and as I crossed the finish line Larry put my awesome medal on and then gave me a hug and told me I did a great job. SO sweet … Then I found my friend we took warm showers in the bathrooms that are there for the runners to use. Then we had this great lunch . It was perfect and very intimate. This is a great race to do if you want to have a good time and smile a-lot. I highly recommend it !!! 

The Old West 50k ultra race report

Today I ran the Old West 50k ultra and 30k fun run. It was so much fun I couldn't wait to get it all down. So it all started out last night . I drove to the race about 7pm. It is about 1:45 minutes away from my house in Julian Ca.  I really do not like the drive to this race so I was really happy when my friend asked if I wanted stay the night at a cabin she rented this way I could drive there the day before and not deal with the drive in the a.m.  The cabin was super cute and simple. I slept in a bunk bed are you jelouse ?? It was fun and I slept really well.
 We got up at 5:30 am and just got dressed and ready to go . They had a great continental breakfast for us . Coffee, danishes, bananas , coffee and orange juice. The bathroom was close by with no lines. As I was walking out of the bathroom I saw we had like 2 minutes to go before we started. The race director Larry gave us some words of encouragement and sent us on our way.

At 7am we all took off. The 50k took of first and the 30k started at 7:30 am.  The weather was nice a little cold in the morning but that is a good thing because we where in the dessert so the warm weather was on its a way and it was just a matter of time. I decided early on I would push myself. I did not want to run comfortably this time I wanted to run strong. I figure I have been working out way more so why not give it my all. I stayed in the line up I started with and ran the first 7 miles at a 10 minute pace. I was surprised I was able to run at that pace only because I have it in my head that I run at 12 or 13 minute miles. I felt fine at this pace and then I really started to look around. The dessert was blooming. There was purple and yellow flowers. The cacti where bright green and the I was reminded of  Dr. Suess  The places you will go. The scenery was beautiful . The sky seem to just go on forever and ever.  I loved being able to say hi to so many friends . At mile 16 I actually bought up to Julianne I am not sure who was more surprised her or I. She is the person who I want to run like. She is a strong female and I admire that about her..She took of because she was ready to go and when I looked to see where she was guess what I couldn't  see her. SHE GONE !

  The aid stations had everything you needed happy volunteers and good food and cow bells. I got a hug from Gayle had my staple a banana and then I was off.

 I mostly listened to The Bee Gees and the Staying Alive sound track. I know it sounds crazy but how can you not smile when you listen to this stuff.  My plan was not to walk for more than 20 seconds. I did that and it hurt but I pushed it and I was able to keep going with out feeling tired. 

 I thought about so many awesome things and made plans and prayed .  The hardest mile was the last one. I ended up finishing 5:46 and hour faster than last year. (A whole hour)  that is so cool. I was 5th female and 2nd in my age group.  My friend Julianne came in first in our age group.She is a rock start !! I had wonderful time and I highly reccomend this race. It was so much fun.
50k 5:46
2nd female in the 40 to 50 
7th female 
An hour faster than last time !!!

Hi Peeps

On Saturday we ran the headed out to the PCT . We ran the about 18 miles and I had a slow run but I had company so it was awesome. It has been raining a lot here so the trails are really green. You could smell the dew when we started and it was not really warm so that was nice.
I tried the no caffeine before a run thing and it did not work for me so it ended up being a long 18 miles. I never mind the long part I feel like I just get to be out there longer. I do mind the feeling sluggish part because man its a lot of work running that far when your tired.  I am also loving my shoes peeps.. Altras have been a life saver for my feel for sure. SO training is going well. You know I just keep showing up and doing my best.
I want to thank my friend Louka for the picture.
Happy trails. 

March Stuff

It has been crazy around here. Time seems to be going by way to fast. Oh this month of march is a quick one. My sweet daughter is 13 now. How exciting for her she is now a teenager . We had a really great time celebrating her birthday. Our family got together and ate really good food and opened presents. It was simple but special. 

Jack and my dad and I also headed to the mountains. Yes the mountains they call me. We had so much fun and Jack is getting so good at hiking. He loved being outside. 

I love spending time with these two. My dad holding Jacks hand. The best part is that Jack can scream as much as he wants and since he found his voice he loves to yell. 

We played with dirt and leaves. Through sticks and and jumped around. The best part was seeing 7 deer. 

I think I could of stayed out there all day but Jack feel asleep. 

Choose to be strong

And just like that after being sick and feeling scared I showed up and we went on our Saturday long run. This took about 4 hours and some of us ran 19 miles and others 20 miles. We had some great trail conversations you know we talked about our aches ( you know after 4 hours something always hurts ) we talked races and life stuff. I have come to really appreciate my running friends and the time we spend out there getting our miles in.
I know I have written about this before but this life lesson keeps coming up in my life. It is so important to show up especially if the reason you think about not showing up is you doubt .
 Fuck doubt
 Show up because you love yourself enough to prove doubt wrong and you right.
Choose to be strong
Choose to get stronger
Choose to not give up
Choose to show up
because if you don't no one else will do it for you and you are enough. 

If daily you feel a sense of gratitude for the blessings of this life it will be a cushion and  buffer when challenges arise.-Rose W-T

Little Bits of our life

Today we both enjoyed a much needed day at the beach. This included collecting shells, counting rocks. We walked for a very long time and had lunch. We where not in a hurry and just took our time. The Ocean has a very special way of helping me relax . There where 3 sharks spotted out in Ocean side according to the Life guards and they where 10 feet long. We stayed dry and I was loving how Jack just stopped sat down and watched the waves.
Perfection is not attainable ,but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence. - VINCE LOMBARDI

Oh Happy March

Happy March Peeps.
 It seems hard to believe that we are already into march but we are. That was quick right ? I have been taking it easy over here. I had a bad week last week and one I learned a valuable lesson from. I got sick last week. I was getting a head cold with some flu like stuff. I decided to go for a run last Thursday. (sick) Even though I knew better I fought my intuition. On Thursday evening on my way home from my run I got the worse migraine I have ever had. It lasted 3 days. I had a fever a cough and on top of that a migraine that was making me nauseous all night. I was so miserable and I knew that I made  it worse by going for a run and I did anyway. I ended up going to the hospital Saturday morning and hours later some good drugs the migraine went away. The lesson I learned was I need to listen and just stop when my body tells me  too or screams stop. This all leads me to really think about what I am doing. I hate lying to myself so all this crazy questions pop into my head.. Please feel free to leave me a comment of you have any words of wisdom.
When I stop and ask myself  what is going on that I felt I needed to go for a run when I was so sick.  I have been feeling a-lot of anxiety and to be honest I am kinda like oh shit I am going to run Western and what if I don't train enough. I am so excited but also so scared. I have dreams that I melt during the run. I just feel like I have so much anxiety over this whole thing. I know its just a race but its not its THE RACE. The one race I have been dreaming about for so long. So how to deal with the anxiety that is just sitting heavy on  my chest. I heard exercise is great for nerves and I just need to be nicer to myself. I need to just let it happen. You know when your in it , When your living it sometimes its just not that easy. That's the beauty of life we learn we grow and we try and figure all the hard shit out. I have been fighting fear forever . When I feel afraid to do something I have to do it. I have to get over my fear. I know that running has really helped me get over fear in my life and more than that it has completely somehow given me the inner strength I need to let go of things that do not serve me. I think maybe this sport came at a time when I was more mature and I do not know how but through running these long races I have been able to heal. Running gave me this inner peace and led me to have this personal relationship with God. He is always out there with me and I am out there a long time. You know I spent over 30 years  carrying this hurt with me and attached to it was blame and pity and self doubt . When I started running ultras I would dedicate each race and I chose a race because thats when I about there forever. I would dedicate each one to letting go and working through some childhood issue. When I was near the end of my race and I had friend and laughed and I was so tired I was also done and able to let go of that issue. I still feel sorry for myself sometimes but now I am brave enough to know better. So maybe the key is to just keep taking care of my kids and training and then just do my best at Western. I am going to have to learn to trust the man upstairs put it in his hands and just love on my kids and make time to train. Well there you go. Here is hoping March is a wonderful month for all of us.