tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38209055406473298682024-03-05T03:49:52.659-06:00Fast-Twitch FolliesSara Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17562925632036227396noreply@blogger.comBlogger68125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3820905540647329868.post-33600862598496688122022-01-24T08:35:00.000-06:002022-01-24T08:35:13.954-06:00Progress and Adjustments<p> A little update:</p><p>So far I have remained (more or less) committed to my goals - and I am feeling great - both physically and mentally. Physically speaking: it was time. I had done very little exercise since becoming pregnant and, frankly, I no longer felt like myself. And it's about more than unused muscles and creeky joints - I just didn't feel right. </p><p>I feel the need to choose my words quite carefully when writing about this stuff so as not to suggest that things like body weight and fitness are, or should be, universally-sought goals and aspirations. I want to be clear that, in this space, I am only talking about how I feel and about what makes me tick and feel more authentically me. </p><p>Anyway, my progress towards all of my goals has been imperfect but steady and that's all I can ask of myself.</p><p>As stated, (for now) I am sticking almost exclusively to Peloton content. I have not been disappointed and figured I'd share some highlights:</p><p>1. I continue to prefer power zone workouts (w/Matt and Denis) on the Bike, though Wendy has prescribed me some fun "low impact" classes with Tunde, Robin, and Hannah C. that have been great and particularly motivational. </p><p>2. The Cardio HIIT classes are incredible. I loved these types of classes at my <a href="http://www.destinationfitnessmn.com/">former gym</a> and I am enjoying these just as much. Classes with Jess Sims and Adrian have kicked my butt in the best kind of way.</p><p>3. On the Tread, I discovered hikes! (Thanks, Wendy). They are incredible! Hikes are basically walks on the Tread utilizing incline. Sounds simple and lame but they are anything but. Jess Sims' hikes are great (and hard!) - and a better workout than some runs I've done!</p><p>4. Hannah Corbin's barre, stretch, and foam rolling classes continue to be just so, so good. Good for me and, also, SO FUN! Hard but productive in the so many ways. Relaxing and affirming in even better ways.</p><p>Anyway, hit me up if you'd like any specific suggestions or recommendations.</p><p>Also, I bought a new (essential) toy for my Bike. If there is one, universal complaint about the Peloton Bike it is that it is not an awesome fit for short people. (And, as well all know, at 5'0" I am the shortest kind of short person). There is no adjustment that allows you to move the handlebars forward and back - you can only move them up and down (albeit at an angle). Well, I held off for a while, but Coach Wendy strongly encouraged that I get an aftermarket add-on called <a href="https://www.topformdesign.com/products/the-adjuster-for-peloton-original-does-not-fit-plus-model">"The Adjuster."</a> It costs a million dollars, but I highly recommend for fellow short Peloton riders who are able to find the cash. (I was able spread out my payments, which helps; I also bought it when they were having a sale). It really makes a big difference and it's hard for me to understand why Peloton hasn't either (1) added something similar to their Bike, or (2) cashed in on offering this ad-on. Whatever the case - Top Form Design, the company that makes the Adjuster is AMAZING and super accessible. So, I am happy to support them.</p><p>So, that's it, for now. It's cold. The snow is deep. It's still January. Not much else to report. However, posts always seems too dry and boring without a picture so, here is a black-and-white-filtered picture of my kiddo dunking on his basketball hoop. Be well, and get to it, friends.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEihs1hmqPSc6KCRZjZAc0LD2SUltxKbtI6Ce_24uUc2kglJtJO2oWpSpghGBBtB7SYOTTfYpr7lbQOF1Ffmnz5RfMGTXVvcQfKyaQZvPEza3j71xGWsmibpExfmO60N0ph447MTa31eOiBDWYgTs023VuSEy6fii-WELeFD2HkEf2o3gUn7DwMj3dfUTg=s640" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="509" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEihs1hmqPSc6KCRZjZAc0LD2SUltxKbtI6Ce_24uUc2kglJtJO2oWpSpghGBBtB7SYOTTfYpr7lbQOF1Ffmnz5RfMGTXVvcQfKyaQZvPEza3j71xGWsmibpExfmO60N0ph447MTa31eOiBDWYgTs023VuSEy6fii-WELeFD2HkEf2o3gUn7DwMj3dfUTg=s320" width="255" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Sara Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17562925632036227396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3820905540647329868.post-21804110798374836392022-01-04T08:57:00.002-06:002022-01-04T10:33:39.877-06:00Resolutioning<p>I hesitated to write this post - and, well, to partake in resolution-making (and sharing it). Pop culture tells me resolutions "don't work" and I <i>so</i> want to be too cool and above all of this. But one aspect of this journey for me (and by journey, I mean shift in my life's focus and purpose) is embracing being unabashedly me. There is so much hubbub out there telling us how to think and believe and be. And, frankly, I am tired of the noise. You can find a HuffPo article or Medium thought-piece that supports any whim, position, opinion, or view. But confirmation bias is weak, lazy, and a way of kidding oneself. So here's where I am at:</p><p>I love a new year! I love a new...anything. A new training plan. A new semester (fresh syllabus, fresh planner, new books!). A new home. New shoes. I like fresh starts. They feel really, really good and hopeful. And, if I look back at the many (many, many) restarts that I've had in my adult life, I think that, in the aggregate, they've helped me thrive. They've certainly made me who I am today. And the problem, for me, has been less about not "sticking with" things to keep the energy flowing and more about losing trust and belief in myself. The world - the noise - has intimidated or exhausted me and I've lost faith in the value of the work. And that's what I am trying to change.</p><p>I shared some of my current goals <a href="https://runsjbrun.blogspot.com/2021/12/back-again-again-seeking-accountability.html">in my last post</a>, but I'll bullet point some more concrete goals and intentions here:</p><p></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>Return to fitness/athletic competition participation</li><li>Address my physical health, including: nutrition, weight loss, and heart health</li><li>Address my mental health/overall wellness: be more consistent with self-care and mindfulness</li><li>A bunch of stuff related to parenting</li><li>A bunch of stuff related to my professional life and community service</li></ol><p></p><p>Super original list, right? It could be a super-fascinating article in Cosmo. But <a href="https://runsjbrun.blogspot.com/2021/12/back-again-again-seeking-accountability.html">I admitted up front</a> that I was embracing clichés with my reboot. And I refuse to attempt to be overly deep and profound if it's not authentically me.</p><p>So, how am I tackling this realness? In a list, here is the "plan:"</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Peloton (cycling, running, strength, stretch, etc. - utilizing all of the content)</li><li>Working with (fitness) coach</li><li>Official running/other events TBA</li><li>More walking, less sitting</li><li>Eating less sugar</li><li>Temporary eliminating alcohol</li><li>Reducing alcohol overall</li><li>Joining WW </li><li>Working with a therapist</li><li>Working with a (life) coach</li><li>Revisiting my mindfulness materials</li><li>Less time on social media, TV (I love TV)</li><li>Blogging</li><li>Parenting stuff (snooze)</li><li>Work and community service stuff (TBA)</li></ul><div>To be honest, it feels a bit gooey and nauseating to share all of this. I am fully aware that there is nothing earth-shattering or notable here. But as I said up front: part of the work that I have been doing is realizing the power of vulnerability. (Yes, I love Brene Brown). </div><div><br /></div><div>So there you have it. My completely unoriginal but nonetheless accurate list of resolutions. </div><div><br /></div><div>I'd love for you to reach out if you have ideas, questions, encouragement, or similar challenges. And, if you decide to get on the Peloton wagon, let me know and I'll get you a referral code for a discount!</div><div><br /></div><div>Happy 2022, y'all. </div><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p> </p>Sara Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17562925632036227396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3820905540647329868.post-21525202440319757722021-12-23T09:48:00.001-06:002021-12-23T09:49:19.204-06:00Back again (again): Seeking accountability through vulnerability<p>Hi, Blog! It's been a minute. I had to re-learn how to use this darn thing - a lot has changed on Blogspot (apparently now "Blogger"?) since <a href="http://runsjbrun.blogspot.com/2018/07/changing-plans-keeping-goals.html">July of 2018</a>! July of 2018 was really the end of me doing any purposeful fitness training or even planning. Well - that's not exactly true. I had <a href="http://runsjbrun.blogspot.com/2018/07/changing-plans-keeping-goals.html"><i>planned</i> to run 50K in San Francisco</a> to celebrate my 40th birthday. I didn't train. And, fortunately (?) for me <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/nov/12/california-wildfires-bay-area-smoke-haze-air-quality-pollution">San Francisco was smoke-filled</a> during our visit and the race my pals and I intended to do was cancelled. (As was nearly everything we'd <a href="https://abc7news.com/bay-area-smoke-event-cancelled-canceled-big-game-cal-why-is-there-in-the/4721709/">planned to do</a> during our visit). Alas, I had to celebrate the big 4-0 with incredible friends on a Napa/Sonoma winery tour instead of running a bunch of hilly miles on trails. </p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh_iTNTjQaWrULkg5myePzTU2HpfBfNQ2UierUbkz1bnutoIhxz_C3U4OPbkRJkM5moYzkuuVhfihNStxrUBSz5kyZshk8YGZnxtJLHiOuilddnk5FQALvjoBHa2ngQ-KuKNYiCWsIGOQKyfXFnmH2bHMNTK-goCAS1GAdzNUa83sC5PaN3k3igNs14zg=s1312" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="1312" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh_iTNTjQaWrULkg5myePzTU2HpfBfNQ2UierUbkz1bnutoIhxz_C3U4OPbkRJkM5moYzkuuVhfihNStxrUBSz5kyZshk8YGZnxtJLHiOuilddnk5FQALvjoBHa2ngQ-KuKNYiCWsIGOQKyfXFnmH2bHMNTK-goCAS1GAdzNUa83sC5PaN3k3igNs14zg=w400-h195" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">San Fran for 40<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Anyway. I am 43 now. And I have gained no significant fitness since traipsing through those wineries. And, any residual fitness I was able to hang on to for a spell has also disappeared. I am truly at "zero." I have some fairly legitimate excuses. Just before that 40th birthday trip + run that did not include a run I started my job as public defender in Minneapolis - a challenging job that had a steep learning curve. Fitness was just not part of my life at that time. Then, in January of 2019 I started trying to get pregnant (by myself, with an anonymous donor, using intrauterine insemination. It's called being a single mom by choice. SMC. <a href="https://www.singlemothersbychoice.org/">It's a thing</a>). This was an emotional and challenging journey that involved <i>a lot</i> of artificial hormones. Again, fitness was, for the most part, not a part of my life at that time. In August 2019 I was fortunate to get pregnant. Then, of course, I had to carry the damn fetus for 39 weeks and 2 days. During most of that time I went to bed around 7pm and ate a LOT of Dots candy and pie. Then my baby - Max - was born on April 19, 2020 in the midst of a statewide shutdown - Covid, of course - which made for an interesting hospital stay. And, well, now I have a 20 month old and we are back living on my hometown of Duluth, MN. <p></p><p>There have been brief moments when I've tried to get back into the swing of things. Exhibits A and B are the Peloton bike and treadmill that I now own:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhNAVIjWCwGMpybe5AhicY7p8AGpg2ZFQe2kYHh7gPmmCG30bOge5noDnRa5gFsts2F7mHaJtHRfAEitMyQABPYWIATa78mlOChBXGvVgkNs00WdJY3beQRxrelwYX3AXoPnE7MOEXVdOE34ApWSWnnbEwWsNZdTiIBXyhIyNstO3Tndx7o2JNrbfSWlA=s640" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhNAVIjWCwGMpybe5AhicY7p8AGpg2ZFQe2kYHh7gPmmCG30bOge5noDnRa5gFsts2F7mHaJtHRfAEitMyQABPYWIATa78mlOChBXGvVgkNs00WdJY3beQRxrelwYX3AXoPnE7MOEXVdOE34ApWSWnnbEwWsNZdTiIBXyhIyNstO3Tndx7o2JNrbfSWlA=w240-h320" width="240" /></a></div><p>But I have struggled with consistency and commitment and I have been unhealthy, uncomfortable, out-of-shape, and grieving the loss of running and fitness in my life. </p><p>I want it back. So, here I am. Trying again. And, as always, I have a plan. I am nothing if not a planner. And, of course, that plan includes <a href="http://runsjbrun.blogspot.com/2011/05/wendy-says.html">Coach Wendy</a>. It also includes Coach Wendy's best friend: <a href="https://www.onepeloton.com/">Peloton</a>. Wendy is a full-fledged member of the Cult of Peloton. And, like any compliant cult member, she dragged me in with her. I resisted, mightily. But, long story short - I gave in and I love it. I love the machines. I love the quality of the content. The classes are top notch and the App access is convenient and simple. Between Max, Covid, and just life, it'll be a long time before I join another gym. I've done a lot of videos and on-demand programs through the years, but the whole Peloton universe is just a great fit for me. I am now in the cult. You should join us - you'll love it here. </p><p>Okay! So. Wendy has graciously* agreed to program workouts for me using all and only Peloton content. Why? Because it's fun. And that's the schtick. For cardio, I do workouts on the <a href="https://www.onepeloton.com/tread">Tread</a> and the <a href="https://www.onepeloton.com/bike">Bike</a> (I am a big fan of <a href="https://blog.onepeloton.com/power-zone-training-faqs-with-matt-wilpers-and-denis-morton/">power zone</a> rides). Sometimes I do classes and sometimes I use "just ride" or "just bike" so I can listen to my books and tunes. And then I am prescribed a smattering of strength, stretch, barre, yoga, meditation, etc. We "<a href="https://blog.onepeloton.com/stackedclasses/">stack</a>" those <a href="https://www.onepeloton.com/classes">classes</a> to give me complete workouts. Peloton instructors teach their classes live, but I do classes almost exclusively on-demand. While the competitive part of the Peloton experience is important for many, I have no interest in or focus on the infamous <a href="https://blog.onepeloton.com/peloton-community-features/">Leaderboard</a>. </p><p>*Okay, but for real: Wendy is a Peloton junky, remember? And she also likes coaching. So though I am exceptionally grateful that she is willing to put her time into doing this for me, I also know she loves doing it.</p><p>Here is a snip example of a week of my training: </p><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiWKUAmQdUyojUOYa97AS0LPN7TA0piOp-hzJQaqnFxGMMPIHCDMdo04Tqh9F52LDcAlWalBES0rIPUUeNKAs0uV2WPg97kXcWeqkpIIK85MkqII7X7Ccq89Z3HRLhv3B1ChNwK9DClBp52XCGq6NKYX18KY6KDziIBnAAMfWpVgSs3EnZzj9vUOo4Vzw=s1022" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="446" data-original-width="1022" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiWKUAmQdUyojUOYa97AS0LPN7TA0piOp-hzJQaqnFxGMMPIHCDMdo04Tqh9F52LDcAlWalBES0rIPUUeNKAs0uV2WPg97kXcWeqkpIIK85MkqII7X7Ccq89Z3HRLhv3B1ChNwK9DClBp52XCGq6NKYX18KY6KDziIBnAAMfWpVgSs3EnZzj9vUOo4Vzw=w560-h244" width="560" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><div>The thing I love is that I can program all of these workouts as a stack into my App, and then go seamlessly from one to the next without too much fussing around. Ain't tech grand?</div><div><br /></div><div>So, here we go! The official start is January 2022. Because, what can I say: I joined the cult. I can't avoid clichés at this point, so I might as well go all in. </div><div><br /></div><div>For my fellow cult members, you can follow me at: SaraJane_Duluth. </div><div>Wendy is: Midwest_Wendy. </div><div>Currently, my fave instructors are: Matt W., Denis, Tunde, Jess S, Hannah C. </div><div><br /></div><div>And, honestly, I will appreciate any support, feedback, kudos, check-ins, ideas - whatever! I have avoided blogging for a long time because it felt attention-seeking and self-involved. Turns out what it really requires is that I embrace <a href="https://brenebrown.com/book/the-power-of-vulnerability/">vulnerability</a> in a way that gives me the accountability that I want, that I crave, and that I need.</div><div><br /></div><div>Oh, and I do have one goal event on the calendar. More on that later.</div>Sara Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17562925632036227396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3820905540647329868.post-42202002578812135132018-07-28T14:36:00.002-05:002018-07-29T08:21:26.010-05:00Changing Plans, Keeping GoalsMy running and my overall fitness had been progressing pretty well. I picked a <a href="https://runsjbrun.blogspot.com/2017/05/fast-twitch-follies-fitfor40.html">#FITfor40</a> goal - a super hilly 50K in San Francisco the weekend before my 40th birthday - and I was starting to build up mileage. I decided to run the Garry Bjorklund half marathon back in mid-June because it's fun, easy, and a great way to get in some decent miles. Unfortunately, around mile 5 I tweaked my left hamstring. It was pretty unexpected, even though I've had problems in the past. This is not a new injury or issue for me. It's something I've struggled with since I first tore a hamstring (my right) in the 10th grade in the middle of a 100 meter dash at the conference meet. Then, 4 years, later, as a sophomore in college, I tore the other one (my left) in the middle of an indoor 55 meter dash. That one ended my sprinting and soccer playing days. Since that time, as I've become a <a href="http://runsjbrun.blogspot.com/2011/05/i-am-super-slowi-am-sprinter.html">"jogger"</a> and increased my distances from 5K to <a href="https://runsjbrun.blogspot.com/2014/05/ice-age-50-miler-race-report.html">50 miles</a>, I've struggled with hamstring issues on and off. But never anything as extreme as what happened to me in high school and college when I hurt them while sprinting. Well, apparently, 39 is the age when it all goes to hell.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirkwLyLSzL3h3VnqXMbPS5-7eE67mjwRJ5JYEwfl3q8AN1Jn03DKhiJFNL2PPCftoW2-vZvRM8IrUTNu_iWjaMjbm15exsUWd8kqaQoaloDn2ERbgR_8crNZsM3hL7mlfBWr3SKv_Sm6pO/s1600/10thgradeham.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1278" data-original-width="1600" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirkwLyLSzL3h3VnqXMbPS5-7eE67mjwRJ5JYEwfl3q8AN1Jn03DKhiJFNL2PPCftoW2-vZvRM8IrUTNu_iWjaMjbm15exsUWd8kqaQoaloDn2ERbgR_8crNZsM3hL7mlfBWr3SKv_Sm6pO/s320/10thgradeham.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo from the Section 7AA meet in 1995. I tore my right hamstring in the middle of a race at the Conference meet, just two weeks or so before this photo from Sections. I thought I was done for the season. I rehabbed with only pool training between Conference and Sections, and then the athletic trainer rigged up that wrap that's on my leg with therapy bands and ace bandages. It worked. Not only could I race, but I qualified for the state meet!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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I muscled through the half marathon with an aching hamstring. It was unpleasant, and we had to run pretty slowly, but we made it. And, honestly, the next day I felt fine. I babied it for about a week and wasn't too worried about it. Whew, I thought...dodged a bullet there. Well, not so fast. A couple weeks after Grandma's I was running an evening trail run at Hartley with a friend, and tripped over a root. It wasn't a massive trip. I didn't fall. But I felt my left hamstring tweak again. I tried to keep going, but eventually we had to walk it in. This one felt much worse than what happened at Grandma's. I was sidelined again.<br />
<br />
Throughout this time, I've been more or less attending my interval and strength training classes <a href="http://www.destinationfitnessmn.com/">at the gym</a> and doing one session each week with my<a href="http://www.destinationfitnessmn.com/julie-hendrickson/"> personal trainer</a>. And I've been running short little 3 and 4 mile runs. And the leg has been okay. Not perfect. But also didn't seem to be getting worse. I had a <a href="https://www.northcountrytrailrun.com/">1/2 mile trail marathon </a>over in Solon Springs, WI (just about 45 minutes from home) on the calendar last Sunday, and I decided to go give it a try. I went in with the plan to just take it slow, hike all of the hills, and just cover the distance. And, for the first 4.5 miles, it went very well. I barely felt the hamstring. I felt my lack of fitness more than anything, but my body felt fine. Until mile 4.5 when I encountered another root. It was the exact same stumble I had at Hartley. Right foot gets caught on a root, left hamstring "snaps" (for lack of a better word) as I try to catch my balance. This one was bad. I immediately knew I'd screwed up by attempting this race. But with a 50K on the calendar in mid-November, I was running out of time to get my training in. I felt like I just had to give it a try.<br />
<br />
It was a long walk from mile 4.5 to the turnaround at the 6.5 mile mark where, mercifully, I was able to get a ride back to the finish. I had a lot of thoughts and feelings on that walk. Pain, anger, frustration, resignation, acceptance, and, eventually, I was ready to reevaluate and reexamine my goal.<br />
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To celebrate my 40th birthday, I had a goal to do something epic and physically challenging. I chose a 50K trail race with over 6000 feet of elevation gain. (That's as much elevation gain as I had in the <a href="https://runsjbrun.blogspot.com/2014/05/ice-age-50-miler-race-report.html">50 <i>mile</i> race </a>I did for my 35th birthday!) To make it more fun, I've invited 5 friends to join me in San Francisco to make it a fun, long weekend. We are all participating in some sort of running event as part of the <a href="https://www.thenorthface.com/get-outdoors/endurance-challenge/california.html">North Face Endurance Challenge</a>. It's a pretty cool event - I learned about it when I volunteered at their event in upstate New York back when I lived out East. The events have everything from 5K to 50 mile races - something for everyone. I was looking forward to a major physical and endurance challenge and a fun weekend. I am considering my options now. Given my injury, and the limited time I'll have to train, I will likely need to change to the half marathon. There's a silver lining to that, as 3 of my 5 friends that are coming are planning to do that race, with the other two doing the 5K.<br />
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So, my goal is still to continue getting into better shape than I was yesterday, and a year ago. Will I be "fit" come November? Probably not in the way that I hoped or envisioned. But all I can do is keep plugging away, and doing the best that I can with the time, resources, and body I have. This journey does not end on November 21...I know that, of course. And, as always, it's gotta be about the journey, as opposed to any sort of finite endpoint. Still, I like goals. I am a planner and I firmly believe in making plans that force me to challenge myself, get me out of my comfort zone, and most of all be the most authentic and honest version of myself that I can be. That's still my goal. New plan, new path, same ultimate goal.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8HHhNyarDqJdEoONEb_txJHYEGF17srrDJs7rC9Xh1Xidf9c0Jm6d4Ftj0N38ttfStXTefka-NGjyqO27BMjV5B3-YU7RdLxnOI7yf2kpcevtJdylmuyrMZ5Wb-1JySU3K5DetSrQg7wV/s1600/IMG_3900.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8HHhNyarDqJdEoONEb_txJHYEGF17srrDJs7rC9Xh1Xidf9c0Jm6d4Ftj0N38ttfStXTefka-NGjyqO27BMjV5B3-YU7RdLxnOI7yf2kpcevtJdylmuyrMZ5Wb-1JySU3K5DetSrQg7wV/s320/IMG_3900.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Portion of the incredible and beautiful North Country trail, where my left hamstring met its latest demise last weekend. I took this while walking, rather peacefully, and making my way to the half way point so that I could hitch a ride back to the starting line. </td></tr>
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<br />Sara Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17562925632036227396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3820905540647329868.post-53756921209512026822018-03-30T12:48:00.002-05:002018-03-30T12:48:41.366-05:00Back At ItI haven't posted since last August. I haven't been completely 'lax or negligent in my efforts - but I also haven't had much to blog about. I've been going to the the gym, more or less, but not really making much actual progress towards my #FITfor40 goal. That is to say: I don't think I have regressed, per se, but I also haven't progressed. I write now with the hope - the goal - that that is changing.<br />
<br />
For starters, I've planned my #FITfor40 goal race. More on that later. It'll take place just before my 40th birthday in November.<br />
<br />
In the meantime, I have my sights set on losing weight, strengthening up my hips and core, and very slowly, and incrementally, building back up a strong and sturdy cardiovascular system.<br />
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That's it. For now. I am back in the game, and committed to being #FITfor40.Sara Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17562925632036227396noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3820905540647329868.post-72776837984598641532017-08-27T17:31:00.000-05:002017-08-27T17:34:38.775-05:00Fierce or Foolish? A Race Report: SuperiorMan 41.5Last time <a href="https://runsjbrun.blogspot.com/2017/07/facing-fears-chasing-goals.html" target="_blank">I posted</a>, I mentioned that I had asked <a href="http://www.destinationfitnessmn.com/index.php/julie-hendrickson/">Julie</a> to help me get over my fear of open water swimming. Well, there was a reason for that. The conversation before that went like this:<br />
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Me: I kinda wanna do <a href="http://superiormantri.com/overview/">SuperiorMan.</a> The short course.<br />
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Julie: Oh, InferiorMan?<br />
<br />
Me: Yeah. That one. But I haven't been swimming or biking at all, I haven't done either since last summer, and I haven't been running much.<br />
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Julie: Hmm. Well, I mean, you can complete the distance. Like, you can cover the course.<br />
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Me: Okay. I mean that would be my only goal.<br />
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And so it went. That was on June 23. I decided to do the race.<br />
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The "short course" at SuperiorMan is a 1/2 mile swim, a 35.4 mile bike, and 5.6 mile run (41.5 miles total). (The "long course" is the Half Ironman distance, 70.3 miles total).<br />
<br />
Between that day and today, I did the following, triathlon-specific training:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>I rode my road bike twice, once for 17 miles and once for 20;</li>
<li>I swam in open water three times, each time just testing it out (w/wetsuit) but not swimming for any significant distance;</li>
<li>I swam laps in the pool once for 20 minutes; and</li>
<li>I ran sporadically, never more than 5 miles.</li>
</ul>
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That was it. That was not wise. That is not something I recommend. </div>
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<div>
Enough background, let's get to the day.</div>
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I wasn't doing this race with anyone and no one was going with me. That's pretty normal for me - I've done most races solo. That said, my friend Christina Meier - who I know from high school (where she was a stellar swimmer) and have stayed in touch with since (to follow her path to becoming an IRONMAN) was there volunteering for the swim portion. And <a href="http://www.destinationfitnessmn.com/index.php/mike-hendrickson/">Mike</a> (husband of Julie and my other trainer at <a href="http://www.destinationfitnessmn.com/">Destination Fitness</a>) and Calla, a friend from the gym, were doing a relay so they were there as well. </div>
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If you don't know this race, you can read about it <a href="http://superiormantri.com/overview/">here</a>. I won't describe how it works. But it's kinda fun and quirky and cool. Especially if you love Duluth. </div>
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Calla and I boarded the Vista Star and headed out to the swim start. I was anxious but not particularly nervous. On our boat (which was the second of two) were the fastest swimmers for the 1/2 Ironman distance (who were swimming 1.2 miles) and all of the people doing the 41.5 distance, the slow group (me) and the fast group. We were entering the water in that order. </div>
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The jump off of the Vista and into the water was more jarring than I was expecting. Julie prepared me, but it still knocked me a bit out of sorts. I took a second to gather myself and began to swim. For about 4 strokes. And it was exactly like the sprint triathlon I did last summer. I couldn't breathe. In or out. I just couldn't catch my breath. A dude in front of me was breast-stroking so I tried that. Nope. I was a mess. I saw a kayak and yelled for help. I was literally about 15 yards from the Vista at this point. I grabbed on and tried to calm down. I kept telling the man in the kayak: "I just can't breathe, I have asthma, I just can't breathe." He was very kind, but after a couple minutes he said: "Do you want to get on a rescue boat?" I looked at him and said: "I think so." </div>
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And then all the thoughts went through my head. "What do I care? I didn't even train for this. This isn't a goal race. Barely anyone even knows I am doing this." </div>
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But then I pictured my poor, lonely bike sitting in transition. (This is true, I actually did). And so I said to the man: "Let me try again." So I did. And it was awful. And I kept struggling, but I pushed my way along until I came across a nice woman in a kayak. She became my new best friend. At least for the next half hour or so. I hung on with her for a bit, gathered myself, and swam. And she followed me. And I hung on with her for a bit, and gathered myself, and swam. She was great. Quiet. She didn't say much. Except when I looked at her with sad, embarrassed eyes and kept saying: "I just can't breathe" she would say: "You're doing great. You're gonna get there." She was with me until I entered the slip that led to the end of the swim portion of the race. (For those not familiar with the sport, it is within the rules to hang onto a kayak or boat or really anything at any time while in the water as long as you don't make forward progress). </div>
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And so it went.</div>
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When I was between the two buoys that marked the turnaround point for the 1/2 mile swim course, I had stopped and yelled for help (again) and my kayak friend was working her way over to me. I was treading water and I heard someone yell: "IS THAT SARA??"</div>
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It was Christina.</div>
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Me (yelling): "Ugh. [expletive I can't remember]! Yes, it's me. I can't breathe! This is awful!</div>
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Christina: "But you're doing it!!?"</div>
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Me: "Am I, though? Am I??? I keep holding on!"</div>
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Christina: "That's okay you're out here and you're doing it!"</div>
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Me: "I'm a mess!"</div>
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Christina: "You're amazing!"</div>
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<div>
Christina was very excited for me. She should be a motivational speaker. </div>
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<div>
Background: I have been talking to Christina about wanting to do triathlons for years. <a href="https://runsjbrun.blogspot.com/2012/05/trails-track-andtri.html">Since 2012</a>, I think. But it's never quite come together - and then I did that first sprint Tri last summer and bombed epically. I'd been texting her all week about how to prepare for this damn thing. Anyway, she had context, she knew this was a huge challenge for me, and also a huge dream. And she was proud. In the moment, though, I was not. </div>
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I muddled through the rest of the swim like that, and I finished. How slow was I? Let's just say that all of the people doing the 1.2 mile swim that started with me? They beat me. But, I didn't quit. And I got there. Now? Onto the bike.</div>
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The bike was by far my favorite part of this race. Even though I baaaaarely know how to operate my road bike. I am not fast on the bike, but I like that you can just kinda kick back and decide how hard you want to work. For me, today, that was a gift. I spun along the course at a comfortable pace and I completed it. Now, it was no small task. Before today I'd probably been on my road bike no more than a dozen times. Total. Ever. I am still scared to clip in and out of the pedals. And, before today, I had never, ever, ridden this bike, or any bike, more than 20 miles. But it never felt long. It was quiet and private and the lake was beautiful as always. I finished the 35.4 miles and, as compared to the swim exit, I felt pretty fierce.</div>
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<div>
I got back to transition and Christina cheered me in and met me near my stuff. I changed into my running shoes and noticed that the bottom plate on one of my bike shoes had come almost completely off. Apparently I really WAS feeling zen out on the bike! I had no idea until I took off the shoe.</div>
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<div>
Anyway, the run. So, this is the part that's actually my sport. This is what I do. It was 5.6 miles. <a href="https://runsjbrun.blogspot.com/2014/05/ice-age-50-miler-race-report.html">I ran 40 miles once</a>. But, of course, that was not without training. And not after 35 miles on the bike.</div>
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OUCH! Sweet Jesus. This run was unpleasant. </div>
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My quads rebelled like nothing I've ever felt before - including when I ran that 50 (40) miler on killer hills and technical terrain. So, I ran/walked it. Some people go into a race planning to do that. I defaulted to it and felt fine about it. I ran a little, I walked a little, and so on.</div>
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And, after all was said and done, I finished. I wasn't last. I almost was. And if I had been? Meh. I finished. Such as it was. </div>
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<div>
Final thoughts:</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>I AM proud that I finished...because I started, and, well, I was very close to getting on a rescue boat and calling it a day.</li>
<li>I am NOT happy that I did this. It was not wise. Yes, I had the underlying fitness and innate athletic ability to complete the course. But I had no business being out there. I was presumptuous to think that I could or should do it without training. I shouldn't have. No one should.</li>
<li>I had a blast today. I was in pain a lot of the time, but I loved the event. Clint Agar and Duluth Running Co. do a tremendous job putting on this race. And everyone on the race course was so kind and supportive. It was a great atmosphere. I am grateful.</li>
</ul>
<div>
What now? Well, I have to figure out if this (the swim, mainly) is a demon I want to battle or something I want to let go of while I go chase other goals. I don't know yet. Both times I've done a triathlon the swim has been extremely traumatic. Terrifying, really. That said, in talking to other triathletes, I know my experience isn't abnormal. I also haven't ever really trained, or practiced, swimming. So to write it off now might be a bit premature. And also a lame excuse.</div>
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<div>
Anyway, I march on with my plan to be <a href="https://runsjbrun.blogspot.com/2017/05/fast-twitch-follies-fitfor40.html">#FITfor40</a>. I honestly do not know what's next, other than continuing to show up for classes with Julie and Mike. Stay posted. </div>
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Here are some shots from the day:</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbOHO79N-i03N3HjDqhUbYL1evJD8Fe0LnwYDiMZXDqbhmTWzZbt6w_NbD5hrI9KjXkJj_gGti5AYwyGt9etLxo_lV4NwZr1Oe3Gv34UyB6hngp9rKLWFJ1Evpf_GWLAXKInflnbTydlNa/s1600/IMG_3019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbOHO79N-i03N3HjDqhUbYL1evJD8Fe0LnwYDiMZXDqbhmTWzZbt6w_NbD5hrI9KjXkJj_gGti5AYwyGt9etLxo_lV4NwZr1Oe3Gv34UyB6hngp9rKLWFJ1Evpf_GWLAXKInflnbTydlNa/s320/IMG_3019.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Transition Area a Dawn</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjGHXBADi-XyIk5tO2xeHEbDJC4zMznvlfMiMtPi37891Js8oHhPwc8g3qpWZcNO3XYQO_soy_s8Aid_B2AhTjedTUh-1n6qOhQB4lvd4L5z4sXDPHJljO1h1IhyI7aIZwf_esHYVtNURw/s1600/IMG_3024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjGHXBADi-XyIk5tO2xeHEbDJC4zMznvlfMiMtPi37891Js8oHhPwc8g3qpWZcNO3XYQO_soy_s8Aid_B2AhTjedTUh-1n6qOhQB4lvd4L5z4sXDPHJljO1h1IhyI7aIZwf_esHYVtNURw/s320/IMG_3024.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I really "tore it up" on the bike course!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinejHA1ZbBqQjOCIdNdsaYu6gU4HsUbN-jCGLCigtGumeCSFFdleC35mh5ZWJA3OshuqMihZ1ho6ueb-0PMXgBynv1RLwowoeZiTNuaOiFegzA4VD9broxV0UoA2QKCaelz-OoI24lobG5/s1600/IMG_3027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinejHA1ZbBqQjOCIdNdsaYu6gU4HsUbN-jCGLCigtGumeCSFFdleC35mh5ZWJA3OshuqMihZ1ho6ueb-0PMXgBynv1RLwowoeZiTNuaOiFegzA4VD9broxV0UoA2QKCaelz-OoI24lobG5/s320/IMG_3027.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bike to Run Transition</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjog4CtdpKfXKaS1QHgdiheiz5wUKVn9qPuZu-OEmKTOF9s5yQSc6zRrLTNcV-_hb9wGEZxU6GNyMSKlOTrmiVgqKklTL5ogjjgh6RcKloY8M7uXGwS7LtR1bHTpZQO_iz-LogcG0qbpRvY/s1600/IMG_3044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjog4CtdpKfXKaS1QHgdiheiz5wUKVn9qPuZu-OEmKTOF9s5yQSc6zRrLTNcV-_hb9wGEZxU6GNyMSKlOTrmiVgqKklTL5ogjjgh6RcKloY8M7uXGwS7LtR1bHTpZQO_iz-LogcG0qbpRvY/s320/IMG_3044.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Almost there!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6WNRBK538i45y-cvQ5uV0Bf5bIiLF-gk2h3HhbIdNZQQz03vPS8FcebYdnlh9R7__jZQe41YX7HDenE-kFnDqGYJEfBH45H7wghGiZwiErJcczLm-VmkenwbaIQFVhPDVx5vLe6a7SRP9/s1600/IMG_3040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: right;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6WNRBK538i45y-cvQ5uV0Bf5bIiLF-gk2h3HhbIdNZQQz03vPS8FcebYdnlh9R7__jZQe41YX7HDenE-kFnDqGYJEfBH45H7wghGiZwiErJcczLm-VmkenwbaIQFVhPDVx5vLe6a7SRP9/s320/IMG_3040.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yay! A friend! (Thanks Christina!)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtJmDBVtFhTvnQQ5zlf9gVEMeErMMt0JJ04HDTF9CHVt6ffEKvevYlGEl7TgqGiGI8gxlXKlQ_C8bWMy82Um408lu-6DwfVf8DWfe4NJ-jfqXiuOrViMZIIEWfzvRBL2lOvGixMCrcYYz0/s1600/IMG_3039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtJmDBVtFhTvnQQ5zlf9gVEMeErMMt0JJ04HDTF9CHVt6ffEKvevYlGEl7TgqGiGI8gxlXKlQ_C8bWMy82Um408lu-6DwfVf8DWfe4NJ-jfqXiuOrViMZIIEWfzvRBL2lOvGixMCrcYYz0/s320/IMG_3039.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Finish</td></tr>
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Sara Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17562925632036227396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3820905540647329868.post-24413478073478106222017-07-09T10:24:00.003-05:002017-07-09T16:41:35.807-05:00Facing Fears & Chasing Goals<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's amazing what we can accomplish when we get out of our own way<span style="color: purple;">.</span><br />
<br />
"Are we swimming Friday or Saturday?" <a href="http://www.destinationfitnessmn.com/index.php/julie-hendrickson/" target="_blank">Julie</a> texted me this annoying question on Wednesday of last week. Crap, I thought. She never forgets anything. A couple weeks before I had told her that I wanted to work on curing the fear and terror with which I associated open water swimming and asked her if that is something that she could work on with me. I knew that Julie, and her husband Mike, have done many triathlons and that it is part of the palette of <a href="http://www.destinationfitnessmn.com/index.php/triathlon-prep/" target="_blank">training services</a> that they provide. That said - even though I posed the question, it wasn't something I was actually anxious to do...<br />
<br />
In June of 2016 I participated in my first triathlon. I didn't write about it because I wasn't blogging at the time, but it was an eventful, and fairly traumatic, experience. The race was a short, <a href="http://www.fairmonttriathlon.org/" target="_blank">sprint triathlon </a>in my mother's hometown of Fairmont, MN. I hadn't ever swum in open water before - and had only truly learned how to<a href="http://runsjbrun.blogspot.com/2012/05/trails-track-andtri.html" target="_blank"> swim laps in a pool in 2012</a> - but it was only 400 yards, so I figured I could muscle through. I was wrong. It was 90 degrees, so I wasn't wearing a wetsuit. And I couldn't have worn one if I wanted to. (More on that below). Anyway, about 15 yards into the race, I started to have a total panic/asthma attack. I couldn't breathe. I was terrified. I had no idea what I was supposed to do. Thankfully, there was a kayak nearby and I grabbed on and tried to pull myself together. Long story short, that kayak followed me the entire length of the swim and I made it back to shore by alternating breast stroke with breaks while hanging onto the kayak. Needless to say, I was dead last - by a long shot - when I exited the water. But I still enjoyed the day. I got on my bike and was able to pass a lot of people, which helped me feel like slightly less of a moron. But I was completely shaken. I had intended to do several more triathlons throughout the summer. I scrapped those plans.<br />
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Fast forward to last week, when I am texting Julie about having a lesson. "Listen, I told her. I don't think my wetsuit fits. I bought it in 2012 when I was 25 pounds lighter. I tried putting it on last summer, by myself in my living room, couldn't get it on, and cried." The lakes are warming up here in Northern Minnesota, but they are still pretty cold. "Bring it anyway," she said. "You may just need some help."<br />
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Anyway, yesterday morning I found myself up at Pike Lake, standing in the parking lot, spraying myself with lubricant, and preparing to stretch a tight piece of rubber over my not-so-tight body. While Julie pumped up her inflatable stand up paddleboard (or SUP, as I was informed) I prepared to face my first demon of the day: putting on my wetsuit.<br />
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Now, it's not just the cold water that made me want the wetsuit. (Remember, I considered using it on that 90 degree day last summer before I realized that it no longer fit.) I am a weak, and fairly new, swimmer and I've been told over and over again how much the wetsuit helps. I desperately wanted to be able to try this out and see if I could face my open water swim demons head on with the help of little bit of buoyancy. While the prospect of trying, and possibly failing, to get my wetsuit on was scary and rather humiliating, the thought of swimming in the lake without it might have been an outright deal breaker.<br />
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Much to my surprise and delight: WE GOT IT ON! And it wasn't even that terrible! Following the crying/wrestling-with-my-wetsuit-by-myself-in-my-living-room-incident-of-2016, <a href="http://runsjbrun.blogspot.com/2011/05/wendy-says.html" target="_blank">Coach Wendy </a>had told me that her husband Tim, an experienced triathlete, couldn't get his wetsuit on without help. But when I initially purchased mine five years ago, I could. So instead of just finding help and trying, I shamed and blamed and hated myself and my extra 25 pounds for an entire year and simply abstained from pursuing my goal of not only swimming in a lake, but also participating in triathlon at all.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKylqt2GCrlwnc2V3VZSteJcylM_p8cxraiSsoM0tsl0vUVoqWkcI6QinRzWLjngQZprdpLG0CY20wFonP-IlziuW7_QcK8FmvsT8KAjnwf7X55ksKEBphbECEbI2JeW5AfHhaZTYoABGE/s1600/IMG_2848.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKylqt2GCrlwnc2V3VZSteJcylM_p8cxraiSsoM0tsl0vUVoqWkcI6QinRzWLjngQZprdpLG0CY20wFonP-IlziuW7_QcK8FmvsT8KAjnwf7X55ksKEBphbECEbI2JeW5AfHhaZTYoABGE/s320/IMG_2848.JPG" width="180" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk_uMOxlMkHj3grJjlKrg_ivUNAzOJ1-nnmWpx1xJkvgsK4VKMRsQ5dIHLYhvyHHaz7jezR1nxt329F8lLFX8Q8fLv-v1kj5SFA_fy_zx-h2m30mLvCCFxzYA9yJ2bz_Fyz2S3eQ_2_1eO/s1600/IMG_2849.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk_uMOxlMkHj3grJjlKrg_ivUNAzOJ1-nnmWpx1xJkvgsK4VKMRsQ5dIHLYhvyHHaz7jezR1nxt329F8lLFX8Q8fLv-v1kj5SFA_fy_zx-h2m30mLvCCFxzYA9yJ2bz_Fyz2S3eQ_2_1eO/s320/IMG_2849.JPG" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She's in!</td></tr>
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Now, as pleased as I was to get into the wetsuit, I still had no idea if I'd be able to swim. I assumed there was still a strong possibility that I would have a panic and/or asthma attack and call it a day. Both Julie and I went into the session knowing that it may be a total bust. But I also knew that I had to at least try.<br />
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As I waded into the lake and crunched my toes on zebra mussels, I told myself to just stay calm and not get ahead of myself. What I wanted most to get from the day was to get in there, to move around a bit, and to know that with practice and effort, I'd be able to do it some day. Well, it turned out that some day was yesterday. First, it's true what they say about the wetsuit: it's basically cheating. It keeps you afloat so you can truly just focus on your stroke (as opposed to having to focus on surviving and not dying). But second, I was for some reason in the right head space, with the right instructor, at the right time, to just keep my wits about myself, go after it, and succeed. And there I was. Swimming across a lake.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsb5d_iYjJBeygRV64Rd-7Crb8ZlNACjbH8MeklHU8LkDe1BB0QLTIQAKJQLzOOFun0GoIwM7i6HPxW-nVOQgkexIt6VO-XQbqL-ryRe_AJ9Yx5H6OCL5g649x1jc6KhBNIKvbF8Vv7h-E/s1600/IMG_2850.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsb5d_iYjJBeygRV64Rd-7Crb8ZlNACjbH8MeklHU8LkDe1BB0QLTIQAKJQLzOOFun0GoIwM7i6HPxW-nVOQgkexIt6VO-XQbqL-ryRe_AJ9Yx5H6OCL5g649x1jc6KhBNIKvbF8Vv7h-E/s320/IMG_2850.JPG" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First steps</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMxjNmnW2_fQ6MuNXkiD6i3C_NGibz5FgcLJ0D2g09p8NZb1WDQFTqaMbM_FBFEL24dhbxUxIhOJFdAgv6mDvKuQE7FKBI7zdrddDJ2lXiZReGKZ6-no0yACuZ5_QTXS0Tb1MmOeTLD3cn/s1600/IMG_2853.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMxjNmnW2_fQ6MuNXkiD6i3C_NGibz5FgcLJ0D2g09p8NZb1WDQFTqaMbM_FBFEL24dhbxUxIhOJFdAgv6mDvKuQE7FKBI7zdrddDJ2lXiZReGKZ6-no0yACuZ5_QTXS0Tb1MmOeTLD3cn/s320/IMG_2853.JPG" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She swims!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR7_CUJslWVD_CmfczReQBMIPw-NgOwdRaoadSfuQOuk9yM5tc27Hiudv_IqmZoo6y8klbRYJRP1KBr4cbB4tDSGCG75VgpS26UJjb9iEXqMqf3j9dEFndxJKD8jun6NEiHlGwAY1LrXk1/s1600/IMG_2854.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR7_CUJslWVD_CmfczReQBMIPw-NgOwdRaoadSfuQOuk9yM5tc27Hiudv_IqmZoo6y8klbRYJRP1KBr4cbB4tDSGCG75VgpS26UJjb9iEXqMqf3j9dEFndxJKD8jun6NEiHlGwAY1LrXk1/s320/IMG_2854.JPG" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Success!</td></tr>
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Thanks as always to Julie for the encouragement and the lesson. <a href="http://www.destinationfitnessmn.com/" target="_blank">Destination Fitness</a> indeed. </div>
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I was feeling so empowered that I went home, threw my road bike in my car, and took it for a 17-mile spin up the north shore. I hadn't been on my road bike since last July due to another silly, debilitating mental block. More on that one next time. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZBHk1i-DkgbSRUFCYBX-3rUNV0kxwcX8CBou9SP7y-J5cLwIsSNr8xicDxAEmxy_DtB92A2sXJZAXf2DJaYWZcqwubHiX7R7NnqabgSYT5ebYb98ghF8hlE7xx0ulPgKgTh-goqHBKMN3/s1600/IMG_2855.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZBHk1i-DkgbSRUFCYBX-3rUNV0kxwcX8CBou9SP7y-J5cLwIsSNr8xicDxAEmxy_DtB92A2sXJZAXf2DJaYWZcqwubHiX7R7NnqabgSYT5ebYb98ghF8hlE7xx0ulPgKgTh-goqHBKMN3/s320/IMG_2855.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just past Brighton Beach on the side of scenic hwy 61 - ready to head out</td></tr>
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It's amazing what we can accomplish when we get out of our own way.<br />
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#FITfor40<br />
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<br />Sara Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17562925632036227396noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3820905540647329868.post-49256562457524470752017-05-29T11:53:00.002-05:002017-05-29T11:54:12.032-05:00BaselinesTo start things off with my #FITfor40 challenge, I wanted to get some baseline measurements of both me and my fitness level. I like numbers. I like objective assessments. I like seeing my progress (and knowing when I need to kick it up a notch).<br />
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I started last Sunday with a <a href="https://philmaffetone.com/180-formula/" target="_blank">MAF</a> treadmill test. I've done this treadmill test for years, so I am able to see the result and know what it means about my own, personal fitness level. I first started using my heart rate as part of my training in 2007, when I first Melissa Simmens. Melissa was initially a personal trainer I hired at my gym while living in Columbia, MD. She's since become an great friend and training partner. Melissa is an experienced ultramarathoner and only made her own, real breakthrough progress in endurance training when she started paying attention to her heart rate. So many people undertake run training with a constant goal of seeing how fast they can run every single time they lace up their shoes. I used to do that too and it never worked. That is to say, I was never able to truly develop an aerobic system that allowed me to run longer distances at faster and faster speeds. Melissa changed all that.<br />
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I don't train completely by heart rate, but I do pay attention to it. And I love doing my own, mini version of a MAF test whenever I decide to get serious about building my aerobic fitness. What I do is this: I get on the treadmill, with a HR monitor, and run for 60 minutes (0% incline) at my MAF HR (currently 142 beats per minute) and see how far I go. Then, as I train and get fitter, I do it again...and I see improvement. That is, at the same HR, and for the same amount of time, I run farther. Every time I try to just train "by feel" I always end up going back to a MAF test and focusing on my HR training. It's the only thing that has ever worked and that has ever allowed me to make real progress in my run fitness. For me, it's been the fastest, most reliable way to truly get into shape.<br />
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So I did that last Sunday. On kickoff day. My half birthday.<br />
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Then, on Wednesday, I did some personal training with <a href="http://www.destinationfitnessmn.com/index.php/julie-hendrickson/" target="_blank">Julie </a>that included both body measurements and fitness testing. I don't have a whole lot to report on that now, except that, like the MAF test, it gave me baselines against which I will compare my progress three months from now. It was fun. I love personal training sessions with Julie. She's great in group classes, but one-on-one time is a different kind of fun. More on Julie, and our history, in a later post.<br />
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And, while I'll refrain from posting my general "before" pictures at this stage in the game, I will share this one from my wall-sit test. Which, by the look on my face, I took very seriously!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdttrf8F6kDpjSi6G2ODtfetoZWL8GKIGpabIGauM5PcR-s8ZldxemJYVs5jt80m3V-xbgdtW8VRuiQ0bAFr6kGatJ0f9UeqvL0vYWa_G-q1nXa4DBvqWJFedn6vTsRL7RpMMh_1plRmkn/s1600/IMG_2666.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdttrf8F6kDpjSi6G2ODtfetoZWL8GKIGpabIGauM5PcR-s8ZldxemJYVs5jt80m3V-xbgdtW8VRuiQ0bAFr6kGatJ0f9UeqvL0vYWa_G-q1nXa4DBvqWJFedn6vTsRL7RpMMh_1plRmkn/s320/IMG_2666.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"You have a perfect 90-degrees! I have to take a picture...stay right there." -Julie</td></tr>
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So, there we are. For now. I am still working on developing a plan for my running. For now, I am just getting in a few miles here and there. And while that feels good, I do need to start planning and implementing something a bit more formal. Cheers! #FITfor40.<br />
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<a href="https://twitter.com/sjbFITfor40" target="_blank">Follow me on Twitter!</a><br />
<br />Sara Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17562925632036227396noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3820905540647329868.post-50770919924248859562017-05-21T11:28:00.000-05:002017-05-29T11:54:21.513-05:00Fast-Twitch Follies: #FITfor40It's been three years since my last post. There's no mystery as to why that is. In short: I've become unfit, unmotivated, overweight, and uninspired. The completion of my <a href="http://runsjbrun.blogspot.com/2014/05/ice-age-50-miler-race-report.html" target="_blank">50 for 35 challenge</a> (if not the race) was an epic achievement. I was very proud. I graduated from law school a week after running 40, hilly, miles of trail: another epic achievement. But after that, life got complex, confusing, upsetting, and just plain hard. It happens.<br />
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I've tried, throughout these past three years, to regain my fitness. I miss it. Terribly. I miss feeling good in my body and in my skin and in my soul. I miss having reasons to feel proud and fierce. I miss having the ability to go for long runs and for hilly-scary-difficult runs, and to participate in running events. I've still participated in a few races here and there...but it's been unfulfilling and frustrating - despite the only intention being to just show up. I'm a born athlete, I'm a natural athlete, and I get a lot of my positive energy and positive reinforcement from the universe by being an athlete. Now, this is all in the eye of the beholder - I get that. I can still call myself an athlete. The reality is: I am not happy with myself and I am not being honest with myself. And that unhappiness goes beyond fitness. My life has taken twists and turns that were not what I wanted, not what I imagined, and that have caused me excessive amounts of pain, illness, heartbreak, and disappointment. Not only have I struggled with my physical well-being, but also with pretty serious health diagnoses that are not new, but that have reared their ugly head more and more over the past few years.<br />
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Anyway, I decided it's time to just stop the madness. All of it. There is only so much I can control, but there is a whole lot that I can control. One thing I believe that I can grab by the horns, slam on the breaks, screech a 180, and steer in a different direction, is my physical fitness and by proxy my overall wellness.<br />
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Welcome to FIT for 40. Or, since we are in the era of social media: #FITfor40. Why? Because why the fu** not?<br />
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What is #FITfor40? Well, I am not exactly sure...yet. But I have a ton of ideas, and a ton of goals, and currently a ton of inspiration. I want to keep it rollin'...<br />
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Of note: My 40th birthday is 18 months from today, on November 21, 2018. I have decided that I want to snap myself out of my funk, re-engage with my innate physical abilities, tap into my former athlete, and get myself back to doing things epic.<br />
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So, stay tuned. And, if you'd like, I hope you'll join me on this adventure. You don't need to be unfit, or frustrated, or flirting with 40 to join me or this challenge. All you have to have is a desire to start engaging in physical fitness - and healthy living - more than you are right now.<br />
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So why am I saying all of this "publicly" (to the four of you who will read this)? Because it helps to say things out-loud, even if it's the social-media version of out-loud. It helps because it makes it real, it makes a "thing," and it makes me accountable. I am nostalgic for the focus and dedication I had while I was fundraising and training for my 50-miler. And while this is a different sort of journey, I am still committed to making it real and not just an idea in my head or my private journal.<br />
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So, what am I gonna do? Well, that's also a work in progress...more to come in ensuing posts. I am gonna start by signing up for a few races: organized events are key for me and while my goal is to be better equipped to participate in them at a higher level, for now I am going to throw myself back into the mix and remind my body what it feels like. I also plan to get back to regular, and intensified, run training, and to kick up my attendance record in classes and with my trainer at <a href="http://www.destinationfitnessmn.com/" target="_blank">Destination Fitness</a>. I'll also be working with <a href="http://www.destinationfitnessmn.com/index.php/julie-hendrickson/" target="_blank">my trainer</a> on doing fitness tests and measurements at three month intervals throughout this process; I like measuring concrete, objective progress!<br />
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I've learned so much from running, and training, and experimenting with my fitness and abilities through the years. I hope to share some of that here. I also hope to explore some new training methods and fitness ideas and share those too. I've run over 20 half marathons, 10 marathons, and a couple of ultramarathons. -- And all this for a girl who excelled in, <a href="http://runsjbrun.blogspot.com/2011/05/i-am-super-slowi-am-sprinter.html" target="_blank">and is better suited to run</a>, the 100 meter dash!<br />
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And, as with my 50 for 35 challenge, this entire journey will culminate with an attempt at one, epic physical challenge.<br />
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FIT, for me, means: Fierceness, Integrity, Tenacity.<br />
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I'm also on <a href="https://twitter.com/sjbFITfor40" target="_blank">twitter with a new handle</a>. For my twitter photo, I chose a day in 2012 when I was, perhaps, more inspired than I have ever been: In London, after watching one of my dearest (and fittest!) friends pour her heart out in the Olympic marathon. Watching the race that day I was inspired to work hard to get the most out of myself,...whatever that is. I don't think I've done that yet. And I'd still like to try. I have 18 months until I turn 40, and while there's truly no deadline, in those 18 months I intend to focus on getting my body, and my mind, #FITfor40.<br />
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<br />Sara Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17562925632036227396noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3820905540647329868.post-27697617800272386392014-05-13T13:48:00.001-05:002014-05-13T14:10:01.331-05:00Ice Age 50-Miler Race ReportWell, this isn't exactly the race report I hoped I'd be writing. I of course wanted to be celebrating the completion of my first 50-miler. But it was not to be. That said, I am very proud of what I did accomplish (both with my fundraising and in the race). I am proud of the way my body held up physically and how I handled the hills and trails. For whatever reason, despite drinking what I thought was <i>a lot</i> of fluids, I got very dehydrated, which led to dizziness, and the decision to call it a day at the mile 40.3 aid station. Yes, I was/am disappointed - I wanted more than anything to finish! But I left it all out there...and I even impressed myself with what I was able to do out there. I'll take it. For now.<br />
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I read race reports where people go mile by mile, or section by section, and explain exactly how they felt and what they were thinking and doing during that part of the race. I have no idea how those people remember with such detail and clarity. I'd like to think that I can't remember specifics because I was so in the zone, in the moment, while I was out there...not thinking about how I will report back, but just enjoying the "being" on the trail. Whatever the case, here are some random thoughts and memories of what happened out there:<br />
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I completed law school - literally - on Thursday (May 8th) at about 4:45pm. I walked out of my last final exam and it felt a bit surreal...I wanted to celebrate, but I had to pack! My flight departed for WI at 6am the next morning!<br />
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I arrived in Milwaukee at around 8:30am and met my mom, who had flown in from Duluth, at the airport. We got in our rental car and drove the 40 minutes to the hotel, which was about 15 miles from the race start. Once there we just hung out and relaxed. I got my drop bags and crew bag ready for the next day, laid out my clothes and I was ready to roll!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiOHfuGVWUm0OaB2qDMWwKMM0pXvYY5q8jHi-PEyBA8pmr-fwg9FDM6sjStm9Mm09hSikFoGW9aETNiUscQWuV3gKPH2pmqhHIyUGFioj_rsmwLBlWesozE7qWi-dK-R9s1RZrbd1DXwmL/s1600/IMG_0365.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiOHfuGVWUm0OaB2qDMWwKMM0pXvYY5q8jHi-PEyBA8pmr-fwg9FDM6sjStm9Mm09hSikFoGW9aETNiUscQWuV3gKPH2pmqhHIyUGFioj_rsmwLBlWesozE7qWi-dK-R9s1RZrbd1DXwmL/s1600/IMG_0365.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My race fuel!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6pH9dyZFEKxF-cRH24BkI5dFy94NVPzIo8Gwwo0h4iuPK3E6KqkXLorNPLrYFZBCS4iXIPVGxllq1AfSdV-igFO_W_4H5E7uc5sa7nJlvrhKeJz4VWxQXMZXboEH3L3bD8zRq7tfcPVnJ/s1600/IMG_0366.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6pH9dyZFEKxF-cRH24BkI5dFy94NVPzIo8Gwwo0h4iuPK3E6KqkXLorNPLrYFZBCS4iXIPVGxllq1AfSdV-igFO_W_4H5E7uc5sa7nJlvrhKeJz4VWxQXMZXboEH3L3bD8zRq7tfcPVnJ/s1600/IMG_0366.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My mom hanging out in the hotel as I got ready for the race.</td></tr>
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At around 4pm we went to packet pickup which was held at a restaurant just up the road from our hotel. It was very low-key and painless!<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqinG_F5xhqesMFFnlolvIHb_IU4sJlJi-uOw5ijyI-RZqRE7WZG98jDIBxSKmZEeliH3wbSgtQUYJ_r4nrSQYd1Wp1sn61kTJd3ELEes3L5e0lq4IxIbZEOIWYFphiRGpj4JISRSjPybn/s1600/IMG_0367.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqinG_F5xhqesMFFnlolvIHb_IU4sJlJi-uOw5ijyI-RZqRE7WZG98jDIBxSKmZEeliH3wbSgtQUYJ_r4nrSQYd1Wp1sn61kTJd3ELEes3L5e0lq4IxIbZEOIWYFphiRGpj4JISRSjPybn/s1600/IMG_0367.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sign on the restaurant where we went for packet pickup</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUbCi8DvUW_YryEcmNijCSJ8xh-IT4ZO_PkmnsZjdUo3J5N8Z2O4sEKFnup-2dUQNEuC6PMDEO76vvarG6JEFetTaVxBonfPjwmkS_x31P_YvvY7BoWuA7I1UAa1-pCw5zmhb4Up8ZL6Kg/s1600/IMG_0368.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUbCi8DvUW_YryEcmNijCSJ8xh-IT4ZO_PkmnsZjdUo3J5N8Z2O4sEKFnup-2dUQNEuC6PMDEO76vvarG6JEFetTaVxBonfPjwmkS_x31P_YvvY7BoWuA7I1UAa1-pCw5zmhb4Up8ZL6Kg/s1600/IMG_0368.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My race number: "Lucky" 13!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The alarm(s) went off at 4am on Saturday. I was definitely anxious before the start, but I felt ready to go. I strangely had an excellent night's sleep the night before so I felt rested and solid before the start.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqMZ99KdthUs30IGc_Rns6xX3mgb3CBQ9CsQxqsWR-yLbr08ADdNsAxvJoW25YGmDtO75ZWTn1NmbsvECaLDahUoFLy0EoFiuz-iO6xL9FD-yFQNm6_otGv_Zg80PQbbXVbJHIq4FWuHz3/s1600/IMG_0370.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqMZ99KdthUs30IGc_Rns6xX3mgb3CBQ9CsQxqsWR-yLbr08ADdNsAxvJoW25YGmDtO75ZWTn1NmbsvECaLDahUoFLy0EoFiuz-iO6xL9FD-yFQNm6_otGv_Zg80PQbbXVbJHIq4FWuHz3/s1600/IMG_0370.JPG" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It was still chilly in the morning when we arrived at the start.</td></tr>
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<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgloTSqHRDLWS2UB48wDQXjp2dixB17kJ0PXetiCD6kvNbbBcDrfNhtRWIqUv10kIksQeU2GkGb8_vxfJXQOfCwfpILQ241l-jrjj8TO-njs1N0WUlUVjC7s00BHYvjkBCr18m-mT3KNW9j/s1600/IMG_0371.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgloTSqHRDLWS2UB48wDQXjp2dixB17kJ0PXetiCD6kvNbbBcDrfNhtRWIqUv10kIksQeU2GkGb8_vxfJXQOfCwfpILQ241l-jrjj8TO-njs1N0WUlUVjC7s00BHYvjkBCr18m-mT3KNW9j/s1600/IMG_0371.JPG" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Right before the start! Ready to go.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The race has 3 distinct parts: The first is a loop on a XC ski trail and the second and third are two "out and backs" on the single-track Ice Age trail. If you are interested in seeing how the course is laid out, you can click <a href="http://www.iceagetrail50.com/site/?page_id=35" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRO93OH3eaiKlD1SDWmg608RtlTEiVMEFVoA9So1n5AwIP8b-EQNG-bhaH6A6cr2fjl2so0hDKULxAtvT1PjQx0XORbnXx9eCta__pwXSIjeuz9MW44eNfARfgZoSx3hvZdzF3mam0-7mC/s1600/Ice-Age-50.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRO93OH3eaiKlD1SDWmg608RtlTEiVMEFVoA9So1n5AwIP8b-EQNG-bhaH6A6cr2fjl2so0hDKULxAtvT1PjQx0XORbnXx9eCta__pwXSIjeuz9MW44eNfARfgZoSx3hvZdzF3mam0-7mC/s1600/Ice-Age-50.jpg" height="235" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The race course.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I felt really good from the start, which was on a nice grassy trail. The trail was nice and wide here so I was able to chat with several different runners - something I love about trail running culture: the people. They are all so down to earth, so supportive, and friendly. Not that there aren't friendly people in road races, of course...but it's just, well, different. It's different in a way that I find preferable. Even the people who were out there looking for a specific time (as opposed to those of us just hoping to complete the race, and before the cutoff) don't take themselves quite as seriously as road runners do. I just love it.<br />
<br />
After that first loop, the trail got more challenging. It was now "single-track" (only enough space for one runner at a time, so no running side by side) and since it was out and back, there were people going in both directions.<br />
<br />
The trail started off reasonable enough, but sometime after mile 17 it started getting <i>very</i> hilly. At least for this girl who trained on the flat paths of Washington DC. I knew the course would be hilly...but I wasn't prepared for how steep and constant they were. That said: I realized right away that I was handling them really well. I hiked all of the uphills (everyone around me did this). This is a common way of handling the length and terrain of a trail race, especially an ultra. People were talking about taking the downhills easy because they can shred your quads after a while...but I pounded them all. I am not exactly built for distance running...but what I do have is lots of strength in my rear end and quads! I've never had trouble with downhills: I am built for them. And I take them aggressively. It's extremely fun and exhilarating.<br />
<br />
Side note: It was pretty cool, on the first out and back, to jump out of the way when the elites flew by me. The speed with which they run the trails is amazing. And even though they were racing for more than just completion, they still made a point of saying something encouraging ("nice work" "looking good" and the like...) as we passed each other on the trail. Pretty awesome.<br />
<br />
In the end, both a men's and women's course record were set that day - pretty amazing considering how warm it got in the afternoon. But they, of course, were done before the afternoon! For the approximately 6 hours, give or take, that they were running the weather was pretty great. <a href="http://www.irunfar.com/2014/05/2014-ice-age-50-mile-results.html" target="_blank">You can read about the elite race here</a>.<br />
<br />
In general: I loved this race. I loved the course, I loved the event, I loved being out there. I was inspired by my mission (and success!) to raise money for Jacob's Ladder and I was excited that the race was finally happening. My body felt great and I realized I really was in great shape and ready for this race. I have never trained as long or as consistently for anything and it really paid off. Additionally, I did core/strength classes at the gym all semester and I think that really helped both my endurance and my ability to handle the hills and the technical parts of the trail. And I am proud of all of that.<br />
<br />
But around mile 35, I started feeling dizzy. This happens, so at first I thought I'd be able to figure it out by doing something with my food or fluids. It was definitely warm (though I didn't really feel overly hot) and I had been running for a long time. And I thought my nutrition had been going well. I found that what I was craving most were the PBJ sandwiches at the aid stations and I had 1-2 pieces of those (they were cut in quarters) at nearly all of the aid stations. In between, I had Gu Roctane gels and Gu Chomps. But not that much. I only had 2-3 actual Gu packets and I think 3 packs of chomps during the whole race. For fluids, I was drinking water and water mixed with Nuun electrolyte tablets. I made a point of drinking a bunch of water while at the aid station and then filling up my 20 oz bottle before leaving the station. It's hard to imagine that I didn't drink enough, or how I could have had more, but clearly my body needed more. I was, of course, sweating a lot. I took a LOT of salt tabs (S-Caps), more than I ever have before, because I could feel the salt drying on my skin. The only other symptom I had that something was wrong, other than the dizziness, were my swollen fingers: they were HUGE. Very puffy - so much so that I could hardly bend them. They looked like huge sausages. This is not completely abnormal, but I have never seen them this big before.<br />
<br />
At the mile 37 aid station I tried everything. I had some banana, salt, tons of water...I took off running again but I just didn't feel right. By mile 38 I was walking and trying to decide if I could push through. During the whole race I had been making good time without feeling like I was putting in too much effort. I had hit the half way point (aid station at 24.4) at 5 hours, 15 minutes. And at that point I still felt realy great!<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ3DXlwLQBz5bLc3Q7FhuLvFtypCdjG-H05pDE8dhJ93ttUrjzh-F-2SAKkomwEs1-Bb0oQsA1SWkTLNS4wc6ki6nb-_AVkem7bk0m7I22MYaxidOWmNXFzgqVdYuMTOoPSSRfe_YagZ6h/s1600/IMG_0377.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ3DXlwLQBz5bLc3Q7FhuLvFtypCdjG-H05pDE8dhJ93ttUrjzh-F-2SAKkomwEs1-Bb0oQsA1SWkTLNS4wc6ki6nb-_AVkem7bk0m7I22MYaxidOWmNXFzgqVdYuMTOoPSSRfe_YagZ6h/s1600/IMG_0377.JPG" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I was feeling great at the halfway point!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
But as I was walking mile 38 I realized I was losing a lot of time and knew that if I was going to push it through to the end and make the cut offs, I really needed to start alternating running. I tried over and over again but I was just too darn dizzy. My peripheral vision was fuzzy...and it was just too hard to run and dodge the roots and rocks in this kind of shape. I was probably around mile 39 when I decided that I had to stop at the next aid station, mile 40.3 (the point to the far right on the map above) and drop out. It was a terrible decision/feeling. And a very long walk to get there. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
I think the most frustrating thing was that I otherwise felt really good - physically, that is. Yes, I was tired. And yes, I had soreness (my hamstrings and lower back were definitely talking!). But I felt like I could do it...if I could have just figure out what was going wrong with my nutrition. But it wasn't meant to be.<br />
<br />
When I got to the aid station I found my trusty crew: my mom and step mom, who had been so incredibly amazing all day! It had been so great all day arriving at the aid station and having them waiting there for me...snapping pictures and getting me whatever food and water I demanded! They were amazing, especially since they had never done, or seen, anything like a trail ultra before! I was so grateful to have them there all day. They had been so impressed by how strong I felt every time they had seen me up to this point. As such, it sucked to tell them that I had to stop. I sat down for a while and finally pulled off my timing chip and gave it to the volunteers. I wasn't the only one doing that...but that didn't make it any easier.<br />
<br />
Here are some pics that my mom took at the aid stations:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBOS4fyFVV_ZOP2xtib6H45OaCA5OES4QEsNwTtPIPXU7hdrODid0zs0qdynMfUxpvQ8wBkVI4HaWnhfZ4U6RGZqNzLFUgNOz2h1jEi3pDAtSQ9m2q55GbXL6IVTcNWyMS6YubQterwIk5/s1600/IMG_0372.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBOS4fyFVV_ZOP2xtib6H45OaCA5OES4QEsNwTtPIPXU7hdrODid0zs0qdynMfUxpvQ8wBkVI4HaWnhfZ4U6RGZqNzLFUgNOz2h1jEi3pDAtSQ9m2q55GbXL6IVTcNWyMS6YubQterwIk5/s1600/IMG_0372.JPG" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I really did have a lot of fun.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFlGMX5AatFwp6agS_7woJBOp6MqRGFmLyKNNlkSKh2wqj0PNANo9AsMSjjOalmSkNHcW4Ub6LPdt4UfdifjifXj7RRJ8NWgPwWPkGP9a2ZsZ-h8SgMP21PZI8jJasi3wwth69sxvEQrhW/s1600/IMG_0392.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFlGMX5AatFwp6agS_7woJBOp6MqRGFmLyKNNlkSKh2wqj0PNANo9AsMSjjOalmSkNHcW4Ub6LPdt4UfdifjifXj7RRJ8NWgPwWPkGP9a2ZsZ-h8SgMP21PZI8jJasi3wwth69sxvEQrhW/s1600/IMG_0392.JPG" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">See? Fun.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5B_JgGL-HKucve97bYTDhZ8qctSXq9pFUny1GLRUPi1XnnwZVRMO7FmWovsZ5uQCVPnegzBNBg7Wxypy34GAH4-o7mcgnmrfihYdWqaEPj_-UEao7-fnxWxDwu9suvwRzVc3ScmvoeArZ/s1600/IMG_0375.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5B_JgGL-HKucve97bYTDhZ8qctSXq9pFUny1GLRUPi1XnnwZVRMO7FmWovsZ5uQCVPnegzBNBg7Wxypy34GAH4-o7mcgnmrfihYdWqaEPj_-UEao7-fnxWxDwu9suvwRzVc3ScmvoeArZ/s1600/IMG_0375.JPG" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Loved those PBJ sandwiches</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib3WTrXuNVXQbkPg9e4nJ00-pmGPnPT0-OX4N-2LuJftJiJ056dnpNwV2sSOAyU06M16CpQY7qx2G9_yKdhTFaKYitkq5MCXxdS5E17QDURstTKkrnTUsIIuSG04PEweU7UbnGw_sYS41t/s1600/IMG_0376.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib3WTrXuNVXQbkPg9e4nJ00-pmGPnPT0-OX4N-2LuJftJiJ056dnpNwV2sSOAyU06M16CpQY7qx2G9_yKdhTFaKYitkq5MCXxdS5E17QDURstTKkrnTUsIIuSG04PEweU7UbnGw_sYS41t/s1600/IMG_0376.JPG" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">See? I drank a LOT!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBHiM0p6WTw6MwhL8CXAp6UL4KAKoz6VfrxKkHFgfZ_5onWM_O5hlDacHn1cJYx9qNlx4RZGObn42KYxBibt6cMCyu1qkzh6yg0TFeRehmDgTeOcVvQ-b3vUkOSZ-QRUH-GCEofbOANtAE/s1600/IMG_0382.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBHiM0p6WTw6MwhL8CXAp6UL4KAKoz6VfrxKkHFgfZ_5onWM_O5hlDacHn1cJYx9qNlx4RZGObn42KYxBibt6cMCyu1qkzh6yg0TFeRehmDgTeOcVvQ-b3vUkOSZ-QRUH-GCEofbOANtAE/s1600/IMG_0382.JPG" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I had the best crew - even when I got grumpier and more demanding. "GIMEE CHOMPS NOW!"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The whole experience was just so incredible: training for an ultra, fundraising for a cause I really cared about, and focusing on it all for so long - it was really a full year's journey when all was said and done. Thank you, again, to everyone who supported me <a href="http://runsjbrun.blogspot.com/2014/03/50-for-35-thank-you-for-your-donation.html" target="_blank">through your donations to Jacob's Ladder</a> (I raised $3,635!) and for your encouragement through the long training process. It was truly one of the most incredible experiences I've ever had. And even though I technically didn't "finish," I definitely completed an incredible journey. My thanks to everyone who was a part of the journey with me.<br />
<br />
Up Next? On Sunday I graduate from Georgetown Law. A pretty great couple of weeks.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVURPmOjo3K73PRW7D9pwKvM9Y8GRrhejLzfsvWTgjgUHu3bydzrQ6_CRtW8qstzAfbIoPQ0_qEXP2_9pESgg_QIOxOfNWd4-aUtdgv4DI0kLBHr3NgFj6n2IawK8mLvQJThwYjkAbMNhy/s1600/50253227_00801_0299_Medium.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVURPmOjo3K73PRW7D9pwKvM9Y8GRrhejLzfsvWTgjgUHu3bydzrQ6_CRtW8qstzAfbIoPQ0_qEXP2_9pESgg_QIOxOfNWd4-aUtdgv4DI0kLBHr3NgFj6n2IawK8mLvQJThwYjkAbMNhy/s1600/50253227_00801_0299_Medium.jpg" height="320" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All gussied up in my graduation garb</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />Sara Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17562925632036227396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3820905540647329868.post-46812883152689832014-04-26T21:29:00.001-05:002014-05-04T13:01:53.000-05:00Two Weeks to Go!I've been terrible about updating, I know. For the 3 of you that read this: I apologize!<br />
<br />
I've been busy writing papers, registering for the bar exam, applying for jobs...oh, yeah...and running!<br />
<br />
I run the Ice Age 50-miler in two weeks from today!<br />
<br />
I ran my last long run, 25 miles, last weekend. Then I started my taper. The week before that I ran a nice, solid 30-mile run. I've only run two runs of 30+ miles this training cycle. I'd hoped to do more but, well, it just didn't work out that way. That said, I ran a bunch of 26-mile runs (including two marathon "races") and, for the most part, everything has gone really well. I am injury free at least...and that is huge. I don't think I've ever even had a marathon training cycle where I was completely injury free. I mean, I have definitely had niggles and soreness and some nagging issues while training for this 50, but none that required that I actually "sit out" and wait to heal. So I may not have run as many miles as I originally hoped, but that I kept my injury-prone sprinter's body healthy is a huge win.<br />
<br />
I am extremely nervous about the race. Several people have asked me if I have a particular time goal in mind. Um, yeah. The time I have to run to beat the cut-off(s)! Me completing a trail 50 in that time, 12 hours, is by no means certain even if I am completely healthy. Now, you may be doing math and thinking: wait, that should be easy. You can average 14 minute miles! Well, I hope so. But trail races, and ultras, are just so much different. You cannot just take your road time and average that out and assume that you can maintain it. First of all, trails are much more challenging. They slow you down for lots of reasons. Second, I have to do stuff like eat! And make pit stops! And address whatever may come along the way. Finally: It's FIFTY MILES. So in theory I think I can overall maintain 12-minute miles on the trail (2+ minutes/mile slower than my road marathon pace, faster on the flats, taking it easy on the hills)...but I will also lose time on pit stops and at aid stations. And dealing with whatever else comes up.<br />
<br />
I am really just hoping for good weather. When I ran my 50K (55K) back in March, I felt great...but the trail was just a complete mud pit. I ran strong all day, but it was just slow going getting through the sticky goo. The hills and roots and rocks at Ice Age will be enough of a challenge...so I am sending all of my positive thoughts to Wisconsin in hopes of a nice day on May 10th.<br />
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So, to repeat, my goal is to finish before the cutoff, which is 12 hours. The race is being extra strict this year and the last 5 or so aid stations have strict cut off times. So if I don't make it to them by the required time, I will be pulled from the race. If that happens, it won't be because I didn't give it everything I had. I <i>know</i> I can do it. But things go wrong in races. And you just can't predict some of them. My only goal is to work my butt off and do my best.<br />
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Oh yeah: I met my fundraising goal!! I am so incredibly excited about this. I have never raised this much money before. I am so thankful for so much support from so many generous people. You can read all of their names <a href="http://runsjbrun.blogspot.com/2014/03/50-for-35-thank-you-for-your-donation.html" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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I am heading into 2 weeks of final exams: my last exams EVER, I hope. (The bar exam aside...that comes up in July.) I will take my last law school exam on May 8th, hop a plane on May 9, and run the Ice Age Trail-50 on May 10. Then I head back to Washington DC on May 11 to prepare to move and then I graduate on May 18. So much to do, but it's all exciting. OK, the impending exams aren't exciting...but being done with them most definitely is.<br />
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Thanks again to everyone who has supported me through this training and fundraising. Really, I have been training for this race for almost an entire year! <a href="http://runsjbrun.blogspot.com/2013/05/fifty-for-my-thirty-fifth_1.html" target="_blank">I signed up to run the JFK-50 last spring</a> and trained hard through the summer only to get a quirky injury last August that <a href="http://runsjbrun.blogspot.com/2013/09/sidelined.html" target="_blank">kept me out for most the fall</a>. I was unable to run <a href="http://runsjbrun.blogspot.com/2013/09/difficult-decisions-dreams-deferred.html" target="_blank">JFK </a> and was only able to start training again in <a href="http://runsjbrun.blogspot.com/2013_10_01_archive.html" target="_blank">mid-October</a>. Really, I have to be amazed that I have remained as healthy as I have since recovering from that nasty injury. I'd like to be more fit going into my first real ultra race (yes, I ran that 55K, but I wasn't "racing" per se)...but I will take what I was able to get out of this training cycle. My body did not love the ultra training, but it allowed me to plug along and do the best I could. For that, I am thankful.<br />
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I'll post a pre-race update close to race day, May 10.<br />
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<br />Sara Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17562925632036227396noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3820905540647329868.post-67279606795557215872014-03-16T15:36:00.001-05:002014-05-13T13:03:03.085-05:00"50 for 35": Thank You For Your Donation!Because my fundraising site does not list everyone who has generously contributed to my "50 for 35" challenge, I wanted to post a list of names to thank everyone who has donated. If you do not see your name and donated, let me know! It does take a week or so for me to get updates on who has contributed.<br />
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<u>"50 for 35" Contributors</u><br />
Livhu Ndou<br />
Michele Keane<br />
Scott Hiza<br />
Coley Mangrum<br />
Kate Graham<br />
Kate Baldwin<br />
Madonna Lennon<br />
Liz Schroeder<br />
JoAnna Cobb<br />
Brenda Schwerdt<br />
Jennifer Mullins<br />
Jeff Litman<br />
Jeffrey and Hope Austin-Phillips<br />
Jen McEwen<br />
Barbara Russ<br />
Kendra Carlson<br />
Kelly Ohman<br />
Mary Witte<br />
Amy Shogren<br />
Linda Goodman<br />
Susan Hellman<br />
Andrea Lien<br />
Bjorna Jayson<br />
Bonnie Russ<br />
Genevieve Augustin<br />
Kristine Bowers<br />
Bliss Peterson<br />
Annette Hansen<br />
Lauren Beatty<br />
Beth Cleary<br />
Sara Vallie<br />
Lori Baldwin<br />
Pat Hellman<br />
Carrie Dzuck<br />
Andrea Knutson<br />
Melissa Gaylord<br />
Vivian Adkins<br />
Peter Froehlingsdorf<br />
Wendy Miller<br />
Jason Fields<br />
Beverly Haeckel<br />
Pamela Russ<br />
Grant Loehnig<br />
Mark Anderson<br />
Mickey Fisher<br />
Sarah Seidelmann<br />
Emily Betz<br />
Santo Carfora<br />
Olga Kogan<br />
Kelli Slonim<br />
Kei Terauchi<br />
Neil Glazman<br />
Angela Rowles<br />
Annalisa Peterson<br />
Mary Lee<br />
Reghann LaFrance<br />
Mary Elizabeth Stone<br />
Leslie Beiers<br />
Jennifer Wyss<br />
Matt and Katie Hedman<br />
Justin Haeckel<br />
Sandy Schaefer<br />
Christina Meier<br />
Glenn Johnson<br />
Will and Kyra Zhang<br />
Kerstin Hokanson<br />
Kendall Schoolmeester<br />
Brenna Egan<br />
Danielle Davis<br />
Natalie Wolf<br />
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<i>From me and everyone at Jacob's Ladder: Thank you!</i>Sara Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17562925632036227396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3820905540647329868.post-62910247381053522352014-03-16T14:56:00.002-05:002014-03-16T14:56:44.372-05:00Brief Update: A Couple of RacesI can't believe I haven't posted in over a month! This will be brief, but heregoes:<br />
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On February 16th I was supposed to run a low-key local marathon but it was canceled due to weather. As such, I had to go out on my own that day to get in the scheduled 26 miles. It was my longest training run ever and went surprisingly well. I was tired, of course, but felt strong throughout.<br />
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The next week I got the nasty cold/flu bug that was going around and was out for a few days. As such, I "only" ran a long run of 20 miles that weekend.<br />
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The next week, ending on March 2nd, was another solid week and I managed to do another 26 on my own. This one felt even better than the first one. Slow but steady, I kept it easy.<br />
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Last weekend, on March 8th, I ran a super duper muddy 50K+ (it was 55K, or 34 miles according the GPS watches of fellow runners) and my goodness was that an experience! We'd had a big snow storm on Monday of that week and it had almost all melted by race day. We were running through a relentless vat of deep, sticky mud and it was hard to really get going at any point. Our shes felt like bricks! It was a fun but very challenging day. I felt strong, though and was happy with how my fitness held up. I'll definitely have to proceed much faster on the trail at Ice Age if I want to finish the race before the cut off. So here's hoping there are no epic downpours leading up to the race. That said, I will be tapered, rested, and have more adrenaline working for me on that day...so I am feeling OK about my pace.<br />
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Yesterday, March 15, I ran the Rock 'n' Roll marathon here in DC. I felt pretty good considering I'd run the trail ultra just a week before. I was sore, though, from my strength class at the gym - all the better for training, I guess - the goal, after all, is to be running on tired legs. I definitely had those. That said, I still felt really good all day. My bladder was a bit finicky and I had to stop a bunch of times to go to the bathroom. And, unlike when you're out on the trail, you can't just squat anywhere you want when you're on the streets of DC! (The National Park Service frowns upon it.) According to my GPS watch, I literally spent about 15 minutes not moving! (i.e., waiting in line). I have never had that happen before and I was thankful it wasn't a goal race. I ran nice and easy. To give you and idea of how different the effort level was, my final time was about 50 minutes slower than my marathon PR. It made for a fun finish, though, where I had TONS of energy left to finish the last mile strong. I had a fun day, but the race course was pretty crappy. No, it was really crappy. The first half was scenic, and probably 80% of the runners were only doing the half. After that it was just dreadful...running, for the most part, through industrial parks and construction sites. I have never really been impressed with the Rock 'n' Roll races - they are overpriced and there are just so many other great, independent events out there. I won't be doing this one again.<br />
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Next weekend = no race! Whew. The week after that, on March 30th, I am running another small, local marathon. That will be my last organized event before Ice Ace on May 10th. Only 55 days to go!<br />
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<br />Sara Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17562925632036227396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3820905540647329868.post-91521675609260748812014-02-09T12:08:00.004-06:002014-02-09T12:30:10.496-06:00This. Is. Hard.Yep. Training for an ultramarathon is hard. And no, at no point did I think it would be easy. Or even just a minor challenge. I knew it would be extreme. That was, after all, the point of taking on this crazy endeavor. But now that I am in the thick of it: wow. It's by far the most difficult physical challenge I have ever taken on in my life. And it's mentally challenging too.<br />
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I run alone. I don't have training partners. That is partly by choice (I could join a running club) and partly by default (I don't have any friends around me who run). It's how I have done most of my running since I started running distances longer than 100 meters during my second year of college. For the most part, I like it that way. I can think, listen to great books or music, and generally just be guided by my own whims and decisions. But it can also be difficult. Chatting does help the miles go by and it is nice/would be nice to have someone with whom to commiserate when the miles get long and tough.<br />
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Anyway, I run alone. As my mileage goes up and up, that means more and more time on my feet to, among other things, think about why the heck I am out there. I'd say 90% of the time I know the answer to that and it's positive: I love it. I love running, I love nature, I love fitness, I love reaching for challenging goals. But there are times when I am just tired and over it and hoping that the mileage on my GPS watch will move a wee bit faster. This morning was one of those times.<br />
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Yesterday I ran my longest training run ever: 24 miles. Before this I had completed a 22-miler during marathon training, so 24 was the longest I've gone aside from the 7 marathons I have completed since 2007. Yesterday went amazingly well. Sure I had some moments of fatigue, a few nutritional problems, and some freezing fingers. But overall I could not have asked for a better confidence-builder as I work my way towards my 50-miler.<br />
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This morning I set out to complete 12 miles. In ultra training, the key is to do back-to-back long runs on the weekend. The goal in doing the second long run is that you are running on tired legs, thus getting your legs trained for the longer challenge of the ultra. When I first started this morning I was surprised: my legs felt amazingly springy after their long journey yesterday! But after about 5 miles, they'd had enough. They were just, well, tired. BUT: this story has a happy ending! By the time I hit the National Mall again and was about 2 miles from home, I noticed that though in my head I was tired and over it, my legs didn't actually feel that bad. A look at my watch showed me that while my HR was nice and low, I was actually moving at a pretty decent clip. Running fast was not the goal; the goal was to run easy and keep my HR in check. Which I was doing and, in fact, had done for the whole run.<br />
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All this to repeat the oft-stated reality that SO much of training is mental. I had decided in my head that I was tired (and my legs, or course, w<i>ere</i> tired after yesterday) and got stuck in that grumpy mental state of wanting-it-over-ness. It wasn't until I got lost in my thoughts, snapped back to reality, and realized that I didn't actually feel so bad that I was able to give myself a break, recognize that I was succeeding, and bask in the glory of all the benefits I am getting from my diligent training. In short: it's working. I am becoming a better, stronger runner and I am gaining endurance.<br />
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I have a ways to go, but I am glad to feel like I am on the right track. Just 13 weeks until the Ice Age 50-miler!<br />
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Over the next 6-7 weeks I will be doing a bunch of organized events as training runs. (To be specific: 3 marathons and a trail 50K). I signed up for these mostly so that I could mix things up, run on courses with aid, practice running trails, and, well, because races (whether you actually "race" them or not) are fun! You will find a list of my upcoming events on the right side of this screen.<br />
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And, as always, my fundraising continues. I've raised $2,195 towards my $3,500 goal! Please click on the link on the side of the screen if you'd like to donate - any amount is appreciated! Thank you, again, to those of you who have already contributed.<br />
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<br />Sara Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17562925632036227396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3820905540647329868.post-15135579921131302792014-01-09T15:39:00.002-06:002014-01-09T15:39:55.620-06:00Fundraising Website Updated!Just a quick update to note that my fundraising website has been updated to show my new race and date.<br />
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I'd love your support as I try to raise $3,500 for Jacob's Ladder, an amazing school for children (including my nephew Henry) with neurodevelopmental challenges.<br />
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Any amount is appreciated. And thanks!<br />
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<a href="http://jacobsladdercenter.com/50-for-35-fundraiser/" target="_blank">Fundraising Site</a><br />
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In other news: my training is going great and my weekly mileage is going up and up. As part of my training, I am registered to run a marathon and a 50K on my way towards competing in the 50-miler in May. Stay posted!Sara Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17562925632036227396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3820905540647329868.post-59455402303552010362013-12-12T10:12:00.001-06:002013-12-12T10:12:35.419-06:00Winter Running! (and JFK!)Well it's been a month, so I figured I'd update all of my devoted followers on what I've been up to! So for the 3 of you, here it is:<br />
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It's winter! And I am training! This is new. I haven't actually <i>trained</i> through a winter in a really long time. I've run...but mostly inside and never for very long distances. Usually for spring marathons (OK, for Grandma's Marathon) I don't really get going until February. But I don't have that option this time: I am training to run 50 miles!<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigIE4nH6SDAhnvgBrVX3yCcyGg4eK58iREGciUw8iRjGy5-gW_G6mmTJfqltYy138Xa4zAGQ35kYcYD2a5Tjw-9NufQAPo84RuwOojlaWzO-El0_FHtSeYX0QcjB1fAm0fP0jWAtIQFB6n/s1600/Cold+run.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigIE4nH6SDAhnvgBrVX3yCcyGg4eK58iREGciUw8iRjGy5-gW_G6mmTJfqltYy138Xa4zAGQ35kYcYD2a5Tjw-9NufQAPo84RuwOojlaWzO-El0_FHtSeYX0QcjB1fAm0fP0jWAtIQFB6n/s320/Cold+run.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My first "long" run outside in years was a success!</td></tr>
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Winter running is a challenge for everyone, but for me the biggest challenge is that I have cold-induced asthma. It's landed me in the ER twice in the past 4 years (as the result of very short runs in the cold) and, well, the goal is to not end up there again. So what can I do? Well, for one thing, I can adjust to it gradually. Which is what I have been trying to do and so far so good. Thankfully(?) it got pretty cold for DC during November so my lungs had to adapt to the 20s and 30s pretty early in the season. That's cold for the mid-Atlantic in November.<br />
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But then I went and hopped a plane to Wisconsin, where I am now. It's obviously much colder here. So I've been doing a mix of treadmill runs when I have to, and outside runs when the temperatures get up into the teens. I also bought a "Buff" face mask thingy that has worked out well. So far so good.<br />
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So that's what I've got going on right now. I'm hangin' in Wisconsin. Writing a paper. Taking some (take-home) exams. And trying to keep up with my training.<br />
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I head to Duluth in a little over a week. Given the temperatures they've been having, it's quite possible that I'll be relegated to the treadmill for my runs over vacation. It's not such a terrible thing. Yes, I feel slightly less hard-core than some of my Duluth running friends. But it gets the job done.<br />
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I would be remiss if I didn't mention that the JFK-50, the race I was supposed to be running as a part of my <a href="http://jacobsladdercenter.com/50-for-35-fundraiser/" target="_blank">fundraiser</a>, before I got <a href="http://runsjbrun.blogspot.com/2013/09/difficult-decisions-dreams-deferred.html" target="_blank">hurt</a>, was a few weeks back! Though I couldn't compete, I was at the race anyway, crewing and pacing, and it was an awesome day. My coach and friend Wendy ran a stellar time and placed 16th overall female. You can read all about that <a href="http://runnerwendy.blogspot.com/2013/11/2013-jfk-502-miler.html" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiauROvcDy_Kz4Q2PcaKZRPE8RKFEnKtzYdYBLjxtH2Bo0brOL2L-EekWrOuxzaCnGGrwRGc71sccQ5HvzA3kTP2mJC5aWO4WM-fj4ffaLwjspFedqcJY0N1B6y8YDV0CyxxJGs4fw7IDQ9/s1600/crewing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiauROvcDy_Kz4Q2PcaKZRPE8RKFEnKtzYdYBLjxtH2Bo0brOL2L-EekWrOuxzaCnGGrwRGc71sccQ5HvzA3kTP2mJC5aWO4WM-fj4ffaLwjspFedqcJY0N1B6y8YDV0CyxxJGs4fw7IDQ9/s320/crewing.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and Michele, waiting for our runners to come through</td></tr>
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My day was spent first crewing, and then pacing. What does that mean? Well, 50-miles is a long way to run, so it helps to have some people there to assist you along the way. The first access point for friends and crews was at mile 15ish and that is where me and some other pals first parked ourselves to assist the 5 runners we had in the race. They dropped clothes, changed shoes, grabbed food, replenished Gu stashes, topped off water, etc. We were there with their stuff - and some chairs - to help them with their effort. Kinda like a pit crew.<br />
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OK, who am I kidding, I stood there with my camera waiting to take pictures while everyone else did the work.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaSnxPZbIfvMrCxMT0z7wXdAKfOEwIx5C1vXsS2G_zBR6Mgo30BVCAbd7PeIhns0iVc4US7vGZGysitnLmvsmnkNaG5CbYkSo9fTLKJ-b-MyDvM6hezdy5-gtW5Btf2vpOyd0d0V4iM7iL/s1600/Tim.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaSnxPZbIfvMrCxMT0z7wXdAKfOEwIx5C1vXsS2G_zBR6Mgo30BVCAbd7PeIhns0iVc4US7vGZGysitnLmvsmnkNaG5CbYkSo9fTLKJ-b-MyDvM6hezdy5-gtW5Btf2vpOyd0d0V4iM7iL/s320/Tim.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tim getting his chip moved as part of his shoe change.</td></tr>
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Tim, husband of Coach Wendy, came through looking great. This was good news as he came into the race with a pretty messed up ACL. <span style="text-align: center;">Wendy arrived a bit too chipper to have just run 15 rugged and technical miles on steep trails. But that was all part of her race plan (to take it really easy at the start) and she executed her plan perfectly. </span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmaTbUKA1EQFk7jzcGbvlFWs3fuhVxg29maSrAf3EzeRGQ6qy9ATzE5hi1NutWMnpfc2RQ9Rjiu-canH-jrUif65rb93KhWCwpxUxpQPe1MpzpDrSijVzwV5NB8u4wBVozBu8UksCcz8En/s1600/Wendy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmaTbUKA1EQFk7jzcGbvlFWs3fuhVxg29maSrAf3EzeRGQ6qy9ATzE5hi1NutWMnpfc2RQ9Rjiu-canH-jrUif65rb93KhWCwpxUxpQPe1MpzpDrSijVzwV5NB8u4wBVozBu8UksCcz8En/s320/Wendy.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wendy: "That felt so easy! I'm fresh as a daisy!" <br />
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After crewing, I got ready to pace my friend Vivian. By "pace" I mean "run with." It's nice to have some company when you run 50 miles, and my plan was to run with Vivian from miles 15 to the next crew stop at 27. And that's what I did. We chatted (OK, I talked her ears off, she was probably happy to see me go!) and ran on the beautiful C&O Canal towpath alongside the Potomac River. It was beautiful. During this time I was incredibly bummed not to be running the race myself. That said, I was grateful I was healthy enough to be out there to take in 12 miles of the course -- and glad to have a friend I could help along the way.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwGzmrtR5KXqzF75_bIwfBuEJsYOtBbtChcIAmuby7Xvc5WObpwnIt4ruH1Fx842P9Dpo4uajjMJaUP5UBQSgFoL7of-Y3o20IIEhrXPbcn9cr7kbDc5FFpowdd1w-_4xytKUpXKf0ELE3/s1600/viv+and+me+on+trail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwGzmrtR5KXqzF75_bIwfBuEJsYOtBbtChcIAmuby7Xvc5WObpwnIt4ruH1Fx842P9Dpo4uajjMJaUP5UBQSgFoL7of-Y3o20IIEhrXPbcn9cr7kbDc5FFpowdd1w-_4xytKUpXKf0ELE3/s320/viv+and+me+on+trail.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vivian and I at mile 27</td></tr>
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All in all it was an incredibly fun and beautiful (if cold!) day. It definitely got me energized to keep training hard to run my own 50-miler in the spring. </div>
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OK. On with winter running. And, as previously promised, I do hope to have my spring 50-miler picked out soon. Definitely by the end of the year!</div>
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Sara Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17562925632036227396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3820905540647329868.post-40446115420557718382013-11-12T08:48:00.001-06:002013-11-12T08:48:08.451-06:00Back At ItQuick Update:<br />
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I'm in my fourth week of official "training" right now and it's feeling really good. We (Coach Wendy and I) have been easing me back into it - adding miles really slowly - and so far so good. Last week I ran 27 miles. This week I will run 30. It feels like a far cry from the 50 mpw I was doing before I got injured, but I know I'll get back there.<br />
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It's hard - really hard - starting from scratch. It's one thing to start from scratch when you've taken some down time after a big goal race. It sucks starting from scratch when I lost it all due to a stupid, quirky, injury.<br />
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People have asked me if the injury was a sign that I am not supposed to run so much. I can answer that one easily: no. The injury was an anomaly. They happen. It was not an overuse injury. And neither my physical therapist nor my doctor think there is something fundamental about my bio-mechanics (or whatever) that mean I shouldn't run. I am true believer that <i>everyone</i> can and should run (and by everyone I mean everyone, even the people who claim they have bad knees) and I'll argue that one until I am blue in the face.<br />
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So I am back at it. What's my plan? My tentative plan is to run my 50-miler in May, after exams and before graduation. Registration for the race isn't until December, so I want to wait until I am officially "in" before I confirm. But I don't think it will be a problem.<br />
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I'm still fundraising! I am fully committed to completing my 50 for 35 challenge and I am excited that it is now back on track. Thank you to those who have supported me thus far. If you haven't, I'd love to have you as a part of my journey, supporting the amazing Jacob's Ladder School and Therapy Center. <a href="http://jacobsladdercenter.com/50-for-35-fundraiser/" target="_blank">Click here</a> to learn more and contribute today! No amount is too small, every little bit will help me towards achieving my goal! Thank you, in advance, for your generosity!Sara Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17562925632036227396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3820905540647329868.post-80415457486822420552013-10-09T12:40:00.002-05:002013-10-09T12:44:10.428-05:00Ready for a New Start!Since August 22nd, I haven't been able to run. I've tried a few times, but always with bad results and feeling guilty for doing so. In my attempt to figure out what went wrong -- I was running really well with no pain or problems and then suddenly one day there was an intense pain shooting up into my butt/lower back on the right side -- I saw many, random doctors. It seems a bit funny - or maybe crazy - in retrospect!<br />
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First, I went to urgent care. I was in Janesville, WI visiting my stepmom the day after the pain initially started and I was certain I had some sort of fracture. The urgent care docs were worthless -- they didn't really listen to what I was telling them -- and sent me home with 30 days worth of 800mg Ibuprofen. Thanks.<br />
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That same afternoon, I went to a chiropractor. This was at the suggestion of a couple of running friends who said it sounded like I could use an adjustment. I got a local reference (in Janesville) and saw the doc. He took x-rays and couldn't see anything wrong there. We did do an adjustment but there wasn't a lot more he could do since I was going to be coming back to follow up. The next day I flew to DC to start my last year of law school.<br />
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It took me a while to figure out what to do once I got to DC. I really thought I'd just rest for a week and hope it calmed down. It didn't. So I went to another urgent care. Why? I don't know. I was in severe, constant pain with every step I took and the clinic at school hadn't opened yet. Getting into a specialist was going to take a few weeks. So I got an oral steroid from the urgent care doctor with the hopes of combating the inflammation and bringing down the pain level. It didn't.<br />
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So, next, I decided to see my pain doctor. I decided to skip the orthopedist because every time I go to an orthopedist they tell me my options are pain injections, physical therapy, or surgery. I figured I'd cut out the middle man and go straight to my pain doctor. I say "my" pain doctor because he treated me previously for a herniated disc in my neck. So I was a returning patient. He didn't want to do anything until he knew what we were dealing with, so he had me start physical therapy and get an MRI. I made an appointment to see him again in a week.<br />
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In the meantime, I started with a physical therapist. I wrote about that <a href="http://runsjbrun.blogspot.com/2013/09/week-20-some-results.html" target="_blank">here</a>. I have been seeing the physical therapist - and doing at home exercises - ever since. In the meantime, I have also gotten 2 pain injections into my SI joint. The injections decreased the pain significantly, which tells us that we are likely targeting the right spot. My physical therapist has spent time adjusting my sacrum - which she found to be out of whack - to get me centered again and to take the stress off my SI. It seems to be working.<br />
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Is my pain completely gone? No. But I'm not "in pain." And I rarely feel it. It is hard to know if what I do feel, when purposefully stressing the area, is just residual pain from the injections and all of the exercises I have been doing, or whether the injury is not quite healed. Whatever the case, it's time to move forward.<br />
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We did a lot more intense stuff in PT this week (plyometric type stuff) to test the area. It all went really well and today I was cleared to run! She said I should go for 20 minutes and run/walk. 2 minutes running, 30 seconds walking, etc. This is going to be torture for me. I don't run/walk. Ever. What I love about running -- and the thing about it that feels so amazing for me -- is getting into a rhythm; getting my HR up and going and having it stay there. But I'll follow the rules. I want to get back to high mileage as soon as possible and I know that that will take patience at this point in the game.<br />
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Thanks to all of my friends and family for their support and patience with my whining over the past month and a half. I have learned a lot about myself - and my love of running - through this process. It has really been eye-opening on levels I could have never predicted. I need to run. More than that, I truly love to run. It is a healing activity for me on so many levels: emotional, mental, and physical. If I have to come up with a reason for suffering from this quirky injury, I can definitely point to the soul-searching I've done and realizations I've come to about how important it is for me to run, to run consistently, to stay fit, and do everything I can to make sure I can do that for a long time. This will mean much more attention to my core and my body as a whole. More strength work, more stretching/foam-rolling, smart training, and, most importantly, a consistent effort.<br />
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Anyway, I see today as the beginning of a new journey. Soon, I hope, I will begin a new training cycle. I don't see this as the end of anything. I will still be in PT for at least another week - we will see how I progress and if all is well, next week will be my last week! And I hope to take all of the stuff I have learned with me and to not take my running, or my health overall, for granted. I've done that all too much in the past and it's too precious, for too many reasons, to lost sight of its importance.<br />
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And, as always, I am fundraising and would love your support! <a href="http://jacobsladdercenter.com/50-for-35-fundraiser/" target="_blank">Click here</a>! And thank you in advance for your generosity.Sara Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17562925632036227396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3820905540647329868.post-20060189362663510592013-09-23T11:11:00.003-05:002013-09-23T20:27:42.378-05:00Difficult Decisions, Dreams Deferred Well, unfortunately, my injury has not been healing as fast as I dared to hope. As such, today I made the very difficult decision to postpone my "50 for 35" challenge. I will now take part in a 50-miler this spring instead of at JFK this fall. To say I am bummed is an understatement. This challenge and all that it stands for - the hope it gives me and the passion I feel about why I am doing it - is so incredibly important to me.<br />
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I know, I know - it's not over, as my close friends and family keep telling me. It's just postponed. But I was really excited about hitting that Appalachian Trail with some of my favorite running friends in November. But if I've learned anything in the past couple of years - during which time life has thrown me a lot to handle - it is that life is not easy and it is most definitely not fair. That said: life gives you additional opportunities to fulfill your dreams and complete your goals, as long as you are open to seeing those new opportunities, owning them, and, well...rocking the sh*t out of them.<br />
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That's what I plan to do this spring.<br />
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I have a race picked out but I want to wait until I am fully cleared to start training hard again before I officially register and announce which race I'll be doing. For those of you supporting me in this challenge, rest assured that I won't let you down. I cannot say enough how important it is for me to accomplish this goal and finish this journey.<br />
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And, as always, when things feel unfair and crappy, a little perspective is always good. My dear friend Kara Goucher had to make a similar decision recently. You may have read about it <a href="http://www.runtheedge.com/2013/09/letting-go-of-a-dream/" target="_blank">here</a>. Talking to Kara about my struggles in running and, well, in life in general, always gives me great perspective. And not just because she's a pro and running is her job -- the implications for her are far greater when she finds herself injured and unable to perform. It's more about who she is. I've known Kara since Jr. High and through all of her struggles and triumphs she has remained, from my perspective, so level-headed and able to joke about and accept even the saddest and most frustrating disappointments and she <i>always </i>looks to find a silver lining. Always. I am so thankful I have her in my life for constant pep talks, support, and as an amazing role model.<br />
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So that's what I'll do with my disappointment. Let it go and focus on what I have to look forward to. I am already excited about the race I hope to run in March. And, well, when I get back to running I am going to work my darnedest not to take it for granted! I love running. I absolutely love being a runner. I miss it terribly. When I get it back, I am going to treasure it like never before.<br />
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My <a href="http://jacobsladdercenter.com/50-for-35-fundraiser/" target="_blank">fundraising page</a> will be updated soon to reflect the postponed race date. In the meantime, I would still be grateful for your continued support! I am still so incredibly grateful to the people at Jacob's Ladder and the smiles they put on my nephew Henry's face every single day. I am also grateful that I was able to support such an amazing place as I undertake this challenge. Henry and I are both lucky to be paired with them as we pursue our goals!<br />
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<br />Sara Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17562925632036227396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3820905540647329868.post-50447586737302359772013-09-13T11:43:00.002-05:002013-09-13T11:43:57.084-05:00Week 20: Some ResultsWell after not so patiently waiting, I finally got in to see my doctor. I saw him last week Thursday and he ordered an MRI. My problem was not presenting as sciatica, because that shoots pain down the leg. (I have pain shooting up from my butt into my lower back). So he guessed it was probably a disc bulge of some kind, which is what I assumed as well. It took me a week to get in for the MRI, which I had this past Wednesday and yesterday, Thursday, I saw my doctor for the results.<br />
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Before I got my results, though, I met with a physical therapist yesterday morning. I am always skeptical about physical therapy. I had it a lot as kid with all of my sports injuries. It usually resulted in me being the proud owner of an array of different colored therabands and not much else. But, as I am pretty desperate here, and my doctor recommended it as an option, I thought I'd give it a shot. Fortunately I <i>really</i> liked the place I chose (randomly from my insurance website) and <i>really</i> liked the therapist. After examining me, so did <i>not</i> think the symptoms were presenting as a disc problem. She was able to deduce that that I have a slight tilt in my sacrum...and her assumption/guess is that I tweaked it at some point and it just hadn't gotten itself back into place. So we did not exercises, etc. to work on that. (Knowing I would get my MRI results later that same day.) And, yes, she sent me home with some exercises and a theraband. Which I am proud to say I have already used! Nothing like a little motivation and a time crunch to get me to follow the rules.<br />
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The news from my doctor was good. There is a slight disc bulge but no more than is to be expected from anyone else my age. So while it's possible it's causing the pain, it's not particularly likely. My doctor is still not convinced of a diagnosis (he is a pain doctor, so he is less focused on specific or particular diagnosis - or having some precise "answer" or "cause" and more on pain management, which is why I am coupling with PT). He had the records from my PT and together we decided that I would get a pain injection in my SI joint. Not only might this reduce my pain (that has been debilitating and severe since the day it started, August 22) but it will also give us some answers. If it works, and the pain goes away (even if temporarily) we know it's an SI thing. So I got the injection. So far so good - it seems like it may have worked. You never know for a couple of days...it takes the medicine 2-4 days to start working, and you always have soreness from the injection for the first day or so afterwards. But I am walking without severe pain for the first time in three weeks. So I am happy and hopeful.<br />
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I may not be as fit and prepared as I would have preferred to be come time for JFK, but I am feeling more and more confident that I definitely will be there. (If, for any reason, I am unable to be I will pick a 50-miler in the Spring at which I will complete my challenge.) Who knows, maybe this was a fortuitously forced rest for some reason I'll never know.<br />
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Whatever the case, I feel like I might <i>finally</i> be on the other side of this thing and am feeling good and relieved. Still a lot I don't know, but finally getting some answers. And some relief! Hopefully I will be running again soon. In the meantime, I am owning the bike and pool. 10 weeks until the race!<br />
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Fundraising has gone well, but still a long way to go! I appreciate support in any amount. To donate, <a href="http://jacobsladdercenter.com/50-for-35-fundraiser/" target="_blank">click here</a>. <br />
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<u style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.199999809265137px; line-height: 16px;">Training Mileage Summary</u><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.199999809265137px; line-height: 16px;">Week 1: 30</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.199999809265137px; line-height: 16px;">Week 2: 31</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.199999809265137px; line-height: 16px;">Week 3: 36</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.199999809265137px; line-height: 16px;">Week 4: 36</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.199999809265137px; line-height: 16px;">Week 5: 27</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.199999809265137px; line-height: 16px;">Week 6: 32</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.199999809265137px; line-height: 16px;">Week 7: 40</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.199999809265137px; line-height: 16px;">Week 8: 34 </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 16px;">Week 9: 43</span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 16px;">Week 10: 44</span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 16px;">Week 11: 40 </span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 16px;">Week 12: 33 </span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 16px;">Week 13: 49</span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 16px;">Week 14: 50</span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 16px;">Week 15: 38</span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 16px;">Week 16: 50</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 16px;">Week 17: 14, Injured, cross training</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 16px;">Week 18: Injured, cross training</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 16px;">Week 19: Injured, cross training</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 16px;">Week 20: Inured, cross training</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 16px;"><br /></span></span>Sara Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17562925632036227396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3820905540647329868.post-73768033672572094162013-09-01T12:06:00.001-05:002013-09-01T12:06:04.022-05:00SidelinedI've been dealing with a disappointing and frustrating injury that has had me sidelined for the last week and a half. It's been a huge bummer on lots of levels. I moved back to DC a week ago and have been getting settled in for my final year of law school. I was excited to get back into town and go on some of my favorite running routes with my extra time before the semester started. No such luck. I am not sure what the injury is yet - I have pain in my lower back/butt that results from weight-bearing. So, running. And, well, walking. The pain has moved to different areas, so I am fairly certain it is nerve-related. Based on my history and experience (I have a herniated disc in my neck), I am guessing it is a herniated disc in my lower back. I see the doctor this week and will hopefully learn more.<br />
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So, the bad news is I haven't been able to run. Fortunately, pain only comes from putting weight on it so I have been riding a stationary bike at the gym and keeping up with my strength/core workouts in order to keep up my fitness. I also plan to start water jogging this week. This isn't altogether unfamiliar territory for me. In both high school and college, when I was a sprinter, I tore my hamstring (each of them, four-years apart!) and was relegated to the pool. Though it's not ideal (it's boring as hell) it is a great way to, again, keep up fitness and endurance when regular running isn't an option.<br />
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I am optimistic I will get this figured out and I will be back on my feet - and on the trails of DC - within the next week or so. Whatever the case, I am confident I will be on the starting line in Boonsboro, MD in November!<br />
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Mostly, I am bummed because I am really missing running. It's good for me (and you!) on so many levels and I am mourning the loss of it right now.<br />
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Fundraising has been going well! I've raised $1,180 so far! Thanks to everyone who has contributed. I'm well on my way to my goal of raising $3,500 by November 23rd! If you would like to donate, you can do so <a href="http://jacobsladdercenter.com/50-for-35-fundraiser/" target="_blank">here</a>.Sara Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17562925632036227396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3820905540647329868.post-89547065565518605682013-08-18T14:21:00.001-05:002013-08-18T14:21:22.062-05:00Week 16: ImperfectWell, it finally happened: I wasn't able to complete my weekly mileage. First time this training cycle! It was, though, not because I made an excuse and skipped. (I've been <i>super</i> good at doing that in the past!) It was because my body just wasn't cooperating this weekend. It might be that my training has caught up to me. It's probably at least in part (possibly a big part) some medication I took. Whatever the case...my weekend runs (yesterday and today) were amazingly difficult and disheartening. Feeling like that during runs carries more weight when you are training for an ultra and have asked all of your friends and family to financially support a cause. I worry about my mental toughness. <i>What happens when it gets miserably tough at JFK?</i><br />
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<i>I have to finish JFK!</i> I keep telling Wendy, when things aren't going my way.<i> You will.</i> She responds. Every time.<br />
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Whatever the case. I still put in a 50 mile week. So that's solid. I just hated feeling so awkward and rotten out there. I can take ownership of not doing enough strength/core work. I've gotten really lazy about that. And I'm feeling it with lots of niggles. I really can't mess around with that stuff. I've gotta be solid going into this thing.<br />
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Oh, also, I registered for a 50K like it was no big deal and would just be a helpful part of my training. It will be my first ultra and it is something I am just going to do in passing. Seriously: How did I end up here?! <a href="http://runsjbrun.blogspot.com/2011/05/i-am-super-slowi-am-sprinter.html" target="_blank">I'm a sprinter</a>! ;)<br />
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Fundraising, though, has been going spectuacularly! (That's not a word). As of Friday I've raised $945! Thank you, everyone! I'm well on my way to that $3500!<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Again, if you want to join my journey virtually, you can do that here: </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/493045564117335/" style="background-color: white; color: #667700; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-decoration: none;">https://www.facebook.com/events/493045564117335/</a><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">If you'd like to support me financially, you can do that here! </span><a href="http://jacobsladdercenter.com/50-for-35-fundraiser/" style="background-color: white; color: #667700; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-decoration: none;">http://jacobsladdercenter.com/50-for-35-fundraiser/</a><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">And again, thank you, in advance!</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span>
<u style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.199999809265137px; line-height: 16px;">Training Mileage Summary</u><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.199999809265137px; line-height: 16px;">Week 1: 30</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.199999809265137px; line-height: 16px;">Week 2: 31</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.199999809265137px; line-height: 16px;">Week 3: 36</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.199999809265137px; line-height: 16px;">Week 4: 36</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.199999809265137px; line-height: 16px;">Week 5: 27</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.199999809265137px; line-height: 16px;">Week 6: 32</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.199999809265137px; line-height: 16px;">Week 7: 40</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.199999809265137px; line-height: 16px;">Week 8: 34 </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 16px;">Week 9: 43</span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 16px;">Week 10: 44</span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 16px;">Week 11: 40 </span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 16px;">Week 12: 33 </span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 16px;">Week 13: 49</span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 16px;">Week 14: 50</span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 16px;">Week 15: 38</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 16px;">Week 16: 50</span></span>Sara Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17562925632036227396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3820905540647329868.post-42162046910406854062013-08-11T20:09:00.001-05:002013-08-11T20:09:42.716-05:00Halfway to JFK!Not much to report, but it felt important to note that I am HALFWAY through my JFK training! Crazypants! Today marks the end of week 15 of my 30 week training program.<br />
<br />
Last week, week 14, I ran 50 miles equaling my highest mileage week ever. I ran a 50-mile week leading up to the NYC Marathon in 2011...and I believe I ran one leading up to whatever marathon I ran before that. The difference this time was that it wasn't the culmination of my efforts. In fact, it was just run of the mill. I ran the miles and got them done without any drama. The longest run was a 20-miler, and though I definitely felt it, I completed it at a decent clip and felt pretty great at the end. This is good news. It was by far the easiest 20-miler I've ever run.<br />
<br />
This week, week 14, was a step-back week. I ran 38 miles and it felt like nothing. Really. It did. I put a wee bit of speedwork back into my training and really enjoyed that. It felt great and I'm not feeling any lagging effects. On Wednesday, I did a fartlek. Today, I ran a couple miles at tempo/half marathon pace and did some 100-meter strides at the end. It all felt invigorating and none of it felt strained. Again. Good news.<br />
<br />
Looking at my schedule, which Wendy just updated for me (I get it weekly on Sunday night), assuming all goes well next week will be my highest mileage week ever: 55 miles. It will be a challenge. I am psyched.<br />
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Fundraising update: I've raised over $500 towards my goal of $3500! A big fat thank you to those of you who have donated thus far. It takes me a while to get updates on my fundraising...so if I don't thank you immediately, that's why. I get reports from the school every one or two weeks. Hopefully they will start updating my fundraising page soon so that it shows both how far I am towards my goal and who has donated to my efforts. Again, to all of you: thank you! I'd love for any and all of you to "join" me, virtually, on my 50-mile/$3500 journey. You can do that here: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/493045564117335/">https://www.facebook.com/events/493045564117335/</a><br />
<br />
If you'd like to support me financially, you can do that here! <a href="http://jacobsladdercenter.com/50-for-35-fundraiser/">http://jacobsladdercenter.com/50-for-35-fundraiser/</a><br />
<br />
And again, thank you, in advance!<br />
<br />
<u style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.199999809265137px; line-height: 16px;">Training Mileage Summary</u><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.199999809265137px; line-height: 16px;">Week 1: 30</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.199999809265137px; line-height: 16px;">Week 2: 31</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.199999809265137px; line-height: 16px;">Week 3: 36</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.199999809265137px; line-height: 16px;">Week 4: 36</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.199999809265137px; line-height: 16px;">Week 5: 27</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.199999809265137px; line-height: 16px;">Week 6: 32</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.199999809265137px; line-height: 16px;">Week 7: 40</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.199999809265137px; line-height: 16px;">Week 8: 34 (Grandma's Half)</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 16px;">Week 9: 43</span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 16px;">Week 10: 44</span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 16px;">Week 11: 40 (trail marathon)</span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 16px;">Week 12: 33 (5-miler)</span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 16px;">Week 13: 49</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 16px;">Week 14: 50</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 16px;">Week 15: 38</span></span>Sara Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17562925632036227396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3820905540647329868.post-61603796246902383922013-07-28T19:04:00.001-05:002013-07-28T19:04:25.281-05:0049 MilesI ran 49 miles this week.<br />
<br />
Because of my work schedule, I didn't get any really long runs in this week. But I did get in 49 miles. The most I've ever run in a single week - in all of my marathon training - is 50 miles. And it's only week 13 of 30.<br />
<br />
The good news is that it didn't feel like too much. At all. I'm tired for sure -- but not overwhelmingly so. I worked on my feet for 8 hours after both of my long runs this weekend...and came out unscathed. So I am feeling pretty good. Up we go.<br />
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We did have to scrap speed work this week. At the beginning of the week my hamstrings were <i>very </i>tight. That's an old and nagging problem that we don't want to mess with. So we decided to just get in the miles. I am still getting faster, though. That is, I am running at my desired "feel" (easy pace, long pace, etc.) and my paces are getting faster and my HR is staying reasonably low and I am feeling better and stronger. I am guessing the tightness was the result of the trail marathon extravaganza and the 5-mile race within 6 days of each other. That was a bit much. But it was good for my focus and mental toughness. I had to run both of them on tired legs...which is frustrating. I like racing and I like setting PRs. But more than that, I want to arrive at this 50 prepared and healthy.<br />
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Not much else to report! I had a great week of training. Was focused and determined to get every mile in despite a crazy busy schedule. Proud of my commitment. As Wendy can attest, this is my first ever training cycle where I have not yet missed a single mile or workout. I have, though, been a bit lazy on strength and core work lately. Gotta get back on that: it works.<br />
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Also, just a reminder that <a href="http://jacobsladdercenter.com/50-for-35-fundraiser/" target="_blank">I'd love your support</a> on this journey to 50!<br />
<br />
<u style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.199999809265137px; line-height: 16px;">Training Mileage Summary</u><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.199999809265137px; line-height: 16px;">Week 1: 30</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.199999809265137px; line-height: 16px;">Week 2: 31</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.199999809265137px; line-height: 16px;">Week 3: 36</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.199999809265137px; line-height: 16px;">Week 4: 36</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.199999809265137px; line-height: 16px;">Week 5: 27</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.199999809265137px; line-height: 16px;">Week 6: 32</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.199999809265137px; line-height: 16px;">Week 7: 40</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.199999809265137px; line-height: 16px;">Week 8: 34 (Grandma's Half)</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 16px;">Week 9: 43</span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 16px;">Week 10: 44</span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 16px;">Week 11: 40 (trail marathon)</span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 16px;">Week 12: 33 (5-miler)</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 16px;">Week 13: 49</span></span>Sara Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17562925632036227396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3820905540647329868.post-37245627964081116582013-07-20T11:53:00.002-05:002013-07-20T11:53:36.065-05:00Races, Trails, and a CauseSo I am desperately behind on documenting my JFK training. So here's where I've been:<br />
<br />
<u>Week 8 - Grandma's Half Marathon</u><br />
We cut my mileage back a bit this week so that I wouldn't be totally tired going into the half marathon. Even though I wasn't shooting for a particular time, and wasn't really racing the event, we still decided to taper a bit. I was glad we did. As a result, I totally enjoyed every second of the run. This was my first time running the half after running the full marathon for years. As such, as I reached each landmark on the course I felt remarkably fresh! It was a super foggy day, so views of the lake were missing. That was a bummer...but the weather was otherwise so perfect for running that I couldn't complain. The entire 13.1 miles were pure fun.<br />
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<u>Week 9</u><br />
Mileage was back up a bit this week and was topped off my a "course preview" run on the trails that would make up the trail marathon that I was running in a couple of weeks. I was REALLY glad I chose to do this trial run. The course was, in a word: grueling. Major climbs on rocks and mud....steep hills, etc., etc. - it was like nothing I've ever experienced. That said, I loved it. I really do love trail running and definitely see myself focusing more in that direction in the years to come. I simply enjoy being out there in the woods...it provides a lot more fulfillment than pounding the pavement. Anyway, I did 16 miles of the 26.2 mile course. It took me a LONG time but I am grateful I knew what I was in for come marathon day.<br />
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<u>Week 10</u><br />
Again, mileage went up a bit, topped off by a MISERABLE 18-miler on Saturday. It was hot and muggy and I hated every step. It happens. The plus side of a run like this is that it allows me to work on my mental toughness. I literally felt like my legs were lead from the first step. And I was immediately depleted and groggy from the humidity. I did stop at mile 9 and bought some Gatorade (something I rarely drink these days...I've become a Nuun girl - thanks Kara!) but it tasted like liquid heaven. I clearly needed the salt. I drank the entire thing...and it wasn't small. That helped a bit but the rest of the run was still a slog. Alas. It's in the books.<br />
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<u>Week 11 - Eugene Curnow Trail Marathon</u><br />
This trail marathon was insanely difficult and incredibly fun. It was like no other experience I've ever had running. And, to be honest, it consisted of a LOT of hiking (i.e., I wasn't running the whole time or even most of the time). I can't run over boulders and it's silly to run up super steep hills (at least I think so)...so there was a lot of power hiking. It took me 3 hours longer than my average road marathon. Yep. Now, another thing that made it difficult is that I didn't taper at all. I've never run a marathon that wasn't a goal race...so I am usually tapered and fresh. Going into this with tired legs added to the challenge. One of my main struggles was nutrition. I can't figure out what to eat when I am out there that long. The aid stations were stocked with all kinds of food...but I found I wasn't able to actually eat any of it. That is, I could get my mouth to dissolve it and swallow it. So I ran for over 7 hours on Gu Chomps and watermelon. Needless to say, I was starving at the end. I also went into the race after 4 days of GI problems that unfortunately continued during the race. So I got lots of practice taking visits into the woods...(I'll leave that one there...let's just say I was proud to only have to stop - for that reason - three times!) I also had some bizarre nausea during mile 9, which made no sense. I was actually dizzy and couldn't get my head straight. It wasn't until the next aid station, where I downed some Powerade, that it finally subsided. That issue didn't return for the rest of the race, thankfully. I also took S-Caps (electrolyte pills) for the first time ever during this race. I've never tried them at all, but Wendy wanted me to give it a try and practice with them. Not sure if they "worked" or not because I never knew why I would need them. But, despite the issues listed above, I felt pretty good during the whole (very long!) race. Overall it was a great event, well organized, great people - I am glad I did it.<br />
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<u>Week 12 - Park Point 5-miler (week ending 7/21)</u><br />
Decided fairly last minute to run the 5-miler this week. A bit of a crazy choice, given the state of my legs after the trail marathon. But it's the first time I have been in town and available to do this race in probably 10 years. Plus, Wendy said she did want me to do some speed work this week (we're working on trying to snap me out of a bit of a rut of very slow, plodding miles) so she thought the race was a good idea. I knew I wouldn't be able to run it fast. And I knew it wouldn't feel particularly good. But I decided to do it anyway. I was correct: it was tough. But it was also super fun. A beautiful night (albeit a bit warm) and it was just fun to run on that course as part of that event again after all of these years.<br />
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From here on out, we start to build miles. I won't race again until September when I am doing a half marathon and marathon to spice up my JFK training. Looking forward to just trying to gain some major fitness and endurance in the next couple of months.<br />
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In other news: Many people wondered if I'd lost my sanity when I signed up for JFK. I am happy to share a bit of the story behind why I decided to participate in such an extreme running event. You can read about it by clicking <a href="http://jacobsladdercenter.com/50-for-35-fundraiser/" target="_blank">here</a>. (And there's also a link on the right side of this page.) I'd truly appreciate your support!<br />
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<u style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.199999809265137px; line-height: 16px;">Training Mileage Summary</u><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.199999809265137px; line-height: 16px;">Week 1: 30</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.199999809265137px; line-height: 16px;">Week 2: 31</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.199999809265137px; line-height: 16px;">Week 3: 36</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.199999809265137px; line-height: 16px;">Week 4: 36</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.199999809265137px; line-height: 16px;">Week 5: 27</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.199999809265137px; line-height: 16px;">Week 6: 32</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.199999809265137px; line-height: 16px;">Week 7: 40</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.199999809265137px; line-height: 16px;">Week 8: 34 (Grandma's Half)</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 16px;">Week 9: 43</span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 16px;">Week 10: 44</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 16px;">Week 11: 40 (trail marathon)</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 16px;">Week 12: 33 (5-miler)</span></span><br />
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<u><br /></u>Sara Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17562925632036227396noreply@blogger.com0