Stuff I'm Learning

running has opened up a whole new world for me. registering for the big race in october has inspired me, motivated me, and scared the crap out of me many many times . but something has changed. instead of freaking out and feeling overwhelmed (though i'm quite sure i'm not completely done with that!) i'm starting to learn a few things, i'm gaining experience, figuring out the right questions, and starting to trust myself more.

some of the best information i ever received regarding foot care was during a weekend backpacking trip with the girl scouts a few years back. it has helped me recognize the warning signs and keep any major problems at bay.

ultrarunner's know a thing or two about foot care and i'm always learning something new from them.

i'm no expert and everybody has to figure out what works best for them but over the past few months i've been making little changes here and there and as my mileage is going up i'm being hyper careful to not let the warning signs go unnoticed.

so far this seems to be working for me.

- keep toenails trimmed
--slather feet with vaseline...in between the toes too!
-carry a few first aide supplies, anti-biotic ointment and duct tape,

hydration has been an ongoing learning process for me. i'm coming to the realization that i can't rely on how i feel. in my various readings (i'd give credit where it's due, buttttt..don't recall) "drink a little allot" instead of a few gulps every 20 minutes or so i've been taking a small sip every 10 minutes.

i'm currently experimenting with socks. thinner socks are recommended for warmer weather but i've tended to go thick. today i'm taking my new shoes on a long run and will have to just see what happens with the lighter socks.

i had been experiencing pain on the top of my foot and determined that i was tieing my shoes too tight ...as evidenced in the ripped out eyelet of the Hurricanes! so i need to take time early on to lace up right and to STOP along the way to readjust as the foot expands.

it's not like i'm racing for time or place i can pullover take care of things and just be smart. i AM my crew and if i don't take care of myself who will?

i bought a pair of gators awhile back, there kinda lame and boring unlike the ones from DirtyGirlGaiters...these are khaki gators from REI and i haven't used them yet. i'm having to pullover and remove small rocks and debris more often as i go longer so today i'll use the REI gators and see how that goes.

nutrition is in need of attention. last night i ate pasta and this morning i ate oatmeal and a banana like i always do before a race...except i haven't been racing much just training so i've been slacking on the pre-race regime. i need to eat more like i'm racing early on and not just the week before. i can't seem to handle too much in the way of solids. i prefer Gu and go back and forth between plain water, gatorade and Gu20. i carry something salty and will munch on solids when i take walk breaks.

sunscreen is tricky. yesterday i ran without a hat and put sunscreen on my face....which was a drag because as i sweated the sunscreen got into my left eye which was annoyingly painful. i was sporting braids that looked funny under my hat.
can't i look good and be well protected. must it always be a compromise???....i know such a dork!

ok, time to hit the trails. lately my runs have felt like homework...in a good way...i sure wish i could get college credit ...wouldn't that be cool!

It's a Beautiful Thing

i didn't mention it but during the hike on wednesday the eyelet on my shoes, montrail hurricanes ripped off. i had to relace and wrap the lace around my ankle, good thing i wear over the ankle socks. i noticed that the other one on the other shoe was starting to go too. today i was able to exchange them for a brand new pair at REI.

i haven't had any complaints up til now with these shoes and chose to stay with them. i will definitely be going through another pair or two between now and october, and i have wanted to try out vasque trail shoes but these are good for now.

life schedule is not cooperating with run schedule and so i only ran 8 miles(a FANTASTIC run to the berkeley marina, all blue and sunny) today. i did hike 14 miles on wednesday, i ran probably 3-4 miles of it but mostly hiked.....that's gotta count for something, no?

the garmin needs updating and since it's a borrowed tool i'm waiting for mia to find the other plug ...however with my B-Day coming up i've made it crystal clear to T what i want ...so i may have my own garmin quite soon. for now i'm just running familiar routes and guesstamating my mileage. as much as i am jonesing not having those numbers on my wrist to keep me informed i'm still happy to be running. how could i not be on a day like today?

Ahh Summer is here!

my hamstrings are still a bit tight from wednesday's killer hike ...Brandy was feeling it big time too. extra food and a massage got me back in her good graces...she's hobbling around a bit but wagging that crazy tail of hers ready for whatever i can dish out....she's a great trail companion.

between yesterday's lunchtime swim (400 yards) and this mornings easy 3 miler i do feel alot better, though as i said i'm tight specifically in the biceps femoris . self massage right on the hot spots seems to be helping.

it wasn't until i got to the pool yesterday that i realized it was the first day of summer and that means this is my final week as a 43 year old. i'm feeling stronger and fitter (even when i'm draging my tired butt back to the car, the fact that i can still play HARD is encouraging) than last year and all i have to say to 44 is:

Bring.It.On.

how do you eat a whale?

one bite at a time.

i need to remind myself of this every so often, especially as i dissect this golden hills route. beautiful, scenic, serene, blah, blah, blah.....this goddamn thing is going to kill me.

at least that's how i felt as i dragged my sorry ass to back to my car this AFTERNOON...mind you i started around 10:00 am and didn't get back to my car until close to 3:00 pm covering only 14 miles people!

today i returned to Redwood to learn miles 11-18 of the route. i brought Brandy along so i would have a good excuse to take it easy. i mostly just wanted to figure out where i got lost last time.

last attempt i missed the Chown turn....today i found it but turned right when i should of gone left. unfortunately for me i covered a fair bit of uphill and had to go around a few fallen trees on the trail before realizing my mistake.

in hindsight, the fallen trees should've tipped me off...but noooooooo, i just hiked around the pile of debris and kept on going probably a good half mile before coming to a marker that made it clear that i had gotten off course...again.

i can say with full confidence that this trail marathon debut of mine is more likely gonna play out like a mini ultra race because I AM DYSLEXIC!!!!

breath, move and focus

as i'm sure was the case in many a household this week, we were BUSY with M's elementary school graduation, Father's Day plans and bouncing from facility to facility at work. i put in the extra effort to squeeze all my runs in for a grand total of 39 miles...woohoo! i'm feeling good about my new running schedule too.


i did yoga this morning....it's been awhile....and oh, how my poor muscles rebelled! still, i found comfort in a few of my favorite poses and lingered there for awhile as the class moved on. i like this particular class alot and now with my long runs getting done on saturday i'll be going on sunday mornings more often.

yesterday's long run of 11 miles wasn't nearly as emotional as last week. seems i'm settling into my skin a little better and not feeling totally sorry for myself. i have alot to be thankful for and it's all right under my nose half the time.

i'm not going lie and say it's all good again and that i'm not a little lonely sometimes when training but i know this " phase" i'm going through has a purpose. as much as i want to connect with other active humans the relationships i need to nuture are closer to home.

it is absolutely gorgeous outside. we're planting pumpkins and sunflowers out in the front yard and basically sprucing things up around here.

Happy Father's Day to all who have assumed those duties ....male or female....and if you haven't already, let that special someone know you love their guts!

Group Run

so, i met up with the wednesday night trail run group finally. the run was at Sibley...a place i know well...no getting lost this time. it was a pretty diverse group as far as age goes but they were all pretty fast (though a few of them cut the run short) it wasn't long before i was left in the dust. a hot and hilly 7 miler that i would never have done alone after work, so it was all good.

incendiary thoughts

i deleted yesterday's post. it was an honest account of how i felt at the time but it's a bit of a downer and i didn't want it around anymore. writing and posting was enough. deleting it feels like taking a match and setting it on fire.

i'm not apologizing or anything i'm just feeling less emotional about things today but because those heavy thoughts accomapanied me every step of that 16 plus mile run yesterday i couldn't post about it without including what was actually going on in my mind.

incremental progress is still progress.