Running Streak - 10,000 Miles

 

In 10,000 miles I could have run to Fuji or to Paris and back again.
Or I could have run nearly half way to the moon.  In 10,000 miles I could have run to Washington to visit Tall Mom on the Run nearly 5 times.  But I end up about 100 miles shy of making it to Melbourne, Australia.

But in my 10,000 streak miles I did make it to many places.   In those 1136 days I ran 36 events with 23 ultras.  I've ran on the beautiful beaches, on trails under forest canopies.  I've ran on back country roads and along noisy highways.  I've shared my run with running brethren and I've run alone.  I've run through the snow and while it was falling.  I've witnessed Christmas through eliminated windows.  Through 10,000 miles I've shared secrets and kept them.  I have talked with and listened for God's guidance.  I've embraced the heat, the cold, the wind, the boredom.  And I've enjoyed the highs, the perfect days, the successes.  I've also learned to grow from the failures, the aches and pains and the disappointment of the limited length of my arm when reaching for a goal just beyond my grasp. 

Over 10,000 miles I have made friends and memories who have taught me about myself in those mere 1136 days.  These friends  rally to my support when I challenge my arm to grow, when I want to see what is just beyond my sight, when I push my body and mind into an adventure that leaves my body trembling. 

Through 10,000 miles my family has become some of my biggest supporters.  My husband joined me on an ultra trail to gain a better understanding of my love of trail running.  My children all encourage me to keep striving for my goals.  In 10,000 miles I've seen that my running is much more about the many than it is about me.  I've seen just how much I can influence others to believe in themselves even through my first DNF, friends shared with me how my perseverance and attitude helped them to keep striving though  when their goals were challenging. 

In 10,000 miles I have gone many place in my mind.  I have solved the world's problems and cured cancer.  I've written epic novels, composed tear-rendering songs and whispered eloquently crafted prayers.  During these 10,000 miles I have created a world within myself.  I love to visit it often; daily in fact.  However I've found that despite it's challenges and imperfections, this world is the real reason I run.  I run to create the best possible me I can become and in doing that I will be the best possible example to all those who choose to follow.  Or run along side me because the next 10,000 miles will be an adventure.  Who knows where it may take us?

Volcanos, Whales Tails and Sacrifice

Did you ever see one of those movies?  The ones with an island and a smoldering volcano?

 

 

The ones were they treat you really great, fatten you up and then throw you over the side to sacrifice you to their volcano god.  That's a little like my life this week.  I've been trying to treat my body extra nice.  No major running, just fun getting out with the kiddo.  As of today a pause in all my workout challenges so I can be rested and ready to...

 

jump into that volcano and destroy my body...slowly, painfully over 103.7 miles.

 

 

Well maybe exaggeration is another symptom of taper madness but you get the idea.  I'm attempting to rest so that I can feel really eager to go play in the woods on Saturday.  That is not as easy as it sounds.  I'm still working drop bags, meeting with our wonderful friends who are taking on our kids for two nights, trying to get all my normal chores done so that I won't have to worry about them after when I can't move, attending pto meetings, running kids to their activities and let's not forgot the time it takes to thoroughly stalk the weather.  Everyone has had to sacrifice a little bit.

 

 

There was a ray of sunshine in my day yesterday when I went to my mailbox.  A few friends have sent me notes to include in my drop bags but yesterday when the kids open the mailbox, they came running with a package.  And of course fought over who got to open it. 

 

 

Once the argument was settled, we opened it and found three notes for my drop bags and this.  This lovely whale's tail necklace to represent strength.  Erica at Life as a Running Mom had sent this wonderful little package.  She just celebrated her 500th running streak day and often credits me with encouraging her to start.  I would see things differently.  Erica is a near daily supporter and encourages me with her comments, messages, stories and photos.  Maybe we just share so many things in common; we are both streakers, running moms, madly in love with nature.  I don't know why but a friendship has grown despite the distance.  I just love her to pieces!  I know her life is a busy one with many roles to fill.  But still she sacrifices time to encourage me.  There it is again, sacrifice.  I think this whale's tail is the perfect thing to represent my journey to this 100.  It has been about strength but also sacrifice.  Not just my own sacrifice but my family and friend's too.  My pacer, Diane has been there for me through miles of hard training, my family gives up time with me and puts up with runner's moods quite frequently and my many friends who give up their time to encourage, support, educate, pray over and motivate me daily.  All these people sacrifice for me.  I will be thinking of Erica and her family this weekend as I will be thinking of everyone who has helped me get here.  And that is what will carry me through the miles. 

 

Thank you all for your sacrifice to be there for me!

 

T-3 sleeps and counting

 

An unexpected ring

Yesterday was day # 599.

Since I am taking some time off from the Big Girl job the kids and I are in VA while the poor super secret spy has to work.  Well, he had to work today. 

I had big plans for the run today.  The plan was to run a long loop with LBM in the jogger to start pushing my upper body strength a bit.  Then follow that run with a round of Insanity while the kiddos all played and frequently checked on me to make sure I didn't pass out.

I still got out for a run. I still challenged myself during that run.  It just wasn't the "big deal" I had wanted it to be.  And forget doing anything after.  LBM was having no part of being away from me to play or nap. 

So we baked brownies side by side in the kitchen in my running clothes.  S'ghetti girl had a friend over and everyone loved the unexpected treat.  It got me thinking about how I had wanted to make a big deal out of the approaching Day #600 tomorrow.  Joining the Charlottesville Area Trail Runners for a long trail run or run a memorable number of miles or start a serious cross training program to mark the day.  I thought about all those things.  But I will probably be the only person who notes the day to mean anything to me and my running. 

After not clicking publish yesterday on the half written post above.  I stand corrected thanks to the unexpected ringing of my phone today.  I had just gotten back from a 8 and 1/2ish run which was much more challenging than I would have liked such a distance to be.  I was feeling a little defeated and little down about my running, my fitness about what I am trying to do with sharing my silly little running life until that phone call.

The unexpected sharing of a friend's acknowledgement of my day 600 and a reaffirming that I might actually be reaching someone, anyone who happens upon my blog was just the pat on the back I needed.  It never ceases to amaze me that my friend might have thought he was thanking me for helping him get back to running and start his own running streak but his unexpected kind words ended up helping me.   

Thanks to my friend and to everyone who supported and encouraged and followed me down this rabbit hole of running, streaking and ultra running.  No matter how far down you have gone with me, thanks for believing in me and more importantly believing in yourself that you can do these crazy things too!

Who's up for day #601 tomorrow?  I know I am!
How do you plan to use your LAST day of 2011?

Dusting off a few Dreams

I am often finding inspiration and encouragement in unexpected places throughout my days.

Yesterday I received an email from a running friend.  He and his wife are people I admire a lot.  Don't take that last sentence lightly because I do not admire many people.

I find inspiration in others.  I see examples of how to do certain things in others.  I received motivation from people around me but rarely do I admire someone else.

I typically feel that I am capable of similar accomplishments if I were given the same opportunities.

Let's be clear, I do not feel that I would win the Nobel Peace Prize if given the opportunity.  I am talking about people of a certain character who share the same interests that I do.

This friend sent me an email unknowingly at just the right time.

It was filled with positivity and encouragement.

I'll share the final sentence with you.

"So how about your dreams? Dust a few of them off and bring them out in 2011!! This is the year!!!"

As regular readers you will know that I am hopeful to make the leap from 50ks to a 50 miler this year.  I have registered for two trail 50ks in March.  My plan had been to use those two relatively close races as a gauge of my ability to make that leap perhaps in the fall.

This email has created a fire in me that I had lost over the past few months of entrapment.

I have allow other people and their opinions and judgments to direct how I have handled my winter running.

Sometimes it's hard not to do that.

Allow others to influence my behavior.

But after this email I am reminded that not all influences are negative ones.

I have already thanked my friend for the much needed "you got this girl" email.

So I do not type this to thank him again, I don't think he reads anyway.

I do type this so that you, faithful readers will be reminded that you never know what kind of impact you might have on someone by doing just the smallest of kind gestures.

So send that email, make that call, write that thank you, go for that visit, or invite someone to run because you never know just what an impact you might have.