RUNNING

"Those who danced were thought to be quite insane... by those who could not hear the music."

I am a runner. I run because I love it. I love the feel of air rushing into my lungs. I love pushing my tired legs to step faster…just as I did when I was a kid out playing soccer…or chasing a seagull. Running is freedom to me. When I run I am enjoying the life that was given to me. Everything in my life dissolves but me. I am alone but somehow connected to everything. The beating of my heart reminds me of the precious gift I have to be thankful for…and I am never so alive.

Many of my friends think this is weird and I am sure my sisters think that I am a result of a mix up at the hospital at birth. So, the other day, I was reading my fellow running compatriots emails off of the Hill Country Trail Runners website and here is what I found:

Why I Run Ultras

In the words of ultra runner Stephanie Dreyer:

As of today, I have been alive for exactly 11,922 days. Each one of these days is a compilation of hundreds or even thousands of individual experiences. Most of my experiences are "everyday" - they blend and blur together, and are almost always forgotten. Some of my experiences are a bit less commonplace. These leave a slightly different imprint, and may even become a memory. And then there are my rare and singularly uncommon experiences. Here, I categorize those hair-raising, spine-tingling, pinch-me-please-I-can't-believe-this-is-happening-to-me events from which I measure my life in the before and after. For me, these rare moments remain vivid in memory, and never seem to fade. On this short list of extraordinary experiences, I place occasions like my first date with Greg, the moment I saw my name on the "Bar Exam Pass List," and most recently, the hours last December that Clea and I spent conquering the Sunmart 50 miler.

So I guess that's it -- 11,922 days of mundane existence, and I don't think that during any second of any one of those days I have felt quite as truly alive as when I was romping through the woods, dirty, happily exhausted and doing something that I never dreamed myself capable of. Don't you ever wonder-how many more days there will be? And how many less will be so completely full of unforgettable adventure? My guess is that only a rare and precious few will provide such amazing opportunities. By this, I mean the opportunity to take on something that seems so very much bigger than I am. I mean the opportunity to form lasting bonds, with friends and strangers alike, through shared determination, effort and unparalleled adventure. I mean the opportunity for later celebration, reliving the day's events with fellow runners over a well-earned post-race beverage (and I'm not talking Gatorade) with everyone feeling proud, exhausted and satisfied.

As for me, I'm determined to squeeze in as many extraordinary, momentous, memory making like days as I can possibly manage. You may say that this makes me a self-proclaimed "adrenaline junkie." Perhaps even a "thrill seeker." On those counts, I guess that I'm guilty . . . but I have no guilt. And if the folks that think I'm crazy had ever stood in my shoes on the Sunmart finish line, they would understand why. Like me, they'd be headed to MiWok this Friday.

The joys of this sport for me are, in Stephanie's words, "How many more days there will be? And how many less will be so completely full of unforgettable adventure?”

What more reason do you need to strap those running shoes on and go?

Me & my Rogue buddies after Eugene 4/29/07

(Ashley, Lorena, Sean, Mary Jo, Chris, Me, Amy)

Rogue Running, Self Awareness, & the Boston Marathon!

I joined Rogue Running after running the Freescale Marathon in 2005 and a year of doing horseshows, my best friend’s wedding, and nursing a mangled, broken rib. The 2005 marathon had intrigued me. I had a great time running (sorta!) with one of by best friends and somehow coming in just under time to qualify for the Boston Marathon. At the time, I had no idea of the prestige behind the Boston Marathon and I had no desire to go. Instead, after horseshow season and the xmas holidays, I decided to look up the running clubs in town and hit on Steve Sisson’s Pike’s Peak training program.

In this past year with Rogue, my coaches (Steve and Ruth England) have managed to prepare me for winning my age group at both Pikes and the recent Eugene Marathon. And while failure and bombing out are the ever present flip side of success, I have been on that downside many times during my 48 years on this earth and that scares me not!! What I am so pleased about from my successes in the last year is that it has given me huge confidence in my ability to listen better to my body… something that I have ignored for years. Steve and Ruth have both done this for so long (and with so many other people) that they are quick to pick up on things that you should (or shouldn’t) work on. Because of this, I am slowly taking responsibility (ok, VERY slowly) for deciding what is best for my own training. This is made so much easier by having my coaches (and now many friends who are experienced runners) to baby sit me along the way.

So now, with my time from the Eugene Marathon, I have once again qualified for the Boston Marathon. I know now that this is a special honor. I know that I owe my coaches and team mates a thank you for all the help they offer to me. And now, I know that I can look toward Boston differently. It won’t be a race for me just to prove I am a stubborn, tough old woman. I am going to Boston as a runner. And while I am perhaps still rather unaware of what being a 48 year old woman runner means to me, with such great back up support, I am on the fast track for figuring it out.

7/4/06 & the Silicon Labs Relay Marathon!!

What a great way to start a holiday! Had a fun run this morning with a group of running buddies! There were five of us on our relay team and we had a World Cup Soccer theme (thanks to Amy for providing our shirts and VERY baggy, cool soccer shorts!!) I love starting a holiday with a run! You certainly feel as though the rest (and whatever) later in the day is well deserved!

This race was an out and back along the river and up/down Congress Avenue here in Austin. For the most part, we were blessed with cloud cover although it was very humid… esp. in soccer t-shirts… but hey, taking it for the team… There were a couple of stations set up during the race where you could run through water misters or someone spraying a hose. It helped a lot! Once you came back in, you were able to run under a big stream from a fire hose (thanks to Austin Fire Department) and/or join the kiddies for a torpedo down the Slip & Slide. I did both… it felt great!

This race was strongly supported by Austin mayor Will Wynn. It is a mission of his to get Austin from the 13^th fittest city in the nation to top 10 within year or so and 1^st overall by 2010. Way to go Mr. Mayor! We have a very enthusiastic running and triathlon community here in our city. We can do it!

I am starting to recognize some of the more experienced runners now that I have been hanging around more. Some of them are incredibly FAST and really something to watch! I am ever amazed that the human body is capable of such speed and agility. It is motivating to see them… even if they are streaking by and forever leaving you in the dust!

So, way to go World Cup Junkies (our team.) Thanks to Amy for getting us all together and introducing me to some new and very cool friends! We did a bang up job! Ready for next year!! Actually, it was so much fun… let’s do it again tomorrow!! Who else wants to join????

Trail Running 3/2006

(This plc was taken later - May '06 - on a run in the Guadalupe Mountains)

What a lot of fun I had this morning!! Today was my first Trail Running Class with Rogue Running here in Austin. Other than one short trail run when I was part of a relay team at the “Dirty Du” in Smithville, my trail experience is limited to whatever trails I pushed through on horseback.

Today, our group ran along part of the Barton Creek Greenbelt. Beautiful… even in a drought at the end of winter!! We are so LUCKY in Austin to have such cool places to go. It was kinda rough in places and then nice, soft running in others. The Rogue Running group (led by Steve Sisson) were all very nice and helpful. Some of the group were primarily road runners like me and others were more familiar with running on trails.

I learned the importance of looking ahead… not just to keep from tripping over things but also to see just how level a spot your foot is landing on (saves the ankles!) I found out that, even in drought conditions, green moss on a rock is still slippery (amazing stuff!) I ran in my “road” shoes – which I love – but I think I may want a pair of trail running shoes for a little more stability if I can find something light weight like my road shoe. One of the girls in the group said that the trail would tear up your road shoes faster as well… another good reason to try a trail shoe. And, although I have always thought the hand held sports bottles looked uncomfortable, I am rethinking that. First of all, the more experienced trail runners carried them with no problem AND it was mentioned that in a fall (that would likely be me!!) that sometimes you can land on your “soft” plastic bottle and leave the skin on that hand!!! Great idea!!

So, after class I was so pumped that I blew off my planned coffee break and went back out on a different trail and promptly (yeah, Steve was right) got lost!! Who would have known that there would have been TWO Mountain Laurel trees that looked EXACTLY alike!!! It was pretty funny actually and I was thinking about our orientation meeting where we were reminded to always carry water because you need to hydrate more frequently AND you will always get LOST!! So, did I have water… no… of course not… I had to laugh at myself for being such a moron…

I signed up for this class (and joined Hill Country Trail Runners, our local trail running group) specifically to prepare for the Pikes Peak Marathon. I think the training will be invaluable but I also think I just found another sport that I am gonna love! This is hiking with a big KICK… how fun is that???

Pauline & I at the finish! 2005 Freescale Marathon!

This is Pauline and I at the 2005 Freescale Marathon here in Austin, Texas. Made possible by Austin Fit and Performance Wellness... and a good pair of Mizuno running shoes!

So, if I were to be asked what makes running 26.2 miles possible, I would have to say that the obvious is proper, persistent training and nutrition. Of course, the behind the scenes things are even more important.

First of all, a compadre, soul sister, good buddy... whatever title you want to give... Having a friend and partner to motivate and comfort you is great! Pauline and I trained together and ran together. This makes it more special because it creates another great memory for a stronger friendship bond. The whole "we're in this together" thing. We've seen each other tired, grumpy, disgusting, happy, mad, etc... Kinda like being married! What skills you get to learn by running together!!

Austin Fit. (part of USA Fit) This is a running group here in Austin that helps people prepare for the Freescale Marathon and Half Marathon. This is also motivating, with huge numbers of runners (lots of peers!) and regularly scheduled and strategically planned running training days. This is a wonderful way to learn about the sport and start running in a controlled atmosphere.

Performance Wellness. These people are Gods! Really! Dr. Sellers group of chiropractors, sports therapists, and massage therapists are totally awesome. You can tear yourself up (or not!) and they can put you back together again (or just help to keep you that way.) I had been nursing a bad muscle tear for nearly 2 years when I went in. Within one month I was moving with more freedom, less pain, and shaving time off my runs. I am a forever customer!!

Mizuno running shoes. These are my personal favorite but this is a very personal matter. Really, the point I am trying to make is about quality. The reason for quality shoes is obvious... large (relatively speaking) bodies - tiny feet!!! Those little feet carry alot of weight! I am all for orthotics in one's shoes as well. But, it shouldn't really stop there. It is worth your while to invest in anything that makes it easier and more comfortable for your body to operate. The proper clothes can keep you cooler or warmer or cause less chaffing. A good watch helps to time your runs. And so it goes... Running is FUN but it is hard work. Make it as easy on yourself as you can so that you WANT to go out and run. Nothing like a cute matching running outfit, huh???

Everything is out there to help you if you just seek it out. Carpe diem! And good running!