Riding Waves

When I came across an old abandoned wave runner in the bushes next to the trail on my last significant run before the Zion 100km I just thought it was funny. Little did I know it was foreshadowing my experience in my first 100km run. I thought about that pile of junk often during the 62 miles as I rode wave after wave.

 



some on trail training

 



When I swim in the ocean I know that some waves I will be able to get through easily, some will give me a push to shore and some will toss me around, hold me under and batter me about. I was soon to discover that running 100km's is much the same way. Some waves would push me towards the finish and others would test my mental and physical strength as I tried to stay afloat. It wasn't the perfect waves that I was seeking on this day though, no I wanted the washing machine style ones that would put my limits under pressure. It is when I am under water being tossed around that I learn the most about my abilities and I grow. While I did appreciate the sets of smooth waves, it was the chop where I gained the most insight.

 



not so pretty when they are in your foot

 





The first time I got tossed around a bit was when I was running on the amazing slick rock trail at the top of gooseberry mesa. Now, as a mountain biker I love slick rock, it is so fun to ride. As a runner I learned it is not so fun to run. Imagine running on undulating cement surfaces and you have a slight idea of what it is like. Therefore, anytime I could see a patch of dirt to hit in order to avoid the rock I would take it. That is until I went a little too left on that patch of dirt and took cacti to the outside of my left foot. I wanted challenges and pulling the cacti out of my foot delivered. After I did some trail side first aid I continued running with a throbbing left side of my foot. It was manageable and since you can only feel pain in one place at one time, a bit of a blessing:)

 





such a fun trail to ride, run not so much;)



 

Everyone knows that waves come in sets and before you know it a good set rolls through again. I tried to remind myself to appreciate the good when it was present because just like the bad it won't last forever. I continued to have highs and lows throughout the course of the day but even when being tossed around in a wave if you take the time to open your eyes and look around the scenery is amazing. Zion 100 had incredible views, even if it meant climbing up the side of a mesa to get to them. I spent the day learning and am happy to say for the most part I felt strong. My legs held up amazingly well, my feet were a different story. I hit my hydration perfectly but my caloric intake needs some tweaking. I am sure if I can dial that in that I will be able to surf past the 50 mile mark without being thrown about. 

 



 how low can you feel when you look up and see these views!

 

When I first was ocean swimming I learned that the most important thing to do when you are being tossed by the massive ocean is to stay calm and relax. The less you panic, the less energy you are using. Being tossed around is when we learn the most about ourselves but I am glad that during this race I also got to ride lots of good waves:)

Be A Weed

'A weed is a plant that has mastered all survival skills except for learning how to grow in rows. Be a weed.' -Doug Larson

When you go by a meadow and it is littered with yellow dots, or white fluffy puffs it looks so pretty, so why when is it on the lawn do people consider it unsightly? I've always thought the dandelion was a pretty flower, my first flower garden featured it. It is a good flower for beginners, or toddlers as was my case, it grows without you doing anything. It is cheerful and useful. Hours of entertainment can be had blowing the puffs into the wind and it is edible (if someone hasn't put weed killer on it). I'm sure many mothers have received their first bouquet from their children with weeds, that makes them precious flowers.

Weeds grow where nothing else does, the first thing to come back after a fire is the weeds. They don't care if the humidity and temperature are perfect, they adapt and grow to the conditions around them. Survivalists not conformists. Who wants to be planted in a row when you can grow in a meadow, not me. I want to be a weed.

40 is the new 20

When you turn 40 they (not sure who 'they' are and why 'they' are experts on this) tell you that it is the new 30. That may be true, unless you enter the world of ultra running. Here being in your 40's and beyond as a woman is even better than you could imagine. These woman are rocking it out. My last 50km had a woman in her 80's running! How many 20 year olds even do that?

Last week 40 was an important number to me. Not because I was turning 40 years old, no that ship has sailed. It was because I was doing a 40 mile training run. Now if you would have told me a year ago that I would be doing a 40 mile training run I would have laughed at you. If I met someone who told me that they went out and did a 40 mile trail run for training I would have been in awe. Well, now I can look in the mirror and be in awe. Not because I think I am awesome or think I am doing anything extraordinary but because I am slowing taming the monster. What once was super scary and really unfathomable is becoming my every day reality. I am slowing chipping away at it, one mile at a time. And guess what? I am having so much fun!

A friend asked me why I am doing this. It's not an unusual question, but usually if someone asks there aren't enough words to explain it. I guess it is because I enjoy working towards something that seems out of reach. Making a plan and executing it and being flexible enough to make adjustments. Testing my limits and finding that they are so much further than I could ever imagine. I'm sure my limits will be stretched extensively from now until the finish line of the Leadman competition.

A year ago 20 miles was a long training run for me. Today 40 is the new 20:)

Mental Loop

My plan starting January 1st was to get some bike fitness. After a fall pretty much off the bike and a December of very little exercise at all my first ride of the year was not spectacular. I figured at the end of a three month period I could turn that around drastically. Today was the day to see if I had been successful. I chose a route to ride that in the past has chewed me up and barfed me out (yes, spit me out is mild compared to what this loop has done to me).

Right from the start today, I had to stay true to my commitment that I would do this route no matter how long it took. A couple of blocks from my house I noticed that there was a strange wobble in my rear wheel. Upon inspection, my rear tire had a weak spot and had popped out. I turned around, went home and put on a new tire. Grateful that it happened early and not in the middle of the ride, but also wondering if it was a sign to pull the plug. So many times during the ride there were options to change my route, take a short cut or turn around but I stayed the course. What didn't stay the course was the wind, it managed to change just in time to always be a headwind. I was out breaking wind by myself (from both ends:)) I had plenty of time to think while I was out there as it was a long day in the saddle. A good day for clearing my mind and a day that showed I have gained the bike fitness I was seeking.

I have a habit of running the same reel over and over in my head. One benefit of this is I have an outstanding memory but some things I would rather not remember. Lately, my mind has been playing a movie that I would rather not watch. Nothing clears my mind better than being out in nature, and today I was working so hard to get through the ride that on my mental route I was able to reset the mental loop.

New York State Of Mind

My last recovery week was spent in NYC. Lots of walking, only one run and no biking. All those stairs in and out of the subway though must count for something (especially when you keep going down the wrong side of the subway).

Talking to Squirrels

I've written some great blog posts this month while out on the trails but I haven't posted any of them. By the time I finish my workouts and all the other stuff that needs to be done by the end of the day I fall into bed. Just wanted to let my two readers know that I am still getting the training done and things are moving along on schedule. Lucky for you my incoherent ramblings are left to the squirrels out on the trails, they seem to really appreciate my revelations. Squirrels do love nuts:)

Marching On

If I am to believe the cute puppy calendar up on my fridge we are already in the month of March. That means I have less than 4 months now until my first race of the Leadwoman series. Four months isn't a lot of time when you look forward so I like to look back. Where was I four months ago in terms of fitness and where am I now. It is about four months since I signed up for this challenge and I have made forward progress. When I filled out my application I had to state my longest run was 50km. I could now put 50miles, that's a few steps in the right direction. Still, it's hard not to panic with such a huge summer looming over me. While I am a huge believer in not looking back in life, looking back in training is always a good thing. It is hard to see the progress in a micro cycle so reviewing the macro is very helpful in keeping the panic at bay. For now my preparation in training is just like the races will be, one step at a time, Marching On.

Spring flowers are putting a spring in my step