This is my back...

This is my back.

This is my back one week and two days after the Ultra.

This is my back one week and two days after the Ultra without bodyglide, Body Butter or Vaseline.

This is my back one week and two days after the Ultra without bodyglide, Body Butter or Vaseline after 33 miles on the trails.

Don't let this happen to you.

This public service announcement was brought to you by my failing memory, race day nervousness and a seemingly twisted desire to inflict pain upon myself.

Something I didn't forget was to bring along some recovery socks! 

But mine are completely shot.  I need a new pair.

Marcia at running off at the mouth is hosting a Sigvaris Recovery sock giveaway. 

I am all about compression.  This proclamation coming from the former naturalist runner.

I have seen the light and compression is the way to longer distances with less down time.

Head over and visit Marcia who is not really on a runnbatical because she is still running! 

If you know her race schedule you know why.

The Weekend Review - An Extra Hour

This is what happens to play time when I have to wait until after chores to go run.

Everything we do seems to relate to running.

It has even affected the way the kids see me...

pretty good likeness!

If the photos are ever available from the Fire on the Mountain Marathon

you'll get to see that I wore this shirt for the race and looked just about this tired too!

We worked on removing and installing flooring the majority of the day Saturday, finally Hubbs had to get more supplies and I was able to squeeze in a quick 4.33 miles.  After a quick running break it was back to the home improvement projects.  F.U.N. 

LBM says, "No! Me and Daddy!!"

I must say that the finished floor looks and feels 100% better than it did.  It was gross before!  Plus nothing beats the pride of having worked together to do it ourselves.

We enjoyed sleeping in a little and a hearty breakfast before finishing the flooring project Sunday.  Then it was a joint drive towards PA.  After a lunch stop Hubbs and the kiddos detoured for a movie to celebrate S'ghetti girls awesome report card and I continued home. 

I enjoyed a brief bit of solitude while I grabbed a quick barefoot 8 mile run on the treadmill.  My toes are so happy for the break from my shoes.  My toes are feeling so much better!

Day # 183 ~ 3.5 morning miles ~ 27:05

This morning Day # 183 started really cold.  The time change is great in the morning with the increase daylight but I know after work tonight I won't be enjoying it quite as much since it will be dark outside making a stroller run difficult to do.

How do you deal with the time change and loss of evening light?

What all did you squeeze into your extra hour?

Day 180

This is what Day # 180 looks like.

Exhausted and Exhilrated.

I got my foot back into my trail shoes (the only ones that didn't hurt my still slightly swollen toe) and did my normal morning miles....OUTSIDE!

3.5 miles ~ 27:58

It was so great to be outside and I was thrilled to see my pace was back where it should be.

I am still waiting on race photos because of course I didn't take a single one until after I peeled out of my drenched race clothes and huddled around the fire.

BUT

I will hopefully have some photos and insights to share with you soon.

Until then check out these giveaways all at the wonderful

Running Diva Mom!

She is one crazy busy runner mom.

Unless you've been under a rock you all know I have been running everyday without a rest day, 180 to be exact. so I NEEEED to win some compression socks to ease my tired legs! Luckily my Friend Running Diva Mom is hosting a giveaway! head over and tell her I sent you!!

Running Diva Mom is also hosting a Flashbright giveaway. 

Gee I could have used that when we were trick-or-treating!

Running Diva Mom is also hosting a giveaway from Treasured by Holly. 

She has these awesome knit hats!  S'ghetti girl will love them.  I'm afraid my crazy curls won't smash down enough to fit under there.  I'll have to review them to see how sturdy they are.

How she can find to the time to do everything she is doing baffles me!

Have a wonderful weekend.

Three Things Thursday

Day # 178 ~ p.m. run

1.  Sore

It has been 3 days since I was gloriously running through the woods.

The memories are still fresh in my mind...

...and not just because I am reminded with every step.

Yeah, I was sore.

I don't like to admit that.

I typically only have a day or maybe two when my legs are a bit tight and tender after a really long trail event but this race kicked my...well, legs.

(This morning, day four after, my legs are finally feeling normal again.)

2. Barefoot

And one toe.

Usually I'd think only one was great!

But this little bad boy is really hurting.

I can hear Angie's voice telling me that it is all because of the shoes!

So last night I took them off and did my four miles on the treadmill.

It was nice to run without my toe screaming at me.

Barefoot treadmill run - I spared you a clear photo of my boo-boo toe

3. Dragons and talking toys

I was a good girl and only did 4 miles.  The low mileage is driving me crazy but I stopped. 

Today is day # 179 and will be another treadmill run where I can mentally rerun those gorgeous trails as long as the kiddos are entertained by fire breathing dragons or animated talking toys.

I have to do something to offset the amount of food I want to eat and four miles just doesn't feel like it is cutting it!

This just couldn't wait!

Skinny Runner is hosting a SPI belt giveaway.

I NEED this.  3 Ultras and barely a photo.

How better to share my adventures and convert you all to ultra trail runners than to show you all the beauty that is 30+ miles in the forest!

So go over and check it out but if you win you could always just Christmas gift it to me.

okay I'm really not that selfish...only selfish about actual running.

How'd October Go?

Miles Ran: 246.4 (Year total: 2,163.4)

Rest Days Taken: 0 (October 31st was Day # 175 of the streak)

Highest Mileage Week:  10/25 - 10/31 (DM Weeks) 69 miles

Races: 

Fall Foliage 10k ~ Second Female

Fire on the Mountain Marathon ~ Trail 50k ~ Fifth Female

Current Shame-Inducing Guilty Pleasure:  Homemade Rise Krispie Treats

Which Outfit did I Wear the Most:   

What We Are Watching: How to Train Your Dragon

Current Triumph: My 14 minute 50k PR (a 25 second per mile pace improvement)

Current Goal:  Talk hubbs into a December half marathon.

Current Blessing:  I just won entry into the Phildelphia Marathon, anyone wanna run it?

Current Excitement:  Army Son's life choices

Current Concern:  Army Son's life choices

How did your October days add up?

Fire on the Mountain Marathon - Race Report - Part 2

When I left off, we were going to bed.

Sorta.

We were in bed, we just were not sleeping.

LBM decided that he was going to spend the majority of the night attached.  Maybe he sensed that I was going to be away the next day and was trying to get his mommy fix through the night.

Whatever the reason, very very very little sleep was had.

I watched the clock for 4 and then 4:30 a.m.

I heard the wind really blowing outside as I got showered and dressed.  I kept reminding myself that once the sun came up and I was in the woods the lack of sleep, the blowing wind, the nervousness would all no longer matter.

With the rest of the house asleep I said a quick goodbye to Hubbs and left him directions to the finish line just incase he was brave enough to bring the kids to cheer me in and I was off into the darkness.

The drive.
Well, let's just say that Yahoo directions are not always the fastest way to go.  I made it to the finish area in 25 minutes.  Which was good and bad.  I had time to check in, arrange, rearrange and re-rearrange the gear, visit the port-a-potty (which was a nice surprise since I had figured we'd use the woods) and generally get more nervous excited for the start.  I did talk with a number of other runners.
Jimmy - he is a biker.  Mid-40s.  I had never ran more than a 5k and decided the night before that he would "try it."  Great personality.  Funny and upbeat.  A wonderful seat companion for the rather long ride in the trolley bus to the start.
Dave - he is a serious runner.  50, but didn't look it at all.  He has done JFK 9 times.  That's NINE times.  Another great person to share my ride with.  His goal, "to finish."  I think most ultra runners share that laid back mentality.  I love it!
Finally we arrive at the start the sun is coming up and there is an amazing view!
Just enough time for those who need to dash into the woods.
I visit with some local friends; Joel and Darlene.  He is a veteran distance runner and she is attempting her first trail race.  (Although she paced another mutual friend in 50 miles of a 100 miler)
We exchange well wishes and get final instructions then we are off!

The Race.
We start on a state forest road which means dusty and rocky but easy running.
Of course, I go out fast.  I want to keep Kari in sight as long as I can.
Good Luck.
Yeah.  I know it won't last long but I trail her until we hit the single track and then she's gone!
That puts me in fourth.  I will stay there until the "half."
(If you check the website prelim results you will see another female runner with a "half" time of 3:06 BUT we ran into the aid station one right after the other.  She had just passed me as we came up the hill.  But we actually hit the station at 3:20.  And yes this error gripes me! but I won't ask for it to be changed because it doesn't matter in the end BUT it bugs me because it's wrong.)

At the start we were told "get to aid station 2 and it gets easy."  Humm?  The first section was single track trails very technical.  Exterme decents.  I stink royally at decents and it has only gotten worse since the Big Fall.  In several areas the near vertical decent was covered with acorns.  I see runners RUN down some of these sections.  I can not do it.  I climb down.  I run.  I climb some more.
I trail is marked really well.  I have to applaud the DNR for maintaining such a wonderful trail.  After my main "being late" concern, my biggest worry is getting lost.  I had laminated the course directions but I wouldn't have really needed them.  Even with all the fallen leaves I could still find the trail. 
It was beautiful!
I frequently thought about how lucky I was to be doing this!

Somewhere early in the race on a decent I was attempting to pick up my pace and ended up nearly falling off the little mountain goat sized edge of a trail I was on.  I stopped my fall by grabbing a young tree which promptly snapped and threw me against the giant rocks sticking out of the mountain side.  I smashed my wrist but held on.  This wouldn't really hurt until the day after.

The Aid Stations.
I didn't stop at the first aid station.  I ran through but exchanged a few words with the volunteers.  It is amazing how much hearing different voices can lift your spirits.
By the second aid station and the thrashing my quads had already taken I quickly walked the second aid station.  I had packed Gu and my own supplies fearing that there wouldn't be great support but I was wrong.  There was water, gatorade, Gus, soda, bananas, chips, boiled potatoes, salt, pbjs, M&Ms, pretzels...
I took an extra Gu, ate a third of a banana and drank some water. 
At this point I had fallen in with a small group of runners.  One of which knew my ultra running friends (Rande and Kari), Joe.  Joe's wife had been the RD for the skirt chaser 10 miler I ran in the spring.  He was wonderful company since I often end up running alone.  However, I did not allow Joe to nagivate the trail for me.  Luckily his pace was a bit slower than mine so I took the lead.  At least I learned one lesson in the 2 other Ultras;
been your own guide!  If you get lost it's your fault not someone else's.
Joe and I chatted about running, the course, other runners.  We drifted apart in pace.  I was on my own again.  This would be the only serious moment of indecison about the trail.
We were told for the first "half" to follow the Red trail.  Easy, right?
There were sections where orange tape had been hung to assist us in following the correct path.
As I ran along a creek bed following the Red trail, I noticed a piece of orange tape off to my right.  The Red trail clearly went left and entered the creek bed, crossed over and continued.  So that's what I did.  Then I had doubts.  I didn't hear anyone coming and Joe should still be behind me.
I doubled back.  I waited.  I heard runners.  I waited.
Joe catches up.  He agrees that I was correct in following the Red trail.  We continue. 
Waste time.  Ugh!
The third aid station is unmanned.  Water only.  I don't stop.

When Nature Calls.
Before the third aid station I had pulled ahead of Joe again I knew I had created a bit of a lead and I HAD to pee.  I had taken 3 GUs and drank about 20oz of fluids.  The greatest thing happend.  There was a little open fronted cabin that DNR had built to house trail/forest information.  It made a great place to cop a squat behind!  Why tell you this?  Because I am not so much writting this for you as I am for me.  I want to remember what I did to create the results I had on this course.  Next year I'll look back and plan my race armed with a ton of information that I didn't have the first time out!
We'll visit this topic again later.

Half Way.
After the nature call and the third aid station, I was running everything but the steepest hills/decents.  The trail had gotten rocky and the footing was tricky but the majority of the trail was runable.
To reach the "Oasis" aid station; which was also the hand off for the 2 person relay, we had to climb another steep hill this is where the one and only female runner would pass me.  I'd never see her again.
I lingered at this station.  I filled my camelbak.  I ate potatoes and chips.  I took 2 tylenol.  I talked with the volunteers.  (There was a super nice young lady at this station and she was at other stations too.  She was so great.  She gave me chocolate covered coffee beans! Yum)  I had to "let" that other female runner go.  Joe had previously told me that there was another female runner who had had been running with but she had surprisingly fell behind.  She is an ultra rock star, I guess.  I didn't get to meet her.  I knew that she would negative split this race like nobody's business and I could not afford to mentally lose it by attempting to "keep up" with her.
So bye-bye a few minutes while she ran outta sight with Joe.

The Fast Section.
The next 7.4 miles were mostly on State Forest trail roads/paths.  They sucked.  BUT.  I was still in the woods.  I was still breathing in that great smell.  I was flying!  (9:35 pace)  My legs were already hurting due to the lack of trail training but if there is one thing I am great at it is putting
One Foot In Front Of The Other.
Whether it hurts or not give me a path and I can keep going.
So for the majority of this section I cruised along.  I caught Joe.  I passed Joe.  I hit the 5th aid station.  I only had one aid station to go.  I had been taking one GU between most aid stations.  So I only grabbed a piece of boiled potato, a drink of soda and a handful of chips and was off.
The course was on the State Forest road/path for a little while.  This became a bit of a mental challenge as did the return of some serious hills.  This early section after aid station 5 was the most mentally challenging for me.  I was alone, tired, sore and ready to be done already!
I just wanted to walk.
Yes, that's right.  Walk.
But if you've followed me long you know that Shelly doesn't walk on the road and this dirty rocky path was close enough to a road that I just couldn't walk.  I told myself that I would run everything but serious hills since my pace was actually faster walking then anyway.  Before I knew it I was back into the woods on a mountain bike trail. 

Mountain Bike Trails.
Let me just say this, mountain bikers want completely different things out of a trail than runners want.  I was thrilled to be back in amoung the trees but I ended up running on the "shoulder" of this trail more than in the trail it's self. 

Natures Calling.
(Didn't I already talk with you?)
So yeah.  There is a really big tree out there in the Green Ridge Forest that totally thinks I'm gonna call because you can't show that much of yourself to another living thing and not!  just saying.
I also left my splits and trail notes at that tree.  Opps.  I didn't realize it until I noticed I wasn't getting rubbed to death by the map which I had tried to tuck between my capris and shorts.
During this beautiful trail section I was, you guessed it, alone.  It really was amazingly pretty.  It was so quiet. 

Praying.
 I did a lot of praying during the race.
A lot.
It started right away.
I prayed for many.  Too many to list.
But I do want to say that I prayed for Jen.  I wish I had noticed the times when I did because I would have loved to know how she was doing then.  BTW she did great in her marathon!
I also needed some prayers while I was running.  There isn't another way to make it through these events without Him with you.  I know that my body doesn't have the energy to accomplish these things.  I felt so filled while I was running.  It's hard to explain.  Maybe if I ran with others during a race I wouldn't feel it as much.  It is something that seems to happen when I really feel like I just can't keep going...but I do.

The Sixth Aid Station.
Champ.
I met a really nice guy.  He was sitting at the sixth aid station but heard me coming.  I was praying out loud.  (yeah, I'm a weirdo)
He stood up.  He asked me before I was even there what he could get for me.  I stopped.  We talked.  He was so encouraging.  Such an upbeat positive person.  I am so glad I met him.  I doubt he will think twice of the lone salt covered pigtailed runner but I will think of him.  There are people who cross our paths that are put there for a reason and I think he and his kind words was one of those people for me.
Though you'll never read this, Thanks Champ!
His final words to me, "...you've only got about 5 miles!"

The Final Aid Station
aka the finish line!
I ran this race aid station to aid station to help mentally break it up.  It worked.  The final section was glorious!  I was flying as fast as my 26ish miles tired legs would take me at first.  The trails weaved in and out of the woods crossing several roads only to reentry the woods again.  The final sections of the race crossed many many creeks.  If the weather had been wetter there would have been NO avoiding the water.  Luckily I had been able to navigate all the crossing without getting wet. 
(This was a plus because my drop bag was not at the Oasis station for me to change my shoes had they been wet.) 
My old sad garmin had a terrible time keeping my mileage amoungst the trees so I didn't know how much farther I had to go until I came upon a group of walkers coming up the trail.  They said less than a mile to go.  If you ever have occasion to be back tracking a race, please don't ever tell a runner how far they have.  Say something else.  Say something encouraging.  Say something vague about the distance like, not far now!  Because that was the longest "less than a mile" I have ever run!

The Bonfire.
And then I was through the trees and back to the parking area and was handed a piece of wood and told to run around the tree line and back to the bonfire to toss my wood into the fire and end my race.
I could have cried.  The earlier finishers were cheering and the fire smelled wonderful.  But no family.  I reminded myself that I do this for me.  It's about my journey and showing my family that they can do anything they want by setting an example not by making them runners or even lovers of the sport of running.
So I ran along the trees taking it all in knowing that again that I had set a goal for myself and God had allowed me to experince His amazing world and the amazing abilities of my body as I exceeded those goals.

I tossed my wood into the fire.  I watched sparks lift into the air and I thought,
"I am so far from being done!"

I can't wait to see what I get to do next.

Fire on the Mountain Marathon 2010 - Race Report - Part 1

The day before.

Saturday dawned with a long list of things to do including all my race prep because I seem to love to wait until the last minute to get things organized.  However, it wasn't going to be a problem since Hubbs was not going to be home until Saturday afternoon so I had all day with the kids to get it all ready.

After an early morning run - yeah, of course I ran the day before my race, don't you? - I made the kids breakfast, did laundry, cleaned the bathroom, and washed dishes so that we could hit the road and run recon on my route for the early morning hours before the race.

Armed with my Yahoo directions, we headed south.  Forty-five minutes later we found our way to the beautiful Green Ridge State Forest and the parking area that would babysit my car while I ran and play host to the finish line.  After a quick call to my ultra running friends Rande and Kari, I found out that I could get my race packet at the Forest Headquarters just down the road. 

Score!

This would save me valuable time in the morning just incase I was running late.

After a few turns we got the the headquarters about 45 minutes early for packet pickup.  Oh well, the kids and I enjoyed a bit of the State Forest while we waited. 

Preview of my race day shirt.  (I'll actually had changed before snapping the photo for yesterday's "I'm done" post)

Yes, S'ghetti girl wears pearls to a State Forest.

Great view.

LBM does not like bright sunlight in his eyes either.

 In no time I had my packet, my kids had enjoyed the woods and I was able to get my race tee which I had been too cheap neglected to purchased at registration time.  I love it!

We headed home.  Attempting to backtrack my route I ended up taking a parallel road.  I took note that I returned to my orginal road after a different state forest sign.  I made it home in less than 30 minutes. 

The remainer of my afternoon was spent playing with the kids while hubbs and his brother worked on the tree stand.  I filled my camelbak, tried on and laid out my clothes, pinned bib and baggies, filled drop bag, loaded car, and generally got as prepared as you can when you are freaking out nervous really anixous for a race.

Our evening was filled with sugary fun!  Our little gang of kiddos piled in the car and off we went for trick-or-treating.  Talk about not staying off my feet.

All the fun did help take my mind of my nervousness a little bit.

And if that hasn't been enough of a distraction there is always John B.'s adult trick-or-treat stand!

Don't worry trail running make me happy enough I didn't indulge.

After all that fun we headed home and

then we went to bed.

Sorta.

to be continued....