Just one more day: Days 79-85

Day 79 – March 19, 2012

A 3.5 mile warmup with the team was the extent of my running before putting the clock on the kids as they ran the real workout on the track. But, not a bad thing considering the two recent long runs of 17 and 18 miles.

Total – 3.5 road miles

Day 80 – March 20, 2012

Good thing I ran some trails to measure the course I wanted the team to take. Booming thunder and severe lightening cut the team run short as we fled back to shelter from the mountains. I suppose we should get credit for speed work.

Total- 6.5 trail miles

Day 81 – March 21, 2012

Wow. I ended up with all the distance and middle distance kids today. With many novice runners, the plan quickly changed. A slow run to the intramural fields, a couple 4-corner 5 minute drills, relay games, and the run back. The distance kids and I chose to take a nice trail back to base.

Total – 4.5 road and trail miles

Day 82 – March 22, 2012

Does running on a treadmill getting a stress echo test count for miles? That, combined with a run to and from the track and a run after I got home gave me a few miles.

Total – 5.5 road miles

Day 83 – March 23, 2012

A tight time frame restricted my running to practice time only, which consisted of a giant scavenger hunt with about 55 kids. Chalk up about 2.5 miles.

Total – 2.5 road miles

Day 84 – March 24, 2012

With rain pouring down, the Terrapin 50K and half-marathon got underway. I was not at the start line as a competitor. But, I did have opportunity to cover 18 miles of the distance as the sweep runner. Sweeping is always an experience and today was no exception. I ran predominately with two individuals,  with  intermittent stops to take down streamers marking the way. What great people and conversation! I am so thankful. However, back at the finish, I have to admit I was a little wishful of not being a racer. I’ll miss Promise Land, too, due to coaching responsibilities. Looks to be a bleak spring schedule with all the track meets I am committed to.

Total – 18 gravel road and trail miles

Day 85 – March 25, 2012

Whew. What a busy, busy weekend. Between being at the race Friday night and all day Saturday, and helping Caleb move out of his apartment and back into the house (he is building a tiny house on the property), there wasn’t a lot of time to run until this evening. I put in a pleasant country road run and enjoyed the rain that fell lightly at the end.

Total – 4 road miles

Year-to-date – Approx 512 miles

Boot-scoot'n boogey

Ah, to feel the breeze. To see the landscape rush by up close and personal. To smell the scents of early spring blossoms. These are but a few of the joys of motorscooter riding. That, and the 67 mpg in these days of $4.75/gallon gasoline.

We've had motorcycles before. Plenty of them. I had become adept at making all four appendages shift, brake, and accelerate on cue and enjoyed the open road. But after a hiatus from motorcycle ownership, Gary decided we needed a step-through motorscooter. More storage. easy to ride. Automatic. Low enough for my feet to touch the ground. And great gas mileage. Found it. Bought it. Now we ride it.

I've always been entertained how motorcycle riders seem to have their own greeting. Normally, as bikers pass in opposite directions, the left arm is extended obliquely downward, hand extended. It says, "Hey, I'm cool and so are you." I wondered if my little red scooter (which can still do a brisk 85 mph, so I'm told) would be worthy of such acknowledgement.

Yesterday I had occasion to ride a good distance to a doctor's appointment. It was a beautiful, warm day and lots of motorcycles had left there covers behind in the garage. Sure enough, no matter what kind of bike, a Hog, crotch-rocket, or decked-out Goldwing touring version, that arm dropped in an upside-down salute as they saw me coming. I smiled every time it happened, ponytail escaping the helmet and flapping in the breeze. But I kept forgetting the secret handshake. There I was, waving back at them like a princess on the way to the prom. I wonder what they thought. Probably, "Sheez. That's a girl for ya."

Bikers have this distinct way of acknowledging each other. Surfers do the "hang 10" thing. Snowboarders and skateboarders greet each other with "Duuude." High school girls shrilly shout the name of a friend and join in a big embrace. Cool guys shake hands and do the shoulder-tap, back-slap half-hug deal with the other hand.

The point is, we all have a way to identify ourselves. To the on-looker, we can tell a lot about who someone is by simply watching them. Their true identity is revealed by their actions, gestures, attitude, and the way they carry themselves. All this combines to make a good impression--or not!

We are children of the King. We are royal heirs. We are given all the resources of the kingdom to be kind, giving, unselfish, forgiving, thoughtful, loving, joyful, persevering, hopeful. Do I act the part? Is this what people see when they look at me?

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness, self-control. (Galatians 5:22)

Just One More Day: Days 72-78

Day 72 – March 12, 2012

An early morning trip to the airport and three flights took its toll on my day. I ended up in Wisconsin and on a treadmill in the exercise center. I enjoyed watching some Fox News on the attached TV monitor but was still amazed at how had it was to run relatively slow paces with no incline.

Total – 5 treadmill miles

Day 73 – March 13, 2012

Today required an early morning workout before I headed off to do my thing at the hospital. While the workout last night was hard, this morning sent me for a loop- and that’s not a good thing. I struggled to get in but four miles.

Total – 4 miles

Day 74 – March 14

It was hard to get out of bed four hours after I went to sleep. Not sure what the problem was but my mind refused to settle. All too soon the hotel wake-up call roused me. Groggy and bleary-eyed, I headed down the hallway, into the elevator, and out the front door. It was unseasonably warm (so I’m told) and a nice welcome to the run’s start. It was a follow-your-nose kind of run. Down the quiet streets of Madison, WI, around the capital building, lit up brilliantly against the still-dark sky, and along the banks of the river. Other than an occasional bicyclist or small group of ROTC runners, the clean streets were mine. It turned out to be a great start to the day.

Total – 4 road miles

Day 75 – March 15, 2012

Meeting with a few of my runners, we took to the trails for a relaxed jaunt through the woods. Being spring break week, most of my kids were on beach somewhere. Jealous. But the early spring day and warm temps, easy conversation, and easier pace made it a pleasant morning group run.

Total – 5 trail miles

Day 76 – March 16, 2012

I am so glad my running buddy, Deb Watkins, moved back to the ‘Burg. We took advantage of the mild day to hit Flat Top, Harkening Hill, and Sharp Top, making sure we had a little picnic between each of the three mountains. It was a really nice, relaxed run.

Total – 16 trail miles

Day 77 – March 17, 2012

With building and landscaping projects keeping me busy and on my feet all day long, I opted for a weany 1.5 miles. With 16 yesterday and another 17 or so tomorrow, I didn’t fell too guilty.

Total – 1.5 road miles

Day 78 – March 18, 2012

A Sunday after noon in the mountains with UltraBaby, Sarah Quigg. Loved showing her the parts of next week’s Terrapin Mt. 50K that she didn’t know. It was a lot of up and a lot of down and nothing much in between. So good to have my second girls-only long run this week

Total - 17.8

Year-to-date - Approx 468 miles

Paint projects

A little color for the front entry

Stairwell dandelion

Freehand painted lower hallway rug

Upper hallway painted run (Sorry. Pic won't stay vertical)

Stenciled stair risers

Freehand cherry blossom branches and birds

$2.00 auction dresser gets a paint makeover

Color-blocked upstairs bathroom wall

Twinkling twilight

The view below was mesmerizing. Looking out from my window seat, the landscape rushed by as my plane closed in on the airstrip. Though it was nighttime, I could see the impressive structures of downtown Charlotte jutting up into the dark sky. The headlights of cars made the roadways appear as moving streams of light, worthy to be an ever-transforming piece of art. I could imagine the aggressive, sweat-producing play of those contesting a soccer game on brightly lit fields below. Massive parking lots sat empty awaiting the morning rush, the security lights and their predictable shadows the sole occupants.

And then I saw it, a large area of twinkling lights in an area of otherwise darkness. Whoa. Did someone forget to take down their Christmas lights? It was a beautiful but curious sight. None of the other night lights in the distance were doing the twinkle-toe tango.

Suddenly, an explanation occurred to me. It must have been a residential neighborhood nestled among tall stands of trees. The glow was streetlamps lighting the way. As I watched from my perch in the sky, my constantly changing perspective made it look like the lights flashed off and on. But that wasn't the case. The lights, I'm quite sure, remained lit the whole time. The issue was that the branches of the trees momentarily obscured my view of the lights until my position in the plane changed just as quickly. Hence, twinkle-twinkle.

"God is light and in Him is no darkness at all." (I John 1:5). God is always "on." If His light seems to flicker, it's not His fault. It's mine. Something has come between His light and my viewpoint. Perhaps worry stands between. Maybe its priorities that are misaligned. Or maybe its the fact that I am constantly on the move, failing to keep my focus on that stabilizing light.

Bad things happen when I can't see the light. I stumble in the dark. I trip. Splat, I fall. I lose my way. Relationships suffer because the darkness prevents me from seeing those around me. In fact, my life get all out of whack, losing perspective in the absence of the Light. What to do?

Embrace the light. Gaze into it fully. Do whatever it takes to be focused on the beam. Follow the light. Let nothing come between us and the Light. Remember that "if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin" (I John 1:7).

"Turn your eyes upon Jesus,Look full in His wonderful face,And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,In the light of His Glory and Grace."

Just one more day: Days 65 - 71

Day 65 – March 5, 2012

We had a little snow last night and the superintendent at LCA made good on his promise. He cancelled school at the sign of the first flake. It wasn’t long until one of my runners called to see if we could run in the big mountains. YES! There were five of us and though there was little to no snow down low, we got into some knee deep stuff up high. So glad to have adventurous high-schoolers! Go team.

Total- 9.5 trail miles

Day 66 – March 6, 2012

Knowing it was the first day to have middle-schoolers join track, it was prudent to run a little beforehand since I would have the youngsters to deal with during practice. I hit some local trails and gave the new kids a little test run during practice. All I can say is that middle schoolers must come from Mars.

Total – 6 trail, track, and road miles

Day 67 – March 7, 2012

It was a warm and windy day, sun shining: a day where the woods calls out to you. I texted a friend and we met so that I could show her some trails new to her. We ran about eight miles before I went to track practice and led the new middle-schoolers through a short run before team pictures.

Total- 10 miles, mostly trail with some road

Day 68 – March 8, 2012

With a trail day planned for the my team, I ran the required course the older kids would be tackling before practice. I have this habit of thinking they can do a little more in the allotted time. When I finished, I headed down to practice, sent the older ones on the way and headed to the hills with the youngsters. We put in about three miles and they did much better than expected. They even got to witness my total wipeout when running downhill and crashing into a tree doing a belly slide. Oh well, things happen when you run trails.

Total – 7.6 trail miles

Day 69 – March 9, 2012

With no official practice today (yeah!), all I had to do was open my door and step outside into the windy weather. A familiar loop was par for the course. The headwind made me feel puny but the tailwind. . .well, I’ll take that any day.

Total – 6 road miles

Day 70 – March 10, 2012

It was going to be a busy Saturday, full of hard, manual labor. My chipper was calling me to make mulch out of piles of branches just waiting to be shred to itsy-bitsy bits. Then, I had to dig about 14 post holes for a raised bed I am building. From past experience, I knew I wouldn’t be able to walk after a good eight hours of work. Therefore, I made sure to get in a couple miles before the work started. I was pleasantly surprised that I felt better than I have in a long time.

Total – 4 road miles

Day 71 – March 11, 2012

I had another good run today. One of my medical issues is a fairly severe microcytic hypochromic anemia. Interpretation: I have too few red blood cells and the ones I have are shriveled and tiny, making it hard to transport sufficient levels of oxygen. (They must be empathetic to the looks of the cellulite on my legs.) The anemia panel suggest that this is primarily due to an iron insufficiency. It takes 2-3 weeks for the iron to start increasing RBC production. Perhaps I am beginning to benefit from increasing hemoglobin levels. I’ll take it, regardless. There are still other issues to sort out but at least one thing is getting better.

Total- 6 road miles

Year-to-date: Approx. 415 miles

Recipe for golden apples

 A few weeks ago my twin brothers had a birthday. Being a good big sis, I dutifully extended my greetings via Facebook. Doesn't everyone do that nowadays?

Then I learned that one of them was disappointed that his phone didn't ring with more frequency on such a special day. I immediately felt guilty. I had actually thought about calling him but pushed the idea aside when Gary and I got involved in watching a good movie. Pretty lame, I know. But the whole incident is causing me to reconsider the power of a simple spoken word.

The smallest compliment given to one of my on-line students produces miles of smiles (or at least that's what I envision when they write back to thank me). An acknowledgement of a race well run seems to give my runners an added boost of confidence in the next practice. Thanking the preacher, acknowledging the musicians visibly produce signs of encouragement. Even making a grumpy Wal-Mart cashier smile seems like the right thing to do.

All these things are good. No, they're great. But I think we forget that those same positive, uplifting comments we consciously dole out to the friends, acquaintances, colleagues, and others are far too rare inside our own four walls.

Why is it that we miss opportunities to speak a kind word or acknowledge a job well done to the ones we love the most? I don't think we intend to be neglectful. It's that we simply take them for granted a little more than we should. Our children and spouses, mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters, should never have to wonder if they are special. They should never have to wait to be told they are loved. The sounds of silence should not be our song of choice.

 "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver" (Proverbs 25:11)

Just one more day: Days 58-64

Day 58 - February 27, 2012

I had a lot to think about when I ran my miles during team practice. A visit to the doctor revealed a few things of concern, some of which explain why my running has felt increasingly hard. More tests to come. But the good news is that I am, at least, moving. For that I can be thankful.

Total – 5 road and gravel miles

Day 59 – February 28, 2012

It was a beautiful day for a birthday. 55 years on the planet. Hard to believe. But I had to take advantage of the day and head to the hills, running a new trail before practice and then repeating it as a group.

Total – 11 trail miles

Day 60 – February 29, 2012

Leap year! My dad was a Leap Year baby. I thought it was the coolest thing to turn 12 and have him be stuck at 11. The run today was light and fun, incorporating strength, balance, hills, and tons of stadium steps.

Total – 3 miles

Day 61 – March 1, 2012

March. In like a lion. . .The winds blew strong but with temps around 70 degrees, it was a great day to run in the woods. Practice was relaxed as we broke into groups and ran according to our abilities. I was feeling puny on the uphills, and alive only when gravity-assisted. It’s frustrating.

Total – 6.5 road and trail miles

Day 62 – March 2, 2012

Almost too embarrassed to post this but. . .On a windy, stormy day, I sure wasn’t “feeling” practice. But, when I heard we had access to the indoor track, my spirits rose. Still, we didn’t do much at all. 1 mile warmup, 5 x 200m, another mile to end the school week.

Total – 2.6 track miles

Day 63 – March 3, 2012

I am working way too hard for how slow I am working. I know I am anemic and am waiting results of some other tests. When I hit the roads, the plan for was for either 8.5 or 15 miles. It didn’t take very long to decide the shorter version was more prudent. I ran downhills but had to walk on most of the ups. Ugh. I feel anything but an athlete.

Total – 8.5 road miles

Day 64 – March 4, 2012

Another slog fest as I await more lab tests. But 3 miles is 3 miles. Cold and windy with a prediction of some snow tonight. Maybe a white snow in the morning would spur me on to a good run.

Total: 3 road miles

Year-to-date: Approx. 345 miles

Jungle Marathon Revisited

My mother called this morning to tell me she watch Nightline last night. One of the featured stories was about the Jungle Marathon, a race I did in it's first year in 2003. The race director, Shirley Thompson, was a fellow competitor (and unknown financier) in the inaugural race. Enjoy the following report to get a sense of what such a race entails. The eight minute video sure brings back memories!

ABC Nightline story: Jungle Marathon 2011

My book, "Under an Equatorial Sky" is my story of this race, version 2003. It can be purchased online at Amazon or any of the book sellers or from http://rebekahtrittipoe.com

Just one more day: Days 51-57

Day 51 - February 20, 2012

I love waking up and finding a white world outside my windows. The first snow storm of the season dropped about eight inches of heavy snow. The white stuff clung to branches like a child to its mother. The sun made tiny prisms out of the flakes, streaks of light darting across the fields. I was anxious to get out and run nearby trails. And so I did. . .but not until the snow was melting faster than an ice cube in a fire. Still, my footprints were the only ones out there. Good stuff.

Total – 5.5 trail miles

Day 52 - February 21, 2012

It wasn’t the practice I was hoping to have with my team. But a new girl showed up that required a bit more personal attention. New to running, I spent a good part of practice walking and talking with her. Sweet girl who has to start somewhere. I know she was embarrassed but did not wish her to be. I led her for 30 minutes and then resumed my run, looking for the other kids scattered around campus.

Total – 4 road miles

Day 53 - February 22, 2012

No team practice today so I was on my own. Hit my familiar 6 mile loop and actually felt much better than I have in a long time. Almost felt like I was running rather than slogging.

Total – 6 road miles

Day 54 - February 23, 2012

What a gorgeous day! Sunny and near 70. Doesn’t get much better than that. So off to the trails I went before practice, scoping out the route for my team. It’s one way to get s few miles but I was pooped at the end. I think I needed more calories. Horrible on the climbs!

Total – 11.4 trail miles

Day 55 - February 24, 2012

Best laid plans of mice and men. . .and ultrarunners. What I hoped to be a good 20 miler in the mountains was reduced in half. I can’t remember when I was so out of breath and puny-feeling. I drove back into town and scheduled a physical for Monday morning. I guess it was incentive to schedule what I’ve needed to do anyway.

Total – 9.2 trail miles

Day 56 - February 25, 2012

Still feeling puny so I sneeked a few trail miles. Just enough to say I ran. Check.

Total- 3.5 trail miles

Day 57 – February 26, 2012

A beautiful, sunny Sunday afternoon. About 48 degrees and just right for a short run down our country roads. Felt a little better than the last couple of days.

Total – 4 miles
Year-to-date- 325.6 miles

Snowy Trail Running 101: Top 10 lessons

Top ten lessons learned when running narrow trails after eight inches of wet snow.

10. Run early in the day before the temps climb into the high forties.
9. Be prepared to get wet and muddy if you choose to run in the afternoon under a bright sun. Don't think about breaking any land speed records.
8. Understand that gortex shoes keep the wet out only for so long. Submarining them in puddles shortens the dry-feet time considerably.
7. Running without sunglasses gives you a new appreciation for snow blindness.
6. Look ahead for easy-to-grab trees at switchback corners. Melting snow mixed with mud accelerates downward motion. You will need help slowing down.
5. Overhanging branches are sadistic. They dump snow on your head at the exact instant you pass beneath them.
4. Snow-laden trees always fall across the trail, never away from the trail.
3. View your run as an opportunity for trail work in service to your community. Consider carrying a chainsaw and loppers to make things easier.
2. Look ahead and see no footprints. Look behind and see but one set. Smile.
1. Thank God for the snow and your ability to be out there.

Just one more day. Days 44-50

Day 44 – February 13, 2012

No practice today. Yeah. I love my team but even a dedicated coach needs a break. Besides, I am frantically preparing for a big consulting job this week.

Total – 6 road miles

Day 45 - February 14, 2012

I made a stop on the way to the market; the nearby park with new (to me) trails to explore. Time was limited but I will certainly return. Beautiful, single track created by a group of mountain bikers. Good stuff.

Total – 4.5 miles

Day 46 - February 15, 2012

There’s nothing like a “follow-your-nose” run in a new city. Having work in Bethesda, I took off down a busy street, delighted to find signs for “Georgetown Branch Trail” after about a mile. I followed it to the left, ending up in Silver Springs. The dirt and gravel path cut a quiet path through expensive neighborhoods, crossed high above a bold stream, occasionally crossing a road. By the time it was all over, I logged about 11 miles, arriving back at the hotel pleased with the miles and thankful for my run.

Total – 2 miles road, 9 miles gravel path

Day 47 – February 16, 2012

After doing professional teaching all day to a group of medical professionals, I was looking forward to visiting the trail that headed to the right. But alas, other responsibilities interfered and before I knew it, it was dark. I decided to ride the hotel elevator to the top floor and hit the treadmill. Bad idea. I forgot headphones, had nothing to watch and was relegated to listen to my feet scuffing along the moving track. It was torture. And what made it worse was the conservative pace seemed much more difficult than it should have been. Ugh. I put in my 10k and went and ate a burger, fries, and ice cream. YES I DID.

Total – 6.1 treadmill miles

Day 48 - February 17, 2012

Driving in the DC area makes me nervous. But not nervous enough to avoid a stop at IKEA on the way home from Bethesda. That put me getting home a bit later than expected so I cheated on the miles, getting in a quick run and returning home to a visiting son. I guess I should have gotten up early and run before I traveled.

Total – 4 road miles

Day 49 – February 18, 2012

My run had to wait. Our wood pile was vanishing and needed replenished. That meant cross-training by hauling logs out of the woods and splitting about a half a cord. Gary and I worked for several hours before I headed out for Falling Creek Park, a new found sweet system of single track trail. Running is a skirt, short sleeves, and enjoying the 60 degree weather, it was hard to believe a big snow storm was predicted to be in place in another 24 hours. Still, running with ear buds delivering a variety of music to encourage, motivate, and uplift, the time passed quickly.

Total – 13 trail miles

Day 50 - February 19, 2012

Let it snow! For the first time this year, I got to run in snow. I love the watching the world turn white. The only thing that could have been better is that I would have felt swift and deer-like. It was anything but. I felt old and tired. But, at least it was another day out there.

Total – 4 road miles

Year-to-date: 282 miles

UltraGirl Speaks

My first Ultra: Holiday Lake 50k by Sarah Quigg

The literal meaning of the word ultra means, “going beyond the usual limit, extreme.” I experienced this definition first hand during my FIRST ultra on Saturday, February 11. Coming around the last bend to see the finish line in reach was the most beautiful sight my eyes had every witnessed. But I should back up and describe the journey it took to reach the end. 

I had never set my alarm clock at 4 a.m. before, but that morning I awoke ready to go and conquer this day. I dressed in the clothes laid out the night before; a careful and meticulous process, because I knew that each article could hinder my success. Finally ready to go, my thoughts were focused on asking God for strength and wondering what the day would bring.

The start at 6:30 a.m. was slow and it felt strange to start at that pace, but I knew the day would be long and I would cherish that beginning feeling of strength. I felt rested and smooth, my body wanting to take off and be pushed, but I trusted in the wisdom of my Trail Mama and knew that the test would be during the second half. I tried to enjoy every aspect of my first ultra, the friendly smiles and encouragement at aid stations, the chatter of runners all around me, and especially having the ability to appreciate God’s creation in such a unique and often overlooked way. Needless to say the pain soon set in and thus came the true test of an ultra-runner.

Arriving at the second to last aid station I still felt strong, but my knees and ankles were beginning to throb with every step. I knew that with the journey this pain was to be expected, and I had previously made a mental commitment to not let physical pain deter my progress. Needless to say I was not prepared for the nausea that overwhelmed my body. I slowed down to a walk, hoping, praying that it would soon fade. I soon realized that this pain was here to stay, and so I tried my best to continue on. Alternating between running and walking the chorus, “Never once did we ever walk [run] alone, Never once did you leave us on our own, You are faithful, God you are faithful” ran through my head, and I begged that God would carry me to the finish line. No longer did I worry about my time goal; reaching the finish was my only desire. 

Those last four miles were the longest of my life. Climbing the last hill and entering the paved road my hope was renewed. With each step my heart overflowed with the realization that I had finally conquered my first ultra-marathon. After dreaming, reading, and watching it was finally my turn to experience the end, the finish, the moment when all you have worked for is accomplished. I crossed the finish and, yes Coach T, got my first Horton hug, received my first finisher shirt, and became exactly who God created me to be, a runner for His glory.

Although I often questioned my own sanity during those painful last eight miles, I awoke on Sunday morning ready to conquer the next race. The pain has been erased from my mind, and although right now stairs seem to mock me as I struggle with each step, there is nothing like running an Ultra-Marathon, and that’s probably a good thing. 

Thank you, Coach T, for always believing in me. You let me tag along on long runs, answered every question, explained each minor detail, and provided insight into the mind of the toughest runner I know. You have inspired me to be the best runner I can be, and no matter what happened I knew you were a proud Trail Mama. I can’t wait for the day when we run our first Ultra together!   

   "Run Silent. Run Deep. Run Long. Run Strong." (RTrittipoe)

      

                         

               

Just one more day: Days 37-43

Day 37 - February 6, 2012

With repeat 400s on the track at a specific pace, I knew I had to act like a coach today and stand there with my stopwatch. So, I ran some trails before practice and then ran the warmup with the team. I actually felt decent. Note to self: The new pair of shoes I finally pulled out of the box and started wearing may be helping my aches and pains subside just a little. Duh.

Total – 7.5 trail and road miles

Day 38 – February 7, 2012

This was going to be the last trail run of the season for my indoor track distance runners. With the state championships just a few days away, I wanted a run that wasn’t too long, not too short. A run that was just right. With a loop in mind, I set off to run it before practice before going down the mountain to meet my team. Together we ran those trails, some of which has been cleared of leaves with a leaf blower! First time for everything. When we finished the tough and predominantly uphill run, we enjoyed a time of thanksgiving prayer, circled up as a group who truly loves each other. I am so blessed.

Total – 7.6 trail miles

Day 39 – February 8, 2012

I got punked today when I got to practice. My entire team decided to play hide and seek, only I didn’t know it. They hid until I finally found them. Good one! But it set a nice stage for a fun run and a little section of pickups on smooth grass.

Total – 4.0 miles road, gravel, and grass

Day 40 - February 9, 2012

This was our last day of practice before the state indoor track meet. With all the work behind us, practice was a simple run to the outdoor track, a couple 200s at 1000 m pace, a run back and then a rousing game of kickball. Knowing it was going to be a light day, I hit the trails for a jaunt before practice.

Total – 5.2 trail and road

Day 41 – February 10, 2012

It was with mixed emotion that my little car sped toward Holiday Lake. My mission was to run the trails and check markings for the 50 tomorrow. I am not able to run because of conflicts with coaching responsibility tomorrow at the state championship meet. But as I ran along hanging additional streamers, I thought and prayed for my neophyte runner, Sarah Quigg. Sarah ran for me last year and was staring in the face of her first ultra. I wondered what she would be thinking, how she would be thinking. I suppose we’ll know soon enough.

Total – 9 trail miles

Day 42 – February 11, 2012

Please don’t laugh at my meager mile. It was all I could squeeze in. I was up at 6 am, on a bus at 7, spent the day at the state indoor meet, and finally got home at 10:30 at night. Somewhere between the 300 meters races, I escaped to the outdoor track and put in four laps immediately post- freak snow squall. And that’s all she wrote.

Total – 1 track mile

Day 43 – February 12, 2012

In any good experiment, observation is key in data collection. So far, in my 366-day running experiment, I am finding two things. 1) I am much happier about running, most days looking forward to logging some miles. That’s a good thing as I have often viewed my running as a burden in recent years. 2) The flip side is I think I could easily let the experiment take on a life of it’s own. Though the number of miles has not been impressive thus far, I find myself contemplating the need to add huge miles because I know people are following my progress. Miles that can be counted on one hand are scoffed at by some. So, I will need to be very careful not to let this get out of control. Balance is key.

Total – 4 road miles

Year-to-date: 233.4

Stolen ultra baby

I feel that the child I just birthed has been stolen from my arms. No one brings her to me. She cannot be seen in her bassinet behind the huge panes of safety glass. Instead, I am left to wonder how she is, what she is feeling. Is she scared? Is she happy? Does she need me? How I wish I could be with her to comfort, console, and encourage.

Sarah Quigg is my baby. Sure, she is eighteen and a college freshman. She was my top high school runner last year. When we first met she didn’t know anything about ultramarathons. But she learned. She learned well, in fact, deciding to name herself “UltraGirl.” Long races along ribbons of trail became her passionate quest. The miles were logged. Trails traversed. Now at this very moment, she is in the process of legitimizing that name—and I am not there with her.

Rebekah and Sarah the night before the big race

I was able to run part of the race course yesterday when checking the markings. With every step, I wondered how Sarah would feel when her feet imprinted the very same dirt my shoes kicked. Would she be smiling? Would she be hurting? Would she be embracing the pain and the effort? Where would she be in the pack of runners? I could only surmise. I was not going to see it for myself.

I almost hurt from not being there with her. It’s not fair. I was there when Sarah’s aspirations were conceived, a mere speck of an idea hidden within the neural pathways of  her brain. I’ve seen that speck grow invasively, no longer able to be ignored. I’ve watched her strength increase as the miles added up. And when I look in her eyes, I see behind the veil and into her very essence. She is a runner. She is an ultrarunner just waiting to be born.

My coaching duties required I be two hours away come race time. Now I anxiously await her phone call as I prowl the confines of an indoor track field house. I need to know every detail of my ultra baby’s first race. I wish I could have been there. Why doesn’t she call?  I muse when I glance at the wall clock. She should have finished two hours ago.

Finally, my phone sounds that familiar ring. It’s her. “So, talk to me.”

“Oh Coach T. It was so hard but I finished.”

The details began to unfurl. The first loop of the course flew by, Sarah arriving at the turn-a-round feeling strong and capable. She continued on, pleased with her progress until a mere eight miles remained. But those eight miles were nothing like the first twenty-six. Her stomach ran in the opposite direction. Though she tried to fight her way through it, the nausea soon overwhelmed. She struggled to maintain progress but nothing seemed to work. “I thought I was going to die,” she later told her mom. But with her sights set on the finisher award, a neon green Patagonia shirt, Sarah crossed under the banner and gladly accepted the embrace of race director, David Horton. She shed a few newborn tears out of relief, exhaustion, and joy disguised as pain and suffering.

Sarah’s goal was sub 5:30. She ran 5:37. She’ll take it. I’ll take it as any proud mama would. My baby took her first ultra steps today. She did it without me but that’s okay. It feels good to know I had the privilege of giving birth.

Sleep well, Baby Girl, sleep well.

From one arena to another

I’m in the middle of preparations for a big teaching day. The topic is peri-operative blood management and a room full of medical professionals will be the audience. Even with a quarter century of clinical experience, lecturing for eight hours is nothing I should attempt on the fly. Hence, hours have been logged with my nose back in the books and my fingertips doing gymnastics across my PowerPoint slides.

The texts, charts, figures, diagrams and pictures all remind me of days gone by. Phone calls in the night, harried drives to the hospital, changing into scrubs quicker than Superman can burst out of his phone booth. I remember the adrenaline rush of assessing the situation and responding without missing a beat. I can still feel my own quickened pulse as I ripped into sterile packaging, tossing it over my shoulder and out of the way as I readied the complex life-saving equipment. I strained to catch the report given as one service passed off the patient to those of us in the operating suite. And yet, as helter skelter as it may have seemed at times, each person in the room worked in concert, brilliantly orchestrating the saving of another life—or at least giving the patient another chance at a bettered quality of life.

 

I no longer live those medical dramas much more worthy than a scene from Grey’s Anatomy. Gone is the beeper, the on-call weekends, the routine and the emergent case. There is no grateful surgeon. There is no feeling of camaraderie, each medical professional contributing his piece of expertise. No patient’s family comes forward to thank me for my service. I carry a longing for those things once more. It’s a beautiful thing to help save or improve a life. Little can top that.

But, wait. Perhaps I have just traded the surgical arena for another. My sporting arena includes a team who comes together every day to rehearse their skills. Most days are routine. You need routine to prepare you for the challenges. Some days take more effort. Team members have to pick up a flailing athlete, make up for his weakness with their strengths, and nurse him back to health. It can be difficult. But come race day, they are ready to perform in perfect harmony.

I’d like to think my role as a coach has something to do with the strength and efficiency of the team. Now I get to play the role of surgeon; the captain of the ship, the one who oversees, the one who decides what, when, and where. It is my responsibility (and privilege) to assure the team trains well and functions better. It’s my job to see that each person contributes his special qualities to the whole. And when trouble comes, it’s my duty to lead us, the team, to a successful solution.

Bouncing along on a lengthy bus ride with my team, it occurred to me that I’m still involved with saving lives—or at least helping to make them better. Stronger athletes, faster runners, yes. But my work helps develop mature individuals, young people who are focused and channel dedication and devotion. And when you see a kid embrace his God-given talents and shine like Cirrius in the night sky, well, little can top that.

Just one more day: Days 30-36

Day 30 – January 30, 2012

It was a busy day in the office but it was a beautiful day outside. I gladly abandoned the keyboard for some country roads. It was a good run with the last two miles tackled with hard effort. It was good to get the run in since I had to play the role of “keeper of the stopwatch” at practice.

Total – 6 road miles

Day 31 – January 31, 2012

Another day in the high 60’s, sun shining, birds singing. It was perfect—except that I felt like a bloated toad and torqued my leg again in the first five minutes. This long-term injury is killing me! Anyway, given that, I was glad my kids ran off on various trails. I walked, limped, and gimped along for about five miles. The redeeming value was finding a newly cut trail.

Total – 5 trail miles

Day 32 – February 1, 2012

I just can’t get over these spring-like conditions. The woods were calling and the prospect of a running a recently cut trail could not be ignored. Besides, I was having the kids do a speedy track workout today that would do my leg no good. So off I went to explore, having to pick up the pace (no easy task) in order to make it back to practice on time. The trail is beautiful and will be our team destination tomorrow.

Total – 7.5 trails and road

Day 33 – February 2, 2012

The kids loved the new trail, “Burnt Biscuit” just as much as I thought they would. “Apple Flappel” was a hit as well. I am so fortunate to have such a wonderful, playful group of kids who love the woods as much as me.

Total – 5.1 trail miles

Day 34 – February 3, 2012

This was a busy day with travel to a weekend track meet. My only opportunity to run was as soon as we arrived at the track and had a lull before the competition began. It wasn’t much but at least it was something.

Total – 3.5 road miles

Day 35 – February 4, 2012

It seems odd that traveling with a track team would make it difficult to run. But, long hours at the meet meant that I needed to get in an early morning run if it was going to happen at all. Running the concrete sidewalks of a city is a great reminder of how much I love my country roads and trails.

Total – 4.5 road miles

Day 36 – February 5, 2012

I exhausted. Not so much from miles run because mileage was moderate at best this week. I’m exhausted because travel with teenagers, late nights, and long bus rides take their tool. But to keep my little streak alive, I had to venture out into a cold drizzle for a few miles on country roads. The dream lives on.

Total – 4 road miles
(Year-to date miles: 195.1)

Just one more day: Days 23-29

Day 23 – January 23, 2012

Another very wet and chilly day. Nothing like temps in the low 30’s and liquid falling from the sky. But running with my distance kids made it an adventure and quite pleasant.

Total – 8 road miles (primarily)

Day 24 – January 24, 2012

 I warned my team that this week was all about mileage and base. With no meet this weekend and after building to this point, they were ready to run more miles than they consider “normal.” Several groups formed and we hit the woods. The majority of the kids put in 8-10 miles; Trey ran 13.  What a wonderful way to spend an unseasonably warm day on those trails.

Total – 9.2 trail miles

Day 25 – January 25, 2012

 We were graced with another beautiful, warm winter day. Hard surface and gravel roads along with a little grass running was on the docket for today. Steady but comfortable runs with speed pickups in the middle gave us 6.2 more miles. I sense the kids are embracing the challenge of the miles and their bodies are handling it quite well. I find it curious that my long-time knee problem seems to be getting a little better with the mileage increase. And, though I am still slow compared to my top runners, I am feeling stronger. Oh what a feeling…

 

Day 26 – January 26, 2012

 The good. The bad. The ugly.

The good? Another warm day to run in the woods with the best kids in the world. (They sometimes bring snacks. Who wouldn't love them?)

The bad? I just didn’t have it today. It seemed so hard.

The ugly? The back of my knee started hurting again. Just received professional opinion from a friend who is a PT: Hamstring insertion issue with scar tissue. Sounds reasonable, I guess.

Total: 5.1 trail miles

Day 27 – January 27, 2012

 It was unbelievable to have another January day with temps in the 60s; a perfect day for a run in the woods with my team to finish out a week with more mileage than they are accustomed.. It was a combination of quick-paced downhills on gravel roads, meandering steps on single track, and sustained uphill runs. Even with a gusty wind, it was a great Friday afternoon.

Total – 6.5 miles trail/gravel road

Day 28 – January 28, 2012

 Well, I considered a 20-mile run. But when I saw a floor needing vacuumed, a pond pump crying out for attention, and a sidewalk that had gone way too long from its last encounter with an edger, I got distracted. Then, we got a call that Gary’s dad had been taken emergently to the hospital again. We had to wait to hear if we needed to speed to his side. After that, one of our sons and friends came to shot clay birds. It sounded like a war zone around here. What did this do to my run? Reduce me to a lousy four miles. It was not only meager miles but I felt horrible. No pep. No energy. So, perhaps it’s just as well.

Total – 4.0 miles road

Day 29 – January 29, 2012

 Church. Clean-up duty after church-wide lunch. Get home. Butcher and process three deer. Clean up the mess. Put pizza in the oven. Grab a headlight and reflective vest. Run into a cold, starry night. Run back. Feel glorious and revived. Eat pizza. That’s my story and I’m stick’n to it.

Total: 1.5 road miles

Sun pillars

Photograph by: Rauber

They call it a sun pillar and it was spectacular, magnificent, even. Only a blind person would not have noticed. Heading west along 460 toward my home, there it was in all it's fleeting glory. I couldn't remember seeing anything like this before. I temporarily lost sight of it when I turned off the highway but stopped at the edge of my drive to soak it in as it rose from the horizon, sandwiched by a row of trees. The view was perfect. The light streaming upward seemed to be reaching into the outskirts of heaven. It was as though the jeweled beam was pointing the way to the very heart of God.

Later that evening I found out that "a sun pillar is a vertical shaft of light extending upward or downward from the sun. Typically seen during sunrise or sunset, sun pillars form when sunlight reflects off the surfaces of falling ice crystals associated with thin, high-level clouds (like cirrostratus clouds). The hexagonal plate-like ice crystals fall with a horizontal orientation, gently rocking from side to side as they fall.

When the sun is low on the horizon, an area of brightness appears in the sky above (or below) the sun as sunlight is reflected off the surfaces of these tipped ice crystals."

For me, experiencing the sun pillar was better than any rainbow. It turned my eyes to the sky and my heart toward God. I cried out to him. Could I trust him with those I love? Could he, would he, draw them to himself? Is his grace so irresistible that they can deny him only so long? 

I glimpsed something of God's power and might. I viscerally felt his love, care, and compassion. I was reminded that I can believe. I can trust. Thank you, Father.

Just one more day: Days 16-22

Day 16 – January 16, 2012

A funny thing happened on the way to. . .

1) practice. The kids showed up at 10 am (no school). Too bad no one told me the head coach changed practice from the afternoon to the morning. Oops.

2) my daily miles. It went from having great feeling legs despite the 17 miles yesterday to wishing I hadn’t eaten a peach/pineapple salsa for a late pizza to an emergency pit stop between a hay bale and a spreading cedar tree. I thought I was hidden. Guess not. A neighbor’s car screeched to a halt to get a better look. Double opps and so embarrassing.

Total – 6 road miles

Day 17 - January 17, 2012

It was one of those days when I had to act like a coach instead of run the majority of the workout. I managed the 12-station, 45 sec each circuit training and the mile warm-up. But when they took the track for either a 1600, 800, 1600, 800 or a descending ladder of 2000, 1600, 1200, and 800 at a hard pace, I took to the stop watch. They felt accomplished. I felt like a wus.

My son Seth and friend KT came for dinner and once they left, the road was calling me. With headlight and reflective vest donned, I stepped into the night. Oops. Wind and rain. Oh well, it wasn’t cold so off I went. It was actually fun. Only one car swerved at the sight of a runner on a lonely road. The time was short but the mile and a half- priceless.

Total – 2.5 road miles

Day 18 - January 18, 2012

This was a great day to romp through the woods with my team. It turned out to be a girl thing. The key was to run aggressively on their choice of gravel roads going down the mountain. Of course, what goes down has to go up. Fun time!

Total – About 6 miles

Day 19 – January 19, 2012

We called it “O’dark 30.” It was our team’s code word for a dark run in the woods. Many had never been in the woods at night let alone run. But they embraced the idea and punctuated the event by wearing crazy loud knee socks with their tights. They were excited! As dusk descended, we started down the mountain. Headlights turned on one-by-one to show the way. It was constant chatter and a few screams as teammates hid behind trees only to scare the bezeebers out of those at the end of the line. About a half a mile from our end point, we gathered and turned off all the lights. I wanted to prove they didn’t need them. Though hesitant to believe me, they continued hiking up the mountain sans lights—and love it! At the top we gathered in a circle and took some time to pray together as a team. “Can we do this every Friday, Coach?” I guess they liked it!

Total: 5.5 miles in the dark

Day 20 – January 20, 2012

Help replace a water heater and fix a garage door opener. Clean and organize a garage. Scrub and organize a terribly neglected kitchen. . .and all the cupboards, stove, fridge, cupboards. Grocery shop and cook a meal. Serve the meal. Freeze left-overs for carefree future dinners. This is what happens when a weakened Grandpa comes home from the hospital and needs help. Exhausting but necessary- and sort of fun, actually. When I finally stepped out to run 9:15 pm, it was cold and raining. When I returned, I felt warm and pleased. A short run? Yes. But a run? Yep!

Total – 3 miles road

Day 21 – January 21, 2012

Another day of bleaching, decontaminating, organizing, and cooking at my father-in-law’s house—after I cleaned out front flower beds in a steady rain. 86 year-old guys don’t seem particularly interested (or capable) of keeping a clean house. This time, I got supper in the oven in time for another soggy, cold rain. It’s funny. I actually looked forward to the conditions. It was oddly amusing to see motorists make incredulous faces at me as they passed. It was as if they were saying, “You is crazy, woman!” I liked that.

Total – 6.5 road miles

Day 22 – January 22, 2012

It was not raining today. Yeah. Cold and damp but no rain. But after a four hour trip home from work-a-whirl couple of days at Gary’s dad’s place, I wished to curl up in a ball and nap. I didn’t. Rather, on went the running clothes so that I could register a short run: I figured my minimum standard of a single mile would do. But with legs feeling good, I added a few more miles to the short jaunt. Glad I did. It hardly makes sense to sweat for just a mile.

Total – 4 road miles.