Freedom to be

umstead 100 training picto blog

2012-01-23T10:15:00.007-05:00

views from the ridgeline of brumley mtn
frozen grossman
biggest hoar frost I've seen in my life
happy to be actually running in the snow
view from top of white top during my NYE run
view from buzzards rock NYE "over the top" run
me and my best buddy from high school hiking up white top mtn on the AT
snowy brumley mtn long run
post interval run on the creeper trail in my HG 100k T!
Sweet maverick the super Aussie during sunday morning long run
Robin Grossman running through the morning sunlight on treasure mtn
me and my puppy! love him so much
nice views during yesterday's morning run.

TRAINING, TRAINING, TRAINING. That is what is up with jennyd nichols right now. Little Jenny is running her heart out these days. I recovered from hellgate 100k, had a WONDERFUL holiday season full of time with family and friends. I shifted gears pretty much post christmas and started training officially for umstead 100 first week in january. ( even though I ran 24 miles on NYE with the IMTR's at over the top)

So far things are going well training wise. I'm just enjoying being super active and having a goal to work towards. I'm working out at the YMCA a couple times a week on my easy days usually before an easy 60 min morning run, spin biking, incorporating yoga once a week in my routine. and running wise: one day speed work, couple days later tempo run, couple days later back to back long runs ( weekends). I'm recovering from my workouts okay. Feeling taxed and labored while I'm in the moment, but pretty much good to go by the next morning. So I think I have a good balance there.

Little daunting after running 66.6 miles and knowing how much more I have to run for umstead. BUT I have tons of confidence due to the technical conditions of HG vs. how non technical umstead is--

but that being said : 1. 100 miles is a 100 miles, and 2. runnable courses offer their own special set of challenges that mtn 100's do not. I think mostly it's about self control and not being greedy at the start. making yourself be on a schedule and sticking to it from the start. I think for umstead I'm going to run 24 min and walk 4 min. and stay on that schedule. and starting slow etc. if any 100 milers out there have ANY advice to offer up, I'm MORE than all ears!

more than anything, I'm fairly confident I can complete the distance and am aware of the roller coaster ride it's going to be. I feel I've learned enough the past couple years, to just work through my tough patches and keep moving forward.

It's amazing the journey of natural progression my ultrarunning has taken me on. 3 years ago, a 50k was practically an insurmountable distance. I couldn't fathom running 50 miles, then 50 miles grew-- comfy in 2011. So I know 100 miles is going to kick my butt, but I would really like to think I can reach a point to be able to adapt, and it be my "new normal".

next up for me is HOLIDAY LAKE 50k! I'm using this run as a long run, going to have to run another long run the day after. Goals for this race would be to run it faster than last year, but as far as racing goals for HL, I have zero. pretty much the plan is like sophie had me run last year. start slow. sit in the first loop, then work hard the last loop. :)

okay, so any umstead advice, you guys feel free to comment, or email etc!

my first 100k: hellgate 2011

2011-12-11T19:58:00.010-05:00

I'm sitting here on sunday afternoon with fat, blistered feet, sore achilles in both legs, wondering what would be the best way to describe this amazing journey I was fortunate enough to go on. It's really almost a surreal experience to be able to sit here and say "I'm a hellgate finisher.". Hellgate 100k in my mind was always the ZENITH of any of the ultras on the east coast. It's where VERY TOUGH ultrarunners test their metal against the elements, rocky leaf covered trails and 14,000ft of vertical climbing over 66.6 miles. oh, and the race starts at midnight. a little different!! I've read so many race reports from this epic race, and I'll be honest to say the race was vilified in my mind. I WAS scared of hellgate. When I was running Terrapin mtn 50k this spring I was with Marlin Yoder and Sophie and she said, " WOOP! HELLGATE COURSE!!" it literally sent a chill down my spine. and we were on the same section Friday night, I told sophie that had some one told me in march, that I'd be THERE running hellgate with her in December, I would of NEVER believed them. I am very happy that sophie convinced me to run Hellgate ( just like LUS and MMTR) She believed in my ability to finish HG, before i even believed myself that I could do it.

I came the evening before the race and stayed off exit 150 at the holiday inn. I slept in and laid around until check out, then came to Camp Bethel and snagged a bunk and proceeded to visit with all my friends and lay around all evening until it was time for packet pick up and dinner.

I have talk about dinner. It's always really special to see all your friends at packet pick up, but one thing I thought that was awesome about dinner was that rather than buffet, you are served family style. As soon as I walked into that dining room and sat down, At that moment the light bulb came on, and I immediately understood WHY horton likes to keep this race small. So Dr. Horton: I GET IT NOW. :)

There are "years": "ice year" "leaf year" "warm year".. no idea what this year will be called. I was fortunate with the weather. It had rained heavily for a couple of days the beginning of the week, so even though the course was a little wet and mucky in many places:) I'm sure it helped with the leaves. The forecast was for low in the 20's friday night and high 41 saturday. I think it was way colder than 20 on top of headforemost mtn. BRRR! but immediately descending I felt it was really comfy. it may have been in the 30's all night. I was never really cold. ( other than headforemost) but I'm getting ahead of myself.

JJ JESSEE was kind enough to come crew for me since brock had to work this weekend. He came after the race meeting and I gave him all my gear and bag o gels and snake oil. He gave sophie, donna and I a ride to the start. It felt a little cold at the start, and I was calm. I thought I would be terrified-- but I wasn't. We lined up sung "o, canada" and the "star spangled banner" and before I knew it was 12:01 and we were off! one thing i did differently this race: no garmin. my first race EVER without it. I just wore my timex ironman and never even set the chrono just looked at the time of day. I can't say it really made that big of difference. I was probably happy to not see how slow my pace was on some sections. :)

sophie and I before the start in our LUS jackets ( that barely got worn)

I guess for my race synopsis I can break it down in a few sentences for each section:

start to AS1: ran with Mike and Sophie-- did we cross the river before the first AS?? I can't remember.. I do remember a river though. I think that was how it went. What really sticks out in my mind is it being really tight and congested on the single track.. people right in front, people right behind you and it was a little nerve racking.

AS1 to Petits Gap:

started up the road and with mike and sophie and buddy, we RAN. It was awesome. finally got my elbow room.

Petits Gap to Camping Gap:

single track with glowsticks on trees:) thanks grattan and donna! I thought of you guys everytime I passed a glowstick. it was a little rocky and downhill ( not my strength) but I was really happy when rocks from the terrapin course started looking familiar. sadly lost sophie and mike once we got off the single track and were climbing on the road. ( just like terrapin!) Sophie is just a rock star on those big climbs. but I was totally okay because 1. I was starting to feel a little worked. so the run/hike thing was cool by me. I just turned on my ipod and got up to camping gap. the moon light was amazing on the road, and I was super happy to KNOW where I was and it be familiar.

CAMPING GAP TO HEADFOREMOST MTN:

okay so I left camping gap and started out toward the white oak trail/WOR loop and was again, feeling really happy that I was familiar with my surroundings and that i was getting ready to go on the promise land course, I leaped frog a bit with alyssa godesky ( who I think got 4th ) .

I was really loving the grassy road and thinking about my first promise land50k this year, how I was extremely sick with bronchitis that race and Rebekah stayed with me for a GOOD bit like an hour and cheered me up and pieced me back together to get me eating again. I knew she was out on the course and had a bad cold and I said I prayer that she was feeling better and having a good time. I spend ALOT of time reflecting on the past year of the races in the LUS.. and just how awesome it was to end my season this way it had all come full circle. started running with a really great guy who got 3rd in the IMTR 50 this year ( his knee was bothering him) I hope he finished but had a feeling he may have dropped at headforemost. So that was cool to get to talk about Mt Rogers and Damascus for a bit. I love where I train and all my friends there and feel so extremely fortunate to call those trails "home". Separated on the climb from the IMTR 50 guy up the mtn. and as I climbed I started to get cold

HEADFOREMOST to AS 5/jennings creek/ breakfast AS:

I got COLD quick up there.. I don't know what happened on that climb but when I got to JJ's trooper at 5:10AM I was light headed and slurring my speech.. JJ ( being the super crew he was) switched nathan packs, got me in my pink jacket and gave me ensure and off I went. once I started descending I immediately felt MUCH BETTER. and WARMER:) I listened to pink floyd and thought alot about my brother, Todd. I wore a locket with his picture in it to Hellgate. I knew it would help me in my rough patches because for some reason, alot of times during my rough patches I think of him, and how he wouldn't want me to quit -- he'd want me to overcome adversity and figure things out and keep moving.

Jennings creek AS to LITTLE COVE MTN:

I got to breakfast AS at 6:41. still dark, I couldn't wait to get rid of my headlamp but decided to keep it until I got to the next AS. Saw JJ. Then I got a cup and filled it with silver dollar pancakes, eggs, bacon and quiche. YES!! QUICHE!!!:) and I ran out of there and started the climb and I ate my yummy, yummy breakfast. MMMM. it was awesome. Then I found fellow IMTR Guy Love, he was having problems eating and drinking. I was sad he was having a bad day. I told him it definitely wasn't my greatest race either but to hang in there and keep moving. I continued on and met Nelson ( waves- HI NELSON) who said he read my blog before and we hiked up the mtn to little cove mtn.

me at the little cove AS mile 34

little COVE MTN to BEARWALLOW GAP:

What a big surprise to get on top of that mtn and see BOB and DREW ( go CATS!!) and JJ!! I was happy the sun was shining, and I was getting ready to drink a handheld of aminos on this section. JJ told me this section maybe a little tough I think it was 8 miles. happy to ditch my rudy project clear lenses and my headlamp and my gloves.. decided later down the trail I should of kept the gloves:) this section was FUN for alot of it, it was FS road then this cool section that reminded me SOO much of the dark side on the promise land course ( but I knew it wasn't the dark side just similar) THEN.. came the fun part.. the devils trail and just alot of climbs. I really had some rough patches. I went from the depths of despair to being SO happy to being alive. I thought the devils trail was unreasonably cruel to me, and then I decided it wasn't the rocks fault I can't run well on them.. I was just mentally not sharp on this section. so I came into bearwallow mile 42 at 10:40AM seeing bob, drew, jj, tammy ( I LOVE YOU GUYS!)

looking like this:

but after a hydration pack change, getting some gloves, sunglasses, lots of encouragement from tammy, bob and JJ and a CHEESEBURGER; I left looking like this:

42 miles down only 24 more to go

much better. I love friends! this picture is small but I'm smiling and RAVISHING a cheeseburger.

BEARWALLOW GAP TO BOBLETT's GAP:

7 miles . from what I remember there was alot of climbing and leaves and ridges. I was alone alot and just tried to run where I could and listen to music. I know i'm slowing down but knew I had PLENTY of time to even run 15:30 or 16 hrs. so That was okay. and so mentally, I just tried to stay positive-- how awesome the weather was ( 40 and sunny) and i was eating.. ( the fact I can get a cheeseburger and quiche during a long run really makes me think I'll be okay during 100's for the nutrition stuff) and what a great experience this was for me just BEING at hellgate and knowing I was going to FINISH hellgate. So I just tried to stay in the game that way even though i was REALLY starting to hurt BAD.

I get to boblett's gap and both my achilles are really really hurting. ( I think it was just all the climbing and running on the rocks)

shuffling into boblett's gap AS.

and Tammy called brock for me! that was SO awesome to get to tell him and the kids that I loved them.

BOBLETT's GAP to FOREVER SECTION

I was hurting bad. So I took 2 tylenol ( yep, I know). Jamie Darling was working this AS and asked me what she could get me to help.. She was so sweet. I asked her for a gun so I could shoot myself:) ( I was joking-- kinda- it hurt just to walk) JJ offered to jump in with me and run the forever section with me. before the race, had NOT even anticipated or thought of having anyone run with me, BUT JJ had on his montrail masochists-- at first I thought hmm maybe just the last 6 miles it would be great to have a friend to run with, but when he offered at bobletts-- I immediately took him up on it. so off we went.

we were LOVING that road down the mtn. so much that I missed the turn onto the single track. We spent about 20 mins ( me trying not to freak out because I had never gotten lost during a race before) finally found out after running back and forth 3 times looking for me 2 other guys were lost too. so apparently Im not the only one who missed this turn:) BUT I decided it was what it was.. and poor JJ I think he either thought I would be mad at him ( hey, i missed the turn not him! not his job to navigate me) or I was going to cry or something. because of the lost time and the couple of people who got ahead of me. nah, I just thought.. this is just life. things dont go perfectly.. you fix what you can, do your best and ROLL WITH IT. So I just decided to have fun running the forever section with JJ. He so selflessly worked all day friday, drove up to camp bethel, stayed up all night, all day and NOW was running with me! It was so much fun just trying to figure out where the forever section would end, laughing and making jokes and saying "HELLGATE!" because WOW. I was almost finished. and I'm SO happy I got to have this adventure with JJ. so thankful for his help, but running with him was the best.

DAY CREEK TO FINISH

it was ON. I knew i had 3 miles up and 3 miles down and I was ready to be done. JJ and I hiked up the first 3 miles to the parkway in 41 minutes. I was SO proud of myself. tylenol was kickin in:) feet felt way better. I crossed the parkway and thought of Gary Knipling who told me to really enjoy that moment knowing there was just 3 miles downhill to the finish on that nice dirt road. and so we made our way down happy to know I was going to run 16 hrs and something and the sun was still bright and shining ( I didn't want to finish in the dark) SO that made me happy!! and finishing this race... no, I didn't cry.. sometimes I do that at finish lines, I was just SO HAPPY to be there. HAPPY I finished Hellgate 100k. HAPPY it was 16:19. Happy I learned so much about working through rough patches and the highs and lows of ultra distance running. Happy to learn that I'm tough enough to get in there and dig deep when i have to. Happy I had the support of my family and so many friends. Happy I got to spend friday and saturday in the mountains with SO many old friends and I made many new friends! Happy horton let me in his race!:) I'll def be back next year.. if Horton, lets me in:)

Bob said it best: " I once was lost, but now am found."

Horton Hug makes all the pain from running 66.6 miles in the mtns all better

fun pre HG long run, vicki's death march picto blog

2011-11-28T08:38:00.006-05:00

Well, recovery from MMTR has gone pretty well. I was a little surprised a couple days after the race, how "normal" I felt, and proceeded to ease back into training with cautious optimism. I've been doing some intervals and a couple longer runs, and this past weekend did my last long run before hellgate at SNP with the VHTRC. :Vicki's death march! I had SO much fun running in the mtns big climbs, rocky trails ( that reminded me of Middle Earth on LoTR) and great companionship with a zaney cross section of people who make up Va happy trails... Love running with these guys! never a dull moment. It was a beautiful day, ( a little warm!) met so many new friends and enjoyed spending time with old ones!

here are some pictures from Vicki's death March:

Sophie, kara, Laurie and I at the falls
a Happy David Snipes
just starting out on the fire road, already a warm morning
group shot at the falls

Quatro's "presidential" profile shot
Gary Knipling and I
sophie is either yawning or letting out a primal scream here.
Q- the coolest texan I know.
ham who is very tall.
view of old rag from hawksbill
on the summit of hawksbill tallest peak in SNP

myself, sophie and kara with the massenuttens in the background
a trash can at the stables that a bear had mauled.

SO here I am less than 2 weeks out from HG. Longest race for me to date-- first 100k and it's a doozey of a 100k. I'm looking forward to Epic fun, sharing the trail with so many great ultrarunners. and really, just celebrating what a great year and journey it's been. I've learned so much this year. and I know I still have so much more to learn.

I love night running, I enjoy running in the cold/love winter sports.. so I'm not really scared or worried about those aspects of the race. I know it's going to HURT, and be LONG and take awhile... I've come to terms with all those things when I registered for the race and not fearful about those things. I've accepted this to be " it is what it is." and I'm just ready to run in the mtns with all my friends, and see how the journey unfolds and HAVE FUN, and eat tons of AS food. :)

MMTR 2011: REDEMPTION RUN

2011-11-08T11:38:00.009-05:00

Wow. What a weekend. What a journey. It's amazing to be sitting here typing this out. Last year, post MMTR ( where I blazed the course in 11:07 and had the toughest day) I was licking my wounds: I suffered from a severely bruised ego and deflated self esteem. I pretty much wrote a SUPER long, whiney race report offering up ALL the excuses of why I ran such a crappy race. Maybe I just needed that justification for myself, but let me tell you, that 2010 MMTR stayed with me like stepping in a big pile of doggy poo-- you know how the stink stays on your shoes ALL DAY?? That was EXACTLY what it was like. I had zero desire to run Masochist ever again.

THEN Sophie ( dear sophie!) and martha wright talked me into signing up for LUS after holiday lake this year. I decided to do it, but man, I shuddered to even think of going back there and face my demons. I decided to shelve even THINKING about it. That's right I'll pull a Scarlett O'hara.. I think about it tomorrow, for Tomorrow is another day.

Little by little as my fitness and training improved over the summer: I lost 15 lbs by not doing anything in particular really different, other than running and working out tons. I felt lighter, fitter, leaner, meaner, tougher... and then I REALLY started thinking about Masochist, and how I was going to face it again.

and even more importantly, I wanted Redemption.

So the week leading up to Masochist I had a really great sense of calmness about it. I KNEW I had done the work. I did have a little snafu with my ankle on my LAST hard workout of hill repeats on the AT ( it's a bear of a workout! I ran every 2 weeks -- that and running in hurricane section of Mt Rogers was my salvation for this race-- it got me UBER PREPARED) 2 weeks before MMTR, I was just ROCKING my hill repeats and SO excited because I was running so strong, and on the downhill of my next to last one I rolled my ankle HARD. So hard I couldn't run on it anymore and had to walk out of the woods, I then spent the next 3 days with my foot in a bucket of ice every hour I was awake---I would ice it for 10 min. over and over and over. but I wasn't really upset or freaking out ( other than the first day I hurt myself, I was PISSED it happened to me and the timing of it all-- but I quickly accepted the situation and moved to actively try to fix the problem) felt if it was meant to be, then it was going to happen. So what did I do???

I threw a party. And that really was a great distraction. I didn't worry that I wasn't running, I worried about picking up my house and making a menu and going grocery shopping. I had SO much fun cooking for my friends! I think I'll have another before Umstead 100.

So the wens before MMTR I did a test run on single track with the IMTR's and the ankle seemed to hold up well. But my mojo for downhill singletrack was gone. I was very careful and focused about foot placement.

okay, so I get to Lynchburg, meet up with Brock ( who is working up there) and we go check in, I happily laid out aLL my gear for the next day, went over the crew plan with brock ( what he's supposed to hand me at which AS) and then went to packet pick up where it was SO great to see ALL my friends and get my CAT shirt to run in the next day!! okay, I committed a faux pas here. I peaced out and didn't go to the racers meeting. I wanted to sleep. I so left at 7pm and took two benedryl, set my alarm for 3:45am and it was LIGHTS OUT. I was asleep by 8pm and I had the BEST nights sleep EVER. I didn't wake up until the alarm went off. Got up, dressed, ate poptarts.. left Derek and Christian rode to the start with us.. more fun socializing at the start.. it was cold 32F and I really just felt relaxed.. not scared or fearful like last year.

So for the start of the race, I ran SLOW. I ran alot with BOB, but then he went on, and I just kept it about 9min pace.. and it felt like the entire field was in front of me. I came through the first AS, and I was #143. so I was WAY back there. no worries. I watched the sun come up and it was SOO beautiful. Sophie and Marlin caught up to me, so I decided to hang with them and we just had a good time, laughing and talking.. and I did that pretty much with EVERYONE I ran with.. just had a good time and enjoyed my day Loving the fact I was going to spend ALL day in the mtns and

mile 13.. and I can FLY!! don't I look like the hulk?

I FELT it.. the magic of MMTR-- I was too self absorbed and into my pity party to feel it last year.. WHY MMTR is such a special, special race-- it's practically tangible! I decided right then to harness all this awesome positive energy that was OOZING from every direction: the runners, the volunteers, the mtns, the sun, the blue sky, the trees and pretty leaves.. and just SMILE ALL DAY LONG and be-bop on down the road to montebello! and I was LOVING my slime green CAT's shirt! GO CATS!!!

I pretty much sat in until mile 29 and then decided to push a little harder because I really was feeling awesome and wasn't taxed at all. I had a great climb up buck mtn. got to run with rick, kathleen and marlin some more.. then I was SO excited to get to the loop!! That was a very special part of my race! I LOVE the loop. I thought of my friend JJ Jessee , and really just tried to smile and run the loop hard for him, because JJ is awesome. I thought of ALOT of the people in my life while I was running, I thought of my friends, the IMTR's, my family, my kids, my brother Todd, My sweet dog maverick who I knew would LOVE to be running with me. and I know I sound a little flakey talking about all the positive energy-- but in the loop I just felt LOVED and I felt SECURE in myself and my ability. and it just made me run faster and push harder, and it felt great-- I had a permagrin the entire way.

Out of the loop: brock pulls me over to hand me an Ensure and tell me I'm 11th woman and 10th is just a little bit ahead of me. I had my mouth FULL of brownie and I look at him and say: " top 10 gets a goose down jacket." with brownie crumbs flying in all directions while I'm talking ( spouses who crew: THIS IS UNCONDITIONAL LOVE-- you see the good, the bad and the ugly.) and I guzzle the ensure and sprint away.

brock telling me what's up-- out of the loop

I get to salt log gap and Jamie Darling's crew is all upset because they missed her. I realize now that is WHO I'm after.. They had a gel and I 5 hr energy for her. I had looked at the clip board, and knew she is just 3 min ahead.. so I told her crew that I'll take her stuff to her, because I know I'm going to be seeing her here shortly.:o) So alas! about a mile or two later.. I see pink up ahead... more than happy to deliver her things to her, and slide on down the trail 10th woman.. THEN I see another lady.. and pass her-- we end up passing each other back and forth a couple of times.. racing in and out of the last AS. and then she finally catches me and drops me on the downhill. curses! oh , well I tried to be 9th. I just couldn't run on those rocky jeep roads that fast as she.. she rocked the downhill. I later discover this was meredith terranova.. Who is very cool and glad that I met her-- we both pushed each other hard and that was fun and intense to race with her:) and she kicked my butt the last 2 miles-- I admit it.

okay, so am on the road, my last 1/2 mile or so to the finish, and I'm just running as hard as I can. I'm SO HAPPY not to be finished, because I actually felt like I had alot left in the tank.. but SO HAPPY to have had a good day and SO much fun in the mtns. I can't believe it's legal to have that much fun and feel THAT GREAT!! . SO HUMBLED.. by how many people helped me to get to that finish line: brock : is an amazing crew at races, and no way could I train and race if he didn't support me, and cheer me on, my parents and brock's parents who watch my boys for races and training weekends, Eric Grossman, Sophie Speidel, the people who I train with aka MY FRIENDS! the IMTR's ( LOVE YALL!!!) , this fall I ran alot with: VHTRC and the CAT's -- thank you to these two groups for being so inclusive and making me feel so at home on the trails with you. So I have this HUGE support network..

PURE BLISS!!!!~

So me crossing the line 9:45:33 and 10th woman at MMTR, while much of the race was solo, the journey getting there involved ALOT of people. THANK YOU to everyone. I really am SO blessed and lucky to have so many wonderful people in my life. So happy to be apart of this wonderful community. and congrats to ALL my friends who ran MMTR! ERiC Grossman won over all! Sophie was 6th and won LUS, Kevin Townshend ran his 10th MMTR, Rob French ran LOW, LOW 9 hrs and won masters. Martha Wright won Masters for the Women. Congrats to Bob and David ( CAT's) who ran their first MMTR!

HELLGATE! HERE WE COME!!!

TOP 10 women for MMTR 2011

SWEET SWAG!! patagonia goose down coat for the top 10

the 2 women responsible for me even running MMTR! Sophie,martha, and myself in our patagonia LUS hoodinie jackets. Sophie is LUS women's champion, Martha is the LUS master's Champion, and I squeaked in with 3rd in the LUS series.

pre- MMTR oct training!

2011-10-30T07:38:00.005-04:00

I'm going to admittedly be a slacker here and just have pretty much a photo blog for this post.

The past couple weeks have been AWESOME! We've been blessed with a WONDERFUL and BEAUTIFUL fall. I still literally smile everytime I walk outside and see all the pretty leaves. I love the cool temps and lower humidity! ITS AWESOME. a trail runners paradise!

The first weekend in october, I drove up to Charlottesville to run the Wild Oak Trail with sophie and the VHTRC!

Sophie was nice enough to invite me up for a weekend of back to back runs. I stayed at her lovely home and met her beautiful family. I always say that sophie is the hostess with the mostest, and it's so true. I had such a wonderful time staying at her house ( I felt so at home and at ease with her family)

here are some pictures from the Q's flickr from the run.

Twot was NO JOKE. It was a challenging technical course with some big climbs and big descents. I was glad I decided to wear masochists for that run! MARLIN YODER! thanks for running with me ALL DAY LONG. THANKS For not rolling me off the mtn, even though I begged you to at one point.

Sophie and I then went on to Blue mtn Brewery for some Oktoberfest fun!

and the next morning we ran on the AT with Jack, Sophie's super Aussie! It was a GREAT training weekend.

Then a couple of weeks ago, I embarked on a training run with another tribe of trail runners whom I just LOVE the CAT's. ( Charlottesville Area Trail Runners) I say all the time that IMTR's love CAT's! I feel so much comraderie with these guys. Same way I feel at home, at sophie's house. I feel AT HOME running in the blue ridge mtns with the CAT's.

So I drove to lynchburg for the night and then met fellow IMTR, Guy Love sunday morning to go drive towards montebello and run the priest and 3 ridges! I have ALWAYS wanted to run this run ( well, for about 2 years now) and I was SO excited I was actually getting to run this, AND The weather was perfect! it was cooler about 40 at the start ( and windy and cold up on the 3 ridges) but about 70 by the time I descended the priest. I ran with Bob and Neil all day long and just had the BEST time talking to them about everything under the sun. The climbing the priest I got to run with David and Quatro, caught up with Guy ( because he waited for me) and so we had a great group on the overlooks at the priest.

post run, we had a lovely tailgate.. which is one thing I REALLY have grown to look forward to at the end of any run that Quatro Hubbard is attending. :) seriously, post run tailgate in the trail head parking lot is WHERE IT's AT people.

here are some pictures from that day:

tailgate party in the AT parking lot!

That was my last BIG long run then, I've ran a couple 17 milers in the hurricane gap section and I took some pictures of those runs.

And I ran bear tree gap loop 10 miler, the leaves were unreal, but didn't take my camera that day but fellow IMTR dennett dwyer did. If he ever posts pictures, I'll link them up. yes, dennett I'm writing your name in this blog post so all your e-stalkers can google you some more!! They'll be so sad I don't have any pictures... oh wait, let me see.. nope, no more pictures...

HERE is a link to my Picasa so you can see all my other oct running pictures.

okay, so somewhere in there.. all this blissful fall running, I'm supposed to be ready for MMTR. I know what I need to do, having run this course last year. I feel I am ready fitness wise. I'm MUCH fitter than last year. I have much more time on my feet than last year. and my recovery times are less than what they were last year. SO I hope that translates into a more successful run, a faster one-- and an more enjoyable masochist than the one I experienced last year! :o) I want to have FUN. I want to ENJOY the moment and just grab life with both hands and give it a bear hug. I want a JOYFUL 50 miles! That's what I want. Even if I don't obtain those things on Nov. 5th and things aren't idealistically like I envision them to be, the journey of getting to MMTR has been FANTASTIC this year. I have gotten in some super challenging and beautiful runs and got to share the trail with some of my favorite people. I love my ultrarunning ,trail running family-- and road running family. I am so blessed to have so many great friends in running. I love yall!!!

Can't wait to see all my friends at MMTR, it's going to be like a big family reunion! SO many friends running! good luck to you all! and hellgate 100k! i'm in! so I'm excited about that! my plan is to start slow, to suffer with dignity:op and FINISH!!

New River Trail Challenge and MMTR training

2011-09-28T16:35:00.006-04:00

hey! it's been awhile since I've last posted. I had a fairly easy and quick recovery from Cheat mtn 50. I was THRILLED because last year I REALLY struggled, and it hampered my fall training, thus resulting in a lack luster experience at MMTR 2010.

SO back in the swing of things the past couple weeks, I've gotten some great training runs in with the IMTR's and solo. I'll just highlight a couple of my longer runs on single track for a minute:

1. Beth, Joey Licata and I ran Orange Dot 17 miler on Sept 10th. Beth ran REALLY strong. Really happy for her where she is with her training. I feel she is going to tear up Ridge to Bridge marathon. Orange Dot is a very challenging route ( at least I think so) but I have to say, we all tackled it and ran much faster and stronger than in previous runs on the same route. I think it just means we are getting better and not bonking when we run! :o) It was just a very nice day, good weather and it was bittersweet because Joey is moving away pretty soon. :( bummer. It's been so awesome to get to know him the past 2 years. Some of my favorite trail running memories are from running with him, and he was just so great to be spontaneous-- I could call or text him at 10 pm on a friday and say "let's run 20 miles tomorrow at 7am!" and he would answer back immediately with "AWESOME!" So few people are like that. fun, adventurous, reliable. etc. Joey is good peoples, and I wish him the best at his new project-- hope to meet up further down the trail!

2.Then Sept 17th-- I was feeling a little flat and tired wussed out on racing Bays Mtn 15-- and beth got 2nd and Pr'ed big that day! go beth! I ran 16 miles on the AT with Tim Lamie, Guy Love, and Kevin Townsend and his border collie named "holly". It was cool, rainy and foggy and we started there behind aliese and jim's house on the AT and ran towards abingdon gap shelter ( out 8 miles) and then descended back down the mtn 8 miles. It really is SO much climbing to run it this way, but I really need that for masochist. and the last 8 miles went by SO fast.. it's amazing how much faster and easier it is on the way down:o)

3.Then on Sept 20th I ran 17 miles from Summit cut ( where the AT crosses 58 before lost mtn shelter) I ran this one solo and got a shuttle from sundogs. Again it was kinda a rainy, cool and foggy day. I really didn't mind at all because I feel we've had such a hot summer. I welcome the cooler temps! I started off this run on a weird note because really ALL summer I've lamented to anyone who would listen, about the fact I hadn't seen any bears. The past two summers ( 2009 and 2010) I would see them almost every run! Well, I was feeling GREAT running down the mtn past lost mtn shelter and I rounded a bend just HAULIN it and there was a cub running about 5 ft in front of me freaking out scared and he scrambled up in a tree. I was pretty shocked because he was such a little bear and i knew his mama was somewhere close. I had my iphone in my front pocket so I took it out and snapped a picture.. it's SO blurry but I was in a super hurry and wasn't about to try to stand there and focus and take a better one. I was surrounded by rhododendrens and the bear cub was in a tree on the right side of the trail.. in front of me. So in order to proceed on, I was going to have to go under the cub.. I couldn't back track because the shuttle was gone and my car was 17 miles away in Damascus at Sundogs.

THEN I kept hearing this weird noise... to the LEFT of me on the other side of the trail.. and it was MAMA.. she was making this jaw popping and snorty/wuffy sound at me, and when she would do that the cub would climb higher. I never SAW the mother, I wasn't about to get down and look in the rhododendrons for her, but I FELT her there and HEARD her and she was close to me. SOO, I just did what we did at SNP riprap 2010.. I just raised my arms to make myself look tall and calmly just started walking and talking in a calm voice.. and went on down the trail about 100 ft past the cub I turned and no one was still moving.. so I started jogging away.. i was afraid to run fast because I just wanted to be "casual" and not give anybody ( IE MAMABEAR-- no relation to IMA) any reason to think I was afraid or any reason so chase me. lol here is the picture I took:

in hindsight, I should of went WAY around the situation and just bushwhacked, but I seriously was just not thinking out of the box there.. it was like I had blinders on. I was just thinking go up the trail or go down.. I really hope common sense prevails if I ever have a next go around with mama and cubs.

The rest of the AT run was uneventful, but I did have a good run and ran strong, I was back to the car in 3:05. I didn't think it was that bad of an effort. and I made some new friends who work at sundog ( namely Joe, the super nice driver who took me up the mtn) and I got to have a trailside chat with Steve Webb, who is one of my favorite residents of D-town. He was really the first friend I made in damascus in 2005.

On sept 24th, I ran something a little different!! a couple of weeks ago follow IMTR Dennett Dwyer asked myself and Paul Gadola to be on his relay team for the NEW RIVER TRAIL CHALLENGE. The relay is held on the New River Trail and it consists of a 40 mile bike ( Paul recently biked the Contential Divide Trail and avg over 100 miles per day so he was in great shape from his adventure) 12 mile Kayak ( Dennett is a really accomplished Kayaker so that is his forte) and 13 mile trail run on the new river trail ( which was my leg). I had ran New River 50k last year, and knew it was going to be flat and intense for both the bike and running legs. ( and I didn't really envy Paul for what he had to accomplish! Really didn't envy Dennett either because the longest kayak section I've ever done in a race has been 3miles and that was tough for me! so I was happy to just merely be running:o) I was really excited about trying something different, with some new friends-- and super happy to be on the team "DAMASCUS MOONSHINERS" and yes, I really did feel some pressure to step up and run hard to prove myself worthy to be called a "damascus moonshiner" because, while I don't live in damascus, I do spend an awful lot of time there, and have many many good friends who live there and wanted to make them proud! :o)

The name of the game for TRI relays is "hurry up and wait." I was running last leg so I had like 4 hours before I had to run once the race began. That part was enjoyable. I spread out my yoga mat and laid by the river for an hour and just chilled out and looked at the trees above me swaying in the wind and that was nice-- Jenny doesn't get too many downtime moments like that!

Long story short on the Tri relay: Paul got us in a solid position, he rode 40 intense and fast miles and then had to peace out and go to work. He did such an awesome job!!! Then Dennett on his kayak leg passed people and got us closer to the front, and then I passed 2 more teams and we ended up 1st in the mixed divison and technically 3rd overall. ( but of course, we were awarded the 1st place trophies for mixed) STILL it was a very cool and fun event. Definitely plan to run this again next year. Where I had ran New River 50k in 2010, I knew what to expect has far as the half.. and to be honest, yes i had to run way faster than for ultras but it was SO freaking awesome to be finish with a race after about an hour and forty min!!

Also having my first official wolf hills double ipa from a growler nonetheless, made new river challenge a great day.

Cool shirt that Paul gave me the morning of the race! and my trophy:o)

Team leader Mr. Dwyer and I with the trophies ( while poor paul was prepping for oktoberfest with a toothache)

NEXT UP:

going to C-ville to stay with Sophie and run "hot twot" ( the wild oak trail) this saturday with the VHTRC and then check out the Crozet music fest and then Run on the AT afton to the humpbacks on sunday before heading home.

more training in the form of another big back to back weekend in a couple weeks and then haunted half craziness and MMTR.

2011 CTR 10k

2011-08-28T13:11:00.006-04:00

Myself and the 2 CTR academic scholarship recipients ( who volunteered at the race)

this is what the race is ALL about!!! Helping students reach their academic goals!

volunteers jj, rick, and beth during the pre-race thunderstorm
IMTR Tim Lamie
We all loved Jim Bower's outfit
Robin Grossman and I before the race
We loved Jim's outfit so much, I asked for a 2nd photo
Former 9th district congressman Rick Boucher made a cameo appearance on the Va creeper trail
CTR 10k start
beth getting drenched after doing a good deed: putting up my mom's sunroof
VERY happy to have John Mongle and Jock the superdog volunteer at this year's race!!

RESULTS FOR CTR 10k HERE

RACE PHOTOS HERE and HERE ( thanks so much to John Mongle and Andy Bunn for being my race photographers this year!

My family and I were just SO overjoyed at the turn out this year. It was SO amazing at the start of the race to look out and see just a SEA of friendly faces and friends!! THANK YOU to ALL who participated, who volunteered, who sponsored or was connected to the race in anyway! Thank you to all my trail running, ultra running and road running friends who came out and supported the race either by volunteering, running or getting their friends to come run! I am just SO continually humbled by the kindness of the running community. I love you guys!

I really worked SO hard on the race, so it was amazingly WONDERFUL that everything went smoothly, and I really truly hoped everyone ( runners, walkers, volunteers, spectators) ALL had a great time. I really think having the race during the evening worked VERY well and we plan to do that again next year.

one special volunteer, Rob French and his wife drove all the way from high point, NC to volunteer for Todd's 10k. The next morning I hosted a "morning after" fun run on the AT at Mt Rogers to just blow off some steam and have fun! Rob came and ran with Ginger Stewart ( another great friend, volunteer, runner and cyclocross goddess) This was Ginger's first trail run on technical and she did GREAT!! and here are some of the pictures of from the morning run on Mt rogers:

rob, myself and ginger at the start of the run! it was 59F much welcome break from the heat!

AT at mt rogers

ginger Rocking the single track!!

Charlottesville weekend/Cheat mtn moonshine madness 50 mile trail race - 2011

2011-08-28T12:47:00.012-04:00

Taking in the view of the blue ridge near monticello/montalto

Running down a cool trail near the end of mine and sophie's run

wow! the month of august has just flown by! following the race ( as in CTR 10k), I had a nice little taper for cheat mtn, and Brock and I decided to celebrate our birthdays by going to Charlottesville, VA to see Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds play. We decided to spend a couple days in charlottesville so we could go to monticello, check out UVA campus/city of charlottesville and just spend some quality time together.

My good buddy Sophie, as always, was the SUPREME Hostess!! She gave so many wonderful suggestions regarding what to do, where to eat, where to park etc while in charlottesville ( SO grateful to her because all her suggestions where RIGHT ON!) THEN that saturday, the morning of the concert we met at Greenberry's parking lot at 6am for a fun 2hr run on some trails near Carters mtn/monticello/montalto. So great to get to socialize with my friend, and just take in a wonderful sunrise view of the valley/blueridge! post run, breakfast at greenberry's before sophie had inservice at the school. Then brock and I went up on the parkway, hung around rockfish gap and hiked a little on the AT, THEN went to lunch at Blue mountain Brewery! YUM!

The concert was awesome! easily the best Dave show I've seen, and the most stage banter. it was VERY cool to hear all his stories between the songs. Charlottesville was GOOD to us! We so enjoyed our stay and I always love running in that area!!

That sunday on the way home, I got to pick up MY birthday present to myself: a little australian shepherd puppy 8 weeks old named Maverick!

isn't he awesome?!

So that was a great way to take up my focus OFF of cheat mtn the week of TRUE taper by getting to know this little guy and teaching him how to fetch and be housetrained! He is SO SWEET and just such a good dog. So smart! I could go on and on about little maverick. I'm so excited about having him for a running partner as he gets older!

So this year for Cheat mtn, I opted for a different experience. YES, I could of done things that were WAY logistically easier but I just really felt the need to have this ALL INCLUSIVE experience. I wanted to run well. YES, I did.. but I also wanted Brock to come, and the kids ( they could go camping at the start finish! even if that meant brock couldn't crew for me) and maverick couldn't be boarded because he still lacks one more puppy shot he gets in a couple weeks PLUS there is Fred, my yorkie, it would probably make him feel bad if we boarded him and took the new cuddly puppy, right?? SO just EVERYONE got to come to ELKINS! I met Brock in Beckley, WV on thursday evening ( he has been working out of town so much and the kids missed him the previous weekend where we were in charlottesville. so they were GLAD to see their dad!) We rode up to Days Inn in Elkins ( the only pet friendly hotel there in elkins and it really wasn't that bad! we had a great experience!) and I pretty much just chilled out and hung out with brock , kids and dogs all Friday day..

I had packed all my race gear/drop bags/ recovery bags beginning of the week and had everything well organized and exactly how I wanted it. So that was a load off my mind to not have to fool with ANY of my gear ( in a small hotel room with 2 kids and 2 dogs going wild) I took a little nap- amazingly! and then about 4 we went to the Race Headquarter in Beverly, WV at the 4h camp. Set up the tent, got my race # and got ready to run! The kids had a BLAST running around the camp and playing on the playground! They were so excited to be there!

Jack got to meet David Horton:o) /Jack and Todd were the BEST cheerleaders at the CMMM start EVER

and both my awesome doggies loved going to Cheat mtn too! We kept them on a leash, and they weren't on the course or at any AS.. I think those are REALLY simple rules for people to follow! It was great to be able to include them and have them there with us this weekend! I def won't bring my dogs to all my races etc.. i think there is a time and place for everything and some ultras it's just more logistically REASONABLE about whether or not you can have a pet there. There are some races, it's just not a good idea. but in this situation, It just made our little family weekend ( with mommy running a 50 miler in the middle) just more fun for the kids and for us to include the dogs! thanks adam! :o)

The 4-h camp is just such a wonderful staging area for this event. It's pretty there. I really enjoy the scenery, the grounds are very well maintained and nice. I love it.

It was SO great to get to see all my friends! RD Adam and Kadra, his wife were back from his AT thru-run? it was WAY, WAY faster than a hike! but wasn't a speed record attempt it was more this was a once in a life opportunity to do the AT ( northbound) -- so they both took off time from their professions/careers for a couple months and just went for it and succeeded! It was so wonderful to see them again, and just so extremely proud of their accomplishment/AT adventure they shared. GOOD HUMANS!

My good friends Rick Grey and Kathleen Cusick made it to Beverly. Then Todd Bumgardener ( who is just an awesome ultra runner!) I was lamenting about how several of our friends I ran with last year didn't make it. but as rick pointed out, it's a different year. You really can't replicate races.. even though the course is the same, EACH year is something different and special. Rick, you are right. I really will try to be more appreciative of that aspect about races when I repeat them.

Me before pre-race! rocking the aidstation.com patagonia shirt I won at highlands sky! Chelsie Viar wore hers too! there IS a picture floating around of us together with the shirts!

pre-race meeting: so many familiar and friendly faces! I have to give a shout out to two cool people: 1. BOB!!! this made the 3rd race I've ran with him, and is just the nicest runner from NC and Cheat this year was his first 50!! GO BOB!!! Bob is planning on running Umstead next year, and it's just been SO cool to watch him progress as an ultrarunner and see him at races! Congrats, Bob! You ROCK!

2. Dani Seiss-- Dani is so sweet and just an amazing soul! She ran MMTR and JFK back to back last year.. I had the privilege of running up straight mtn with her at MMTR! She wrote the best race report I feel EVER about Terrapin mtn 50k. Very intelligent and just a wonderful person to be around. :o) I was happy to be able to converse with her before the race.

SO the race started! I shouted to my husband and kids that "mommy loves YOOOU!" and we were off. There was definitely a feeling of familiarity on the road. I was HAPPY to be there. I had mentioned to my husband after, RDing todd's 10k earlier this month, all the family responsibilities, car repairs etc.. just the stuff in life you have to deal with-- running the 50 miles at cheat mtn is the EASY and FUN part!!! it was just making it to the race was the challenge!

SO that is how I viewed it: THIS WAS MY NIGHT to have a blast running in the mountains just ENJOY myself!! If I had a mantra the entire night it was "good effort" I just little by little on each section tried to expend the right amount of effort and energy.. I tried to stay steady and consistent each section. keep my heart rate and breathing steady and just stay in control aways. I ate a gel and took a salt tab every hour on the hour. I ate a nutella sandwich AS 2, chicken soup and a quesadilla AS 3, drank an ensure AS5, and some yummy butternutsquash soup and sweet tea at AS7! so I ate alot this race in addition to the 10 gels, 10 S!caps, 3 nuun tablets and 3 Vespas, and 2 5 hour energies consumed during the course of this race!

Rick and I coming into AS 3.

I stayed up with Rick and Kathleen ( leap frogging back and forth) the first 23 miles. Then decided to slip on up the road into the darkness and just run the rest of the race solo. I'm a very social runner, but I did enjoy the solitude and quite time the woods had to offer. I really have had some ups and downs this spring summer with my training and ups and downs with life in general. I felt GOOD and STRONG for the first race in a while ( promise land and highlands sky were both pretty rough experiences.. and really enjoyed just going at my own pace and working through my rough patches under the cloak of night and the canopy of spruce trees. and thankfully I experienced more UPS than downs!! I really did feel pretty strong most of the night. I LOVED the single track sections of this race! mud and all. they just are SO rolling and the climbs aren't that tough.. it may just be tunnel vision from the head lamp, but they seem so runnable? rolling ridgeline is my perception of the inclines of the single track. so I would run both up hill and downhill for the single track mostly. YES, it was boggy and muddy in some sections.. but I didn't fall this year ( yay!) and either skirted off to the side to try to miss the mud or just would run through it. I have to admit, I loved running this course for the second time because I knew where I was and pretty accurately remembered everything and it was just great affirmation when I would pass a section I was hating life in 2010, only to be LOVING the section and SO THANKFUL to be alive in 2011!! I was a little sad to leave them and be on the FS section back down the mountain, for me this was the toughest part of the race, mentally. because you SO want to be finished, but have to complete this section to reach the finish. and this section is SO VERY MMTR :oP which was weighing heavily on me by the finish of this race that in nov, I have MMTR which seems way harder ( in some weird way!) because it really shouldn't be!

I do have to mention it was WAY more humid and warmer than 2010. I sweated so much and never really felt confident that I had my electrolytes in balance. I think that is why my time was a little slower than last year, as was many of my friends.

I'm not even really sure of my time because I forgot to turn off my watch. I think I ran 10:20? anyways I got 2nd overall female and was EXTREMELY happy to be finished and to return to my tent and give kisses and sweaty, muddy hugs to Brock, my sweet boys and the doggies too. Looks like I was able to do and have it all in this situation!! a good race and have my little traveling vortex of chaos RIGHT there with me!! Thanks to brock for watching the kids ( and dogs) while I ran in the mtns all night long! love you!

THANKS SO MUCH to Adam, all the volunteers for such an amazing race experience. WVMTR is such a wonderful group. They work very hard to make sure everyone has the best time out there. Adam's race is so organized and WELL marked.. both reflective markers on trees and markings on the roads. You will NOT get lost at this race. The AS... well, you guys saw my list of food I ate.. it's not your run of the mill AS fair.. they have that too... but the volunteers go out of their way to just have AMAZING YUMMY food!! ( plus these guys are up ALL night making sure everyone is well fed, hydrated and safe!) kuddos to the volunteers!

they always say 3rd time is the charm???

bear run/wolf run 2011 /preparing for CTR10k 2011

2011-07-21T07:24:00.007-04:00

hey! well, the month of July has found me training for my next ultra Cheat Mtn Moonshine Madness 50, running some shorter, more fun races, and getting every detail completed in my preparations for CTR 10k. The 10k I RD in memory of my brother Todd, and is the main fundraiser for an academic scholarship in his honor.

BEAR RUN

The bear run is held at Linville, NC at the base of Grandfather Mtn.

It's run at the same time as the Highland Games, and many scottish and irish ( american) clans camp out and have all sorts of competitions and celebrate their celtic heritage.

It's a VERY scenic run STRAIGHT uphill. for 5 miles. not joking. It's pretty tough! this race fills really early ( like may) 800 people ran this year. and you can't buy or trade bibs, state police are there at the start making sure no one is banditing the race. They don't mess around!

start of the race

I sat in traffic for 4 miles bumper to bumper from boone to linville. I was so nervous about even MAKING it to the race. I finally arrive at the field where they are parking everyone. Get my number, realize I FORGOT MY SOCKS!!! doh! so I just rubbed blister shield on my feet and taped up the back of my heels with athletic tape so my rogue racers wouldn't rub a blister.

on my way to get to the portapotty, I found two of my great friends Hank and Natalie ( who are the RD's of some killer races: " crazy 8's, white lightening bike race, race for the cure 5k, haunted half marathon" etc. GREAT people. Love them! Natalie was dressed up in the spirit of the Highland games and I really need to remember to do that next year!

one of my favorite things about this race is that you get to run up "Forest Gump Curve" The movie Forest Gump was filmed here for a scene when he was running.

Okay, so the race started and I felt WAY back.. the race was chip timed but no mat at the start?? so really what's the point? it felt like FOREVER just getting to the start line, and there was a BAD bottle neck kept waiting for things to thin out.. I got to run uphill about 5k, ran through the highland games ( which was a RUSH) everyone cheering and giving you high 5's ( offering you beer) I passed Ed Marsh, and then met up with Ashely Funderbunk, this cool ultra running chick from Charlotte, NC that I knew beth was buddies with and we ran together alot. then you continue to climb for 2 more very steep miles to the summit at the mile high swinging bridge. ( yeah the race thinned out big time here, I finally got my elbow room) I was SUPER surprised once I crossed the line to get a mug for being in the top 40 women ( who knew? I sure felt like I like 600th!)

So I was pretty happy with my swag! I rode the bus down with my buddy Doug Blackford whom I NEVER saw during the race because he was a gazillion light years ahead of me. Doug realized he had left his drop bag on top of the mtn and had to ride back up, so instead of meeting the gang for pizza in blowing rock, I headed back home to bristol via 421. ( and got so car sick I had to stop twice to puke) never going that way again.

Then this past tuesday I got to run wolf run 7 miler at Bays mtn. This years race was pretty rough. It was 88F and 96% humidity at the start. I think it just made for brutal conditions! I know I suffered during that race! ( even though it was short and over in an hour) You trade off the short races for WAY faster and far more intense. I ended up 6th overall female and won my age group. ( YAY! another pint glass) Ran 3 or 4 min slower than last year ( it was way cooler last year) I hate I'm not going on and on about wolf run. It was AWESOME to see so many of my road and trail running friends from SWVA and NETN, but seriously just concerning the race: it was fast, it was hot, there is a MONSTER climb at mile 2, that you never really recover from, and I suffered the whole race and was happy to finish. :oP but the social aspect was awesome. lol. here is a picture of me finishing Wolf Run.

So now I'm just pretty much focusing on my training, getting things ready for CTR10k on august 13th and then running Cheat mtn 2 weeks later on august 26th. My birthday is the 22nd so I just pretty much look at Cheat as my birthday run and my way to reward myself:o)

I really feel Todd's race is going to be the best yet this year. It's in the evening this year, and I got alot of positive feedback because of the time change, so hopefully that will translate in a rise in #'s!

highlands sky 41 mile trail race=Technical sections with a capital T.

2011-06-20T12:15:00.009-04:00

mile 17 of the highlands sky course. yep that's a trail

A surprised Jeremy and his sweet GF Sara

pre race antics --give ME the towel-- beth!!

I think Kathleen saw someone using the bathroom in the woods

another famous M&N shot

Ashley Dolin and I at 19.7

mile 39.. only 2 more! hurtin just a little! ( i'm a good faker)

AAH! running on grass after all those rocks-- SO nice!

my super duper awesome finish with my kids, keith and rhonda from VHTRC

AAAH!! popsicles with the kids and getting to sit down! HEAVEN!!!

Highlands Sky!!! Where to begin? Well I'll start by saying I went into this race extremely undertrained. Post PL, and the month of May was pretty much a waste concerning my training. I had a handful of 20 milers under my belt, and a week of "heat training" 2 a day runs 6-8 miles the week before when we had our family vacation at the beach. The sheer thought of running 41 miles was pretty daunting and overwhelming. SO I just chose not to think about it. I'm usually pretty hyper before each race. Obsessing over every detail, course info, nutrition plans and gear selection. For this race, I seriously came up with my nutrition plan and learned a little about the course the thursday before the race with a little help from my" ultrarunning chick mentor". I pretty much just threw some gear in my running bag and didn't think too much about anything.

I KNEW I needed to try to take it easy the first 20 miles, ( being patient for these longer races is really hard for me) and then the plan was to really focus and run strong the last 20.

The kids, fred ( my dog) and I met Brock in beckley, WV. I decided to rent a cabin and have this be a fun family weekend in addition to my race. Pre- race meeting on friday was SO fun. It was great getting to hang out and talk to all my friends, meet new people and I won a friggin SWEET patagonia top that has "the aidstation.com" on it. I LOVE it

The new patagonia tops are such an improvement! Best running shirt EVER.

Anyways, I went back to the cabin, laid out my gear, got the kids ready for bed, and went to sleep myself. I woke up at 3:30, got ready and walked down to Rick and Tammy's room, and hung out with them until it was time to leave for the start at 4:45.

The ride in the family van was fun as always with beth, doug blackford, kathleen cusick, tammy's sweet nephew Mason, Rick and tammy grey.. I wasn't really nervous at all because I knew I wasn't going to really be racing. I was just going to strive to be comfortable as long as possible and then just hang on and finish.

The start was a little quick on 2 miles of paved road before we got on the trail. Got on the single track and we immediately began climbing: and thus a BAD BAD bottleneck. I just tried to be patient and get around people when I could and let people around me as well if they wanted to run faster. It really just ended up that Bill potts and I ran through the stinging nettles to pass up some trains:oP it was all good! I lost beth and kathleen about mile 7, had to make a pit stop ( FUN!) then ran some with rick and doug but lost both of them about mile 16. lost Doug at an aidstation and then rick on a technical super rocky and muddy section of trail in the roaring plains wilderness.

I was still feeling good and comfortable, and I stayed this way until about mile 26. BUT I have to say I was SO shocked how technical some sections were SO rocky.. like miles of super rocky trail. and so muddy haha. WELL, IT IS A TRAIL RACE.. but I seriously hadn't ran in a race this technical EVER.. only on training runs at Mt. Rogers is about the only thing I can compare the technicality of this course to.

about the marathon point, I was running with my new friend from middle TN, Bruce on the road across the sky did I hit my first low point. I just tried to work through the rough patch the best that I could. We got to the end of the road across the sky ( this section was AMAZINGLY beautiful) and I just tried to eat all I could. I was very hot and felt pukey. so when I would get to an aidstation, I would find the ice bucket and get my head/hair wet and take the sponge to the back of my neck. Then I would drink ginger ale.. both of these really seemed to help me feel better. I did get a little upset ( inwardly-- I didn't have a melt down- but was probably close) on a couple more rocky and muddy sections because 1. I felt this was a VERY hard race and 2. frustrated at the terrain because I felt I was going so slow and would never finish. GRR! THEN I would remind myself how wonderful it was to just BE there in this breathtakingly beautiful place! Yes, it was a race and I kinda needed to hurry.. but really, this is RECREATION. FUN. I wasn't at the front racing for some award, so there really was no need to get my panties in a wad over some big sharp rocks and mud holes. After I stopped fighting with the trail and just accepted what lay before me at each turn, I found myself running MUCH MUCH better. I was relaxed and having fun!.

going to the "butt slide" section which is a steep muddy descent for about .5 miles I met two really cool people: Keith Moore and Rhonda Stricklett. I leaped frogged with both of them for the next couple of miles and then stayed with them for the final push, and I got such an energy boost just being around these two. They were both so nice and positive! :o) It was a joy to get to the finish and see Brock and my boys! and ALL my friends were there:o) The kids had so much fun with their dad while I was running, they played on the climbing wall and the euro- bungee and rolled down this steep hillside and played with other kids who were there. This was a VERY family friendly event!! VERY NICE!

Sweet end to a very epic and challenging day.

Dan did an excellent job with this race. It was so organized and the volunteers were amazing. The aidstations plentiful. The finishers shirt is another really cool patagonia top only it's blue with pink stitching and the race logo on right side of the chest. Very nice!! The post race BBQ was yummy and The mtn states brew plentiful!! Thank you for such a wonderful experience WVMTR!

I'm already excited about next year because I know what to expect now!! ( as far as the course!)

I felt like I learned so much at this race. The positives is that I kept moving along better during my rough patches and worked through them. My nutrition plan was bulletproof this race. I got hot, but I never felt bonky or deathmarchy and my fingers never were swollen. Also, Im really happy I just got this run in so that I can gain fitness from the time on my feet and the fact I ran 41 miles! that was a great long run for me! so YAY! I feel like I can just build from here and get back to where I was.

Right now I'm getting everything Prepared for the CTR 10k ( my brother Todd's Race!!) shirts, awards, and ALL the details! The race is going to be on August 13th at 6pm this year. We are opting for an evening race! So exciting! I love races in the evening/night!

plan for a long run the next day August 14th at Mt Rogers for all my ultrarunning friends who are coming to town to support the race!! :o)

So I'm going to run some shorter races in july:

The BEAR at grandfather mtn, NC

WOLF RUN at bays mtn, TN

and CRAZY 8's 8K ( world's fastest 8k!)

Then either I will run cheat mtn 50 or Iron mtn 30-- I haven't made up my mind! :o)

Rip Rap/ wild cat 21 mi run

2011-05-31T07:05:00.006-04:00

This weekend I was lucky enough to get invited back to Sophie's now annual run that starts at sugar hallow near Charlottesville and loops it's way through SNP via AT and a series of spurs that cross skyline drive to run past several extremely pristine swimming holes.

This was JUST the break I needed!:o) brock had been working out of town for the past 12 days, and as much as I love my two boys ( more then life itself) I was SOO grateful for the silence at the beginning of my windshield session driving up i=81 ( and then WSP by the time I reached the staunton exit several hours later)

Not being whiney or a baby, but May hasn't been an easy month. just being factual. I was sick pretty much for a month with the coughing.. not sure if I had pneumonia then allergies or a sinus infection. All I know is that I'm still coughing and snotting around here a month after promise land. ( and 2 rounds of antibiotics), Then my aunt passed away after a courageous battle with cancer for several years and her funeral was the day of MMT, so I obviously didn't get to pace my good friend kathleen. It was no question WHERE I would be, or what the right thing to do was-- however, it was very distressing to me that the day before the race, I had to bail on my friend when I knew she was counting on me to be there. Kathleen was VERY understanding and kind of course! It just killed me that I didn't get to follow through with my commitment to her. AND I lost a family member that was so special that I loved very much.

Then someone got in my car in my driveway one night and stole my ipod touch, which isn't a big deal in and of itself.. I know I won't see my ipod again, but it made me SO mad that someone was in my driveway around my house and in my car while the kids and I were sleeping--

Last but certainly not least, Thursday evening the kids and I ended up driving through a TERRIBLE storm of EPIC proportions-- I really can't even convey the severity of this storm other than it had high winds, thunder lightening, baseball and golfball size hail and this crazy fog that made it IMPOSSIBLE to see anything. ( a funnel cloud was spotted where we were, but I couldn't SEE anything just hail and flying tree limbs ( amazed the windshield didn't break on me) but the hail did TERRIBLE damage to my new car...:o/

SO that being said-- i'm thankful the kids and I are safe.. that storm was so scary, I was beginning to wonder at one point if we'd make it home. The car can be fixed, the I can go to best buy and get an ipod.. it was the emotions intertwined with these events that was getting to me more than the material possessions.

but needless to say, I was left feeling pretty wrung out and limp like an old dish rag and NEEDING to get out in the mtns TERRIBLY.

I spent the night in waynesboro and arose the next morning SO excited about being outside, seeing my friends, getting my feet wet, my legs muddy and sweating in the humidity of our mtns!!

I got to the parking lot at sugar hollow about 6:30 and pretty much immediately my buddy and personal hero, bill gentry pulled up and we excitedly got to talk about his 72 hr run from two weeks ago. Then one by one all my old friends and ( then I made new friends) too began to trickle in.. Gary Knipling, Sabrina Moran ( waves frantically- jenny loves ya! :), Quatro!! Marc Griffin ( my favorite canadian )and Sophie-- my ultra chick running mentor/ the hostess with the mostest! Sophie assembled a GREAT eclectic group of runners from all over VA.

We were treated with AMAZING views, UNREAL showing of the Mtn laurel this year, and of course: swimming holes!!

" the into the wild bus" of charlottesville

Bill Gentry!!!

one of the breathtaking overlooks:o)

mtn laurel on display for us to enjoy

My buddy Marlin Yoder met us at the parkway on top of the mtn and I was SO happy to get to run so much with him. Marlin rocks!! and he won the wet t-shirt contest between him, sabrina and myself:

I made several great new friends: Harry Landers and Neal, Christian and David ( who were so nice to share their lunch with me post run)

The run was just what I needed: a sweatfest in the mtns to help me for upcoming highlands sky, eye candy to reward ALL my hard work, and much needed socialization with some cool, like minded, fun, adventurous people!

I left to travel back home, tired, muddy, smiling ear to ear about the days events and all the fun I had. :o) Then I had a great remainder of Memorial day weekend with Brock and the kids! we swam and cooked out ( one trip to urgent care on monday due to a puking toddler-- but now all is well) Life isn't perfect, everyone has peaks and valleys. Things can ebb and flow, I really think the past month has really been a lesson in being flexible, not letting the negative get you down, and to focus on the positive, focus on what is GOOD and RIGHT in your life. I'm so incredibly lucky to have such a wonderful, supportive, loving family and an outstanding network of friends who are there for me. I appreciate you guys so much!! ((HUG))

pacing at MMT! :O)

2011-05-10T19:24:00.003-04:00

it's been awhile since I've posted.. thought I would catch you guys up to speed a little. ( or really explain how very slow things have been) post PL: went to the dr.. she thought i had bronchitis ( but didn't do a chest x-ray) just prescribed me antibiotics to take for 12 days. ( fun!) I started to think more along the lines that I had pneumonia based upon my brown blood tinged phlem:oP YUCK.... that hung on FOR DAYS even on the meds.. I was like doc holiday with the consumption... just bury me up at glenwood springs.. :/

well, even now.. post round o antibiotics still coughing ( but not as deep, more of a dry hack) and my breathing kinda sucks.. but I'm pretty much back to running normally again. Ready to begin my new training cycle to get ready for highlands sky 40.

This weekend I'm jumping back in with both feet to pace my good buddy Kathleen Cusick at MMT 100 the last 37 miles or so. I'm really excited because this is my first time pacing, AND being at a 100 mile race!! I feel it's going to be a GREAT experience ( since I really would like to run a 100 next year) AND kathleen is SO fun.. so I know we'll have a good time saturday night running over those rocks in the rain, fog and darkness. :o)

OKAY, SO ANY ADVICE about pacing??? I'm pretty sure I understand "the rules" -- keeping her on schedule nutrition wise and moving along ( don't get lost lol) etc.. but if anyone has ANY great advice about pacing someone the latter part of a 100 I'm a sponge at the moment... ready to absorb any info.

promise land 50k

2011-04-26T09:05:00.013-04:00

Promise land 50k. I had been SO looking forward to this race for the past couple months. So excited, I had drove up and ran over the course 2 weeks prior to the race. My recovery from terrapin left me feeling STRONG and CONFIDENT. Going over the course was just extra assurance for myself that I would feel successful at promise land. WELL, sometimes you can do ALL your homework-- work extremely hard and life just throws a monkey wrench in the works.

about 7 days before the race both my kids got very sick with fevers, sore throats, upper respiratory infections. I was actually relieved at the timing because I was tapering ( is that selfish?) and I kept thinking to myself: "at least I'm not dealing with this a couple days before promise land. " I was probably foolish in thinking I wouldn't succumb to their chest cold/ crud.

low and behold, about monday I starting getting sick. The pollen was terrible, and I kept thinking I was suffering from allergies. I took zyrtec. I took allegra. and I never got better, I got worse. ( even though the allegra made me kinda hyper) the cold just settled deeper and deeper in my chest:/ bummer!!

Anyways, determined to run promise land ( and yes, my mother was quite upset I was going to go run 34 miles in the rain with a chest cold:oP) because I didn't want to miss this experience ( I suffer from the"fear of missing out" quite often) and LUS series I knew I had to run it and at least get a finish. and WHO KNOWS?? I may start running and things just break up in my lungs and I run extremely well ( I love that about pre-race hopes and dreams-- the sky is the limit and you'll never know unless you TRY)

SO brock and I drove up towards bedford in the rain with an SUV full of camping gear ( both coughing and hacking our heads off and snotting around) we decided that 40F and rain wasn't good weather for us to tent camp-- ( why make things even WORSE on myself) so we got a hotel. I was super bummed because I wanted to camp and hang out with my people!! but to tell the truth, I was SO fatigued and tired on friday night it was an effort just to go get my race number, all I wanted to do was get the the bed and hibernate.

It was great to see So many friends at packet pickup/race meeting. and yep, I definitely got a ribbing for staying in town and not camping in the rain like everyone else.:o) I promise next year I'll camp! and hopefully not be a germ factory!

I was in bed by 9pm, didn't sleep much and 3:45 came much too soon. I decided to wear my MMTR finishers shirt and a pair of MH shorts, patagonia socks and mtn masochists ( these shoes were the perfect choice for this course I feel)

I was calm on the drive to the promiseland youth camp. I was still just hoping beyond all hope I would have some sort of crazy healing experience in the mtns and run this AWESOME race I trained so hard for.

we all lined up huddled together in the rain! and off we went! immediately climbing a very steep gravel road the first 2.5 miles to reach the single track. I started slow and ran with Mark Guzzi ( I finished with him at terrapin) Jack Broaddus and Marc Griffin I figured if I stayed with them this whole race, I'd run better than okay.. I was IN this thing.. but in the back of my mind it was nagging at me how hard it felt I was working, and how tired I felt. it wasn't meant to be after about 10 miles I lost touch with my group, and beth minnick and jamie darling caught me by mile 13 I was still in about 7th place female. but I knew I was going to have to majorly dial back my effort or was going to crash and burn. My HR was very high, I couldnt breathe very deep at all, and I was very dizzy and nauseated, and couldn't eat gels or food either one. I was drinking perpetuem and I was SO thankful to have that for calories ( or else I wouldn't be getting ANY)

coming into sunset fields for the first time at mile 13 with my friend Jen.. struggling and it's EARLY in the race.

So for the downhill section going down cornelius creek, I just decided to ENJOY the run.. and I did.. I got caught and passed by many of my friends ( who were all super encouraging) namely sophie telling me not to count myself out as she breezed by.. Things like that mean ALOT. I feel SO lucky to have so many wonderful friends in my corner. I was running, just not very race pace speed. By the time I start my climb on the dark side, I was bonking hard and trying to eat an ice cream sandwich ( which made me gag and I had to throw it away:o( and I was SOO looking forward to the ice cream at the AS!!) Rebekah Trittipoe caught me.. all day today when people came up on me I would just give the trail, but when Rebekah caught me, I decided to stick with her. I had never got to run with Rebekah and always wanted to and figured that maybe if I stayed with her for a couple minutes it would get me out of my rut. Well, she doctored me right up.. after I explained I couldn't eat. She gave me her tums. and 20 min later I was able to down a gel. We had periods of hiking and conversing on a vast range of topics, ( motherhood, racing, track, achieving balance in our lives while participating in a sport that can easily become all consuming and obsessive) and then periods of running ( yay I'm running again) in silence but the silence was so warm and comfortable. It was like I had known this lady my whole life. There was no need to talk we just shared the same common goal to face this monster climb up apple orchard, get ourselves down the mtn and to the finish line. We both just worked really well and steady together to get the job done!

YAY! back at sunset fields!!!

Rebekah got me back to sunset fields! I knew she would be faster than me on the downhill section because I was still battling shortness of breath, fatigue, tireness etc.. but I knew I was SO CLOSE.. and really amazed I had made it THIS FAR feeling the way I was and on very little food. and very thankful to her for the companionship, Tums, and steady pacing.

We parted ways for her to ROCK the finish and win her age group! and I followed shortly where she was standing there with Horton at the finish line to give me a big hug. Beth, Jack, Brock, Eric, Rick.. I was surrounded by my friends at the finish. You'd of thought I came in sub 6 the way they were celebrating with me. I love you guys SOO MUCH. My small victory of merely finishing was their victory as well.

FINISH!!!

Rebekah gives good hugs:o)

Getting my signature "horton hug"

hugs from my BFF and super ultrarunner beth minnick

my buddy jack broaddus and I at the finish.

and I'll wear my patagonia finisher shorts WITH PRIDE at my next race!!

so upon reflection, I think sometimes things just don't go your way, but it really is all in choosing your attitude and making a CHOICE to stay in the race. I didn't get to race the race.. but I RAN the race. I FINISHED the race. I learned so much in the process. and this course was so beautiful with the views, the wildflowers, the falls where so full from the rain on friday and that morning. There are races were dreams are realized, and one displays heroism in their athletic performance. This wasn't my day for that. But this race will ALWAYS be special in my heart because on my first promise land, I learned just how special, loving and accepting, supportive this ultra community truly is. I'm just overwhelmed and blissed out to be apart of it.

I can't wait to run this race again next year. It's easily one of my favorite 50k's because the course is SO challenging, yet SO beautiful. Also, it's SO evident all the hard work Dr. Horton, his family, and his volunteers put into this race to make it just a super special experience for the runners.

I'm bound for the promise land....

2011-04-21T09:43:00.003-04:00

This weekend I shall run an epic journey!!! 34 miles, 9000ft of vertical climbing. I'm so excited about my first promise land 50k. The entire experience promises to hold adventure, heartbreak, joy, pain, and comraderie.

I'm so excited about camping, fellowship... seeing old friends, making new friends.. and getting those finisher shorts!!!

I made a little video of pictures from the PL course ( I got from google images so thank you to everyone who's pictures I borrowed) and I set to the tune of "on jordan's stormy banks". When Marc Griffin and I ran over the course 2 weeks ago, this tune was stuck in my head and on replay. I first heard this hymn when I was in school as a child. I went to a private Presbyterian school in Richlands, VA. and they played many traditional hymns. I was very interested in the history behind these songs and learned that this tune was written in the 1800's and very popular among troops fighting the Civil War ( both union and confederate). The version of the song I used in the video is from Bobby Horton's ( no relation to david horton) "HOMESPUN SONGS OF FAITH" which is a compilation of Hymns from the 1860's.

"OH, WHO WILL COME AND GO WITH ME? I'M BOUND FOR THE PROMISE LAND!!!"

Terrapin mtn 50k

2011-03-28T11:20:00.005-04:00

Wow. What a great weekend. Terrapin Mtn 50k and half marathon is truly a special race. I was really looking forward to this race because I had ran it last year, and LOVED it. I was very excited because I knew the course and was looking to improve my time, AND I knew I would it would be such a wonderful opportunity to see all my trail/ultra running friends. The iron mtn trail runners had a pretty good group coming to represent, and I was excited for us all to be running the same event together.

I arrived at the Sedalia Center friday evening, and the first person I see is David Sniper!! Who immediately gifted me with some gummi bugs to eat during my journey the next day! Thanks so much Sniper! I really appreciate the gummies! :o) The Sedalia Center was filling up fast with campers and people coming to pick up their packets, and it was so exciting to see so many friends! I went for a little shake out run with Grossman for about 2 miles and came back and listened to a couple running stories David Horton was telling to a captive audience he had gathering around him:o) I was sad to leave. I had booked at room at the ultra-illusive days inn of bedford, and I was kicking myself for just not bringing my tent and camping out with all my friends. I definitely plan on camping at Promise Land! I have to say I was THRILLED with the terrapin mtn running tank. It's made out of the new patagonia silk weight capilene.. NICE!!

I went back to bedford, ate at ruby tuesdays ( where I saw kenny wheeler!) and Then proceeded to go back to the room. I had already laid out all my gear for the next morning, so I took a shower and then watched a movie on my laptop.. okay it was PRE... I had to get a running movie in there to psyche me up! and I fell asleep at 9! DORK! BUT... I got up at 4am.. feeling good. I ate breakfast, and got ready, loaded the car and checked out. Went over to super 8 where the rest of the IMTR's were staying. Beth jumped in the FJ with me and we followed the family van to the Sedalia center. It was packed! wow! this race is growing! Excitement in the air! It was great seeing even more friends! :o) I was nervous.. not as nervous as last year, but I think the task of what's ahead settles with me and I always get a little nervous just because I know alot can happen in 31 miles ( even though way MORE can happen during a 50 miler haha)

We line up and GONG!!! We're running... we're running.. I'm feeling good going up the first big climbs. SO I just keep on rolling. I left all my friends but I seriously didn't feel like I was pushing it too hard. big hills are kinda my thing.. downhills are not. I knew this, so I felt that I should just seize those moments when I felt GOOD. because I knew I'd have a hard time with the downhills ( and everyone else would be flying by me if I hung back on the hill)

I got the the first aid station 2nd female.. NICE.. but then I knew I had a good 8 mile stretch of down hill. so I ran as fast as I could in a controlled non red-line fashion which ended up being 6:50ish avg miles for 8 miles ( really?! maybe I need to run some road races..:oP) but I did feel SO good it didn't even feel that fast.. even on the flat. I felt like the scene in forest gump where he breaks out of his leg braces and starts running.. I felt like whatever had been burdening me or holding me back for the past year ( ie heavy legs and slow paces) I had escape their hold on me and "and I was running!!" ( love forest gump) I was just grinning ear to ear the entire time.. gone were the tiny steps I was striding out and moving and a groovin.. I thought to myself HOW amazing it would be to run an entire race this way!!!

but all good things must come to an end. got to the 3rd AS still 2nd female and you have an ENORMOUS hill ( and then some single track -- that is part of the hellgate course) I still was feeling REALLY great. When we were almost back on the road to go UP camping gap with marlin, sophie and rick gray caught me. marlin and sophie were powering up camping gap and I couldn't stay with them, so I followed rick.. I was now in 3rd.. but I was really happy because I knew I was having a good race. I felt MUCH worse at this point in the race last year. This was where beth tackled me last year. So I just tried to get up camping gap as quick as I could. I was happy to get to the AS to fill up my bottle and start the WOR loop ( white oak ridge) I saw the leaders here last year.. but this year, I past 3rd and 4th place.. which was fun because I got to yell "margaritas!!" at Jeremy Ramsey as he past me. I couldn't help but think how AWESOME it would be to get out of the WOR loop.. but I worked hard on getting through it. I just tried to run as much as I could and take care of my nutrition on my climbs. got my first punch for my bib and before I knew it, too was running out of the WOR loop and high-fiving my buddies who were going in.

Still happy I was feeling good and strong.. I was ready to tackle the crazy insane climb to terrapin rock and fat man's misery. I got out on terrapin rock with GUY ( who I had pretty much been running with all day long ( and that was awesome!) got my second bib punch and made my way to fat man's guy went through first.. then me.. I didn't fall like I did last year ( and won best blood!) Thankfully, BUT I didn't see the punch and just ran on through the rocks and Guy and I proceeded to make our way off the mtn.. THEN I realized I didn't punch and turned around and so did GUY. CURSES!!!! :o( for a split second I thought about going on-- but then I knew it wasn't right even though I had ran the entire course.. you are supposed to have 3 punches for your finish to be official so I ran back face burning at my stupidity. I got to the punch and there is my best buddy beth! she was like" what are you doing?!" and I told her what I'd done.. we ran together for awhile but we got to a hill ( for those of you who read my blog you know what happens when beth and I get to a downhill together!) bye- bye beth... she looked strong and was running great.. I still felt strong but nothing like the rush beth was on

.. but sweet lord, I was HEARTBROKEN in my extra .8 miles ( total .4 to the punch and then back again) I had allowed people I had a good 5 min on to catch me.. and now i was tippy toeing through the rock garden.. PERFECT.. GRR. and here comes Jamie Darling.. running seriously with reckless abandon through the biggest sharpest scariest rocks I've ever ran on... and she looked so happy -- zoomed past me while I was seriously just standing there on the trail...

5th!!! I seriously just wanted to take a page out of my 3 yr old's book sit down and cry at this point.. my perfect beautiful race--- it was ruined.. ALL MESSED UP and getting worse by the second. I just want it to be over.. WAH!!!! :o( but I didn't.. I think that is the crazy thing about ultra running you are seriously on an emotional roller coaster with so many highs and lows. I quickly pulled myself together and told myself if I didn't get my butt in gear I was going to do FAR worse than 5th place.. just don't let anyone else pass you! SO I resolved to work hard the next 5 miles. After the last AS I saw super sweet chelsie viar and liz barry where totally RIGHT behind me.. both of these girls are FAST and I ran with both of them alot at holiday lake. I knew the next 5 miles was single track but very runnable trail. So that was enough for me to keep on rolling and not let up until I reached the finish line. 6:07 5th overall female. Last year I was 9th and ran a 6:13.. so I'm happy to see improvement.

haha.. I hate that I made some stupid mistakes but really other than the hole punch and maybe not being such a wuss running off terrapin mtn through the rocks.. I wouldn't of changed a thing about my race. Beth still probably would of caught me because she ran VERY hard the last 8 miles. I didn't have enough UMPH at the end to have done what she did I know she really cranked out some solid miles. Beth is tough, tough, tough.. I'm just waiting for her to start winning these things. I looked the only way I got the drop on her was the first climb where I took off from everyone. and some on the other climbing sections. She avg 6:47 per mile for the same 8 mile stretch between AS1 and 3..so she ran even faster on that stretch than I did.. maybe we both need to go run a 10k.. :OP The finish line was wonderful. I was so happy to be finished and not stressing about finishing anymore. It was great to cheer on my friends as they finished and hang out with ALL the cool people who finished ahead of me. I feel this race really has a super special vibe at the finish. Everyone is SO nice and SO positive and supportive. It's really a beautiful collective of runners. I'm so happy to be apart of this community.

So I'm looking forward to promise land in a couple weeks!! the IMTR's are planning on camping out! WOO! can't wait!! I'm also looking forward to training for promise land. I know there isn't that much time, but I'm looking forward to getting some good work in to prepare me for the 34 mile journey! :o)

here are some pictures from the finish line!

beth with her LUS jacket and new matching patagonia messenger bag for being third overall female!!

RD Clark Zealand and 2nd overall female Sophie Speidel with her "patagucci"

me and jaime darling ( 4th overall female) at the finish. I have NEVER seen anyone run down such a technical section as fast as Jaime ran down terrapin mtn!! ( and not fall!)

late winter/spring training: JAX WY, CRA and the tacky leprechaun

2011-03-22T08:15:00.010-04:00

Hey it's been FOREVER since I've posted it seems! I've been pretty busy with life, training and other adventures all the while preparing for my next race: Terrapin Mtn 50k. I thought I would do a post and share some pictures from what's been going on with me the past month.

Several days after Holiday Lake ( I had a pretty easy recovery from that race, I feel given the fact I ran the first half so slow and conservative) Brock and I jumped on a plane and spent 5 days in Jackson Hole, Wy to celebrate our 8th wedding anniversary. We had a blast. We stayed at our fav place in the teton village: the snake river lodge:o) We skied 3 days ( it was AMAZING skiing there this year, it snowed tons everyday!) I got in some great runs in the snow, We went to GTNP and got some great wildlife pictures, and we hung out in Jackson a couple afternoons and ate some yummy food! Oh, and I got to see one of my favorite bluegrass bands live at the Mangy Moose: HOT BUTTERED RUM :o)

The snake river in GTNP

a mature bald eagle chillin

a moose ( cow) laying down in the trees

The majestic Tetons ( and some clouds) I love, love, love wyoming...

Brock and Jenny on the banks of a very frozen Jackson Lake and it was about 10F that morning.. BRR!

me in Jackson town square. across from the million dollar cowboy bar and the cadillac grille ( I love the cadillac grill-- they have moose drool on tap :o)

As soon as Brock and I returned back to Va. I had ANOTHER adventure in store for me and I couldn't wait!! I was lucky enough to get invited to go run Catawba Run Around ( thanks sophie!!) which is a 36.04 mile adventure on the AT.. that includes: dragons tooth, the tinker cliffs and McAfee's Knob. SERIOUS climbing over 9000 ft of vert on very technical and rocky trails. Beth, Rick and Doug Blackford also were running, along with SO many of my friends from the VHTRC and WVMTR :o)

The weather forecast wasn't very good. high 40's and rain. :o( boo. I knew going into the run, I probably wouldn't get to see all those amazing overlooks. BUT I knew 1. I'd get much needed time on my feet 2. and get to have alot of fun in the mtns with my friends!

Beth, Rick ( who had ran Mt Mitchell Challenge the week before) and I ran with Dave Sniper and Doug Sullivan and we just had a blast "fun running" We pretty much goofed off for 36 miles.. but the good thing was we were smiling and laughing and pretty much pain free at the finish.. so that was nice! :o) I WILL be back next year to run this event and see all the views and run in the sunshine!!

here are some pictures from that adventure:

in front of dragon's tooth

The IMTR's on dragon's tooth and Sniper captured Rick at a vulnerable angle ( hee, hee)

There were bottles of knob creek all over the place during the run... ( cough gary knipling cough)

Beth and I expressing our opinion of the view from McAfee's that day

Beth, Doug Sullivan, Me, Rick Gray

And this past weekend was the IMTR annual super awesome event: The Tacky Leprechaun trail run. This year we ran our bread and butter 9.3 mile loop on the AT/ IMT in Damascus ( last year we ran 24 miles) but given the fact we had WAY more people this year, we decided to have a fun, light run and stick together as a group. Post run we noshed on guiness cupcakes with bailey's frosting and then went to the whistlepig cafe ( trailside on the Va creeper trail) for a wonderful lunch.

I also have to add that we had a couple new members to the group. Rebecca and Dana Loyd ( love yall!) were nice enough to come run with us! and we hope to share the trail with them VERY SOON! And this is so random, but when we were in the parking lot getting ready to leave this guy ( who was there visiting from Winston- Salem NC and there to bike the Creeper Trail) asked us what we were doing. Rick told him trail running and invited him to come run with us, and he did!!! Viveka: you are a super cool dude for being so spontaneous! I think so many of us could take a page out of your book and live a much FULLER life to step out of our comfort zone and try new things, hang out with new people and check out new places! Thanks so much for spending the morning with us! I know we'll run again together soon!! :o)

Tacky leprechaun Group shot

Kathleen Cusick and I chatting it up before the run

JJ and Dana in their kilts!

socializing with grossman and Annette before climbing up beech grove trail

Eric Grossman in his batik sarong

I love this picture.. sorry kathleen I had to post it even if you are making a weird face... I love JJ's expression in this picture!

my running buddies: eric, annette, kathleen, rick and beth-- love you all!

beth and aliese contemplating... WHY eric's arm sleeves are so baggy

Our newest members: Viveka, Dana and Rebecca

the IMTR's fav hangout THE WHISTLE PIG!!

holiday lake 50k++

2011-02-13T06:49:00.004-05:00

I arrived at holiday lake 4h educational center on friday to pick up my race #-- but ended up leaving with some goodies which definitely added to my holiday lake 50k experience.

Firstly, I had been greatly anticipating the release of Montrail Rogue Racers since this past summer. They were backordered EVERYWHERE.. and just not available on the east coast. I was bummed because I had really wanted to run this race in a pair... the drop date was supposed to have been feb 4th but it was pushed back to the 15th:o(

THEN while Brock and I are rolling up the interstate, I see Jeremy Ramsey had posted that the aidstation.com had JUST gotten them in that morning, and would be having them at the pre-race meeting. I messaged Jeremy to hold me a pair! ( which he did) amazingly enough, I didn't know WHAT color I was going to be getting... didn't know if they had the grey/purple or the teal ones in stock.. I didn't care.. but they had the teal ones and LOOK how well they matched my patagonia running skirt and 9 trails vest on race morning! amazing:oP

My new montrail rogue racers = a well coordinated outfit

for those of you wanting to check these out I suggest you buy them from the aidstation.com. Why? because it's Clark Zealand's store! how cool is that?! but seriously, a major thank you to Jeremy Ramsey for holding back a pair of W 8's ( the most popular size in women's shoes)

Then I snagged up a copy of a DVD about David Horton's speed record on the PCT in 2005. I know I'm really late getting to see it:o) but figured now was better than never:o)

for those of you who haven't seen it or don't know what I'm talking about here is a link to a youtube clip from the DVD. HERE

After socializing with all my friends, Brock and I drove back to lynchburg to check into our hotel and go eat some yummy japanese food. Then we came back and I got all my gear/drop bag ready. I couldn't sleep it was 9pm at that point, so I ended up watching "The Runner" ( and it was so good!) and drifted off to sleep definitely inspired.

I woke up at 4am. Breakfasted on oatmeal with sliced bananas, blueberries and chia seeds and a muscle milk ( for beth).

We drive 45 min back to the 4h center and oh, let the FUN BEGIN!

blurry eyed, sleepy but ready to roll:o)

My bud Marlin and I chatting it up at the start line

I had a formulated a plan to try to have as evenly paced loops as possible ( the race is 2 loops-- on clockwise then counter clockwise) and start SLOW and I mean SLOW the first loop. I had NEVER employed this strategy before, but I had ALWAYS meant to.. before EVERY ultra last year.. that I would start slow.. even at frozen sasquatch.. I had meant to start slow. It just never happens. I get WAY too hyper and just take off, it feel like i'm going slow and then I look down at my garmin and realize I ran a 730 first mile without meaning to:/ SOOO..... This is where Sophie comes in--- I knew how Sophie usually runs.. she starts slow and then speeds up as the race goes on and always runs really consistent and strong. She was kind enough to offer that I start with her and tag along with her for the first loop. And that is what I did. I had a goal of running 5:30 so I figured if I came in at 2:40 the first loop, that would be good and give me 10 min to play around with.

Sophie keeping me in check the first loop

So I ran with sophie, marlin, Jenn pharr davis the first loop and it was just pretty much a party.. we all just laughed, chatted and had fun and the miles just clicked along. I got antsy a couple times and Sophie would assure me that I was doing the right thing to sit back-- I would have a much easier time the second loop. They picked it up about 2 miles from the half way point, and I fell back.. still going my pace I had been going.. but I could still see Sophie and marlin in my visuals so I didn't slow up much. I felt pretty strong, and finished the first loop in 2:40 RIGHT where I wanted to be. I really was surprised with how consistent and how NON- icky I felt. usually 16 miles in.. I am already feeling SOMETHING..

I turned to go back to run the loop backwards, it was a little hairy with the single track around the lake and having to pass the people on the trail who were finishing up their first loop.( I had the same dilemma coming in to finish my loop when I would meet all the fast peeps ahead of me) but really I really tried to give tons of room and so did the people going up the trail.. So I think it worked out as best as it could.

I was trying to run faster, and I felt faster.. ONLY I was just going the same pace. LOL it was just requiring more effort. I ran about 13 more miles.. 2 more aid stations where I got to see my sweet husband who was the BEST crew and took so many great pictures during the race.

and then the wheels fell off. BOOM. at the last aid station I had 4 miles to go and brock tried to get me to take a gel with me... which reminds me to point out: I ALSO was doing something else new!! NOTICE ANYTHING DIFFERENT?! ANYTHING?! NO NATHAN VEST this race! I decided to use *shock* MY POCKETS! and drop bag and cool things like that so I wouldn't have to carry so much.. and it was AWESOME! I felt so light and airy! :o) I decided for 50 miles yes.. wear a nathan vest.. but for a 50k with AS every 4 miles.. and a drop bag half way, really no need. so jenny went old skewl.. or is it new skewl since using only my pockets is something new for me? regardless, I liked it.

okay, back to my original story: so Brock tries to get me to take a gel with me, and I refused in my brain dead stupid state.. saying "nah, man I'm fine." I ate about 500 cal so far.. and I felt really good and really felt I was close to finishing. I knew I was slowing down but I felt I could sneak in the 5:30's.. only a couple min off my goal.

run up the trail a mile and sputter, sputter, DIE... well. Isn't that just awesome? 45 min later.....

Jenny gets spit out of the woods, on the pavement.. little 21 yr old liberty girls are passing me right and left.. zoom, zoom, zoom... but Alas! the finish line!

and how great it is TO FINISH! 5:41... yeah, that wasn't an amazing time.. but considering this time last year my 50k PR was 7:31... I'll take it!! I see I'm learning more and improving and it's REALLY motivating! My first true "horton hug" at one of his races!! Finish line camaraderie and don't forget that SWEET finishers patagonia capilene. :o) yay!

many positives from this race:

1. starting slow kept me stronger for longer... glad I finally "stuck with the plan"

2. it was darn good training for me to RUN 33 miles. This course was rolling and def a TRAIL race tons of single track and dirt narrow double track ( think four-wheeler tracks) but it was VERY runnable with only a couple steep sections you could hike up ( but so short you really could run up if you had to) I'm a tad undertrained for the really long distances right now ( winter makes it hard to be outside for 7 and 8 hours at a time!) so really it's no wonder I bonked at 30 miles ( one lesson I learned, when in doubt, EAT THAT LAST GEL AT THE LAST AID STATION) but I think RUNNING that much is going to do nothing but help me gain fitness for my 50k's have planned in the next couple months:o)

3. less is more: go light-- if there are ton's of aid stations.. you'll be OKAY. TRUST ME.

4. The Rogue Racers did AMAZING! ( even though the runner wearing them did not) No blisters, no bruised toe nails, no ouchie feet this morning. My feet are the PRETTIEST post 50k EVER. I love masochists, but rogue racers have some great cush to them that the masochist are lacking just a little. and they are SOO light:o) I would definitely wear these during a 50 miler.

I had to go through a BIG ol stream crossing ( twice) and my new kicks drained VERY well:o)

Frozen Sasquatch 50k 2011

2011-01-09T21:38:00.007-05:00

“Never again.”

That’s what I told myself last January 2^nd 2010 as I finished my first 50k at Kanawa State Park in Charleston, WV: Frozen Sasquatch 50k. I clearly needed my head examined for signing up for it in the first place… brutally cold, icy trail conditions and pure greenness when it came to running on technical trails translated into a slow uber frigid slog in the mtns. I completed my first 50k with a blazing time of 7 hrs and 31 min.

Frozen Sasquatch 2010 was a humbling, fish out of water experience to say the least.

Yet by the following Monday, I signed up for terrapin mtn 50k-- my experience chasing the sasquatch was the spark that ignited a flame… yes, it hurt, yes.. I was terrible at it… but I for some reason.. I just HAD to experience MORE. Which led to a crazy fun year of running many, many miles in the mtns with my friends, countless fun runs weekend back to backs in the mt rogers area, 3 more 50k’s, my first 14er climbing/running Mt massive in Leadville, my first 50 miler at Cheat mtn, my first Mountain Masochist… What a stellar and epic year in running I had. I have to admit throughout the year whenever I even thought about Frozen Sasquatch, I would have a knee jerk reaction to it. I was instantly think of deathmarching and being EXTREMELY cold. Even when I saw Dolin at Cheat mtn 50, I pretty much told him verbatim not to look for me at Frozen Sasquatch. Once was enough for anyone!

But this past Friday morning with snow flying in the air, there I was loading up all my race gear in the FJ. Bound and determined to face my inner demons associated with this race. I have to improve my time there on that course, because I knew I could. Oh, okay AND I absolutely LOVE all the WVMTR crew. They are just a super special, kind collective of ultra and trail runners. So NOW I know that a day out in the mountains with the WV peeps—you just can’t go wrong there. Their events are always this dichotomy of very well organized, yet very relaxed and chill. The volunteers are AMAZING…

Brock and I got to Charleston it was 30F and barely any snow! AWESOME!!! There was way more snow in VA, than what they had in WV. SWEET! I may get to run on dirt and leaves the next morning! We went to packet pick up on Friday evening. Met up with my trail parents Rick and Tammy Gray. I was really excited to be running with them because I hadn’t seen them since Mtn masochist in Nov. FS 50k was Rick’s birthday run ( he turned 50!) HAPPY BIRTHDAY RICK!!!! :o) Got to hang out there in the concession stand with Dolin ( the RD) and Dan ( the pres. of the WVMTR and RD of highlands sky 40 mi and co –rd of the Trilogy stage races) it was great to just get to catch up and see my friends.

Brock and I decided to watch 127 hours and then let me be a dork and go to sleep at 9pm. I slept pretty soundly until 1 am, I got up and looked out the window and it was a sheer white out… POURING THE SNOW. I looked at my iphone and it said it was 21F. Really, why should I expect any different?? I just kinda rolled my eyes, laughed, and went back to sleep. I got up at 6am.. (one awesome thing about FS 50k—8am start! Woohoo! I get to sleep in!) got dressed about 4 inches had fallen and was STILL falling. I just kept the mentality that it was going to be a FUN day in the mtns.. and running in the fluffy snow was going to be a treat.

Driving to kanawa state park was pretty rough, the roads weren’t that great and people were wrecking all over the place. We finally arrived unscathed! A big ol’ 10 min before start time! I ran into the concession area and said hi to all my friends

and before I knew it I was waving bye to brock and lining up with Rick and the race had begun!

I felt good at the start. I felt much faster than I did at masochist (where I pretty much had ran myself into the ground end of summer and fall) The snow made things a little more difficult footing wise, but I had been running in the snow and ice since the beginning of December.. and I couldn’t have ignorance as an excuse. I was FULLY AWARE of what I had signed up for when I entered this race. I knew it had complete and total potential to be EPIC adventure and time really goes out the window. ( although that doesn’t stop the numerals 7:31 from rolling around in my brain) After a couple miles, I start to determine how I feel ( pretty warm! And happy to be running) and where I am ( on a cool rolling trail and I’m first place female for the 50k and oddly enough 2^nd place female had I decided to run the 25k. I decide that I maybe taking it out too fast and maybe should slow up a little. My goal for the race was to have evenly split loops.

Things were still going well when at mile 8. I see another girl with a 50k bib hot on my heels. Crap. I speed up so does she.. we go into an aid station. I beat her out of the AS and my heart rate is up and I’m breathing fast. NO. don’t mess up now. I try to zoom along the trail up the second climb, I see her on the switch backs.. she’s after me. We get on a forest service road and I get passed AGAIN.. I try to stay with the girl, because I really didn’t want to lose the lead. And I felt I could stay with her.. several more surges and I just let her go.. if she can keep that pace up for 16 more miles, more power to her. I struggle to get recovered from my prideful little battle, and feel a little like a whipped puppy, cowering mentally. I tell myself to snap out of it.. everyone knows the race REALLY doesn’t begin until the second loop anyways. I descend down teaberry rock trail get to my drop bag. Adam’s wife, the lovely Kadra assists me while I fill my new handheld, fix up some perpetuem and get more gels for my vest to fuel me for the second loop. I babble to kadra about the girl and how I was going to catch her.

Off I go… first major climb of the second loop.. ouch… I’m feeling it already. My feet hurt and my calves feel achey. My longest run had been 21 miles since masochist. I had gotten sick 2 different weekends in December and consequently missed 2 planned long runs. So I knew I was lacking “time on my feet”. I try to focus on the serene beauty that surrounded me and took a swig of my nuun.. man, what is it about nuun that makes you feel like a million bucks when felt like dog poo 10 min before?? I start running after I get to the top of the hill and after a couple miles I hear another girl’s voice. Crap again! BUT I turn and look and it’s Mary Jane!! My friend I ran almost ALL of capon valley 50k with last may! I didn’t even know she was running this race! Mary is fast… which I have explained before.. she ran JFK in 8 hours.. she is a 3:2something marathoner.. so I always kinda feel pretty dang special when I find myself in her company at an ultra. She was running with her husband Jason, and was feeling GOOD.. so we ran together for about 5 min, I tell her about the chick who I raced with SEVERAL times and Mary Jane told me how she blew by her too during the first loop, and then I just felt like I was working a little too hard and cut them lose.. dang. Why didn’t I just go with them?

I get to the next aid station and they say “2^nd female!!!” and I say “HUH?!” I leap across the 3 small creek crossings so I wouldn't get my feet wet. I am running with a cool guy from Morgantown.. I excitedly ramble to him that the fast girl dropped.. that means Mary Jane is in first, and I’m in second. ( WHY would she drop when she’s in THE LEAD?!) I had actually, unknowingly reclaimed the lead for part of the second loop. Then lost it again ( head smack!) I have to keep moving and not let any more chicks pass me. At that point there is just 8 miles left, and I’m feeling like I about have it licked.. another hour and twenty min.. I’ll be back.. I’m looking at my watch.. WELL, I’m not going to run 6 hrs.. or 6: 30… if I hurry I may break 6:40.. oh, well… that’s little more than 50 min faster than last year.. I can’t sneeze at that.

So I just busy myself with working towards the finish and listening to my ipod. Yes, it’s really freaking cold. Yes, my nose ran constantly and I had frozen snot and Heed and Clip2 ALL OVER ME and the fingers of my gloves would freeze to my bottle… But you know what? Where last year, I had a very tough time mentally and was pretty miserable the second loop.. this year, I just was pretty darn appreciative and thankful, and the cold and frozen boogers just didn’t bother me they way they did the previous year. I was just pretty darn happy to be there:o)

I get to Teaberry Rock Trail.. and sure enough, it’s just like it was last year.. very icy and treacherous! I just slid down the slick parks and ran with baby steps/elbows out on the steep sections…. I could see through the trees on the switch backs, the finishline! The yellow FJ! Brock in his gig-normous phantom puffy! YAY!!!

I sprint to the finish ( with probably WAY too much energy left at the end of a 50k) crossed at –6:41. Happy it’s over, Happy I placed second overall female, Happy I improved my time on the course by significant amount-- PR by 50 min ( all be it.. I ran WAY slower than I wanted

YAY!! ARTWORK for OVERALL AWARDS!! SWEET!!!

1st overall female the sweet and super fast MARY JANE and I

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RICK GRAY!!! BIRTHDAY PR!!!

Full results are HERE

This race BOTH YEARS has been EPIC, challenging and humbling.. Michael Dolin really does an excellent job with this race!! I really double dog dare you guys to enter it and run it next year!!!

1/1/11: NEW YEARS DAY trail run with the IMTR's

2011-01-02T08:19:00.002-05:00

Eric and Annette took turns with the camera

Trying to find the timer to no avail..... :oP

yesterday the IMTR's gathered together in Damascus, VA to celebrate the New Year running on the AT/ iron mtn trails, and then go to Eric and Robin Grossman's house for post run refreshment.

We ran our bread and butter 8ish mile loop that is in the shape of a figure 8 and I just LOVE it :o) and it was just so wonderful to get to see all my old friends and spend the morning together. We had some great conversations. :o) It was great to catch up with Doug Blackford, I hadn't ran with him in sometime and we talked alot about his trip to UMB and Chamnoix this summer, and how he was planning to return in the event the lottery was kind to him this year. Tears of sheer joy and happiness literally stung the corners of my eyes the last 2 miles of the run when I had the realization of HOW AWESOME it was to see Eric dart up the trail a blur of orange breaking away from the group, his stride so strong and confident.

And then for Annette to completely DUST me on a killer downhill... I was running as hard as I could go and was still losing so much ground to her... ZOOM! she was gone. (she is just SUPER FAST that is all there is to it)

it was AWESOME to see all my friends healthy, recovered, getting ready to get in "fighting shape" and have a great 2011.

and AS FOR ME, I felt blissed out/ blessed to be running myself in the mtns at the pace I was going and feeling GOOD and STRONG! it wasn't 2 months ago... my speed gone, plagued with nagging injuries.. I had a hard time getting out of 9 min/ 10 min pace shuffle. Sure, I could run that way forever... but after runs, I would go back to my FJ on the verge of tears and extremely frustrated wondering if I had FOREVER screwed myself up. BUT... like the old saying "time heals all wounds" I really truly believe that now. It took TIME and I had to be PATIENT. and heeding SAGE advice of my fleetly, wiser, more mature ultrarunning friends... but I too am healed up, running faster ( though not at the level of my 2 speedy friends eric and annette :oP) but FOR ME... I'm SUPER ELATED where I am.

I really hope that I learned some major lessons over 2010 especially from the fall and summer concerning "What NOT to do when it comes to ultrarunning/racing/recovery." I really feel the swimming/strength training/speed work have helped me tremendously in resolving my issues. I really hope that as the year unfolds I'm more in tune with myself in allowing adequate recovery time/rest time when I need it.

after the run, as I mentioned we went back to Eric and Robin's house. Played a fun card game called "apples to apples" with Eric's kids ( Beth Minnick and I RULED at that game:o) JJ was extremely envious of all our green cards we had acquired-- I know:o) Then we all had Hoppin' John that Doug and Martha prepared. ( black-eyed peas and greens) MMM! Delicious! it's supposed to bring you good luck for the upcoming new year. :o)

I really hope all my friends in blogland has a Happy, Healthy, Wonderful 2011. FILLED with many adventures and time in mtns:o)

Rivanna Trail Winter Solstice fun aka FUN TIMES with the Charlottesville/Harrisonburg crew

2010-12-19T09:11:00.007-05:00

This weekend I was invited to travel to the quaint and fair city of Charlottesville, Va. Run the Rivanna Trail, which is a trail system that skirts around the perimeter of Charlottesville. It's a mixture of mostly singletrack, greenbelt/bike path, and some pavement through some cool neighborhoods within the city.

Sophie Speidel had the wonderful idea of having this "Winter Solstice" group run the saturday before Christmas, have everyone meet 7:30am at Greenberry's at barrack's road. Then post run, everyone has the opportunity finish up their christmas shopping at the Barrack's road shopping center. This was the 5th year of this cool and fun event.

Brock, Todd and myself drove up Friday night and stayed at a hotel near barrack's rd. We got there early enough to have some yummy Thai food and check out Blue ridge mtn sports before retiring to the room.

Toddy and I at Tara Thai

I was shocked once I arrived at the coffee shop saturday morning how many people were there! I had told brock I was going to run with 5 or 6 people! Little did I know the vastness of the charlottesville running scene! and apparently, I had just met a very small faction of c-ville runners!

I was super happy to meet so many new, nice people!!:o) and absolutely elated to get to run with my friends/ultra peeps: marlin yoder, bill gentry, bill potts, quatro hubbard, and of course the stellar hostess and fleetly Sophie!

The vibe was chill, the trails snowy and icy but SO much fun. I really felt this was an excellent training run for frozen sasquatch 50k just given the conditions of the trail ( it reminded me alot of FS 50k 2010-- but I couldn't get over how much faster and more confident I ran on the snow and ice and didn't have that crazy fear of running downhill or falling)

I wore my mtn masochist GTX shoes and smartwool socks, and even though we had numerous creek crossings and ran in the snow, my feet were toasty and dry the entire run.

Zero hot spots, and no toenail issues yay.. it had really taken me awhile to find that right combination of socks and shoes that keep my feet and toenails happy.

Also I tried some new gel out on this run: cliff shot turbo I have never really been a big cliff shot fan. I primarily use Hammer products ( hammer gel, sustained energy and perpetuem) but recently one of my good friends gave me a bunch of cliff blocks, and I had been using those on my long runs with some success, so when I saw the cliff turbo at blue ridge mtn sports friday evening, I thought... I'll try that. So i'm happy to say, that I liked the cliff shot turbo, i used the espresso flavor and had zero tummy issues and really felt it will work for me during races. So-- cool. experiment a success. I just drank plain water in my hydration pack and in addition to the turbo and one pack of cliff blocks, I ate a pack of cheese nabs :o) by the end of the run, my calves were cramping-- I feel I probably should of taken one salt tab( S! cap) somewhere along the run.. I think during winter time, it's easy to forget about salt intake. but by the time, I noticed I was cramping up, we were literally running through red lights in c-ville 2 blocks from barrack's road.. so I guess it was good timing for the run to be completed. :o)

Q and I all smiles on the greenbelt section ( it was a great place to make up some time and stretch our legs on the snow and ice!:o)

Q and I hammering down! :o)

one of the cool things about an "urban adventure run" is being able to jump off the trail and score some cinnamon rolls from hardees! ( also had full 3g cell service the entire run haha so THAT was def a change! )

coming into hardee's parking lot with my two heros... bill gentry and marlin yoder. I want to be like them one day ( hopefully soon!)

the motely crew that ran the entire rivanna trail ( minus soph who was taking the picture)

for WAY more super cool pictures from the run, check out Quatro Hubbard's flickr. He really captured the vast array of terrains both natural and manmade we encountered yesterday!

Post run we all went back to Greenberry's coffee shop and hung out. Brock and Toddy came to meet all my friends!

Sophie gifted all the runners with some yummy pistachio chocolate bark she had made. MMM!

Then after a quick wardrobe change out of my wet clothes, we went on to grab lunch at chipolte's and finish up the remainder of christmas shopping we had. Such a great day:o)

Thanks so much to Sophie for the invite and all the c-ville and harrisonburg runners who made it such a fun event and fantastic day! :o)

winter training and trying new things!

2010-12-05T08:25:00.003-05:00

well, I'm back training. I have been for two full weeks. I've eased back in so to speak with a 45 mile week and a 50 mi week, consecutively. I decided that apparently what I did in the late summer and fall was NOT working for me. I didn't have enough patience to try it again plus, really I was doing the same things over and over for a year and I think it really just resulted in overtraining and stagnation. SO I'm trying some new things for a little while.

I joined the bristol YMCA and I've been swimming 3 mornings a week, and then following up with an easy run in the afternoons. It's a really great facility. I really feel this will help my base this winter without all the overuse and high impact of running 2 a days. I had biked alot last year, I may at some point incorporate some biking, but right now I'm pretty happy with swimming laps.

Also I have 2 days of speed work. One day being short sprints and the second being mega hard tempoish type workout ( that makes me want to hurl by the end of it) I hadn't ran hard like this in over a year, but even after only 2 weeks can see my turnover and speed improving. YAY!

Then the weekend is reserved for my long runs. I hadn't gone very long yet. I ran 14 miles in the snow yesterday on the AT. It's been nice to cut back my mileage and I know there will be a gradual build up. I am shooting for 18 miles this coming weekend. I know I'll be running 20 and some change when i go to c-ville to go run with sophie and her crew on Dec 18th. :o) so I feel I'll be progressing okay mileage wise. I think my body has been truly thankful for it's little break. :o)

The best thing I feel about my 2 week break, and then these 2 easy weeks to get me back into the swing of things is that ITS FUN AGAIN. I have such a renewed enthusiasm toward my running. By the end of oct. it was awful lot like drudgery. I am all for working hard to accomplish goals, but I think you have to have that FUN element; and that running makes you HAPPY for you to run well:o)

here are some pictures from my run on the AT saturday:

days like this are truly special and magical. :o) ended my run with a warm cup of soup at the whistle pig cafe in Damascus, VA.:o)

enjoying some downtime

2010-11-14T08:09:00.005-05:00

well, just as I predicted, 8 days post MMTR I feel much better about SO Much. I've been taking a much needed break/rest ( only 6 more rest days in my running sabbatical!)

This week I really tried to divorce myself from even entertaining thoughts of running. ( some days I did pretty well, others I failed miserably-- especially monday and tuesday) It was pointed out to me by a good friend how much time I not only spent running, but THOUGHT about running, time spent everyday that I social networked with runners on the net, read running blogs etc.. haha full on immersion experience. ( - that running community ( ie on FB and blogger) is extremely important to me-- their support, friendship and I think it keeps me focused on my goals and its a great medium to exchange ideas and keep in touch with your friends)

but I think for just the past couple days I think it was a good point for me to just step back from that for a second and direct my mind elsewhere. Even if just on a toned down, lesser degree this week and next.

I read 2 books... I got alot of things accomplished around the house that have been on the back burner since the summer, spent tons of QUALITY time with my kids. We've read alot of their books together ( toddy LOVES "the giving tree") , played games together that I had forgotten were so fun ( hide and seek) and played with legos, We piled up together and watched Toy Story 3, and Jack turned to me and said "Mom, I PROMISE when I go to college, I'll come back and visit you." Ha ha! I told him I'm SURE I'd hear from him while he was at college:o) so cute.

I rode my Trek lime ( it's a cruising bike not my road or mtn bike) I hadn't had the opportunity to ride it any since the spring. I usually always opt for one of the other high performance bikes because I am cross training-- feel like I need to be faster etc.. but the 2 times I took out my cruiser for a couple hours, I did just that. I cruised and just enjoyed the fall weather.

This Saturday with no long runs or no races on the docket, ( so rare!!) I decided to get up early, go to the Abingdon Farmer's Market ( YAY!), a local wine/cheese/gourmet store-- scored some yummy goodies:o) stopped by Zazzy Z's and got some coffee, ( resisted the temptation of Babycakes because I knew I was going to have such a fabulous dinner) Stopped by Mtn sports in bristol and saw all my friends there:o) Then met up with Brock and the kids for lunch at five guys burgers and fries, one just opened off exit 7. It was greasy, salty and AWESOME. seriously my hamburger was amazing.. and I was in absolute SHOCK the amount of fries they give you! It was so nice to just ALL be sitting there together as a family, enjoying ourselves ( because where brock works out of town all the time that rarely happens) not to go on and on about 5 guys, but seriously... it will me my new mid back to back runs calorie/salt fest:oP i usually eat VERY VERY clean.. but sometimes you just need some grease:o)

Then yesterday evening, I made some of the most AMAZING chicken tortilla soup, and then had southwestern filet medallions( prepared medium) with some crumbles of gorgonzola cheese sprinkled over the filet.. :o) paired with a bottle of A to Z pinot noir:o) YUMMY!! I LOVE to cook, I love good food:o) I think that is one reason I practically have to ultra run, or I would be 300 lbs:o)

This week: I am going to compile my race list for 2011. (YAY!!) can't wait!!! I'm going to do some yoga, ride my cruiser a couple more times. Going to go see John Butler Trio on tuesday and Dave Matthews Band on Wens... ROAD TRIP!!! :o)

so mid- running sabbatical is a good place right now, I'm really getting excited about resuming training and running hard again, but really glad I still have one more week of rest.. and I'm ENJOYING it:o)

MMTR-- the good, the bad and the ugly rambling RR

2010-11-08T09:00:00.008-05:00

I struggled all day yesterday with how I should write this race report. I think everyone after running super long distances are a little messed up in the days following as far as clarity in post race reflection. I may feel completely different about certain aspects of my race 2 days from now.

SO what do I choose to do? Pretend to be all cheerful and happy on the exterior, and really have tons of self loathing and disappointment on the interior? I know one HAS to CHOOSE YOUR ATTITUDE. Every morning when I wake up, I tell myself that (especially if I’m having a bad day) that it’s what I make of it. I can wallow in it or I can get up out of the pit of despair, dust myself off and keep moving. I think that is one major facet of ultra running I REALLY love that no matter what is going on, how you feel. You just find a way to keep moving towards your finish line, towards your goal as long as you keep going everything is going to be OKAY. And most of the time, in 10 min you’ll feel WAY better than you did anyways…

Okay, so I would be a LYING dirt bag if I didn’t say that I’m a** little** heartbroken and disappointed in how MMTR went for me. This was my A race of THE YEAR. I hired a coach (a really expensive one) last January for the sole purpose of preparing me for this race. I worked and labored SO HARD… followed my prescribed workouts obediently. So many back to backs and weekends in the mountains away from my family. I was riddled with guilt for being gone on the weekends so much away from brock and the kids. but I knew I was falling deeper and deeper for this crazy sport. and I needed the TIME on my feet and I needed the racing experience in order to improve....

BUT with some of the sacrifices, came many rewards—I got fit, really fit by the summer. I really ENJOYED the paths and the roads that lead me to MMTR. I made SO many new friends, had so much fun at the races I’ve ran this year, and the training.. Had some amazing and fun long runs with Beth, rick, JJ, Grossman, Kathleen, Kevin Townsend…. Etc. It’s amazing the friendships and bonds that are formed while running. I had so much fun at my races: terrapin, capon valley, Leadville trail marathon, cheat mtn etc. Made so many lasting memories and friendships. :o)

By the end of the summer, I pretty much learned to just MAKE Brock come with me to the races to crew/ meet all these cool friends of mine so he would 1. Experience for himself what a wonderful community I’m apart of 2. Be apart and involved in what I’m doing..

For the back-to-back runs this fall.. I just took a page out of Grossman’s book and would just have the family campout at mt rogers. That way I could run in the mornings, and then have tons of family time all weekend long. And Brock and the kids are doing something FUN as well.

It finally was starting to feel like maybe I COULD have it all.

I had a rough time recovering from my first 50 the end of august at Cheat Mtn (which is the FUNNEST RACE EVER.. seriously you guys have to run that next year) hands down my favorite race experience of 2010.

But I was slowly getting back to where I was.. I knew I ran pretty crappy at New River 9:25 avg per mile. On a very flat course.. but I felt once I got in the mtns.. it would be okay.. hills never bothered me.. I would rather run a hilly course. I think I should have paid more attention to how I felt during my long runs and during new river. I felt tired. Same during the MMTR training run.. felt flat and tired. But pain free and that was good.

But I thought with a good 2 week taper, I’d be golden.. ready for action. Beth and I paced JJ at the haunted half 7 days before MMTR and my legs felt bouncy again. I was RARIN to go… so that really boosted my spirits. I felt okay about it all. I decided an attainable goal would be to try to break 10 hours.

I have tried several times to write the ACTUAL MMTR race report.. but keep deleting the paragraphs… because it turns into sounding very WAA, WAH BABYISH. SO I guess I’ll just say A LOT went wrong with my race… from 3 min before the start (Brock aka husband/sole crew member for me) got sick and had to go back to the hotel (AAAAHHH!!!) THANKFULLY, Saintly Tammy gray crewed for me (I made runner #4 she crewed for at MMTR) until Brock could make it back to long mtn wayside at the halfway point—I had some tummy issues that I’ve never had to deal with during a race YEAH. Fun times.. I ended up stopping 3 times.. during the race and there aren’t exactly any leaves on the trees anymore so finding a good spot to go was a NIGHTMARE.. and THEN as if things weren’t going GOOD ENOUGH.. I very extremely unexpectedly got paid a visit by my ”aunt” whom I hadn’t seen since like June (I thought it was because I was running so much kept her away but she’s BAAACK…) so I got to run the rest of MMTR a la Grete Waitz style. AWESOME.… lucky for me I wore a red running skirt. But I dealt with it all and kept on moving, but pretty much had the attitude of “sweet Jesus, just let me finish this thing.” The loop was actually NO problem for me and not at all scary… after the mental, physical and literal crap I’d been though.. it was a relief to be off the road and on the single track.. I felt at home. But I knew I was running really slow and had been all day.. 41 miles in my quads pretty much locked up and I couldn’t run down hill AT ALL… but I could go up hill just fine even run uphill. But downhill was extremely painful and just made running impossible. At that point, the finish line seemed FAR, FAR away; but I made up my mind that even though things weren’t going my way, I WAS GOING TO FINISH. Even if I had to crawl to get there, and even if I missed the cut off.. I was going to get to Montebello country store, hell or high water. And I did.

SO that concludes the WAA WAAH baby section..

There were GOOD things that happened to me in the 11 hours out there: I got to run with marlin yoder some the beginning, many smiles friendly exchanges from TONS of friends ( As they passed me:o) haha) I got to run with Dan Lehmann for awhile at mile 27 who was overcoming his own difficulties ( injury a month ago) to get his 10^th MMTR finish. Seeing brock at long mtn wayside was such a relief to know he was okay and feeling better because I was really worried about him all morning. I played a game of tag going up Buck mtn with Steph Wilson.. Running most of the second half of the race leap frogging with John Boeck … misery loves company.. it made me feel somewhat better to know someone as beastly as John was having a tough day right there with me.. We laughed and conversed some but I really were unified by looking on the bright side… that it was a beautiful day… and seriously how lucky we were to just BE there in that moment.. going to finish MMTR and not be defeated..A day spent in the mountains is truly a GOOD DAY.

I was NOT expecting to be so emotional at the finish. Guess I have several excuses ( hormones haha) but seriously.. I was just SO elated that I merely covered the distance and completed the course( well, deathmarched A LOT ) and that I didn’t quit. I was so happy to see ALL my friends and brock at the finish line. I had been so cold that last section ( thanks to tom odonnell who helped me with my jacket up on top the mtn) and it was so great to be just encircled by a group of people who truly care about me and were happy for me to get to the finish line. I found it very overwhelming emotionally. I have made so many GOOD FRIENDS this year. and my Iron Mtn Trail peeps: my tribe, our little quirky family dynamic.. if you only knew how much your love, support and friendship means to me. I'm truly thankful and appreciative to Brock who really has been so understanding, loving and supportive of all my adventures, endeavors and goals :o) it means so much:o)

YES, I didn’t get to RACE mmtr and that was my goal. NO, I didn’t even come close to my goal time. Or even my secondary goal time.. but I guess the primary goal for EVERY race is completing the race. ( and I didn’t get lost! Or off course, so I got that going for me haha) have I tried to analyze what happened to me? hell yes.. did I peak too soon?? was it a mistake to run Cheat mtn before MMTR? ( I really don't think so) but I think mistakes were made with my recovery post Cheat that delayed me getting back in the game the way I wanted to. lessons have been learned in that regard, and I feel as I gain more experience my recovery times will lessen. ( hopefully)

So… what’s next?? First off: rest and recovery. I can already tell that I am doing MUCH better than how I did post cheat mtn (must have been because I ran so slow and walked so much at MMTR ha-ha) my plan is no running for 2 weeks. THEN start anew.

Clean slate and prepare for 2011. :o)

Here are some pictures from the race.

haunted half marathon: fun, camaraderie, and evenly paced miles

2010-10-31T08:01:00.007-04:00

Beth and I had a mission this weekend: Our good friend JJ wanted to break 2 hours for the haunted half marathon in Kingsport, TN. We decided that since we were a week out from Masochist that this was a golden opportunity for us to pace JJ to meet his goal, PLUS dress up, act crazy and have a blast!!! No racing, no pressure ( other than to get JJ across the line in less than 2 hours).

My husband Brock, ever supportive:o) decided he wanted to dress up as a rabbi:o) and bring the kids so they could also dress up( harry potter and darth vader) and run the Monster Dash ( their first race!!) and have a good time while I ran, then once I crossed the line we could drive back to Bristol and take the kids trick or treating in the neighborhood ( and everyone would already have on their costumes!)

The day went off without a hitch. Brock, myself, and the kids got to the race about 2pm, and then we met up with Beth and JJ about 10 min later. It was so great to see SO many of my friends at this event. 300 people ran last year, 800 people ran the event this year!!! So for a 2nd year event, this has grown ALOT with the aid of the half marathon relay:o)

Before the gun, beth and I decided to run 8:55 miles, then after the gun, we decided to take a very hesitant JJ out 8:45 pace. While I didn't want JJ to blow up by going out too hard, I didn't want it to be TOO close. ( I hate nail biter finishes) so we just stayed at that pace and skipped and laughed, yelled encouraging WOO's!!! to all our friends, enjoyed fresh legs ( thanks to an easy taper week) it was hard to not take off at times, beth I would start talking and I would look down and we'd be 8 min pace( mostly plotting and planning about MMTR next week) .. so then we'd slow up, get back on track. We went through the half way point at 53 min. I was a little: "uh-oh... JJ DONT LOOK AT THE CLOCK!" haha but I felt that that gave him a good cushion, and he seemed FINE.. :o) and he was!!!!

second loop consisted mainly of beth and I leap frogging with a "mario and luigi" which is funny because for MONTHS that is what beth and I were going to dress up as, but once we saw the costumes, I was like " NO WAY, we'd smother to death!" they looked like very non breathable costumes, but this mario and luigi seemed to be managing it just fine:o) We kept cheering on JJ and acting crazy, and I seriously was SO proud of him for hanging on and being so consistent with his miles. That last mile people were fading and beth and I kept encouraging people to not fade and finish hard. ( which was fun) we were running to the finish.. I got on one side of this guy, beth on the other, we were getting ready to pull away and pass him-- and this dude looked at me, turned and looked at beth and said "oh, hell no..." and he took off in a DEAD SPRINT ahead of us.. HAHAHA.. so hilarious. I told beth he didn't want to get chicked(squared) that would just be too much.

JJ crossed in 1:57!!! SO proud of him!!! Congrats on your PR!!! and good luck at Richmond Marathon!!!! WOO!

I enjoyed running yesterday so much. It was so relaxing to just go have fun. So simple. it was PLAYTIME:o) I wish more runs were like that.. I SHOULD make SURE I have runs like that... I see that now.

The kids and Brock had a great time. The monster dash was non competitive so all the kids got candy as a prize. Brock said they both ran so well and had SO much fun. When I saw them at the finish, they both had FLEET FEET Kingsport cowbells:o) Thanks Phil!!! My buddy Phil Horner has the best fleet feet in the world:o)

I'm really looking forward to MMTR. Beth and I discussed the race ALOT yesterday. The weather forecast, nutrition plans, gear, etc. Really excited about the challenge and journey that lay ahead. Can't wait to have a wonderful weekend with all my "ultra family" :o)

here are some pictures from the race:

mega running weekend and Mt rogers/white top mtn photo blog

2010-10-18T12:24:00.007-04:00

This weekend the perfect fall weather set the stage for some of the most beautiful, picturesque running on the AT/FS 24 and VA creeper trail.

Saturday morning, ( unfortunately neither beth nor I brought a camera) beth and I met at 5:30 am to run on the AT under the stars for a couple of hours. Beth scored some more headlamp time ( hellgate 100k prep for her) and we ran across the ridgelines as the sun arose bathing the world in hues of orange and gold. We ran 24 miles that morning on a loop course we feel is very mimicky of MMTR course. That is 11 miles of singletrack on the AT and 11 miles of FS road and 2 miles of pavement.

Beth and I then went our separate ways, I cleaned up and drove to Richlands to spend time with my family, then went out to dinner with Brock at the Tavern in Abingdon.( had some of the best ahi tuna ever) Zonked out by 9pm..

Beth went camping at scales on top of mt rogers. :o)

I met up with Rick, Tammy and JJ the following morning and we drove up to Elk Garden parking lot. Await for a GLOWING beth who was so happy from a good nights sleep on top of the mtn and a hearty breakfast of pancakes and bacon. :o) From there we ran from elk garden to creek junction via the AT, THEN beth and rick continued on the AT for 12 more miles to damascus and JJ and I ran 10 miles via the Va creeper trail back to our cars at Sundog Outfitters.

It was a BIG training week for me this past week. I'm so grateful for all the time I got to spend in the mtns this weekend and all the trail time I got to share with Beth, Rick and JJ!! LOVE YOU GUYS!!! :o) I'm enjoying recovery today and life in general as I set my sights on MMTR. I can't wait to run my second 50!! :o) Rick: I am taking your advice about the next couple weeks:o) This weekend Beth and I are traveling to lynchburg, va to run the second half of the Masochist course with all our friends:o) YAY!!!

with out further ado: here are some photos from yesterday!

PSA: "Running through the Iron mountains" blog has moved

2010-10-15T17:25:00.006-04:00

Sean Dunlap, myself, and Beth Minnick

hey guys! I just wanted to do a quick informative post. Most of my blog readers also follow my best buddy beth's blog that she has been maintaining and did such an excellent job on the past three years. "Running Through the Iron Mountains"

I'm sure many of you guys have noticed that about 3 weeks ago, it was removed. ( gasp!) YEP.. we were all traumatized to say the least. All of beth's writings and race reports from the past 3 years were gone. :o(

long story short and leaving out any negativity or finger pointing. "running through the iron mtns" started out as a "group blog" 3 years ago, ( WAY before I even set foot on any single track and was pregnant with Todd) One person started it with their blog handle and then, handed out the password to all other members of the group. However, after a couple months, it boiled down that Beth was pretty much the only person ( with the exception of JJ Jessee who made several posts) to post on the IMTR blog in the past 2 years . The person who created the blog with their blogger account ( who hasn't ran with the IMTR group since I've joined them 2 years ago) , deleted the blog. Seriously, we just woke up one morning and it was gone. Zero speculation on the how or why.. but that is the end result: IMTR blog deleted. Beth tried working with blogger and with person who deleted the blog, but after 3 weeks of being unable to retrieve her writings; she is moving forward with a new blog of her own. Starting anew.

http://www.imtrunner.blogspot.com/

Please follow her, those of you who were readers of "running through the iron mountains" know what a wonderful job she does!

I just felt I needed to make a post concerning this for several reasons:

1. I was being asked about what happened to the IMTR blog very frequently. I knew people were missing it, and even on my google stats... I kept seeing "beth minnick" and IMTR blog over and over.. so it killed me to know that people were searching for "running through the iron mountains" and not being able to find it.

I thought I'd let you guys know what has been going on there. IMTR's are still here and still running strong. :o) and WE LOVE EVERYBODY :o)

2. for those of you who've never looked at "running through the iron mtns", who follow my blog please check out her blog as well:o) it's going to be AWESOME:o)

thanks so much!!!

cheers yall! :o)

New River Trail 50k

2010-10-11T11:32:00.008-04:00

New River Trail 50k

My journey began Friday evening. I decided that it would be best for me to drive on up to Wytheville, VA, and get a hotel room off i-77 in order to save me some morning driving time and enable me to sleep in a little longer. :o) I was a little bummed starting out because Brock was supposed to come to the race with me and volunteer, but he had gotten called out to work because some fiber optic cable was down in Charleston, WV. Bummer!!

So after dropping Jack and Fred( my doggie) off at Brock’s parents house. ( my mom kept Toddy for me) I found myself driving up 81 alone. I listened to bluegrass and just tried to psyche myself up for the journey that lay ahead. How beautiful the weather would be and how much fun I was going to have seeing ALL my friends at New River Trail 50k!

I knew Annette ( the RD) had been working SO hard on this race, it has such a wonderful reputation for being flawlessly organized.

I pulled into Sheets ( the gas station that is otherwise known as “Recovery Food Central” for the IMTR’s—no ultra is complete without a stop at Sheets on the way home for some grub!) I bought some snacks and a bag of ice for my cooler. Still a little down because I was there alone, and wishing I had made Beth come up the road with me. ( but I knew she had already promised to ride up with Rick Gray the next morning)

I got to my hotel ( a Fairfield Inn) and busied myself with listening to “the gourds” ( lower 48) and laying out all my clothes for the next morning, putting all my nutritional /fueling needs in my Nathan vest and my drop bag. THIS CHEERED ME UP IMMENSELY. Call me a dork, a geek, etc.. but I LOVE my little routine/ pre-race rituals. I even went as far to say out loud “ I LOVE BEING ME!!!” to an empty hotel room. :o)

Took a very hot shower, put on my PJ’s, called Brock and told him: “goodnight.” And then I went to sleep at 10pm.

Woke up at 5AM. Pretty well rested. I got dressed, ate some oatmeal and a bagel, then loaded the car and headed down the road towards Fries, VA. Got a text from Beth, so I called her as I was getting off exit 80, and she and rick were at the flying J at exit 80 getting fuel for the family van. :o) YAY! So, I pulled into the gas station.. gave hugs to both of them and followed the to the race.

It was about 45F and foggy at the start line. Beth started her volunteering responsibilities,

I got my packet, visited with some of my friends. Ran into my friend Bob whom I met at Capon Valley earlier this year and took a picture of him:

Rick and I sat in the family van to keep warm until start time, and then at 7:50am I got out of the van when I saw my friend, Frank Lilly ( whom I last saw at Leadville Trail marathon) gave him a hug and met all his crew he came to the race with.

We lined up, all giggling and laughing..

and were off!! It wasn’t an insanely fast start, but it was fast enough! I was sub 8 ( 7:40ish) the first 5k.. finally settled into a nice 8 min-8:20 pace and was feeling good. I ran with this really nice guy from high point, NC and leap frogged with the sultan for a couple of miles. Bob came up and passed me, and I just decided to follow him and his red terrapin half marathon shirt because he was pacing fairly steady. I ate some perpetuem an hour in and took a salt tab. There was a small out and back at mile 5 and then you pass everyone at the half waypoint. Which was exciting for me because I got to cheer on all my friends. I was happy to see Rick running SO strong with the front of the pack. Jenny Anderson and Amy Albu were both running strong. So everyone yelling words of encouragement and giving high 5’s definitely at a GOOD, WARM positive vibe to this race. I had slowed down to about 8:45 pace by the half waypoint and that was actually my joke at the aid station to Beth that I was running 9 min pace and “LOVING IT!!”

beth took a pic of me at the turn around:

I took some more perpetuem( thanks Beth for mixing it up for me and having it there waiting!) and drank a coke, then headed back down the trail.

I have to say that the course is beautiful! The new river is so pretty, the leaves were in peak, and the trestles were so much fun to run across, and there is this COOL tunnel you get to run through. I was excited about the trip back.

I saw my buddy Frank, and he was running solidly and looked great!!! He took this picture of me: ( I borrowed from his race report)

That really made me happy to see he was having a good race.

I was gradually getting hotter, and slower.. but I felt if I could jut hang on, I could break 5 hours.. so that essentially is what I did. Hung on. I struggled mentally with feelings of why I wasn’t performing better and having this red-letter day, then at mile 28 I looked down at the trail and saw a small piece of paper flapping between blades of grass in the "median" of the double track. The new river trail is really clean.. I didn’t see ANY liter the whole run ( good job everyone for not throwing down your gel packets—seriously! I’m proud of yall..) I was going so slow I thought “what the heck” I’d throw it in the trash when I get to the finish. I picked up the paper and this is what it was:

A paper heart!

It really made me feel SO much better just reading it. I felt better the 5k back to the finish line because it permeated somewhat that while, I didn’t really have the best day performance wise. I did my best for THAT DAY… on my own terms, and I should be content with that. This was great training for MMTR. I know I made gains having this for a long run.

Finishing felt great ( to be able to stop after 31 miles of non stop running) 4:54… PR by 37 min and 42 pace overall. Getting congratulatory hugs made me feel so much better. I showed everyone my valentine I found:o) I found out I won both a montrail visor and a bottle of wine!!! SWEET

beth took some pictures of me finishing:

I was able to hang out at the finish line for a couple of hours and watch my friends finish:

Hung out with rick under the MHW tent he ran a 4:14!!! A mere 7 days after finishing grindstone 100!!! I love this picture of him, he’s SOO happy:o)

I had to go pick up Todd from my Mom’s house in Richlands so I didn’t get to stay to see Frank’s finish. But Beth took a picture! So proud of you Frank! Awesome job

Definitely recommend this race. It would be an EXCELLENT, first time 50k or for someone who is looking to PR. The race is super organized, the course beautiful. Annette really gifts her runners. This is a picture of all the swag I left with from her race:

and they gave away montrail lip balm!! how cool is that?!

The community center had homemade bread and a vast selection of soups. There was a blue grass band playing, the new river is a great place to soak your legs post run.. There are great places for camping near the race site in New River State Park. This race has IT ALL.

running New River 50k tomorrow AM

2010-10-08T14:06:00.003-04:00

hey guys! just wanted to do a quick post and say I'm loading up the car and driving to wytheville, VA this evening. Hopefully make it in time for packet pick up at the start line in Fries, VA for New River 50k.

If not, I'll just get my shirt and bib# in the AM. I just more or less wanted to drive to the startline so I'll be more familiar with the area because it's about 20 min away from where I'll be staying. Wouldn't it be terrible to get lost on the way to a race? haha

anyways, I hope everyone has a great weekend! safe travels to all my running friends who are racing tomorrow!

I'll try to take plenty of pictures tomorrow, and try to have my race report up by sunday evening:o)

cheers yall:o)