holiday lake 50k++

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

“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

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

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!

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

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

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.