My Everest

Finally, I have conquored it. It was kind of like nursing school for me... I waited a long time to be able to say I was a nurse. Now, I can say, "Why yes, I did the Shut-In this year."

For me this race meant a lot. I trained for it so very hard last year, and got injured, blah blah blah. I was really disappointed and discouraged with myself. I define myself as a trail runner, and in Asheville this is the race that I believe defines a trail runner. I could keep writing about how much it means to me that I accomplished it, but I think I'll just tell the race report, with some background.

So, in the last 60 days, I have run 61.05 miles. Yep. That's all. My highest mileage week was 16.21. Now, if I had made the mistake of looking this over before the race, I would have scared myself for sure. Thank goodness I didn't.

So the race had the pleasure of falling on my birthday this year. I am a huge birthday person. I LOVE birthdays. But even though, I have waivered about doing it for two main reasons.

1. I didn't really feel prepared. Compared to last year, this training year was a joke. However, this wasn't a big issue for me for some reason.

2. This was the very same day/time as the infamous Green River Race. A lot of my friends went to Saluda to watch that race instead, and Yonton was in that race too, so I wanted to support him.

In the end, I realized how much this race meant to me and made the right decision for me.

Race day.

It being my 29th birthday and all, (I may mention that an annoying number of times, so prepare yourself), I woke up to an omlette breakfast with fabulous honey-covered toast. Mom came and picked me up. (I consider mom my #1 fan. She always goes above and beyond and always says she had fun. She drove around in 25 degree weather for 4.5 hours and waited outside in that weather to crew for me.) Anyways, we headed to the Arboretum at 8:15 for packet pick-up. She helped me decide on how many layers and which hats to wear, given the snowy and FREEZING conditions. Before the race started, Steve my stepdad, my sister Stephanie, Blake, her husband and Bailey, my niece all came to see me off too. It was awesome.

Brenda and Marc from SMR were running too. I lined up with them. The final decision was announced upon start that we would be doing the last two miles. Given the snowy conditions, road closure was impending. It's not really Shut-In without the last two greuling miles. I would have felt cheated out of the experience and was so happy the whole race went as planned.

The race started at 10am. I decided to really take my time and relax. There were many miles to go. I was excited when we took a right at the end of Owl Ridge onto Hardtimes Rd. I knew I would see my family at the top where the parkway meets. I had to shed some clothes here, so I tossed them to mom, gloves and all. (I wish I would have kept the gloves.) I felt it was too soon to take a snack break, but I did drink a little cup of water to stay on the safe side.

Here was a significant climb as the race turns to the trail. I walked, as did most everyone. Most of the race here continued uneventfully. I jogged at an easy pace if it wasn't a significant hill and walked hills. It  was exciting here, because I knew I would see mom at Chestnut Cove, then Sleepy Gap. It was fun to have the crowds at the overlooks. I decided that I should start eating here, it had been about an hour since the start. I had gone to get my favorite cappuccino hammer gels the previous day, but apparently I am not the only one who likes them because they were sold out. I ended up getting those Sport Bean things. I tried some at Chestnut Gap, but they were horrible and I knew if I ate them it would make me sick. Anyways, I kept running and after those two, I told mom I'd see her at 151 and kept on my way.

My friend Kim and her husband Adam were kind enough to stand at Bent Creek Gap with some food/clothes for me if I needed it. I was glad I had given them an extra shirt, becuase it was pretty cold out there once you couldn't move too fast. When I got up to Bent Creek Gap, I had a hard time spotting them. Kim had told me she was going to make a huge glitter-glue sign, but at the time, I couldn't seem to find it. I don't know if it was blood sugar or blood pressure, but I couldn't see very well - I just couldn't focus enough to see them. I decided I should eat 1/2 of a banana here on account of that.

I thanked them (once they pretty much grabbed me by the shoulder) and kept running, thinking I wouldn't see any aid stations for 7 more miles. Thankfully I was wrong and the Forest Service had let water aid stations at each scheduled overlook.

Ferrin Knob was here, which is about 1,000ft elevation gain in less than two miles, with a 500ft drop in 0.7miles on the top of the peak. Needless to say it's rough on the legs, and slow. There are a few parkway crossings here with aid stations at most. Due to the parkway closings, however, it was one awesome person and a water cooler. I kept on uneventfully. My legs were pretty tired, but still working. My shinsplints were fine. The only frustrating part was my left Achilles was really tight. It's doing better now though and I was able to make it fine then too.

As 151 was approaching, I got excited to see mom again. At this point the friendships of a long race began to form. I had been running with Jim and a father/son team for about 10 miles. The father/son duo fell behind right before 151, and Jim and I kept on. At 151, there were a lot of spectators. I did spot mom though and had a snack and some water. I grabbed more gloves and a hat and was on my way.

As I stepped onto the trail, my heart soared. I realized if I started this section, there was no going back. I knew I'd finish. I also had the realization that I may break 4 hours. These last two started pretty uneventfully. I felt okay... then the mountain rose, and rose, and rose. It was the equivalent of 80 stories - 80 stories after a 16 mile run. It was amazing. I didn't even know if I was moving at some points. (I didn't think 1 inch steps counted, but now I do.)

Needless to say, I finished. I walked the last downhill mostly too, scared of my failing legs and frost-covered leaves. I saw mom at the finish. I had my first coke in 3 years, some potato chips and a handful of m&m's. It was so cold up there though, that I felt someone had placed me directly in a freezer. I didn't even want to take a picture by the sign - which is VERY unlike me. I was freeeeezing, and wanted warmth. I grabbed my shirt, and we left.

We rode down 151 to Asheville with the heat on high, all clothes layered on and the seat warmers on high. I was convulsively shivering. We switched cars, drove to Weaverville in my car which literally has the hottest heat of any car I know. I still convulsively shivered. Once I got to mom's, I sat in front of the wood stove for 30 minutes and finally was able to stop shivering. Once I felt I wouldn't die of cold, I put on a suit and got in the 110 degree hot tub. I stretched in there for about 30 minutes, got out and took a boiling shower, and dried in front of the wood stove. Finally, I was warm.

 

It was a great experience. I'm glad I didn't decide to wait another year - prepared or not.

It was my Everest, and I conquered it. And I will continue to do so, for years to come.

22 days to go! Oh, and FALL ROCKS!

This will be short, but I just have to say...

I WENT ON A TWO HOUR RUN!!!

It was so very fabulous! The trails were covered with leaves and the wind was blowing and it was sunny and beautiful! At one point, the pine needles were snowing down on me and the sun was shining down through the trees. I LOVE fall running.

The new orthotics I had made at Foot Rx have done a world of good for me. I only ran for about an hour straight, the last hour was quite a struggle though. It made me realize how out of shape I am.

With Shut-In in 3 weeks, I figured I better start kicking my ass some if I hope to finish it. Maybe next year I'll actually be in shape for it. But back to the shins. They didn't hurt much at all! My hips and right knee hurt (that same knee thing during the DuPont half and it's training).

I have also decided to embark on a diet overhaul. Here we go!a

Would you rather I start smoking?

I had a slight unhealthy love for the blue and grey look of the Montrails, but they didn't work with the new orthotics.

I ended up with the Brooks Cascadia 4's (which I already had) because they were on sale! They said that the shoes I had were not the problem, that possibly I needed a more supportive orthotic. It was time for a new pair of shoes though.

So I also got a new orthotic made with major arch support. I wore it all night at work, but unfortunately by the end of work, my right shin hurt so badly that I was limping. (Unreal.) I'm upset. : (  I work again tonight, I am going to wear my old orthotics and see if that helps.

I really thought this would be the answer, but now my shin hurts so badly I think I have done more damage. I feel like something is against my running. I don't know what it could be except karma or something. (Too much My Name is Earl.) A lot of people are able to easily keep up their unhealthy habits. Why is it such an ordeal for me to keep up my healthy one? Blugh.

Shoooooooeeeeessssss!

I have made up my mind. Tomorrow, I am buying new shoes. (If Foot Rx has a shoe that they recommend in stock for me. Pleeeeeease please do!) It's 6 weeks to the race, and if I don't get moving it will be quite the embarassment. Plus, the nightshift schedule is making me eat constantly... Check back later for the posted picture of my beautiful new shoes!!!

Travelling through time

I got to go on a run! I was going to go to Bent Creek with Yonton, let him mountain bike, while I ran/walked for an hour or so, just to be on my feet. I met him at his house and shared my brilliant idea. (He's shared before that he likes to mountain bike alone sometimes - I think it's relaxing for him.) The hesitation caught me by surprise. Yonton is not a runner. He kayaks, mountain bikes and climbs. Occasionally the treadmill calls him for 10 minutes - as it had the previous day of our excursion.

So the hesitation led to him offering to run with me - if I didn't go far. Well hell, I shouldn't really be running anyways, so it sounded good with me. We had a late start - maybe 7pm. (I thought I'd give him the Garmin so he'd have something fun to watch to entertain himself during the run. But, my Garmin has broken itself - yet again.) We started out at a relaxed pace - and as always - in it for the experience.

We ended up going (by my guess) about 4 miles. We both ran the whole time. My shins periodically flared up during the run. Currently they feel fine, but could probably use some ice. The run was great - by the end of it, it was really dark outside and I couldn't see where I was stepping. Thank goodness we had just come out of a trail when some headlamped-mountain-bikers came tearing down after us.

Needless to say, the run was fabulous. I think Yonton actually enjoyed himself, the berms calling him to play late in the run. We got to discuss his dream of time travel he had had the previous night and how the logistics may work out, if it really ever happened to either of us.

I appreciate the company and experience, fully and completely. Thanks for the support, as always. You rock.

What I deserve, as a wonderful person.

So I had to skip LeHigh Valley altogether. Being raised Catholic, this caused immense guilt for not supporting my family in an endeavor I started with them months ago. Good thing they were also raised Catholic and know forgiveness well. Ha! I was planning on going and supporting, without any running due to the shins, then a case of strep throat exacerbated by three nights of work in a row and a fever of 101.4 kept me home.

Anyways, this shin issue is ongoing. I gave myself the gift of a mile-long run on Monday the 6th. It hurt. I actually ended up walking part of it. Once I got back to the car, my left (?!?!) hip was really hurting and I was actually limping, along with the right shin being sore. Luckily the hip seemed to be acute and went away in a few hours.

But, about that run. It was the kind of day for me, where I left crying (the really good kind of crying) because I loved the experience so much. The air was cool and crisp. It was about 4pm. The woods were beautiful and inviting, the ground was packed and not muddy at all, perfect conditions. I got reminded of last fall.

Last fall, I was training for Shut-In, and got up to about 35 mpw. I remember thinking there was no point in going out if you're not doing at least 8 miles. I remember one day when I had done over 30 miles in the last 4 days so I left myself have pizza at a work party. I was trying to do everything perfectly, eat right, rest right, etc. It was the highlight of my running career to date. I could go run 5 days a week - sometimes 6. I was going 7+ miles every time. I felt so good, so confident and so strong. I felt invincible. My body was starting to change. Instead of just being skinny, I was actually getting muscular. A dream in the making.

Everything was going really well until my grandmother died. I went up to Michigan for the funeral. The family was a mess. The Catholic Michiganers are a breed of their own... and yes, technically I am one too, but I run to let out stress. We even ended-up having an intervention at a Coney Island. The stress of the trip, added to the stress my body was under caused it to crash. At the hotel, I remember telling mom that for some reason, my shins were really hurting, and I hadn't even run in two days. Stress goes and sits in the weakest muscles for me. My stress was going to sit in my shins, and not leave. That was the beginning of the end.

I got back home and returned to running 35 mpw. That next weekend, was a 16-miler up Shut-In. I could tell I was hurting, but was sure I could push through it. A few days after that was hill-training day. This gave me an opportunity to run fast. I LOVE to run fast. I let loose, and did around 20 short and long hill combos, with an additional couple miles of warm-up. By the last one, I could barely walk, and found myself sent home with two ice packs on my hips... crying. Cool-down was aborted. I knew the future, and was heart-broken.

The story has the ending.

So, my run on Monday... Ahhh. Just thinking about it now is making me want to go out right now. It's cool and rainy - perfect fall conditions for a run. I could wear one of my jackets! It's been so long since I've gotten to wear a jacket to run! I wish one could force healing. I wish that if you wanted it bad enough, it would happen for you. Why can't life be like that? Patience. My friend Brian told me that he had shin pain in the past, and tried new shoes over and over until his finally went away with a certain pair. I'm thinking I should go buy some new running shoes. Right now. Immediately.

Fall is the perfect time to run, and I am selfish and believe I deserve to get to run. I deserve to get to train for Shut-In and not just have to hike it in two months. I deserve to get to go out this beautiful time of year and pound away at the trails. I deserve to let my stress out the way I love to do it. I deserve the heavy breathing and that feeling my lungs get when they've been worked hard. I deserve the sweat. I deserve the toned muscles. I deserve the looks of others who see me as strong. I deserve thinking of myself as strong, confident, healthy and beautiful. Now, off to the shoe store...

Thank you Universe.

Lake Logan Triathlon

I'm hooked. Completely and totally hooked.

The Lake Logan Sprint Triathlon was AWESOME.

Background: I went with my friends Hannah and Chad, and some SMR friends (Rick and Keila) had signed up too. I borrowed a road bike from my friend Tim, who was nice enough to not only loan me the bike, but to also put pedals that would work with my shoes and give it a proper tune up. This would be my 3rd time on a road bike. (The Friday before the race was my 2nd time, I trialed the roads and did 11.55 miles in 50 minutes.) I have done two "hard" swim workouts this year, and about 5-6 total swim workouts. (About 8 in the last 10 years total - a blessing in disguise, being "forced" to swim as a child.) And the running you probably know... I have run 6 times in the last 6 weeks - two of those being races. But I'm still in decent shape with all the mountain biking and running in the previous months.

So. Race day. My mom had so lovingly agreed to join for support, knowing it meant a 4:45 wake-up time. (My mom rocks.) We got there and it was foggy and beautiful. It was dawn - about 6:10am when we parked the car. The lake looked as smooth as glass. The atmosphere had a swim meet quality. It was friendly and busy and happy. It reminded me of a group of people who were old friends, who came together for something they loved. I guess that's the actuality too.

We parked and I got all my various gear together. We parked on the opposite side of the river and walked across the bridge to the transition area. As we exited the lot, I heard the familiar voice of Hannah. She and Chad had just got all their gear together, and we walked over together, alive with the buzz of adventure - the feeling of trying something new, putting yourself out there, and knowing a good time would be had either way. There is something so fabulous about being with amazing people, in such a beautiful setting, preparing to physically exhaust themselves by choice, with a huge smile the whole time. It's spirit.

I set up my station. I rolled my socks into my bike shoes (with cornstarch), loosened my running shoes, taped my gel blocks and gloves to my bike handles, put my helmet on the handlebars, and put my bike in the correct gear. I put my inhaler in my bike shorts pocket, folded up my towel on the dewy grass, ensured my drink was placed in the bike holder, set out my cap and goggles, put an extra hair tie on the bike handlebars, and set out my hat. Bike number on bike tube, helmet number on, number pinned to shirt to put on before running. Check, check, check.

Next was the timing chip and marking station. (And I must admit, I felt really badass having my number Sharpied on my arms and legs.) Left ankle, timing chip, bilateral arms and quads - race number, right calf, age. Ok. Age! What a great thing to be able to see as the 45-year-old women FLY by you on the bike. Seriously. (Mental thought: Oh no, it's fine, she's not in my age group, but DANG, look at her leg muscles. Maybe I'll be a badass in 15 years too.) Anyways, back to the story. I'm chipped, marked, organized, half-dressed, and cold. My toes are numb in this beautiful morning dew. I learned today that shivering uses 500% more oxygen by the heart than being warm. 500%! Glad I didn't know that Sunday.

So I found Rick. Keila had injured her leg at a race series and was unable to come. I hated to miss her (and hate she's injured) but it was fabulous to see Rick. I compared stations with Hannah. We ran over equipment, shared anxiety and excitement, took some pictures. Mom found a great spectator spot, became official photographer of the day, and pulled out the camping chair. What dedication.

So we pulled on the cap and grabbed the goggles. We headed across the bridge to the swim start. Hannah and I were wave three. Chad was wave 2, and I believe Rick was wave 1. We had 4 minutes between waves. We waded in the water. Some people warmed up. We chatted instead. The cool morning made the water feel great. It reperfused our toes. (My Grandpa, having had boy scouts at Camp Daniel Boone, warned me of the frigid water temperatures. We were lucky that it was actually 75 degrees!)

I missed Rick getting in, but wave 1 entered the water. The horn sounded, they were off. "Wave 2, enter the water." We told Chad good luck. Horn sounded. We filed across the dock, waiting for our turn to enter. "Wave 3, enter the water." Good luck Hannah! Jump in... hey - not too cold, but it still took my breath. I had never done an open water swim. I went to the front, terrified of being kicked. 1 1/2 minutes. 1 minute, 30 seconds. This treading water was making me nervous too! 10 second countdown. Horn sounded.

My strategy was to stay as straight as possible. Straight for the first buoy. The people kind of fell away. I looked up periodically to check my location. Ok, buoy still there. Then the mental thought "Crap! Am I going to get tangled up in some buoy-holding rope and drown?" Anxiety ridden, I was breathing every stroke for a while - which is unlike me. I'm a 3-5er. I turned the first corner and there was a girl to my right, swimming even with me. She had been right behind me the entire first straight-away. I wanted her to go first; I didn't like someone right behind me so I let her go ahead. Second turn - now just straight to the dock. I noticed I looked up about every 10 strokes. It felt too often, so I started trying to go to 25. I made it to 15 once. I wanted to keep checking. (I'm sure made the swim slower, but hey, I didn't run into anyone or veer off course too far, so that's good!) The last 100 meters or so, we caught up with some wave 2 folks. It got a little congested under the bridge, as well as about 10 degrees colder where the river entered the lake. This took my breath a bit more. I skirted around people and made my way to the dock. Okay, arms pull me up and ...... Crap! I can't get on the freaking dock! I flopped over onto my side (I'm sure looking fabulous). Mom said it looked pretty funny later. Okay. Swim - check. Now I had to run from the dock, down the grass to the back of the transition station to get my bike.

I was short of breath, so I didn't rush too much at the station. Bike shorts on, socks and shoes on, swig of water. Inhaler in pocket. Helmet on and fastened. Run with bike to mounting line. Ahhhh! This is a blast!!!

 

Mounted bike, and was off. Well, as off as I could be. The bike portion was my Everest here. It started out uphill. I went slowly - one to catch my breath and two because it was hard! I kept pushing. The downhills (I think) are one place cyclist gain speed, but I'm not too comfortable going super fast, because I'm just not used to it. It was a beautiful course though - rolling hills and farmland. I was surprised how few people were around me, knowing this was a race of almost 200 people. A lot of people passed me. I didn't really mind though. I pushed as hard as I could, but tried to remember to conserve energy for the run. I had my gatorade/green tea/honey mixed drink. (It was not good.) Then I kind of freaked myself out thinking of the 3 cups of coffee earlier that day, then green tea. I didn't want to have a heart attack. (Like I needed more adrenaline. Geez. Sometimes I feel this is the blog inside the head of an extremely anxious person. Hell, that's probably why I love running. Whatever.) I passed one girl. Just one, but hey, that's okay. It was pretty fun, but I was excited when I knew we were on that final downhill back to the transition stations. I hopped off my bike at the dismount line and ran it down the road, into the transition station to do my favorite - running!!!

Transition station went pretty smooth. I racked my bike, switched shoes, grabbed my shirt and had and off I went (struggling to put shirt over head and run simultaneously).

Ahhh, the run. How fun, how great, how... Crap. I'm EXHAUSTED. About 1/10 mile in, I realized how tired I was. I told myself I should have demolished that disgusting drink. Hey though, this is my favorite part. I decided to enjoy it, and try to run the whole way, even if it was slow. I crossed the bridge and there was Rick! I shared my feelings, with a smile. "Holy crap Rick, I'm exhausted!" (I become very eloquent when hypoglycemic.) He (I believe) was feeling good. He seemed to be running well. We chatted a bit - then I continued on. Hey - there's Hannah! We chatted too. I again, shared my feelings, oh so eloquently. She was encouraging as always. I hopefully encouraged back (I was in my own world, I think I did) and continued on. My head told me, "Just keep running. Just keep running. Slow down a little if you need to - just keep running. If you walk, you may not be able to start again". At the 1 mile mark, the aid station had some water - or so I thought. I took a sip, and I don't know what it really was (tea, powerade?), but it was not what I was wanting at the time. Hey - only two more miles! (Aww! I hate it's almost over!) Doo de doo. 1.5 mile turnaround - now the best part, a slight downhill the whole way back! My shin was alright, but my right knee was hurting. Ugh that right knee. What to do? I just tuned it out and kept pushing. I felt like I was just jogging though. Like 8:15 pace or so. (Turns out, it was under 7:30) With about 1/2 mile left, I got that end of the race feeling. I pretended like I had been running only, and had a good kick left. This lasted about 12 steps. Oh well. Just keep up a pace. I was breathing way too fast as it was. Last turn - I can see the finish line! I didn't speed up though, just kept the pace. A guy shot past me - I encouraged him - and kept plugging away. Ahh, BEEP, through the last timing chip chirp.

Breathe, breathe, breathe, breathe, breathe. I was handed a water, used the inhaler, got my chip cut off, walked around the gate and there came Hannah! Woo-hoo!!!! Chad walked over  - he had already finished too! In came Rick! Yay! Great race!!! We caught our breath, mom came over, and I don't even know what was said. I think I gushed about how fun it was, but it may have been how hard it was. I don't remember.

We took more pictures. Hung around and absorbed the experience. I had some watermelon and cantaloupe, as well as a turkey and cheese sandwich from the sponsors.

We stayed for awards. Rick won his age group! I got 3rd, and Hannah got a very close 4th - making us perfect training partners. We all had a blast - I can't stop looking at pictures.

 My times were as follows:  

Swim: 5 00:11:26    T1: 00:01:46   Bike: 41 00:50:57   T2: 00:01:24   Run: 13 00:23:21   Total: 01:28:52

I miss Sunday. I had Guster lyrics in my head, "I wish tomorrow was like today." I am officially hooked. I can't wait to find another one. I am definitely doing this one next year - it was so beautiful. I hated it was over so quickly - I may do the international distance that's on Saturday in 2011.

All in all, if you can't tell, this was epic. (In the words of a friend.) The people, the experience, the atmosphere, the setting. All epic. (And highly recommended to all.) Epic.