tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-79184724906582037672024-03-05T03:33:45.067-08:00Mom to MarathonA Mom, a Runner, a Coach. This blog talks about everything that comes with balancing fitness and motherhood.Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03902589811626771148noreply@blogger.comBlogger429125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7918472490658203767.post-13709111648682429252012-09-13T06:36:00.000-07:002012-09-13T06:36:15.103-07:00In case you hadn't heard: my blog has MOVED<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Since launching my new blog, I have received four new followers HERE. Sigh. Please follow me at my new site at <a href="http://mom2marathon.com/blog/">Mom2marathon.com</a>. I love that you follow me here, but it is going to be very lonely and boring over here. Good things are happening at <a href="http://mom2marathon.com/">Mom2marathon.com</a>. You'll see!Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03902589811626771148noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7918472490658203767.post-12825141458072146232012-08-31T09:11:00.001-07:002012-08-31T09:11:17.929-07:00Even more changes!! **BLOG RELAUNCH**<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yippee!!</td></tr>
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We changed states, the kids changed schools. Heck...we changed our life. I suppose it makes sense that my blog and website would change as well.<div>
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We are settled in Fort Collins, Colorado and it is time for me to start thinking about starting my business again. This website will be a key part of building that business. My business website has been sitting idle for a year. I paid for a domain name and used the free drag-and-drop software to create a boring website. Then I met Jaime from <a href="http://fitwithflair.com/" target="_blank">Fit With Flair</a>, who specializes in creating websites for fitness professionals.<div>
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She did a great job! I trust her recommendations as she has helped many women build their businesses. I am now on track to help women change their fitness! One of her biggest recommendations was to move my blog from Blogger to my site as an integral part of my business. That means making the move to <a href="http://wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Wordpress</a>.</div>
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I am not as scared of this move as I used to be. I write on a Wordpress platform for The RUNiverse, so I am used to the interface. My blog has been pretty stagnant this summer with sporadic posts, very few comments and no new followers. It needed some new life anyway.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So...[drum roll, please] Mom to Marathon is now at <a href="http://mom2marathon.com/"><b><span style="color: magenta;">Mom2marathon.com.</span></b> </a> The blog is at <a href="http://mom2marathon.com/blog">Mom2marathon.com/blog</a>/ Come check it out! Please sign up for the RSS feed <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/Mom2Marathon" style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">HERE</a><b style="color: red;"> </b>so you don't miss anything!</span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta;"><b>And...of course, Happy Running!</b></span></div>
Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03902589811626771148noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7918472490658203767.post-40719853619939207572012-08-28T20:28:00.000-07:002012-08-28T20:28:01.266-07:00Reebok Crossfit: my first WODAfter the <a href="http://lisasepiphany.blogspot.com/2012/08/warrior-dash-race-report.html" target="_blank">Warrior Dash</a>, I was able to participate in a Crossfit WOD (workout of the day). I was there to enjoy that great day thanks to <a href="http://www.reebok.com/en-US/blocks/campaign/us/homepage/" target="_blank">Reebok</a> and their <a href="http://www.reebokcrossfitone.com/" target="_blank">Crossfit Box</a>.<br />
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I changed into a dry shirt (my race shirt from the Warrior Dash which is one of the best race shirts ever!), but still had on my muddy shorts. I still had mud on my hat and in my pig tails. The best part of my post-race outfit was my new pair of <a href="http://www.reebok.com/en-US/products-fw12/fitness/women/footwear/realflex-train-iirealflex-fusion-tr/zinc-grey-dynamic-pink-white/?d=womens" target="_blank">Reeboks</a>! I was so thankful for these, since I donated my incredibly muddy shoes (this was their second mud run).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPXiRhLQ1vmdd3s7BD3MZjGpQinXrOadQVjxpOrHxwtmHL4X86nIEr8wXTVJS3FxGZMHksQiv4I0DphsBtcHuABIBiYPoHYK-NWN9Yt2Pc1Hm9bWKHCtsaRvmhTveK5kvDbf9dJCmsKfAW/s1600/reeboks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPXiRhLQ1vmdd3s7BD3MZjGpQinXrOadQVjxpOrHxwtmHL4X86nIEr8wXTVJS3FxGZMHksQiv4I0DphsBtcHuABIBiYPoHYK-NWN9Yt2Pc1Hm9bWKHCtsaRvmhTveK5kvDbf9dJCmsKfAW/s400/reeboks.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
And look how <span style="color: magenta;">PRETTY</span> they are!! I squealed like a little girl when I opened the box. Chris, from Reebok, must have thought I was crazy. I don't think he appreciated the pretty pink color as much as I did.<br />
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I was really nervous about the WOD. I have seen Crossfit workouts, I know people (<i>strong</i> people) who do Crossfit workouts...and my fitness has suffered a bit this summer. My legs are fine from running, but I have really ignored my upper body these past few months. I am a fitness professional (albeit on a bit of a leave of absence) and it would be embarrassing if I couldn't complete the workout.<br />
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The workout ended up being pretty straight forward. After getting a brief rundown of the exercises [kettlebell swing, air squats, sit ups and push ups], I began.<br />
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I felt good with the kettlebell swings. In retrospect, I should have gone with the bigger bell. Being nervous, I accepted the smallest bell for the workout. I have a couple kettlebells...I need to dig them out and start using them again!)<br />
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The air squats were no problem. I must have been doing them fast because Elena from Reebok couldn't catch me in the bottom position. ;-) Trust me, I got my booty down below parallel!<br />
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I was nervous about the sit ups, since I haven't done much core work lately, but I knocked them out. Check out those feet...they stayed flat on the ground!<br />
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It was the push ups that I struggled with. The first set of ten was fine. By the time I hit the third round, I was struggling. I felt the after-effects of the push ups the next few days!<br />
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It was the perfect workout. After running 3.2 hard <a href="http://www.warriordash.com/" target="_blank">Warrior </a>miles, I am not sure how long of a workout I could have done. This workout lasted 3:54 minutes. I had hoped for a little better time. The best of the day was 2:16. The cool thing about this kind of workout is that I can do it at home. I will do it again and improve that time!<br />
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It was a great end to a great race experience. And all this before noon!! I definitely felt like a warrior!!<br />
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I spent the rest of the day enjoying the gorgeous Rocky Mountains with my family.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Thanks, Reebok for the opportunity for such a great weekend. I felt like I was able to really #getafterit!!</span><br />
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<br />Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03902589811626771148noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7918472490658203767.post-60347580429465662732012-08-27T09:43:00.001-07:002012-08-27T15:40:53.045-07:00Warrior Dash Race ReportI was lucky enough to get the opportunity to run the <a href="http://www.warriordash.com/register2012_colorado.php#" target="_blank">Warrior Dash</a> as a guest of <a href="http://www.reebok.com/en-US/blocks/campaign/us/homepage/" target="_blank">Reebok</a> last weekend. I have always wanted to run the Warrior Dash. If you have read my blog for a while, you know that I am a fan of mud and obstacle runs.* The big difference here was that I was going to run the Warrior Dash by myself. I have never run a race like this by myself. I have run every mud run with at least one other person. I was a little nervous about this one.<br />
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The race was a couple of hours from our house, so we decided to stay close. We found a campground close to Copper Mountain and experienced more of Colorado. I am glad the race was only three miles. Between the high altitude (well over 9000 feet) and the hard, lumpy ground, I didn’t get a lot of sleep.<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-l5gYeOACWfI/UDui03cySqI/AAAAAAAAHVo/29eYPcRmsk8/s1600-h/DSCF1177%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Camping in Colorado" border="0" height="253" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-SA3VTZ6qT_g/UDui1od0p8I/AAAAAAAAHVw/MPdgF9r3P7k/DSCF1177_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Dillion Reservoir Camping" width="336" /></a><br />
<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-bEvMLgdndd4/UDui2sJWsbI/AAAAAAAAHV4/qSUUck2XpoI/s1600-h/DSCF1176%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Camping in Colorado" border="0" height="256" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-_EjiXyjwlyk/UDui3y1nxqI/AAAAAAAAHWA/P6I5a3UzfFY/DSCF1176_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Dillion Reservoir, Frisco, Colorado" width="339" /></a><br />
The plan was to have my family come up to the race and enjoy the festivities, but getting kids up and at ‘em early was a bit of a challenge. I left my husband and kids with the bikes and drove to Copper Mountain.<br />
I forgot all my nervousness once I got to the race festivities. I met Chris, from Reebok, and started getting excited. I was not only looking forward to the race, but doing a Crossfit WOD afterward with the Reebok folks (post to come soon).<br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ZbBaCs1B7ck/UDui4k1D9vI/AAAAAAAAHWI/t3XditRvbvU/s1600-h/IMAG2039%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Ready to go before the Warrior Dash" border="0" height="450" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-PDDlk2KkR2c/UDui5TPywDI/AAAAAAAAHWQ/r7-mqSjBh3o/IMAG2039_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Warrior Dash!" width="272" /></a><br />
I was ready to go!<br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-I40-lRwp2Og/UDui6SdwY_I/AAAAAAAAHWY/yeU87fmo4bM/s1600-h/before%252520Warrior%252520Dash%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img alt="before Warrior Dash" border="0" height="462" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-mlq-3USx8hU/UDui69GtdbI/AAAAAAAAHWg/ew0l68oE3N4/before%252520Warrior%252520Dash_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="before Warrior Dash" width="293" /></a><br />
With lots of cheers, we were off!<br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-3WpFVlESWig/UDui77IcOdI/AAAAAAAAHWo/XhiBFmLgTaY/s1600-h/warrior%252520start%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img alt="warrior start" border="0" height="227" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-htJo46MWxCE/UDui8fGOaWI/AAAAAAAAHWw/fVXIj7DOdqU/warrior%252520start_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Warrior Dash Colorado starting line" width="350" /></a><br />
Since I was by myself, I decided to just chat with runners along the way and make friends. These kinds of races are great because everyone is there to have FUN.<br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-HJDY3naRaDc/UDui9t4F81I/AAAAAAAAHW4/PBzkaNq_HzU/s1600-h/DSCF1195%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img alt="running the Warrior Dash!" border="0" height="262" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-eIk67fmwrsk/UDui-Ut-IZI/AAAAAAAAHXA/YW8nuMwhrJM/DSCF1195_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Warrior Dash Colorado" width="349" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Ak0rsBuxhaI/UDui_ey5nHI/AAAAAAAAHXI/jzGu_T_KwLA/s1600-h/DSCF1197%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="265" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ltdYPW0S3qc/UDujAG5LyDI/AAAAAAAAHXQ/UZEpQQZvDGU/DSCF1197_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Fun Runners at the Warrior Dash" width="352" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-2UZQVSmiA-Q/UDujAypklUI/AAAAAAAAHXY/pT9nlDLNUZs/s1600-h/kid%252520in%252520tutu%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img alt="kid in tutu during Warrior Dash Colorado" border="0" height="402" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/----Ur7A-KSI/UDujBrZvmnI/AAAAAAAAHXg/-nDSo8XokSo/kid%252520in%252520tutu_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="kid in tutu" width="302" /></a><br />
The start of this race was at 9700 feet in elevation. When I started, I felt pretty good, but as we started to climb, I felt the affects of thinner air. We went up a steep hill early in the race and someone said, as we crested the hill, “that just wiped the city out of us!” The altitude was being felt by everyone.<br />
We literally run <em>up </em>a ski run. Running uphill is more like power hiking uphill when you are near 10,000 feet in elevation.<br />
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Running up the hill, trying to breathe…</div>
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-_Bv3x1K67GU/UDujDM0smGI/AAAAAAAAHXw/HssHwT8ynYs/s1600-h/steep%252520run%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="steep run during Warrior Dash Colorado" border="0" height="237" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-0XI8OXR3vlM/UDujFnitqdI/AAAAAAAAHX4/U4196hrDrXg/steep%252520run_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Warrior Dash" width="315" /></a><br />
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If you have never done a Warrior Dash, what makes it fun is the various obstacles. <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-8CiCL5Q8yq4/UDujGtdPU6I/AAAAAAAAHYA/VC-beVwpBrw/s1600-h/obstacle%252520ahead%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="obstacle ahead, Warrior Dash Colorado" border="0" height="273" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Rx7vI_AdoZA/UDujHY1Iw7I/AAAAAAAAHYI/oQhBacAZG5Q/obstacle%252520ahead_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="obstacle ahead" width="310" /></a><br />
Luckily, the obstacles were pretty tame. I expected the worst, but I was able to do them all. <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-vkRhxAsgKyQ/UDujIKzo2uI/AAAAAAAAHYQ/ZYGQxCjeNHo/s1600-h/balance%252520obstacle%2525202%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="balance obstacle Warrior Dash" border="0" height="231" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-vAJV8BQafFU/UDujIwiUFOI/AAAAAAAAHYY/QkdaugDpK1k/balance%252520obstacle%2525202_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="balance obstacle 2" width="307" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-I2v62q1Sxa4/UDujJ9158jI/AAAAAAAAHYg/mqHpNcARwNY/s1600-h/DSCF1226%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="rope obstacle Warrior Dash" border="0" height="230" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-13JfN_jpliE/UDujKp18cDI/AAAAAAAAHYo/cUIDHlNKhzM/DSCF1226_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="rope obstacle" width="306" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-TEq-62f2Ksg/UDujLwlv4vI/AAAAAAAAHYw/UpGj5j7rlUA/s1600-h/rope%252520obstacle%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="rope obstacle looking down" border="0" height="233" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-GyGUUcQ78ik/UDujM4SKrVI/AAAAAAAAHY4/75eN7GuCdj4/rope%252520obstacle_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="rope obstacle" width="309" /></a><br />
Most mud runs/obstacle races have tubes to crawl through. However, few of them were as tight as the one in this race. The <em>only</em> way I could get through was to pull myself through with my forearms. I scraped my knee up a bit. There was no duck walking through this obstacle.<br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-T8MAMobiU28/UDujOMx1RfI/AAAAAAAAHZA/xldOfETwOiU/s1600-h/DSCF1220%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="tunnel obstacle Warrior Dash" border="0" height="235" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-7doIqIyf51k/UDujPOdyp4I/AAAAAAAAHZI/nduLZBXEgW8/DSCF1220_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="tunnel obstacle" width="312" /></a><br />
In fact, I wondered if my brother would have been able to make it through at all. This picture is my brother during the Camp Pendleton Mud Run earlier this summer after squeezing through a full tube.<br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-xTBOTlE3kek/UDujQDDlpLI/AAAAAAAAHZQ/TM2QNJMV7jc/s1600-h/DSCF0559%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Mud Run pic" border="0" height="242" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-s7-677d0yiY/UDujQ5xgYVI/AAAAAAAAHZY/PNbXC1VM4yg/DSCF0559_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Jason at Camp Pendleton" width="321" /></a><br />
One of the obstacles made some runners nervous. I wasn’t nervous. I have run/jumped over fire in other races. Heck, I have done it in a muddy wedding dress!<br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-whZNnC9bgvA/UDujS0iS4HI/AAAAAAAAHZg/EVNJdl3ImEM/s1600-h/fire%252520ahead%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="fire ahead Warror Dash" border="0" height="228" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-u7JrArQdG5k/UDujTpGfr9I/AAAAAAAAHZo/QnHpMD_DTrQ/fire%252520ahead_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="fire ahead" width="342" /></a><br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-DDspHtBCTGs/UDujUxtAuGI/AAAAAAAAHZw/siC6t33VKBU/s1600-h/DSCF1208%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img alt="fire obstacle Warrior Dash" border="0" height="251" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-KF4M_KK8hVE/UDujVeF7e5I/AAAAAAAAHZ4/_enF5gTtbGs/DSCF1208_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="fire obstacle" width="356" /></a><br />
Even though I have done run over fire before, I still let out a squeal.<br />
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Leaping over fire…</div>
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There were signs throughout the race to inspire and/or make us laugh.<br />
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Jd3QkEwEH8s/UDujXyZXxZI/AAAAAAAAHaI/iGkg9ZSSU54/s1600-h/cried%252520sign%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="cried sign" border="0" height="246" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-qIO1whk5z8Y/UDujYiM7xeI/AAAAAAAAHaQ/pNq94nn8EdM/cried%252520sign_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="cried sign" width="326" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-RUPNHltjs18/UDujZm8Mw5I/AAAAAAAAHaY/tV9SBzxgkfo/s1600-h/gym%252520teacher%252520sign%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="gym teacher sign" border="0" height="284" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-CTUqaEi7Zlk/UDujbedGv2I/AAAAAAAAHag/x_2yv6mjdhE/gym%252520teacher%252520sign_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="gym teacher sign" width="330" /></a><br />
<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-dG-kAiHfuxg/UDujc5z1ChI/AAAAAAAAHao/pCN0EPLyqko/s1600-h/DSCF1213%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="DSCF1213" border="0" height="253" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-v2B1Hn58Yg8/UDujdcbBHPI/AAAAAAAAHaw/rZXktVr1YVA/DSCF1213_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="DSCF1213" width="336" /></a><br />
That last sign really made me smile. My husband runs the Accounting department at his company. His screen name for his work Skype is “Kenny from Accounting.” LOL.<br />
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The last obstacle was the mud. I am a bit of a mud connoisseur and this mud pit was one of the best. It was like pea soup mud. It was liquid and coated <em>everything.</em><br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-NAr5tAaGtl0/UDujfMFfLSI/AAAAAAAAHa4/vpNFz9RGxDY/s1600-h/DSCF1231%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="DSCF1231" border="0" height="258" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-eVLkEg7OWMY/UDujf9ifnRI/AAAAAAAAHbA/mpPt3pjC3wA/DSCF1231_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Warrior Dash mud pit" width="343" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-RlWuC0_9x-A/UDujhIFQycI/AAAAAAAAHbI/BnD-Usq1G6M/s1600-h/DSCF1232%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="DSCF1232" border="0" height="260" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-z8PPOP6_s10/UDujjKWICAI/AAAAAAAAHbQ/LhgEaxcrUxA/DSCF1232_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="DSCF1232" width="346" /></a><br />
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I turned on the video camera as I got into the pit [it might make you a little dizzy]. At some point I decided that I needed both hands to make it through the pit. I put the camera in my mouth. I thought about cutting that part out, but I like the comments made by others. Just ignore my heavy breathing.<br />
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soupy mud at the Warrior Dash</div>
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-qg7-xoBcG50/UDujkMdaAUI/AAAAAAAAHbg/2wjOHSsLo68/s1600-h/DSCF1238%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img alt=" " border="0" height="398" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-hbEdvwh93PM/UDujk5f7cwI/AAAAAAAAHbo/OHj4sYNnnMc/DSCF1238_thumb%25255B10%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Warror Dash after photo" width="332" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Hd5rHTq442A/UDujlsu-dpI/AAAAAAAAHbw/QIfECYB-Kmw/s1600-h/DSCF1239%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img alt="DSCF1239" border="0" height="251" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ocnFGSzQnzY/UDujmKZoLkI/AAAAAAAAHb4/97C2F7QHNvg/DSCF1239_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="DSCF1239" width="333" /></a><br />
My camera was covered in mud. I cleared off the lens a bit, but the rest was covered. I got another runner to take an “after” picture of me, but she couldn’t see if it clicked a picture and *sigh* it didn’t.<br />
I usually skip the showers. The lines are long and the water is cold. However, I have never been quite this muddy at the end of a race. Luckily, the lines weren’t super long and the water was actually warm!<br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-f1TMO-93cAA/UDujnOQ1y9I/AAAAAAAAHcA/AbR4b-VAueY/s1600-h/DSCF1240%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Warrior Dash showers" border="0" height="255" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-u0jlj8yPQNI/UDujnuKIIfI/AAAAAAAAHcI/VrBC_scrlpA/DSCF1240_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Warrior Dash showers" width="339" /></a><br />
After rinsing off, I headed back to the<a href="http://www.reebokcrossfitone.com/" target="_blank"> Reebok Crossfit </a>Box, where I had left my bag, to put on some clothes. I was excited to do a Crossfit WOD.<br />
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Stay tuned for my report on my very first Crossfit experience!<br />
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Happy Running…<br />
<br />
*see my posts on<a href="http://lisasepiphany.blogspot.com/2011/05/gladiator-rock-n-run-not-your-typical.html" target="_blank"> Gladiator</a> <a href="http://lisasepiphany.blogspot.com/2010/12/gladiator-rock-n-run-race-reporta-muddy.html" target="_blank">Run</a>, <a href="http://lisasepiphany.blogspot.com/2011/06/world-famous-camp-pendleton-mud-run.html" target="_blank">Camp Pendleton</a> <a href="http://lisasepiphany.blogspot.com/2010/06/muddy-race-reportfinally.html" target="_blank">Mud Run</a> etc.Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03902589811626771148noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7918472490658203767.post-33160606441671820922012-08-14T07:28:00.001-07:002012-08-14T07:28:20.454-07:00Marathon Training: 6 weeks to go and clicking off the miles<p>I am signed up for the inaugural <a href="http://www.bigcottonwoodmarathon.com/" target="_blank">Big Cottonwood Marathon</a> on September 22. Signing up was a big leap of faith as I didn’t really start training until early July, giving me less than three months of training. Add to that the adjustment to the altitude here and scheduling issues and I have really been feeling behind the eight-ball.</p> <p>I have muddled through my runs. I ran 14 miles twice, feeling tired and slow. I struggled through 16 miles twice. My training pace is SO much slower than any training I have done, including my very first marathon. </p> <p>My training plan is been all over the place. I was supposed to get 16 miles in and we took a family camping trip where family time outranked my run. I was supposed to do an 18 miler and my husband went out of town for his annual guys trip. It has been all about adjustment, tweaking and getting the runs in when I can.</p> <p>My eighteen mile run this weekend was the first time I felt somewhat normal. My pace stayed closer to 10 minute miles (although not under like I would like). That run also marked the end of my first 40+ mile week in this cycle. I actually felt like I might be on track for a marathon in six weeks.</p> <p>I am going to continue to plug away. I will increase my mileage to hopefully peak over 50 miles. I will attend track workouts and I’m considering a monster hill climb that the local trail group does every other week.</p> <p>I will be able to run a marathon. I know this. However, the big question mark is how fast can I run it. My sporadic training and acclimatization makes it unlikely that I will see a PR. Hopefully, I can fine tune my goal over the next several weeks.</p> <p>The good news is that Fort Collins is a wonderful place to run [see previous long run pictures <a href="http://lisasepiphany.blogspot.com/2012/07/solo-long-runs-are-tough-but-doable.html"><strong>HERE</strong></a>]. So far I have run miles and miles right out my front door. I am dying to try the miles and miles of trails in the front range a short drive away, but haven’t felt confident enough yet to go out on the trails alone.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-rYu72M6-aj8/UCpgZzo8dCI/AAAAAAAAGw4/l0C62fbJYYc/s1600-h/IMAG1914%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMAG1914" border="0" alt="IMAG1914" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-NbHHvLFiax4/UCpgaQyMlfI/AAAAAAAAGxA/ifebTBY4M68/IMAG1914_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="378" height="228"></a></p> <p>And there is something about the clouds here. They seem so much more interesting.</p> <p>There is plenty of variety in the scenery as well. As I get off road, it is only going to get better. <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-bCVBAfKz4Xc/UCpgcHvp3CI/AAAAAAAAGxI/5gh1Pd-8Trk/s1600-h/IMAG1920%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMAG1920" border="0" alt="IMAG1920" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-qSXd9bkNnv8/UCpgcpEZBgI/AAAAAAAAGxQ/LIS6vthOba0/IMAG1920_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="372" height="225"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-6u_gqrAd-eo/UCpgdQ90y9I/AAAAAAAAGxY/50VWN3ETZDY/s1600-h/IMAG1976%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMAG1976" border="0" alt="IMAG1976" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-jS_0MQYHP84/UCpgd0hgGwI/AAAAAAAAGxg/34eHNxbfK0A/IMAG1976_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="219" height="363"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-dta3euMdMz0/UCpgeme7PWI/AAAAAAAAGxo/ubVqEmpLGCk/s1600-h/IMAG1872%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMAG1872" border="0" alt="IMAG1872" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Ocq16FrdmQY/UCpgfL_RL2I/AAAAAAAAGxw/a6AXV5PNwyU/IMAG1872_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="218" height="361"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-DQikWGa-NFY/UCpggftOCtI/AAAAAAAAGx4/HLHxI2JlrBU/s1600-h/IMAG1875%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMAG1875" border="0" alt="IMAG1875" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-3fiY0cf7pxM/UCpgg3WAfEI/AAAAAAAAGyA/z27UhiIMKiQ/IMAG1875_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="374" height="226"></a></p> <p>Happy Running….</p> Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03902589811626771148noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7918472490658203767.post-36822862422413393132012-08-03T17:20:00.002-07:002012-08-03T17:20:56.222-07:00Color Me RadThis race looks like so much fun!
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/F0f1N_uU7uc" width="560"></iframe><br />
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I have thought for a while that a run full of color would be perfect to do with my kids.<br />
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Have you ever run a color race?? Are they as fun as they look?Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03902589811626771148noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7918472490658203767.post-56277300525666898252012-08-02T09:21:00.002-07:002012-08-02T15:23:32.515-07:00Common Ground<div style="text-align: left;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZmjz5U1Zjty-yCynbAWzocVtV2kDBPQTm3uzXSBDwpzCtVbYt4ycLe_hrlT6_jmJQqz9y35o655m6gz7iWKhHSwxv5VahdXmX4lVnQH_4EjY5hqi3s4gN6kSQp7p_APoFJTMyksyDDuRT/s1600/Anaheim+Hills+running+group.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/AVvXsEhZmjz5U1Zjty-yCynbAWzocVtV2kDBPQTm3uzXSBDwpzCtVbYt4ycLe_hrlT6_jmJQqz9y35o655m6gz7iWKhHSwxv5VahdXmX4lVnQH_4EjY5hqi3s4gN6kSQp7p_APoFJTMyksyDDuRT/s320/Anaheim+Hills+running+group.jpg" width="308" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My running friends from my old neighborhood</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Running is a nearly universal language. It breaks the ice and brings people together. If two strangers are runners, they can usually find something to talk about. Being a running mother gives us even more in common.<br />
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This past weekend I found this to be true. Twice.<br />
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We went camping with a group from Fort Collins and spent all day Saturday on a pontoon boat out on a lake. I was the newbie of the group and I spent a lot of time getting to know everyone. One of the women approached me and said, "I hear you are a runner." We got to talking (and talked on and off most of the day) and I found out that she runs half marathons. I did a little happy dance inside. Perhaps a new long run partner? I practically begged her to invite me along to a long run. I cyber-stalked her and found her on Facebook and I am hopeful that we will run sometime soon.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl3p2c-HHxWT51vQd_W4xgdBGe_zlD8CDjmD41fRIlwSbzIo1MjpdO2yuKWsBElmsPDHNH6qkii7rik6hYtTrH5bMAWfikx7V5jOglP1TSDtB9pWlDS7OWY_S_efn_6Es2lNvpbokGxIHG/s1600/runningmom+steamboat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl3p2c-HHxWT51vQd_W4xgdBGe_zlD8CDjmD41fRIlwSbzIo1MjpdO2yuKWsBElmsPDHNH6qkii7rik6hYtTrH5bMAWfikx7V5jOglP1TSDtB9pWlDS7OWY_S_efn_6Es2lNvpbokGxIHG/s320/runningmom+steamboat.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
That morning, I had noticed a woman going off for a run. She was carrying water, so I knew it was going to be a long one. Other than feeling a bit guilty for skipping a long run that day, I was curious where she was going to go. So enamored am I with other running moms that I snapped a picture of this anonymous woman leaving her children for some peaceful time in the mountains.<br />
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Later that afternoon, I walked into her campsite and asked her where she ran. She and I started talking about running and races (she is a marathoner and training for a 50K). We both lamented that we hadn't spoken the day before and we could have run together. Later, she walked into our campsite with a map and showed me some places to run. On Sunday, I set off on my solo run (which was fabulous, by the way). She asked about it afterward and we chatted some more. As both of our families were leaving, we exchanged information. She doesn't live particularly close to me, but we both thought we might run into each other at a Colorado or Utah race sometime.<br />
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With women, running opens the door and gives us an opportunity to become friends with people we wouldn't necessarily get to know in any other way. Last weekend reminded me again what a wonderful community I belong to. Runners are great and runners who are moms are awesome. It gives me hope that I will find common ground with some local running moms in my neighborhood. It is only a matter of time.<br />
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Happy Running...<br />
<br />Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03902589811626771148noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7918472490658203767.post-58004322629976037322012-07-26T09:52:00.000-07:002012-07-30T09:20:38.307-07:00First track workout in Colorado, in this training cycle and in 2012<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/AVvXsEh6kyrsmRKP2wz8-ihryeEq6mte3CFiCSUBrqVHsf7dlowPpt_HbQtFJtQrCc0mL8ukgwlc8QIzBmGKwrjE6t9Ahr38ft0EG4FOhgfFhlfucUGrKGBeURCyd7wxwEjzRPqaLWtR1XPVgjAk/s1600/speedwork_track+trail+running+club.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6kyrsmRKP2wz8-ihryeEq6mte3CFiCSUBrqVHsf7dlowPpt_HbQtFJtQrCc0mL8ukgwlc8QIzBmGKwrjE6t9Ahr38ft0EG4FOhgfFhlfucUGrKGBeURCyd7wxwEjzRPqaLWtR1XPVgjAk/s320/speedwork_track+trail+running+club.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo courtesy of
<a href="http://www.trailrunningclub.com/blog/2012/07/16/speedwork-and-interval-training-part-2/">http://www.trailrunningclub.com</a></td></tr>
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I am proud of myself. I stretched beyond my comfort zone and joined a group of complete strangers for a track workout. I put myself out there with some (hopefully) positive results.<br />
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I have had great intentions in the past of joining a formal running group, but have never done it. I joined a Meetup group in Anaheim when I first moved there, but was lucky enough to find friends in the neighborhood soon after moving there, so I never met up with the Meetup group. I am smack in the middle of marathon training right now. *<i>Did I mention that I signed up for the <a href="http://www.bigcottonwoodmarathon.com/" target="_blank">Big Cottonwood Marathon</a> on September 22?* </i> That means that I need to find ways to motivate myself to push a little further.<br />
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I have met some people through <a href="http://www.dailymile.com/" target="_blank">DailyMile</a> who are local Colorado runners. One of them messaged me about a track workout in town. She couldn't make it this week, but told me where and when it was. She encouraged me to go telling me that the group was warm and welcoming.<br />
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I was nervous. Really nervous.<br />
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I showed up to the track and there were a couple people there warming up. I set off to do a warm up myself. It struck me odd that the people that were running were running the opposite direction than people normally run around a track. I followed suit. It really did feel odd to run that way on a track. I figured that people wanted to run a different direction since the workouts would go the standard counter-clockwise. I didn't ask.<br />
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After my one mile warm up (which was the best mile I have run since moving here), people were gathering. I stood with the group awkwardly. No one talked to me at first. I introduced myself to someone who seemed like he was in charge. He then introduced me to Jane, the coach. Both of them were super nice and welcomed me.<br />
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Coach Jane gave us the evening's workout. This was cool. I have never had a coach tell me my workout. I have given out workouts, but it was nice to have someone figure it out for me. The workout was to run 1200 meters as a group and then in pairs, we would run twelve intervals of 300 meters. During the group 1200, we were to figure out who our partner would be.<br />
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Here is where I realized that the group was fast. Very fast. I ran with the pack and as I looked down at my Garmin, I was running in the low 7's! I averaged that 3/4 mile at around 7:15, which is fast for me, especially lately. However, I quickly fell toward the back of the pack. I was running even with some women for the first lap or two, but by the third lap I was nearly dead last. There was one older guy who was behind me. I have never really been the fastest runner in a group, but I definitely haven't been the <i>slowest. </i>It was a bit of a blow to my ego.<br />
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When it came to teaming up, I felt like the nerdy kid on the playground. No one was approaching me to ask me to be their partner. It seemed like there were a couple younger women who actually teamed in a group of three. Ack...another blow to the ego. The coach paired me with the man who was slower than me. This was actually a relief since the workouts were done in a relay fashion and your rest time is a function of the speed of your partner. I knew I would need as much rest between intervals as possible.<br />
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The workout was pretty simple, once I figured out what we were actually supposed to do. We sprinted 300 meters (3/4 of the way around a track) and then jogged/walked back 100 meters where our partner would be finishing his 300 meters). This would continue twelve times.<br />
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I can tell you that I never would have had the motivation to finish twelve intervals without the help of a partner/group. My partner, Brian, and I had been lapped several times over. But the good news is that with everyone running their own intervals, you couldn't really tell who was ahead and who was behind. Had Brian suggested that we skip the last two intervals (since we were about two behind the bulk of the pack), I would have easily agreed. But we did them all and pushed ourselves each time. We finished last to cheers of some of the people who were still milling about (others had set off to run some cool-down laps).<br />
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My pace was not as bad as I had thought at the time. Converting 300m to standard interval distances isn't easy, but I am pretty sure I am on target for where I need to be for a 3:40 to 3:45 marathon. When I knew I would be doing a track workout, not knowing what kind of intervals we would be doing, I set a conservative goal to run 400's under 2 minutes, knowing I should decrease that time to around 1:40 or so. I was not that far off. Here are my intervals:<br />
1:08<br />
1:10<br />
1:13<br />
1:19<br />
1:15<br />
1:13<br />
1:16<br />
1:19<br />
1:19<br />
1:15<br />
1:19<br />
1:16<br />
My overall <i>running </i>pace for the evening (not including the jog back 100m to meet my partner) was 7:32 (including the 9:00 paced warm up!!). For me, that was fast, fast, fast. Even though I was the second slowest person out there, I am happy with my performance. Despite being the turtle, I will be checking my ego at the door and going back. Heck, some of that speed may just rub off on me!<br />
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I have eight weeks before my marathon. For the first time since starting my training, I think I am on the right track.<br />
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Happy Running...Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03902589811626771148noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7918472490658203767.post-49893412265022532612012-07-24T18:29:00.000-07:002012-07-24T18:29:00.078-07:00Zooma: where will they go?I have never run a Zooma race, but I am a big fan of any race that is designed for women. Plus,<a href="http://triciaminnick.com/" target="_blank"> my friend </a>works with them and loves the race series and she has great taste. Zooma is getting ready to announce a new race location. Where do you think it is? Check out their video and then go to their <a href="http://zoomarun.com/2012/07/wherewillzoomago/">blog</a> to make a guess and become eligible for some prizes!<br />
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Have you ever run a race targeted to women? What is your favorite? Do you think it is fair to have women's only races?Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03902589811626771148noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7918472490658203767.post-73666474855606874002012-07-23T10:01:00.000-07:002012-07-23T10:18:35.884-07:00Solo long runs are tough, but doableI have yet to find running buddies, but I still need to get long runs in. It is definitely more difficult getting out the door to run several hours by myself. On Saturday, a<span style="background-color: white;">rmed with a </span><a href="http://www.nathansports.com/our-products/hydrationnutrition/race-vests/intensity" style="background-color: white;" target="_blank">Nathan Hydration Vest</a><span style="background-color: white;">, my phone and my iPod loaded with an audiobook, I set off for my third long run since moving here. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">One thing I really enjoy about Fort Collins is that it is set up very simply. It is a grid with several main roads going north/south and east/west. It is very difficult to get lost. You will eventually come upon one of the main thoroughfares and know where you are. There is also a great system of multi-use trails weaving through the city. After a brief look at a map of these trails, I had a good idea of my route.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;">I started out on Power Trail, a trail that runs along the railroad tracks. There are some cool murals painted on some utility boxes, but other than that, this isn't the most beautiful path I have run since moving here.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;">From there I ran on the Spring Creek Trail. I have run on this trail, in some portion or another, on each of my long runs. It runs about 7 miles east/west. My first long run I ran on the middle portion of that path and last week I ran on the western portion. Saturday, I ran east from the Power Trail, for just under a mile, to meet up with the Poudre River Trail.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">The Poudre River Trail runs along the main river in Fort Collins through the northeast part of town. It is a gorgeous path. I ran on this trail in January when I first visited the town and again in May during my house-hunting trip.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8R5gslDLdP7NVFf5GkyOLXKUi9e8BgJc80_TsuVnd3slGHkhFvP1aaDtDBHivYwF9v9pSLL5dpqd9YIdtc8SZUZYly2m9aRkiu80eXhUf-QFpwZlM0WyANqvJDvwVVIB6JbDQVAZl_td-/s1600/IMAG1790.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8R5gslDLdP7NVFf5GkyOLXKUi9e8BgJc80_TsuVnd3slGHkhFvP1aaDtDBHivYwF9v9pSLL5dpqd9YIdtc8SZUZYly2m9aRkiu80eXhUf-QFpwZlM0WyANqvJDvwVVIB6JbDQVAZl_td-/s320/IMAG1790.jpg" width="191" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEIL8vtY6aBqCxMkRug6OeQ_K5lyLbu_401WCkpzxCAxVa4C6wROWlwT9DQ6xkcqqu9knYJrIbINpMjgr9mYWHb15bbj7Xf1JT2Pjl51H64Sduhv7G8-IQHVGiRtJrhgODC2-0t6_WbRSd/s1600/IMAG1791.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEIL8vtY6aBqCxMkRug6OeQ_K5lyLbu_401WCkpzxCAxVa4C6wROWlwT9DQ6xkcqqu9knYJrIbINpMjgr9mYWHb15bbj7Xf1JT2Pjl51H64Sduhv7G8-IQHVGiRtJrhgODC2-0t6_WbRSd/s320/IMAG1791.jpg" width="191" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white;">I needed to turn toward home, so when the trail hit Lemay, a major north/south road leading back to my house, I got off the beautiful trail and headed back south on the road. This last chunk of the run wasn't as pretty or pleasant as the first chunk. It is a nice road with a good sidewalk, but the trail system really spoils me. Why do I run on sidewalk when there are such great paths that are nowhere near traffic?</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;">There are definitely some pretty parts of the road. It goes next to a couple lakes, including the one below. Honestly, I haven't really found an "ugly" part of Fort Collins!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy77yElXdvtSMWmxw0Ogixej1tDd2WC_6zj2qMMCoPjbxKbnD9K9DL2t_8RetPZgXdOdjA0XM13iKWrQSwwuSkGv1JPvO8hfxDmcq_734KLekEw3HNw-rLyrXQOvSGKMznHcbDGQcc7O2A/s1600/IMAG1793.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy77yElXdvtSMWmxw0Ogixej1tDd2WC_6zj2qMMCoPjbxKbnD9K9DL2t_8RetPZgXdOdjA0XM13iKWrQSwwuSkGv1JPvO8hfxDmcq_734KLekEw3HNw-rLyrXQOvSGKMznHcbDGQcc7O2A/s320/IMAG1793.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white;">It was a long, HOT sixteen miles. I still haven't fully acclimated to the elevation. I take more walk breaks than I ever have. I am not sure if I would push through those urges to walk if I were running with someone else. Probably. My pace is SO much slower than it had been. I have two months to get rid of those walk breaks and speed up that pace.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;">I am happy that I got my long run in as scheduled. It wasn't pretty, but I did it. It can only get better. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;">I hope your long runs went well this weekend. Happy Running!</span>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03902589811626771148noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7918472490658203767.post-3027651464048849272012-07-20T21:17:00.005-07:002012-07-21T04:22:55.265-07:00Making a new home<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmwEDkqUxUnQJWDDPZGHR9vWIHK_tvXHpf5xxOmHqGvlu_O3eiGGsgggZIq4hzYEu62pRL2ssAsdV3aLnixoubcSYlQqKBIfVk3T8NLoUACpb6MQRXnAjizEcZT_JaVoEEWn_gUGUH1Ecn/s1600/moving+and+running.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmwEDkqUxUnQJWDDPZGHR9vWIHK_tvXHpf5xxOmHqGvlu_O3eiGGsgggZIq4hzYEu62pRL2ssAsdV3aLnixoubcSYlQqKBIfVk3T8NLoUACpb6MQRXnAjizEcZT_JaVoEEWn_gUGUH1Ecn/s320/moving+and+running.jpg" width="320" /></a>As you know, we moved. We are no longer residents of Southern California and are proud Coloradans. As I create our home and unpack boxes, I have been trying to keep a running routine and my mileage up. I wrote an <a href="http://theruniverse.com/2012/07/running-on-the-move/" target="_blank">article</a> on <a href="http://theruniverse.com/">theRUNiverse.com</a> about finding ways to do just that.<br />
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When I have gone out for a run, I have struggled a bit with the altitude. It is right at 5000 feet here and I honestly didn't think it would affect me as much as it has. In the past, I have been able to run at even higher elevations several times (in <a href="http://lisasepiphany.blogspot.com/2008/07/7400-ft-elevation-and-rocked-it.html" target="_blank">2008</a> and <a href="http://lisasepiphany.blogspot.com/2010/08/july_03.html" target="_blank">2010</a>). What I have learned is that the effects of altitude don't necessarily show up right away. After two weeks I <i>still</i> feel the altitude, especially when going up hill. It has also been pretty hot (as it has been all over the country) and I have had a tough time motivating myself to get up early.<br />
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I was very spoiled with my running group. On any given day, I had a friend to run with. Running by myself has been a difficult transition. It really makes motivation a struggle. I miss my friends quite a bit. I am going to try to join local runners soon. I really need to psych myself up for going. I am nervous. My running isn't really up to par and I am a little afraid that they will leave me behind. Once I acclimate a bit more, I will have more confidence to join strangers for a group run.</div>
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On one of my first runs through my neighborhood, I saw the following evidence of women doing workouts. I didn't see anyone, so how did I know it was women? Do <i>you </i>know any men who write "love" in a heart? I have yet to see this type of evidence since, but I am hoping to catch the "culprits" and maybe invite myself to join them?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB8e-V_npBIIQ-WG-5FPq-Qbkz1zDBB8r6Q1nZBm5s3r87axGQAS7Td4046RYvkbPQnrPv7QeRW-SoMc37C0bcph34jlqyFYmDErqjkoA6U_GVpWy3b560-BWHgnsscLe2G6lkvE15mwNb/s1600/evidence.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB8e-V_npBIIQ-WG-5FPq-Qbkz1zDBB8r6Q1nZBm5s3r87axGQAS7Td4046RYvkbPQnrPv7QeRW-SoMc37C0bcph34jlqyFYmDErqjkoA6U_GVpWy3b560-BWHgnsscLe2G6lkvE15mwNb/s320/evidence.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
On my first long run, I followed one of the many bike paths in and around Fort Collins. There were cool statues, a few motivational signs, some murals, a pelican on a quiet lake and a snake. I loved all of it except the snake. Yikes.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7TDwCQkHFsTebuY6eYqnrXhwBA8yQBei6rCjrU-XuPvOYME78-oq3W5BSc2bTMIm4zM2abyw1uKwyYWUL7aNbEUb4iYtdxgaZ5BBdpMvChaKbh7usMgoNRJTk9BWfxoAtY9BhxgQ4otRW/s1600/long+run+july+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7TDwCQkHFsTebuY6eYqnrXhwBA8yQBei6rCjrU-XuPvOYME78-oq3W5BSc2bTMIm4zM2abyw1uKwyYWUL7aNbEUb4iYtdxgaZ5BBdpMvChaKbh7usMgoNRJTk9BWfxoAtY9BhxgQ4otRW/s320/long+run+july+7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I know I will love it here. I know I will find a new community of friends, moms and runners. I am just feeling a bit impatient, I suppose.<br />
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I am off for another long run tomorrow.<br />
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Happy Running...</div>
</div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03902589811626771148noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7918472490658203767.post-13128358966333960432012-06-29T07:13:00.000-07:002012-06-29T07:13:28.777-07:00reconnectionPart of our journey to a new life is a stop by the past. Sometimes going back can be awfully therapeutic.<br />
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<span style="background-color: white;">We decided to pretty much double our mileage when I suggested driving to Colorado by way of Oregon. It was so worth it. We hadn't been here in years and I wanted my kids to spend time with their grandparents, aunts, uncles and, of course, cousins. It has been a really nice couple of days in the middle of the road trip.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;">This stop also allowed me to run with an old friend. Angel</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">and I were friends in high school and early college. When she left UofO our sophomore year, we pretty much lost touch. We reconnected a couple of years ago. We didn't reconnect over the "glory days" of high school, but the fact that we both had taken up running. Since then, we have virtually cheered each other on for numerous marathons, given each other a quick hug at Hood to Coast and gone on a nice run a few years ago. So when she suggested going for a run yesterday morning, it was a no brainer. One of the nice things about an early morning run is that you are usually back before the bulk of the household has started the day.</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BuyGixta760/T-22SJwF_nI/AAAAAAAAEvM/zqPs6WYdrP0/s1600/12+-+2" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BuyGixta760/T-22SJwF_nI/AAAAAAAAEvM/zqPs6WYdrP0/s320/12+-+2" width="192" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kCvj8oigMu0/T-22SPLtLAI/AAAAAAAAEw0/vBQYyubsW9U/s1600/12+-+6" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kCvj8oigMu0/T-22SPLtLAI/AAAAAAAAEw0/vBQYyubsW9U/s320/12+-+6" width="191" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">I haven't run in nearly a week and my body is pretty stiff from sitting in a car for 1100 miles, so that five miles felt great. Neither one of us felt physically 100%, but we sure did enjoy it.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;">I am ready to take on the second half of the road trip. This morning we set off across eastern Oregon into Idaho, making our way to Colorado.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;">Happy Running.</span><br />
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</div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03902589811626771148noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7918472490658203767.post-17943367510711724022012-06-26T08:02:00.000-07:002012-06-26T08:07:40.282-07:00new chapter, new blog, new life<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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My family is moving to Colorado!</div>
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My husband's job has us moving to Fort Collins, Colorado. The movers have come. The truck is loaded. We are on our way.</div>
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I will have to start my business over, find new friends, find new places to run (and people to run with ).I will also be relaunching my website and my blog. A client has been coming up with an entirely new look and has talked me into hosting my blog on mom2marathon.com. There are exciting things coming up in July!</div>
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For now, I am just going to enjoy our road trip. We are taking the long way, driving up through Oregon.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoQjvX8kyum8sGZiD4cNImO4wA14TxksFiMGdpaSveGXSmO-HRrqH_OhsFzBiQMK56bIUh4coqIz7ip_BV7jF2jvzeuYzB0nTvkmeBbmFeFUorUNn8-8AYRSWQRp_5-XQv0WquXoTO6rTo/s1600/IMAG1536.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoQjvX8kyum8sGZiD4cNImO4wA14TxksFiMGdpaSveGXSmO-HRrqH_OhsFzBiQMK56bIUh4coqIz7ip_BV7jF2jvzeuYzB0nTvkmeBbmFeFUorUNn8-8AYRSWQRp_5-XQv0WquXoTO6rTo/s320/IMAG1536.jpg" width="191" /></a></div>
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Follow my journey on Twitter and Instagram. Look for @momtomarathon.</div>
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This post was written on my brand new tablet, so bear with me on any typos etc. while I figure this thing out.</h4>
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/"></a><span id="goog_305667031"></span><span id="goog_305667032"></span>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03902589811626771148noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7918472490658203767.post-75561767348432502312012-04-30T13:18:00.001-07:002012-04-30T13:18:32.968-07:00It has been a great few weeks of running!<p>I love spring. The running/racing season is in full force and there are a lot of great choices for running fun races. I have been on a pretty constant running high for several weeks now.</p> <p>First, I ran my first <a href="http://lisasepiphany.blogspot.com/2012/04/san-juan-trail-50k-race-reportfirst.html">ultra marathon</a>. Then I ran my second long-distance relay with some of my best friends. Finally, I was part of an incredibly fun wedding party that-you guessed it—involved running.</p> <p>I am working on my race reports for <a href="http://www.ragnarrelay.com/race/southerncalifornia" target="_blank">Ragnar</a> and the <a href="http://www.gladiatorrocknrun.com/index.html" target="_blank">Gladiator Rock ‘n Run</a>.  In the meantime, here are a few pictures…</p> <p align="center"><strong>RAGNAR—<em>Team 2 Dozen Scrambled Leggs!</em></strong></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-TfSCdLsYYpM/T57zg64cW6I/AAAAAAAAEY0/PXT4MEg0NAI/s1600-h/Ragnar%252520start%252520line%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Ragnar start line" border="0" alt="Ragnar start line" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-WRujYitpC7Q/T57zhTAwJeI/AAAAAAAAEY8/Atavnr7TGpM/Ragnar%252520start%252520line_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="342" height="305" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-j4_0R2FRWO8/T57zizSfx2I/AAAAAAAAEZE/_LEjSlRPTNA/s1600-h/DSCF0022%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCF0022" border="0" alt="DSCF0022" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-M2o_Fc_pio4/T57zjeympHI/AAAAAAAAEZM/wmpaYyb6Nm8/DSCF0022_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="348" height="262" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-mApdc9VD_Y0/T57zkF5LjNI/AAAAAAAAEZU/EBgJuwVy2Vg/s1600-h/DSCF0050%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCF0050" border="0" alt="DSCF0050" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-9oJQUGIO3wg/T57zkdo7FpI/AAAAAAAAEZc/JfUvl63ilgs/DSCF0050_thumb%25255B8%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="352" height="260" /></a></p> <p align="center"> </p> <p align="center"><strong>GLADIATOR ROCK ‘N RUN—Sandra and Andy’s Wedding!</strong></p> <p><a href="https://www.facebook.com/AlannaRenePhotography" target="_blank"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="gladiator start" border="0" alt="gladiator start" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-MxJrTNgeqJ0/T57zlL5ynlI/AAAAAAAAEZk/8SNHpf1vAeY/gladiator%252520start%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="368" height="295" /></a></p> <p><a href="https://www.facebook.com/AlannaRenePhotography" target="_blank"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="gladiator fire run" border="0" alt="gladiator fire run" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-FkNceAYQssM/T57zlZS7UzI/AAAAAAAAEZs/CP7WthmijkQ/gladiator%252520fire%252520run%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="370" height="297" /></a></p> <p><a href="https://www.facebook.com/AlannaRenePhotography" target="_blank"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="bridesmaids" border="0" alt="bridesmaids" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-K2WtMYXrxos/T57zlxJFFOI/AAAAAAAAEZ0/MW8MEcYvem0/bridesmaids%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="281" height="391" /></a></p> <p align="center"><font size="2"><em><a href="http://alannarene.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Photos courtesy of AlannaRene Photography</a></em></font></p> <p>I hope you are enjoying your running as much as I am.</p> <p>Happy Running…</p> Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03902589811626771148noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7918472490658203767.post-32121228939591142372012-04-26T11:06:00.001-07:002012-04-26T11:06:48.114-07:00San Juan Trail 50K Race Report—first Ultra Marathon!<p>I wrote about some lessons learned from my race <a href="http://theruniverse.com/2012/04/first-ultra-marathon-lessons-learned/#.T5Rzu6t8CiA" target="_blank">HERE</a> at <a href="http://theruniverse.com/" target="_blank">theRUNiverse.com</a>.  My race report here is a bit more detailed and personal. </p> <p>I was excited and nervous about my 50K. I could barely sleep the night before. I drove to the race site with plenty of time. That is a good thing because I missed the turnoff and had to drive a ways down the highway before I could turn around.</p> <p>When I arrived to the starting line, I discovered that the course had been changed. The day before, there was a storm. It was a short, but powerful storm that brought snow into the foothills. Snow levels dropped to about 3000 feet. Because of the snow, the race organizers decided to eliminate the upper portions of the course where snow apparently covered access roads. We were told that the Forest Service had originally asked them to cancel the race. They posted a map, but it was hand drawn and didn’t mean much to me.<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-JxlV9ddUeCE/T5mOjVtRZ4I/AAAAAAAAEWY/fZTCSV8UTqM/s1600-h/IMAG11515.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMAG1151" border="0" alt="IMAG1151" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-lYvXlgP8s5o/T5mOj1K2xUI/AAAAAAAAEWg/EHw4rqVmlbU/IMAG1151_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="282" height="468" /></a></p> <p>Everyone was buzzing with the news. The biggest change was that the toughest part of the race, Horsethief Trail, was no longer part of the race. Several runners cheered with delight at this news. I actually felt disappointed. I mentally and physically prepared for that trail. I was also a bit bummed when I learned that the course would be several miles short. I then realized that I needed to face the situation for what it was and keep positive. I made the comment to another runner that I just needed to get 45K in since it was my 45th birthday. I was still super excited!</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-0qj7CKbXsns/T5mOkfaKOfI/AAAAAAAAEWo/Zaq8yPWJAQQ/s1600-h/IMAG11523.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMAG1152" border="0" alt="IMAG1152" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-HCkrBIFtKto/T5mOkjP798I/AAAAAAAAEWw/WSYHppu3oVM/IMAG1152_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="260" height="431" /></a></p> <p>I took off on the first loop at a comfortable pace. I was running with a group of runners for a while. Had it been a 10 mile race, I would have pushed to keep up, but I realized that I had a LONG way to go and slowed it down a bit to conserve my energy. I let them go down the path without me. I was a little relieved hours later when I passed one of those runners around mile 23.</p> <p>The rest of the first loop I spent running mostly by myself. I always forget how disconcerting it is on these trail races with relatively few runners. I often felt like I was out there by myself. I kept doubting whether or not I had taken a wrong turn. I used logic to reassure myself. It was early in the morning and it had rained the night before, so any footprints would belong to other runners as few hikers would be out that early. So whenever I felt lost, I would look in the mud and see footprints to know that I was on the right trail. I felt a little like a tracker.</p> <p><a href="http://www.laurenontherun.blogspot.com/2012/04/sjt-50k-2012.html" target="_blank"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="tracks SJT50k" border="0" alt="tracks SJT50k" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-xMl1AqLMkm0/T5mOlKErsHI/AAAAAAAAEW4/WPn17CtQ-iI/tracks-SJT50k6.jpg?imgmax=800" width="332" height="250" /></a></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://www.laurenontherun.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><font color="#000000">Photo courtesy of Lauren on the Run</font></a></p> <p align="left">Many of the miles are a blur. I enjoyed the solitude of the trails. I listened to my music and didn’t listen to my music. I was out there for a long time. At the end of the first loop (9ish miles), there was an aid station stocked with some food and helpful volunteers to top off my water. I grabbed a couple Oreo cookies and went on my way. I have never eaten Oreos during a run and it was fun.</p> <p>The next loop is known as the Candy Store loop. It is about 19.5 miles and was originally supposed to be the first part of the race. I tried to imagine that I hadn’t just run over nine miles and I was just starting out.  I was feeling great.</p> <p>The entire course was single track trails. Those are the kinds of courses trail runners love.  However, you have to pay attention the entire time. So mentally and physically these single tracks take a toll. There were several times when I came very close to tripping and doing a face plant onto the trail. Tired legs trip more easily. <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-TlS3b3q9Srw/T5mOl2ejBfI/AAAAAAAAEXA/KESxlikJ-kE/s1600-h/SJT50k-Lauren3.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="SJT50k Lauren" border="0" alt="SJT50k Lauren" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-fwhRE3O_C1g/T5mOmT8YkkI/AAAAAAAAEXI/bZtVaKraW6o/SJT50k-Lauren_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="331" height="249" /></a></p> <p>The hills didn’t help either.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSlBXtADkXajAbbUmJZXumM0npUQsIehoOrpzL3s97MojTitnBmabVXk9faSOguRSEiSlP6LyQ8EEJ0BFIk5MyO1mNiq6kuhKnyBxBSnvCh3fmIpqXO8kbq-9EfWSxwHGFOkoTgtSNhJuN/s1600-h/SJT50k-Lauren-33.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="SJT50k Lauren 3" border="0" alt="SJT50k Lauren 3" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-NFnpAhxIMYM/T5mOnZREUWI/AAAAAAAAEXY/3MFB2G0ids8/SJT50k-Lauren-3_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="334" height="252" /></a></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://www.laurenontherun.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><font color="#000000">Photos courtesy of Lauren On the Run</font></a></p> <p>Around mile 14, there was a little gully. There were big rocks that I needed to cross. I stepped on a big rock and it was slippery. My feet slipped out from under me and I fell flat on my face. My first trail fall! I did a quick assessment and realized that I was fine...just a little scrape on my hand. I picked myself up, wiped myself off, said a quick “I’m OK” and ran down the trail. You see, even though I had been running mostly by myself, the one time I face planted, there was someone there to witness it.  Of course.</p> <p>About 1/2 mile down the trail, I looked down to check my Garmin.  GONE!!  What??  I have a velcro wrist strap instead of the standard strap that comes with the Garmin. The device itself snaps onto a plastic housing. During my fall, it snapped out of its housing. My brain was spinning.  Run back? Keep going? I wasn’t 100% sure if the course came back that way. I don’t have money to burn buying another Garmin. Ultimately, my practical side won out. I wasn’t going to win this thing. I trained for 31 miles and this one would be shorter. What is an extra mile or so?</p> <p>I ran back to where I fell. I was really hoping that I would find it. It was possible that it fell between the rocks and was lost forever. I could spend time looking for it and only come up empty handed. But there it was, right where my wrist banged against the rock. I tried to snap it back on the band and it wouldn’t go. Assuming it was broken*, I stuck the Garmin in my pocket. For the rest of the race (about half of it) I had no idea how far I had gone. Maybe it was better that I wasn’t checking my Garmin all the time. But it was frustrating not to know how far I had to go unless I dug into my pocket.</p> <p>As I ran into the aid station around mile 15, the <em>awesome </em>volunteers starting singing happy birthday. They finished with “happy birthday dear, number 58!  Happy birthday to you!!!!”  I was shocked. Tears came to my eyes. “How did you know?” I stuttered. “I heard you telling someone at the starting line,” one gal said. I was fully refueled and recharged after this aid station-both physically and mentally. I felt like I was flying. I was ready for the next 13-14 miles!</p> <p>Five miles down the trail was the next aid station. This was the big station. They had lots of stuff to refuel. They had some bananas, cookies and some nectar of the gods, Coca Cola. The Coke was the perfect temperature—not too cold, but not too warm and just slightly flat. It really hits the spot and gives the perfect boost. I love an ice cold Coke <em>after </em>a race, but during, it is better a bit flat. This aid station marked the turnaround of the loop. There was about nine miles or so left. There was a woman who had been right on my heels for a while. We both left the aid station around the same time. My competitive streak kicked in and I was determined not to let her finish ahead of me. It was great motivation.</p> <p>The return was mostly uphill. I did quite a bit of power hiking, but tried to run as much as possible.  Most of the bottom part of the loop looked a lot like this. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOIC1yQaJstXHNe_Eq1sdi5Q-DiaiMY_zlO5JO0LRw2FV3H_LzNGcTU8Rc4ECRJmJPzLlwxLtaskOKrsByzCfLxYx6Bsa5GRtENitH1HY8JqTxCpaJogbnCQPDMUCA38HkFIPSDTFwQiaq/s1600-h/SJT50k-Lauren-44.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="SJT50k Lauren 4" border="0" alt="SJT50k Lauren 4" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-STd21QaNpYw/T5mOosnqtSI/AAAAAAAAEXo/lwHc7t1i1Vw/SJT50k-Lauren-4_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="364" height="274" /></a></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://www.laurenontherun.blogspot.com/2012/04/sjt-50k-2012.html" target="_blank"><font color="#333333">Photos courtesy of Lauren On the Run.</font></a></p> <p>About mile 25 was the same “happy birthday” aid station. I felt great after this. I tried to run as much as possible. The terrain flattened out for a bit and looked more like this: <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-voxyRZowbRE/T5mOpWhyRvI/AAAAAAAAEXw/4gPGaktKJDk/s1600-h/SJT50k-Lauren-53.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="SJT50k Lauren 5" border="0" alt="SJT50k Lauren 5" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-sS7apz8ZlSU/T5mOp0M5hyI/AAAAAAAAEX4/L2ac-JrG3Gc/SJT50k-Lauren-5_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="368" height="277" /></a></p> <p>At one point I ran into Lauren. She is my wonderful trail running friend and guide. She was heading down the trail as I was heading up.  She was in good spirits, despite having taken a spill herself. We stopped and snapped a couple of pictures of each other.  <a href="http://www.laurenontherun.blogspot.com/2012/04/sjt-50k-2012.html" target="_blank">Photos courtesy of Lauren On the Run.</a></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-wvYgmcKD8Bo/T5mOqwFYScI/AAAAAAAAEYA/mFXv6KUCep8/s1600-h/Lauren-SJT50K5.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Lauren SJT50K" border="0" alt="Lauren SJT50K" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-NH0poHmu5XE/T5mOrKSefCI/AAAAAAAAEYI/5YZ5bceYPuU/Lauren-SJT50K_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" width="362" height="272" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-a7zgNhpjbWM/T5mOsH0quHI/AAAAAAAAEYQ/Zvy5R37NHc4/s1600-h/DSCN40195.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCN4019" border="0" alt="DSCN4019" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-0MDfo5O1MzA/T5mOss59QHI/AAAAAAAAEYY/52VnH22hbOs/DSCN4019_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="365" height="275" /></a></p> <p>As I was a couple miles from the end. I came up to an intersection of trails. This was the third time running through this particular section. I had three choices of which way to go. One of them went away from the finish, toward the first loop of the day.  The other two both went towards the end. One of them went straight up a brutal hill, the other was a bit longer, but a more gradual uphill. I stood their for a while. My brain was not working well enough to decide. There were arrows going both ways. Another runner (that one female who had been behind me at the aid station) ran up and the two of us made the decision together. We went UP. That trail went up, up, up. Three other runners came along behind us. So at least if we were wrong (which we were), we would be wrong together. I found out later that the <em>other </em>trail was the way to go. The trail we chose was a bit shorter, but MUCH more difficult.</p> <p>I finally hit the pavement of the road to the parking lot. It was a short downhill to the finish!!  I was done!  My Garmin said that I had run around 27 miles. I added the extra mile I had run backtracking to my Garmin to give me a total of 28 miles. I barely made my 45K goal.</p> <p>My finish time was 6 hours 30 minutes. I was a little disappointed with this time. That was my goal time for the original course. I had thought I could run closer to six hours with the shorter course. But this course was not necessarily easier. There was still plenty of elevation (close to 6000 feet!). Plus, there are several miles on the original course that are on fire roads, allowing for some pretty fast pace. I couldn’t “open it up” on any section of the course that day.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-O1eUSNwR2Xg/T5mOtGzVw7I/AAAAAAAAEYg/vLzkAdVxJiU/s1600-h/SJT50K-elevation-profile4.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="SJT50K elevation profile" border="0" alt="SJT50K elevation profile" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-IxTiuqnt-kc/T5mOtVO3-XI/AAAAAAAAEYo/Tt8ztVu4LJU/SJT50K-elevation-profile_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="403" height="252" /></a></p> <p>I tried not to dwell on any disappointment. I still ran an ultra—a very difficult ultra. I was tired at the end, but was still able to enjoy dinner and a movie with my husband later that night. Looking back, even though it was difficult, I enjoyed nearly every minute. People call me crazy for running for over six hours on my birthday. I must really love running.</p> <p>I had normal soreness the next couple of days, but was able to run 29 miles the next weekend (look for my recap for the <a href="http://www.ragnarrelay.com/race/southerncalifornia" target="_blank">Ragnar Relay</a>!!!).  I feel strong and am ready to run another one.  I still have a desire to complete that <strong>50</strong>K!  </p> <p>Thanks for reading this novel of a race report. It has been a while since I have written a detailed race report.</p> <p>Happy Running…</p> <p><font color="#666666" size="1">*because my only camera was my phone, it was difficult to take pictures during the race. The on-course pictures are from <a href="http://www.laurenontherun.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Lauren</a> at On the Run.  Thanks, Lauren for letting me steal!</font></p> <p><font color="#666666" size="1">**it turns out that it is fine. The plastic didn’t break like I had thought. I was just too impatient to snap it in place correctly.</font></p> Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03902589811626771148noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7918472490658203767.post-32146202638385567192012-04-13T22:08:00.001-07:002012-04-13T22:08:04.886-07:00Can I really run an ultra marathon?<p>Four years ago today, I ran my then longest run to date- 16 miles. I was training for my first marathon and was getting ready to turn 41 years old. I had a <a href="http://lisasepiphany.blogspot.com/2008_04_01_archive.html" target="_blank">crappy run</a> and my confidence that I could finish a marathon was shaken.</p> <p>Well, I finished that marathon (barely) and five others.  I have had <a href="http://lisasepiphany.blogspot.com/2010/02/surf-city-marathon-race-report-aka.html" target="_blank">good races</a> and <a href="http://lisasepiphany.blogspot.com/2010/10/long-beach-marathon-race-report.html" target="_blank">bad ones</a>. I finished them all.</p> <p>I have wanted to take it to the next level for a while now. I thought that my first <a href="http://lisasepiphany.blogspot.com/2010/03/new-training-cycle.html" target="_blank">50k</a> would be Montana de Oro in the summer of 2010. I didn’t get the training in and the timing didn’t work.  But, I never lost the desire.</p> <p>This year, when I was searching for a spring race, I was ready to take my running to another level. I am approaching a big birthday that isn’t quite big enough for a party, so I wanted a cool way to mark the event.  I found the perfect race. The <a href="http://www.bigbaztrailraces.com/12/SJT50K-1entryINFO.html" target="_blank">San Juan Trail 50K</a> is relatively close to home (an hour drive), it is in a location where I have run races in the past and it is ON my birthday. Only someone who really loves running would subject themselves to this kind of torture on her birthday, right?</p> <p>The race is tomorrow. My training has been just OK. It was going well until a badly timed bout with the flu. Until that point, I had run at least a mile for 90 days! Breaking that streak was really sad. I was proud of that running streak and had planned a fun run for my 100th day. Check out all the blue on my <a href="http://www.dailymile.com/people/Lisarg#ref=tophd" target="_blank">DailyMile</a> account!  This screen shot was taken early-February<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-I43tIVutKw8/T4kGKAvr7CI/AAAAAAAAEVU/rv_nYSoGCOc/s1600-h/Daily%252520mile%252520streak%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Daily mile streak" border="0" alt="Daily mile streak" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Rc7Xlgjejk4/T4kGKdEqqyI/AAAAAAAAEVc/GZLGbwAQq9c/Daily%252520mile%252520streak_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="339" height="182" /></a></p> <p>I did get an opportunity to run two races on the same trails, put on by the race organizers.  The 18K was a fun trail race where I met a lot of great runners. It helped to see so many familiar faces during the 21K a couple weeks later.  <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-wqS4D5ir-qQ/T4kGK6YK3LI/AAAAAAAAEVk/l4G4MCBOtpE/s1600-h/IMAG0515%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Big Baz" border="0" alt="IMAG0515" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-9J6M19krQ1g/T4kGLPMcNHI/AAAAAAAAEVs/52TkUUTqakM/IMAG0515_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="304" height="184" /></a></p> <p align="center"><em><font size="1">I met the race director, Big Baz. He is a bit of a “dirty old man” but has a certain charm…</font></em></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-FIHoi81ATTU/T4kGLrxQlBI/AAAAAAAAEV0/M-Ybn1TMHO0/s1600-h/IMAG0519%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMAG0519" border="0" alt="IMAG0519" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Dv3N0avfq1c/T4kGMTiCOvI/AAAAAAAAEV8/_cY2h7D6W0U/IMAG0519_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="189" height="312" /></a></p> <p align="center"><em><font size="1">These trails are no walk in the park!</font></em></p> <p>After I recovered from the flu, I was plagued with a horrible cough. I still get coughing fits—I just can’t seem to shake it. I missed close to two weeks of quality running. I missed two weekends of long runs. I missed a 30K race put on by the race organizer of the 50K. This would be the first 18 miles or so of the race. I also missed a 20+ mile run with some new trail running friends going up the Horsethief Trail, the most difficult part of the course.</p> <p>Luckily, my friend <a href="http://www.laurenontherun.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Lauren</a> invited me on a 22 mile run, which turned out to be closer to 24 miles. The run was fantastic and actually deserves its own post. It was a great trail run. It was very scenic, but incredibly difficult. There was a two mile stretch that was as difficult or more than the Horsethief Trail on the SJT 50K. It was tough, but I powered up it feeling strong. In fact, once at the top, after a bit of rest, I was feeling better than I had all day. The rest of the run was basically downhill and I felt great. The last couple of miles were tough, but I was able to finish strong. Finishing that run feeling so good gave me a lot of confidence that I can finish this race.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-FDhJU7nyRL4/T4kGMgNaaaI/AAAAAAAAEWE/wP5oiIAQONw/s1600-h/IMAG0853%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMAG0853" border="0" alt="IMAG0853" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-0zfb8ojobbY/T4kGM7Qe4cI/AAAAAAAAEWM/Fec_o00FE4A/IMAG0853_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="186" height="308" /></a></p> <p>It is late and I must go to bed. I promise that I will write a timely race report (unlike the last half dozen races I have raced). Look for my race report sometime next week.</p> <p>Happy Running….</p> <p>Check out more about my training plan on <a href="http://theruniverse.com/2012/04/preparing-for-a-50k-mommy-style/#.T4j4rqt8CiD" target="_blank">theRUNiverse.com</a></p> Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03902589811626771148noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7918472490658203767.post-1140760959322454192012-04-10T21:55:00.001-07:002012-04-10T21:56:20.460-07:00Tough Chik Tuesday: AlmineHere is another installment of "Tough Chik Tuesday." I am thrilled to introduce Almine. To me, she exemplifies tough. She is a Crossfit expert and climbs both rock and ice, which is <i>awesome.</i><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: blue;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhc6XN5PfnF25KxFc0KyB96gpBFEWTxUhimQ65pif9ElJP9IPpVvJzxv0YUvR_lAUUm_-eSveevC06jZMbxUf0OetH9bA2IvX2K_a-R4XM8uKq5gXQ9vz8voii8aZHUhEUNIMq7SqK5dmC/s1600/398380_10150722586554325_833419324_12131373_170177589_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhc6XN5PfnF25KxFc0KyB96gpBFEWTxUhimQ65pif9ElJP9IPpVvJzxv0YUvR_lAUUm_-eSveevC06jZMbxUf0OetH9bA2IvX2K_a-R4XM8uKq5gXQ9vz8voii8aZHUhEUNIMq7SqK5dmC/s200/398380_10150722586554325_833419324_12131373_170177589_n.jpg" title="Almine ice climbing" width="200" /></a>When I think of the term “Tough Chik,” the first quality that pops into my head is “tenacity.” This implies both mental and physical tenacity. Tenacity is what gets me up at 5 a.m. each morning to crank out pull-ups. It allows me to look fear in the face every time I climb ice or rock. It allows me to go beyond the limits that my mind holds as “possible.”</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: blue;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: blue;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCaAyz8Q62Wesutl7lqAJtqntLhPEZ07ZxEz9sZV7aqCFxnjBWdCx7jV4mb0UrO3N7A1yAQEgDArob-66FlNovZ-7KFqatCZwAp8X4zHtrcH0eRvNy6DVqc5ooV6o4peqTygzLiE0srBBY/s1600/228770_10150312260294325_833419324_9643389_2773644_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCaAyz8Q62Wesutl7lqAJtqntLhPEZ07ZxEz9sZV7aqCFxnjBWdCx7jV4mb0UrO3N7A1yAQEgDArob-66FlNovZ-7KFqatCZwAp8X4zHtrcH0eRvNy6DVqc5ooV6o4peqTygzLiE0srBBY/s200/228770_10150312260294325_833419324_9643389_2773644_n.jpg" width="150" /></a>I think what inspires people the most is a tale of “rags-to-riches.” Someone, who, like a phoenix has risen from their own ashes. This is my story.<br />
<br />
I wasn’t always an athlete (see my <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“<a href="http://alminewellness.blogspot.com/2011/05/journey-through-darkness.html" target="_blank">Journey of Darkness</a>”</i> blog post ). But, I have always held dreams close to my heart, coupled with discipline.<br />
<br />
As a child, I was constantly in detention for climbing the school roof and playground trees. The air is quiet, I found. Where the birds live, drama and the worries of the world cannot thrive. This is where I wanted to be. When I climb, high above the ground, and watch people below me, the size of ants, I can see what the birds see: a world in peril. An earth inhabited by her children, who do not yet understand how precious it is.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: blue;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhodJvHCCTEbXPL3HsjhpGe8650CnDmA7IiMg4oNpPv4ISbaHyoepnXpEb-Gq3x9T1RKo-0NYYnN-ZgD_mS065WoTA_Vkgj3EjRVOmQ92GS6A_VJNz2AC_3sbFL1B7qoPoY-mHQBktx5v8_/s1600/431014_10150827399249325_833419324_12432771_1459325279_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhodJvHCCTEbXPL3HsjhpGe8650CnDmA7IiMg4oNpPv4ISbaHyoepnXpEb-Gq3x9T1RKo-0NYYnN-ZgD_mS065WoTA_Vkgj3EjRVOmQ92GS6A_VJNz2AC_3sbFL1B7qoPoY-mHQBktx5v8_/s200/431014_10150827399249325_833419324_12432771_1459325279_n.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: blue;">Even though I’ve been touted as an “Adventure Athlete” by radio shows and magazines, I still consider myself a work-in-progress. Its true, you will find me seeking out myriad training conditions. My home state of Oregon offers this: rain, mud, snow, sleet, sun, fog, oceans, mountains, rivers, trails…its all here. I make it a point to expose myself to all these weather and landscape variables. Nature is my proving ground. Extreme terrain my love.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: blue;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: blue;">I’ve proven my tenacity, over and over, through Adventure Races, ice and rock climbing, mountain biking, snowshoeing, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“CrossFit” </i>and trail-running. Each time, I am amazed at the capacity for what the human spirit and body can endure. Every day is a new adventure, awaiting my curiosity, and willingness to begin again.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwqrQ0qN56nKXU0cSJSrK6UCSgGEpliAYH39871wk4U5M3BVYNvyJcEtaErN2QblHnWA8MJIl_Zdmo5S2IK50KXgAXpv8MTLUY5_HkQ_EPfgqKvN6T1X0pE4c-YSZpgdRDOJY19mtyBajv/s1600/39740_483460034324_833419324_6660414_2355993_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwqrQ0qN56nKXU0cSJSrK6UCSgGEpliAYH39871wk4U5M3BVYNvyJcEtaErN2QblHnWA8MJIl_Zdmo5S2IK50KXgAXpv8MTLUY5_HkQ_EPfgqKvN6T1X0pE4c-YSZpgdRDOJY19mtyBajv/s200/39740_483460034324_833419324_6660414_2355993_n.jpg" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAtJntSA7TrTCgKMTWjFIFZk5qzED-pNk0jyOkb_cEbrrdrL7wmTQ_PbLmYW9njmh-A-qBAHUEquhEUfSv-cKfPyKMBRS4OzTW34A0Eot2lklyCCwJqOsh5P3qx7_8gqHZDwyx917j3WU1/s1600/394672_10150655876079325_833419324_11877557_1900509772_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAtJntSA7TrTCgKMTWjFIFZk5qzED-pNk0jyOkb_cEbrrdrL7wmTQ_PbLmYW9njmh-A-qBAHUEquhEUfSv-cKfPyKMBRS4OzTW34A0Eot2lklyCCwJqOsh5P3qx7_8gqHZDwyx917j3WU1/s200/394672_10150655876079325_833419324_11877557_1900509772_n.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: blue;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: blue;">Climbing is my #1 athletic pursuit. It requires 100% present moment concentration. There can be no mistake in safety protocols or back-up procedures. Each climb takes me to my edge, physically, emotionally and mentally. It allows me to see with the eyes of an eagle. It gives me vision for the grander scheme of my life, and great purpose. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: blue;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw4tXpLooZ4vFlI6lHSCo7WiOyG9LSf-OhkW56idzikCd02aOv0V5PCxjgQSeaVunLi5FwKkCAnmX0vQvw9NuZugNh4c4IRPpUcrayhTXwwwOh3XUDZAm-fSdDh478mZoEAMF9n2JTT06t/s1600/15694_437242219324_833419324_5543055_5028800_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw4tXpLooZ4vFlI6lHSCo7WiOyG9LSf-OhkW56idzikCd02aOv0V5PCxjgQSeaVunLi5FwKkCAnmX0vQvw9NuZugNh4c4IRPpUcrayhTXwwwOh3XUDZAm-fSdDh478mZoEAMF9n2JTT06t/s320/15694_437242219324_833419324_5543055_5028800_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: blue;">In addition, it teaches you the gift of “falling.” Falling is a metaphor that runs through our lives like a thread. We all fall down. It is scary when we do. The question is “Are you going to get back up?” The fall will rattle your insides to the core. It can make your heart race, and your knees weak. But the triumph of finishing a route, you’ve been “projecting” (falling over and over on), is a sense of satisfaction I’ve never felt on the ground. It gives you confidence in your capability to face fear, push your physical limits, and realize you <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">can</i> get back up.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: blue;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: blue;">My ability to be a “Tough Chik” lies in the “falling down” in my life. And, in my tenacity to climb back up. This lesson, I learn on the rock and ice, “trickles” into every area of my life: marriage, relationships, family, work, etc.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: blue;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: blue;">The message I offer to “Tough Chiks” everywhere, and yes ladies, you <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">all</i> are “Tough Chiks,” is to find the peace in the “falling” process. This is easier said than done sometimes, and is an ongoing lesson for all of us. Some days are easier than others. But, if we can all strive to find the tranquility in this falling down/getting back up process, then a great gift will unfold in your daily life: one of self-esteem, confidence, and the knowing that nothing can break your spirit. You are free. Just like the birds above you. Like the stoic rock around you, and the living earth that awaits you to discover it, like a child full of wonder. Everyday.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: blue;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: blue;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">For more information on Almine Barton, Licensed Acupuncturist, Certified Fitness Trainer, “CrossFit” Coach, you may visit her website at: www.alminewellness.com</i></div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03902589811626771148noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7918472490658203767.post-24490650578789983452012-04-09T21:18:00.003-07:002012-04-09T21:40:30.881-07:00Reasons why I am NOT applying for Nuun’s Hood to Coast Team2011 was a great year for me. I accomplished many goals that I have had for years. I started my fitness business, I <a href="http://lisasepiphany.blogspot.com/2011/10/st-george-marathon-race-reportmarathon.html" target="_blank">qualified for Boston</a> and I ran the <a href="http://lisasepiphany.blogspot.com/2011/09/hood-to-coast-race-report-part-6party.html" target="_blank">Hood to Coast Relay</a>. The <a href="http://www.hoodtocoast.com/" target="_blank">Hood to Coast Relay</a> was an incredible, memorable experience with some unbelievably awesome women. It not only introduced me to those fabulous people, but to a fantastic company. I am honored to be a <a href="http://www.nuun.com/" target="_blank">Nuun</a> Ambassador and am loyal to this great product.<br />
<img height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwMhsWcJ1l0YWohkE_x6r82NUtwM7_l2a6HkuAWo_4j9_-QCiycaZyGovk0VCTBHS7ih5G8oNoF4D15C26zMJisca4h8oIcKDR3_YKcG8ah4zRRakFJzldfznDrWj-zuOeb4Qf_fGi5uM/s320/299638_2346168496187_1309279261_32889912_883544_n.jpg" width="320" /><br />
It was such an epic experience that it took <em>six</em> blog posts to say everything I wanted to say. I am sure there was more I could have said. It was one of those once-in-a lifetime experiences that will never be replicated.<br />
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So when Nuun announced that they were going to host teams again in 2012, I was beyond excited. We had been talking about running it again since we finished our last legs. I was eager to get my creative juices flowing and submit a kick ass application. I was looking forward to joining my new friends again for a fun-filled weekend.<br />
<br />
Here is a little taste of our weekend:<br />
<div class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" id="scid:5737277B-5D6D-4f48-ABFC-DD9C333F4C5D:19162e42-e89b-40b4-97d1-91744459b4c0" style="display: inline; float: none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div><object height="225" width="400"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=29117228&server=vimeo.com&show_title=0&show_byline=0&show_portrait=0&color=00adef&fullscreen=1&autoplay=0&loop=0" /><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=29117228&server=vimeo.com&show_title=0&show_byline=0&show_portrait=0&color=00adef&fullscreen=1&autoplay=0&loop=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="400" height="225"></embed></object><br />
<a href="http://vimeo.com/29117228">Nuun | Hood to Coast</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/ericbecker">eric becker</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</div></div>Here it is, the day of the application deadline and I have nothing to submit. I thought long and hard over this decision and decided NOT to submit an application. I am sad, but at peace about it. I know that when Nuun announces the 2012 teams, I will be sad again.<br />
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You must be asking <strong>why are you NOT re-applying for this incredible opportunity that is right up your running alley????</strong><br />
<strong><br />
</strong><br />
Here are the top reasons WHY I am not applying for Hood to Coast this year:<br />
<blockquote>1) <strong><em>Fear of rejection</em></strong>—I am not too proud to admit that this year I am a little nervous about getting rejected. Normally, I do fine with rejection. Lately, however, I have been a bit more sensitive. I have a lot going on in my life and I find it harder to let things go. I feel like all my friends and running buddies have other friends and I am nobody’s first choice lately, so I am not up for not being Nuun’s first (or 36th) choice. Last year I had nothing to lose. If I didn’t make the team, I could look at all the fabulous bloggers and know why they chose those women over me. This year, knowing that 2011 team members are not guaranteed a spot, I was a bit nervous. In fact, to make it fair to everyone, Nuun has told us that only a percentage of us would be chosen again. If I don’t make it this year, I know I will question myself even more. It will take me back to those feelings I had in middle school. I will wonder if I didn’t make the team because I was lacking in some way. Did I talk too much? Did I not talk enough? Did they not like me? Is my blog not popular or witty enough? Am I not good enough? </blockquote><blockquote>2) <strong><em>My social media presence has been appalling lately</em></strong>—Other than Facebook for personal updates etc., I have been pretty absent from the social media world. My blog hasn’t been updated in weeks. I can’t remember my last tweet. I hope my followers don’t unfollow me! I have only glanced at <a href="http://pinterest.com/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a> and, frankly, don’t get it. I know that Nuun wants a big social media push from their team. If they check my stats, they will be disappointed.</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">There are several reasons for my lack of internet activity. First, my computer died a few weeks ago. I went back and forth with the manufacturer (it is still under warranty) and they <em>still </em>have it! It is difficult to get anything done on my phone. I finally plugged in my old computer, but there was a reason I replaced it—it is painfully slow!</blockquote><blockquote>Second, between clients and working in my kids’ school, I have been very busy lately. I hate spending my free time at the computer (although that does seem to happen). I have always been pretty busy, but lately it has made me feel overwhelmed.</blockquote><blockquote>3) <strong><em>I'm running Southern California Ragnar in two weeks—</em></strong>As much as I would like to run several relays a year, it does put added pressure on my family. My husband has to take a day(s) off work and/or I have to find friends to pick up my kids from school etc. Mommy being gone gets complicated. My husband is great with this and very supportive, but I don’t want to push my luck and do it too often. I am also planning on running St. George again, which is another Mommy day off. </blockquote><blockquote>In addition, with Ragnar looming, it is difficult to think about another relay in a few short months. I <em>know</em> I would love doing both and becoming a relay “expert” like fellow Hood to Coast alum, <a href="http://www.healthontherun.net/" target="_blank">Lauren</a>. I just don’t think this is the year.</blockquote><blockquote>4) <strong><em>I have recently taken on new responsibilities—</em></strong>Some of my online friends and I have started a new website, <a href="http://theruniverse.com/" target="_blank">theRUNiverse.com</a>. This is a group-edited blog featuring articles about our favorite sport, running. The site is a mixture of original content and reposted articles. I don’t want to let these people down and I try to meet my deadlines to help keep our content fresh. Check out theRUNiverse.com as well as our <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/theruniverse" target="_blank">Twitter</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheRUNiverse" target="_blank">Facebook</a> and <a href="http://pinterest.com/theruniverse/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a> pages! [LOL…shameless plug]</blockquote><blockquote>5) <strong><em>We are relocating to Colorado in June or July—</em></strong>My husband’s job and the tough Southern California economy has us relocating to Fort Collins, Colorado. This last reason is probably the deciding factor in not applying. Details of our move are still up in the air. Our target move date is July 1, but we haven’t found a place yet. It will be a big transition for my children (and for me). School in Fort Collins starts in late August and I would have to miss a few of their first days of school. Switching schools is a big deal and I don’t know how much they will need Mommy in those first few days. Last year, I missed picking up my daughter for her first day of Kindergarten because I was at Hood to Coast, I am not sure I can do that this year. </blockquote><blockquote> <br />
I don’t know what our routines will be. I don’t know how flexible my husband’s workload will be (although it is the same company, but his workload changes based on various circumstances). I don’t know if I will have any friends to help pick up the slack when I am gone. All these unknowns make it difficult to make plans to be gone for three or four days. </blockquote><blockquote>I am both excited and scared about this move. I think this impending life change is one of the reasons I am feeling sensitive, overwhelmed and not very creative. I am sure as I get back into my blogging, I will write more about my feelings about this new chapter of our lives.</blockquote>So there you have it. While so many women are posting their Nuun Hood to Coast applications today, I am feeling a bit wistful. I just hope that my teammates and Nuun don’t take it as a reflection on them. I plan on starting my application for 2013 as soon as I get settled! :-)<br />
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Good luck to my blogger friends who are applying. To those of you I shared a van with, I hope you miss me—at least a little. I will be following you all eagerly and cheering you on. <br />
<br />
Happy RunningLisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03902589811626771148noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7918472490658203767.post-59585623868014159662012-03-06T19:58:00.001-08:002012-03-06T20:02:55.418-08:00Tough Chik Tuesday: Jolene<div>Remember once upon a time when I started "Tough Chick Tuesday"? Yeah...it is a memory for me too. Well, better late than never, right? Here is the next installment of "Tough Chik Tuesday." Enjoy!</div><div><br />
</div><div><i><span style="color: blue;"> So when I first saw the post on Team Tough Chik by Tonia from <a href="http://www.racingwithbabes.com/" target="_blank">Racing With Babes </a>I glanced over it and moved on. I mean really, me tough, I think not. So I contemplated on it for a few days. There was a part of me that really wanted to join. I wanted the opportunity to meet other women who run, cycle, and much more. Perhaps even the opportunity to meet other moms like me. I live in a smaller town where the population of moms who run is pretty low and I also have a crazy schedule and am often unable to get out there and join others on runs. So the question came to be, am I tough?</span></i></div><div><i><span style="color: blue;"><br />
</span></i></div><div><i><span style="color: blue;"> So I had a Stuart Smalley moment, remember him from the Saturday Night Live days? If not check him out on You Tube. It is priceless. My moment did not take place staring in a mirror though. It took place sitting on a bed looking at my many journal entries through the years. The answer finally came to me that I was indeed tough. You see I am a survivor. Running was introduced to me in my late-teens after a traumatic experience in my life. That moment alone would take a whole two blog entries. A counsellor I saw introduced me to running as a therapy for my depression and post traumatic stress disorder. It is truly amazing how running can literally lift your spirits up and clear your thoughts. I would run and my mind would open up. Fast forward many years through 3 suicide attempts, marriage, two children, and then the final moment........the loss of my father to an aggressive primary brain cancer in 2007. I had 210 pounds sitting on my 5 foot 4 frame and I had stopped taking my anti-depressant medicine because I wanted to be able to fight the battle without it. My husband was my biggest supporter in all of this. He has stayed by my side through every tough moment and never told me I could not do it. He believed in me before I believed in myself. The loss of my father changed me. It was a change I needed though. </span></i></div><div><i><span style="color: blue;"><br />
</span></i></div><div><i><span style="color: blue;"> For many years I had stopped running, but when my father passed away I knew that had to change. I was overweight and I have the lovely genetic gift of high blood pressure from my mother and father. I knew I had to run again, but that I had to take the journey on my own or it would not stick. So one day I threw on my running shoes and went out the door. My first run I literally did two miles of walking and running intervals. I felt awful. I kept thinking there was no way I could keep doing it, but I did. Then I signed up for the 2010 Disney Princess 1/2 Marathon with a friend of mine. That was the big kick in the butt for me. I had a goal and I was going to do it. I was going to beat that little voice in my head telling me I was not good enough or that I was too fat. When the race came around I ran it proudly. My time was not wonderful, but I did not care. All that I cared about was the fact I had been out there on my own and had trained myself to fight against the little voice. I crossed that finish line with my arms in the air and an enormous amount of pride. At that time I weighed 180 pounds. </span></i></div><div><i><span style="color: blue;"><br />
</span></i></div><div><i><span style="color: blue;"> Forward to present day. Running has given me the greatest gift and that is the ability to stop that voice in my head that likes to bring me down. I have finally been able to see the person that those closest to me have seen for years and I believe in that person. I am now in school full-time working towards my dream of becoming a Family Nurse Practitioner. After over 13 years as a Registered Nurse I finally believe in myself enough to attain this dream. I also found my reason for running. In honor of my father and the children with cancer I have cared for in the past I now run to raise money for <a href="http://www.alexslemonade.org/" target="_blank">Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation</a>. In fact in October I am running my first post-children full marathon and running it for the foundation. I will be running the <a href="http://www.marinemarathon.com/" target="_blank">Marine Corp Marathon</a> with my husband who has experience with it as he ran it in 2010. I was given the most amazing gift with running and I intend to open it every day that I can. I am never going to be the one out there trying to win, but I am going to be the one out there trying to bring a difference to the world with my running. </span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0AhpKH2XBC1ByTjMHMKeQQF59vIWZ_xIt_3gfIk6CtIOKRlSMtTBW2f0C_hC5JkRknNz0fIokr2FEFTf2p77kVf_AB9fbGcHySUgV-JrinhxPohRa6cAhkyyIHEUxd2wqbqrSWBKTeNgz/s1600/headlamp+jolene.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0AhpKH2XBC1ByTjMHMKeQQF59vIWZ_xIt_3gfIk6CtIOKRlSMtTBW2f0C_hC5JkRknNz0fIokr2FEFTf2p77kVf_AB9fbGcHySUgV-JrinhxPohRa6cAhkyyIHEUxd2wqbqrSWBKTeNgz/s320/headlamp+jolene.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><i><span style="color: blue;"><br />
</span></i></div><div><i><span style="color: blue;"> So am I tough? Yes, I believe I am. I juggle being a mom, wife, runner, full-time student, and full-time RN. I now weigh 128 pounds and feel the best I have ever felt. I am a survivor in many ways. I stand proudly because of the women I have become. This life is amazing and I intend to embrace it with every inch of tough blood that runs through my veins. I look forward to meeting the many amazing women out there who represent Team Tough Chik. We all have a story that makes us the women we are and we stand proud.</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8PRSE0845Nr7B_xyJsS-dUIgTFwAb8EPXpfeZNbt7HoudpcygbqNodx6DXKKW61E1697uwRliDxHMpX4Q8vcXavhYKkbXnXwqlXp2QqEm7yTJxBvLwwdZ59tXlfZ4SmE7RDAyNrLx5cXJ/s1600/jolene+pic1a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8PRSE0845Nr7B_xyJsS-dUIgTFwAb8EPXpfeZNbt7HoudpcygbqNodx6DXKKW61E1697uwRliDxHMpX4Q8vcXavhYKkbXnXwqlXp2QqEm7yTJxBvLwwdZ59tXlfZ4SmE7RDAyNrLx5cXJ/s320/jolene+pic1a.jpg" width="270" /></a></div><div><br />
Wow! Thanks, Jolene, for a wonderfully inspiring post!! Check out Jolene's blog at Journey of a <a href="http://journeyofacanuckmomontherun.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Canuck Mom on the Run</a>.</div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03902589811626771148noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7918472490658203767.post-21221539884195872062012-02-20T09:24:00.001-08:002012-02-20T09:24:10.051-08:00A Bad Blogger…<p>I really should think of this blog as a job.  But I don’t. It has opened up a world for me –the world of running and the wonderful online running community. But yet, it sits here…lonely…without an update for weeks. I receive fantastic opportunities from this blog (i.e. <a href="http://fitfluential.com/" target="_blank">Fitfluential</a>, <a href="http://www.nuun.com/" target="_blank">Nuun</a>, etc.) and to those companies I apologize for my recent lack of stimulating content.</p> <p>I started this blog four years ago as a way to document my journey of training for my first marathon. It was my journal, my account of becoming a runner. As I started getting followers and started learning more and more about running and fitness, I tried to add helpful posts like reviews, workouts etc. I tried to make my posts something that other people would want to read. But ultimately, it always came back to my own thoughts and feelings. I am not as good at seeing myself as an expert as I am at seeing myself as a runner…trying to find the right balance in life. </p> <p>Lately, I have been feeling a little overwhelmed.  I am no busier than anyone else.*  I lead a typical life of a mom with a part-time job. Ironically, I can keep up with my turns on <em>Words with Friends</em>, but I struggle to keep up with expiring Groupons, blog posts and the laundry.  I know great bloggers who balance motherhood, full-time jobs and other responsibilities and still add interesting and informative content almost every day.**   It is not that I don’t have ideas…I have a half dozen unfinished posts in my draft folder. I just lack the focus and inspiration to get them done! I only seem to do what is most pressing at the time, letting other things in my life fall by the wayside. </p> <p>My husband asked me once how I could have the dedication to run a mile every day, but I can’t seem to put away a load of laundry. I think running helps me escape (much like Words with Friends—LOL) and for those few minutes a day, I don’t feel overwhelmed. Sometimes it seems like there is so much to do, so I don’t even start. Then I am behind and it spirals into chaos.</p> <p>How do I get things back on track? </p> <p>What do you do to keep your life from falling into chaos?  </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><font color="#666666" size="2"><em><strong>*Although recently I have been pretty consumed with organizing the jog-a-thon at my kids’ school, which took a LOT of time and energy.</strong></em></font></p> <p><font color="#666666" size="2"><em><strong>**I do suspect, however, that some of those with full-time jobs manage to do a few blog posts from work.</strong></em></font></p> Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03902589811626771148noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7918472490658203767.post-60625498786930957752012-01-27T07:15:00.000-08:002012-01-27T07:19:30.105-08:00Fitfluential Friday—A Father’s InfluenceI am excited to introduce Pavement Runner, one of the few male <a href="http://fitfluential.com/" target="_blank">Fitfluential</a> Ambassadors. I talk a lot on this blog about motherhood, moms etc., but rarely explore a dad’s perspective. I really enjoyed his post and I hope you do too.<br />
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You can follow him at <a href="http://pavementrunner.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Pavement Runner</a> or <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/PavementRunner" target="_blank">@pavementrunner</a> on Twitter. Send him some love!<br />
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Fs7E5pY-QtY/TyH3c-pwpOI/AAAAAAAAEMI/1FrsdlJq4yI/s1600-h/father-runner-fitfluential%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img align="left" alt="SONY DSC" border="0" height="184" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-14eG5ggnd3E/TyH3dAd7f3I/AAAAAAAAEMQ/eVaZtoAKGco/father-runner-fitfluential_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; float: left; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="SONY DSC" width="323" /></a><em><span style="color: #333333;">In all the landmark moments that have happened in my life — from kissing a girl, to graduating college, to buying my first home — becoming a father makes those seem like small stepping stones whose sole purpose was to bring me to this single moment. This one opportunity to take everything that I have learned in my (insert number here) years of life and positively influence this beautiful little girl that my wife and I have been blessed with.</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: #333333;">I have always been in shape. Sometimes that shape is a little more round than I would like, but I have typically always been at or within 10-15 pounds of a healthy weight, given my age and height. But something strange triggered when our daughter was born, I felt the need to improve my health and fitness. I guess at the root of this inclination was that I need to be healthier not just for me, but for her. That daddy needs to be around to see his daughter grow and to set a good example of what a healthy lifestyle is like.</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: #333333;">My influence is being put to the test and it will help shape the life of a little girl. At who she will see as a male figure in her life growing up. How she will or will not depend on a man as she gets older. As a father, making my daughter feel safe and confident seems like one of the most important things I can do.</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: #333333;">In the early months, finding time to squeeze in a few miles was difficult. If I wanted to learn how much of my personal time has to be sacrificed to fill the needs of starting a family, it was made clear early on. Although a mother's role typically demands more, being a part of the day-to-day routine was important to me. Making sure that mom and baby rested when possible required odd hours of maintaining the household: laundry, dishes, grocery shopping, etc.</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: #333333;">But remember that strange feeling I mentioned two paragraphs ago? It was remembering that I <strike>needed to</strike> wanted to lead a healthier lifestyle that helped me make the decisions to put on my running shoes and head out the door when possible. It's also the reason that even with the reduced hours of sleep and fewer miles I was able to become a faster runner after she was born.</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: #333333;">I wanted to be a better person for her. I wanted to be a stronger person for her. I wanted to show her through example, what it is like to lead a healthy lifestyle and to place value in fitness. I don't think I'm one of those parents that will force their children to partake in the activities that I enjoy. I won't force her to get up at 5 a.m. and run 10 miles before work or school. But at the same time, I don't want that to be considered strange if that is what she wants to do. I don't want it to be weird for her to have vegetables at dinner instead of french fries.</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #333333;"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-3jXO4IHtLis/TyH3dS4yOzI/AAAAAAAAEMY/D0lSbUAhrLA/s1600-h/father-runner-fitfluential-hands%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="SONY DSC" border="0" height="181" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-1vdtr00_85w/TyH3dn7J8RI/AAAAAAAAEMg/MIpkmmk8gDM/father-runner-fitfluential-hands_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="SONY DSC" width="320" /></a></span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #333333;">Becoming a father changed almost everything about my life. Things that I placed so much emphasis on before, were reevaluated and adjusted to fit the needs of the little one. But the thing is, it's good. It's changes that I wanted to make. People have commented that because I have a blog or run lots of miles that I influence others or motivate them to give running another try... but in all honesty, this tiny little beautiful girl has influenced me more, without saying a word, tweet or status update.</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: #333333;">Sincerely, an influenced father.</span></em><br />
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Also, don’t forget to check out last week’s <a href="http://lisasepiphany.blogspot.com/2012/01/fitfluential-friday.html" target="_blank">Fitfluential Ambassador</a>. Please send Ashleigh some love at her blog, <a href="http://www.waking-up-in-vegas.com/" target="_blank">Waking Up in Vegas</a> or on Twitter, <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/ashlovebash" target="_blank">@ashlovebash</a>.<br />
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Have a great weekend and Happy Running…Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03902589811626771148noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7918472490658203767.post-78153018471356098132012-01-24T11:35:00.001-08:002012-01-24T11:35:57.730-08:00Giveaway Winners!!<p>The four winners of the “Favorite Things” giveaway are:</p> <p>Entry #<u>87</u>  <strong>Michelle B.—</strong><a href="http://www.ifitnessinc.com/" target="_blank">iFitness</a><em> Double Neoprene Belt</em></p> <p>Entry #<u>30</u> <strong>Toni C.—</strong><em><a href="http://www.nuun.com/" target="_blank">Nuun</a>—bottle and tube</em></p> <p>Entry #<u>91</u> <strong>Aubrey L.—</strong><em><a href="http://www.jambajuice.com/" target="_blank">Jamba Juice</a> gift card</em></p> <p>Entry #<u>19</u> <strong>Jen N.—</strong><em><a href="http://www.arbonne.ca/products/anti-aging/before_sun/lipSaver.asp" target="_blank">Arbonne Lip Saver</a></em></p> <p>Congratulations to the winners!  Stay tuned for another giveaway soon.</p> Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03902589811626771148noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7918472490658203767.post-60218216411132183572012-01-22T23:00:00.001-08:002012-01-22T23:07:05.379-08:00First real “runner’s high” in a while—Los Angeles 13.1 Race ReportHave you ever had a race/run where out of nowhere it gave you an incredible runner’s high? The run you weren’t really looking forward to, but did it anyway because you made the commitment?<br />
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That was what happened to me last Sunday. I won an entry to the <a href="http://www.131marathon.com/13_1_Los_Angeles.htm" target="_blank">Los Angeles 13.1 Half Marathon</a> from <a href="http://roadbunner.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">RoadBunner</a>. This race is about an hour from my house and as it approached I wasn’t too excited about doing it by myself. My friends didn’t want to do it and I didn’t push the issue since it was a $100 race. I was further un-excited when I had to drive an hour to pick up my packet.*<br />
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So without any taper [10 hard, hilly miles the week before; normal runs during the week; 8.5 miles the day before; 44-day run streak leading up to it] I decided to run without a solid plan.<br />
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Last year, I ran that race in 1:49:08. It would be nice to run it faster than that. A 1:45 would be spectacular. So even though I didn’t think I could keep the pace, I started out hoping to run between 8 and 8:15 minutes/mile. Normally, I don’t like going out too fast; I <em>hate</em> hitting the wall at the end of a race. But in this race, I didn’t really have anything to lose.<br />
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<strong>Miles 1-4—7:48, 7:48; 7:57, 7:54 </strong>Was a 1:45 possible?? Sub-8’s were feeling easier than they ever had. I had only run that fast during a 5K and during the Fontana Half Marathon last June, which has a major downhill loss in the first half.<br />
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The course this year was SO much better than last year. We ran along the boardwalk in Venice beach and then around the bay of Marina del Rey. I have never been in Marina del Rey and it is beautiful. There is something very peaceful about a marina.<br />
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<strong>Miles 5-7—8:04, 8:04, 8:08 </strong>My legs were starting to feel heavy. I am not sure if my fatigue was helped along by the concrete beach path. I really felt like my feet were pounding. This part of the race reminded me of the beach path during the <a href="http://lisasepiphany.blogspot.com/2010/10/long-beach-marathon-race-report.html" target="_blank">Long Beach</a> Marathon. There were a lot of winding turns. Even though I tried to run the tangents, I kept losing mileage; the the halfway point of the race, I was about .1 off on the mile markers**<br />
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<strong>Miles 8-11—8:18, 8:18, 8:18, 8:19 </strong>Right before the mile 8 marker, there was a mean hill. This was a race along the ocean,so I didn’t expect hills. It is advertised as a flat course, so I didn’t expect hills. I don’t usually mind hills, but my tired legs were NOT loving hills at this point. Then there was <em>another </em>at mile 9. This one kicked my booty pretty hard. For the first part of that mile, I was running in the 9’s. Luckily, it flattened out and we hit the turnaround. You know what that means…we got to run back <em>down </em>that hill. Yeah! Unfortunately, I was so wiped out by that time, I couldn’t take full advantage of that downhill.<br />
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The worst part of the entire course was during this section. Around mile 8.5 I smelled a horrid smell. At first there was a strong chemical smell. Then a pungent smell of sewage. I tried to breath out of my mouth as best I could, but it was really nasty. Unfortunately, this was an out-an-back course and the way back was even worse.At around mile 10.5, the smell was nearly intolerable. I definitely had to breathe exclusively through my mouth. This smell ruined the race for one runner. <a href="http://greekmelie.wordpress.com/2012/01/15/13-1-la-fail/" target="_blank">G(r)eek Melie</a> felt nauseous from it and didn’t recover the rest of the race.<br />
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<strong>Miles 12-13.25—8:21, 8:06, 6:45 pace </strong>Around mile 11, I hit a serious wall. I didn’t stop, but I wanted to. I knew if I stopped to walk just once, I would not be able to finish strong or finish at all. For the first time in a long time, I was <em>hating</em> running right then. I just wanted it to be done. I was putting one foot in front of the other. I knew if I kept doing that, I would get done with the race. This part of the course was straight and slightly downhill. The downhill was the only thing that kept that mile respectable.<br />
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When my Garmin hit mile 12, I knew I just had a couple more songs on my iPod and I would be done. I thought of my encouraging words to my friend, Jen in <a href="http://www.sbimarathon.com/" target="_blank">Santa Barbara</a>, “it will stop hurting when we cross that finish line and stop.” I kept telling myself that the agony would be over when I stopped. So I picked it up and basically gave it everything I had to the end. I was shocked that I could still pull out an almost 8-minute-mile being <em>that </em>tired. <br />
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Toward the very end, I picked it up. Then I saw a woman ahead of me who I had seen throughout the race. I guessed she was close to my age.*** I decided that I didn’t want to be beat in my age group by a couple of seconds. I started to sprint. I ran faster than I can remember running in a race. All I wanted to do was to beat that random woman. The crowd helped me by cheering me on. I ended up beating her by three seconds. I thanked her at the end and told her good job. That last bit of the race was some of my fastest running <em>ever. </em>In fact, when I kicked it into that final sprint, I felt <em>so </em>strong! 6:45 pace? Wow…that is FAST. Go me!<br />
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My official time was <strong>1:46:59</strong>, which was in the top 10 of my age group. That is nine seconds faster than Fontana of 2010, making it my second fastest half marathon. My <a href="http://lisasepiphany.blogspot.com/2011/06/fontana-days-half-marathon-race-report.html" target="_blank">PR is 1:42:30</a>, but that is an incredibly fast downhill course. I don’t even really count it as a PR. Sunday’s race was a more <em>true </em>PR.<br />
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I am super proud of myself and very happy with my performance. I thought I had lost some speed. Tempo runs have been few and far between and a struggle to run under 8-minute miles. I found a new gear and overcame very tired legs. It makes me wonder how I would do if I actually trained for a half marathon with speed work and a decent taper.<br />
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I was on an incredible high for days. I was there by myself, but found plenty of friendly runners to chat with. I shared a beer with one runner (darn, I forgot her name!), some food with others and a shuttle seat with a lovely lady named Magaly.<br />
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ZMSwG_voYTQ/Tx0FeQYDNLI/AAAAAAAAEL0/tUvS78ubJqc/s1600-h/13.1%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img align="left" alt="13.1" border="0" height="244" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-H-7iImSrKKw/Tx0FegkeOmI/AAAAAAAAEL8/ML2Ekp5jGAE/13.1_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; float: left; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="13.1" width="111" /></a>Oh…and the bling wasn’t either.<br />
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Next race…Tinkerbell. I am really looking forward to dressing like a fairy and running with some great women. I will be meeting at least one online friend for the first time.<br />
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Don't forget to enter my <i><a href="http://lisasepiphany.blogspot.com/2012/01/favorite-things-and-couple-of-giveaways.html" target="_blank">Favorite Things</a> </i>giveaway!! Tomorrow is the last day!<br />
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Happy Running…<br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-size: x-small;">*There was no expo, just people passing out bibs. Really? What a waste of gas and time! This fact became more annoying when I saw them passing out bibs the morning of the race. I kicked myself, because I should have emailed the race personnel to see if this was an option that wasn’t listed on the website. Grrrr….</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-size: x-small;">**I enjoyed the fact that there were mile markers with clocks at every mile.</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-size: x-small;">***When checking the results, it looks like she was actually in the age group above me.</span>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03902589811626771148noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7918472490658203767.post-3582887273457279432012-01-20T06:50:00.000-08:002012-01-20T06:50:40.017-08:00Fitfluential FridayI am starting a feature every Friday called "Fitfluential Friday." I will be featuring guest bloggers to talk about various aspects of what "<a href="http://fitfluential.com/" target="_blank">fitfluential</a>" means to them. I am hoping to provide some different perspectives while highlighting some pretty incredible people. I hope you enjoy!<br />
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<i><span style="color: #073763;">Hey Everyone!</span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: #073763;">I'm Ashleigh from <a href="http://www.waking-up-in-vegas.com/">Waking Up In Vegas</a>, and I'm sure as you guessed I am from Las Vegas, and I write a fitness, healthy living, and everything in between kind of blog! Feel free to pop over and say hello! I am so excited to be apart of this new Fitfluential Friday series, it is ironic i also happen to write a Fitfluential post every Friday too. =] Great minds think alike ;)</span></i><br />
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<i><span style="color: #073763;">Today I decided I should share some background on myself of how I became a fitness lover!</span></i><br />
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<i><span style="color: #073763;">I have been athletic for as long as I can remember, I did dance/gymnastics before i could even spell my last name! [its a true story, my last name is pretty difficult] I soon quit dance to become a full-time competitive gymnast. This meant going to the gym [as in gymnastics gym] 4-5 days a week for 4 hours a day! no joke..it was intense. I was told I was too small and needed to gain muscles but I couldn't because I wasnt intaking enough calories. I worked off way more than I ate so my muscles were thriving for more fuel! I was put on a strict diet of protein, protein, and more protein! I had to drink protein shakes before gymnastics and had to stop and have a snack halfway through practice because doctors were scared I was losing to much weight.</span></i><br />
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<i><span style="color: #073763;">Insert first time I was concerned about my weight...As a gymnast you are very aware of your weight and you need to make sure that you eat healthy and stay in shape; coaches would warn you if they thought you were gaining too much. I never had this problem thankfully but you would think I did. One day I went to the doctors at the age of 11 and weighted 72 pounds. I saw the 72 and freaked out..the last time I went to the doctors I had weighted 70. I didnt take in account that it had been a year, I didnt take in account that I was growing up..I just saw weight gain and got scared that my coaches would be mad.</span></i><br />
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<i><span style="color: #073763;">Fast Forward about 5 years..age 16 hits. I am in high school weighing in about 120..I was about 5'5-5'6 at the time so this was definitely a healthy weight. I had quit gymnastics and started dancing again. I was on my high school swim team (captain to be exact ;)) and I was starting my senior year. I didnt really pay to much attention to my weight at this time, I was dancing an hour a day and then had practice for 2 hours for swim team. Insert friends my friends were soooo insecure..and they rubbed off on me. I became very insecure. I started watching what I ate, exercising even more and looked up every single calorie i consumed. I was secretly developing a disorder.</span></i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--7-Bt7BZY-I/Tw5tITrWJtI/AAAAAAAABaw/zWe2xyydWZ8/s1600/672.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><i><span style="color: #073763;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--7-Bt7BZY-I/Tw5tITrWJtI/AAAAAAAABaw/zWe2xyydWZ8/s320/672.jpg" width="184" /></span></i></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #073763;">um yah..I hated this picture because I thought I was HUGE. </span></i></div><i><span style="color: #073763;"><br />
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<i><span style="color: #073763;">Fast Forward 1 year to my first year of college. I was 17 about to turn 18, and was extremely insecure. Thinking I looked fat in everything. I was size 3..not fat at all. I was dating someone long distance and was enjoying getting to buy my own groceries, make my own food and being in total control of EVERYTHING. No one was there to monitor me. I soon developed some really bad habits, I would eat around 700 calories a day and work out twice a day. I would walk the long way to all my classes trying to lose some extra calories. I would do this for the 3 weeks I wasnt with my ex, then when he came up we would enjoy everything and I would act as if I was eating normally. Then once he left I would have a binge day..eating everything I saw....then go back on my crazy diet. Those freshman 15 myths never happened for me because of this. </span></i><i><span style="color: #073763;">I once went on saltine diet..6 saltine crackers a day. no joke. chugging water whenever hungry. </span></i><i><span style="color: #073763;">I also had a slight case of bulimia. </span></i><i><span style="color: #073763;">Right before I moved back to Vegas I ate a mini box of thin wheats with salsa...and I cried. I called my mom crying..I called my dad crying..I was slowly losing control.</span></i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O1yYLOBoDWI/Tw5x7CLZ8JI/AAAAAAAABbA/4U3O9u0Ao_w/s1600/skin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #073763;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IruHMcoE3is/Tw5x6rkjrlI/AAAAAAAABa4/z4ll38j0xqE/s1600/ang19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IruHMcoE3is/Tw5x6rkjrlI/AAAAAAAABa4/z4ll38j0xqE/s400/ang19.jpg" width="127" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O1yYLOBoDWI/Tw5x7CLZ8JI/AAAAAAAABbA/4U3O9u0Ao_w/s1600/skin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O1yYLOBoDWI/Tw5x7CLZ8JI/AAAAAAAABbA/4U3O9u0Ao_w/s400/skin.jpg" width="76" /></a></span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #073763;"><br />
</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #073763;">see how skinny i look in these two pictures.. the one on the left..my pants are so baggy...and the one on the right..well i just look pale..my hair was so brittle. I remember this was right when i moved back from Reno.</span></i></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #073763;"> [although i do love the definition in my legs]. </span></i></div></div><div><i><span style="color: #073763;"><br />
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<i><span style="color: #073763;">My grandparents came up to help me move home, my grandma commented on how horrible I looked and that I should not lose anymore weight. I just nudged it off. When I arrived home it was late in the evening, I ate "dinner" and went to bed. What did I do the next morning? Went to the gym...at six a.m. nothing was unpacked, nothing was done; but my first priority was the gym. What didnt help is that my ex LOVED the way I looked. but everyone else hated it.</span></i><br />
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<i><span style="color: #073763;">My mom threatened to send me to a therapist if i didn't stop this business. I slowly started to eat better and work out an appropriate amount of time. I started to look better and to tell you the truth, I started to feel better. I gained back some much needed weight. After a couple of months of living at home I decided to move out with the dreaded EX, and that did not help any situations. We enjoyed "acting married" and we would make elaborate dinners and have movie nights on the couch gorging on popcorn and candy. </span></i><br />
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<i><span style="color: #073763;">I gained some "love" pounds but quickly got rid of it the moment I realized my pants were much tighter than I wanted. I made the decision to end the relationship due to <strike>cheating </strike> unrecognizable differences, and some of the pounds creeped back on. I tried crazy fad diets like HCG, and almost going anorexic [but I couldnt do it, I just love food too much.] After each failure with each diet I would binge and the weight never went anywhere, I just kept gaining.</span></i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RGlIhmLb-xI/Tw511woNTDI/AAAAAAAABbI/UaMiQlgxQV0/s1600/DSC00025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><i><span style="color: #073763;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RGlIhmLb-xI/Tw511woNTDI/AAAAAAAABbI/UaMiQlgxQV0/s320/DSC00025.JPG" width="182" /></span></i></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #073763;">me at my heaviest;</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #073763;">embarrassing! </span></i></div><i><span style="color: #073763;"><br />
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<i><span style="color: #073763;">About a year and a half ago I met the love of my life, my boyfriend, he met me at my highest weight and fell in love with me. I realized I didn't have to be stick skinny to be loved, if he loved me at my highest he will love me even more when I lose it. But that didnt mean I felt "sexy" or happy with my own self, and I wanted to change that.</span></i><br />
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<i><span style="color: #073763;">Speed forward to present time. I have lost about 15 pounds and gained about 2 lbs in muscle. I have started running, eating right and tracking everything to make sure I am giving my body what it needs. How did I start this? Fitfluential. I read a ton of fitness/healthy living blogs and it inspired me to become healthy not only for me but for my future..my unborn babies, and my boyfriend/husband. Healthy living isn't about a diet, it isn't about working out two times a day trying to drop LBs really fast. It's about setting your life up for success, knowing that small changes in diet and exercise routine can help you in the long run. It's about giving my body the things it needs to function properly. </span></i><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hwlY6WRrZVY/Tw52tPGBpDI/AAAAAAAABbQ/LJCrb-GAzno/s1600/DSC00645.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><i><span style="color: #073763;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hwlY6WRrZVY/Tw52tPGBpDI/AAAAAAAABbQ/LJCrb-GAzno/s640/DSC00645.JPG" width="196" /></span></i></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #073763;">this is me now.</span></i></div><i><span style="color: #073763;"><br />
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<i><span style="color: #073763;">Do I still get discouraged when the scale doesnt move?..sure..in fact just the other night I wanted to cry because the numbers went up by one and not down. But the definition I am seeing in my arms, legs and those little itty bitty abs are what make it count. The fact that I am able to run further than ever before, the fact that I can do more push-ups than before..this is what keeps me going. Without Fitfluential i dont know if my new healthy-living lifestyle would be going this strong. The support from fellow bloggers, the support from YOU, is what keeps me going!</span></i><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wAXO_OQjbFA/Tw54BEZqL4I/AAAAAAAABbY/tfmN9r1tbRY/s1600/DSC00728.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><i><span style="color: #073763;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wAXO_OQjbFA/Tw54BEZqL4I/AAAAAAAABbY/tfmN9r1tbRY/s400/DSC00728.JPG" width="240" /></span></i></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #073763;">starting to see definition.</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #073763;">work in progress.</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #073763;"><br />
</span></i></div><i><span style="color: #073763;">With that I thank you for reading this ridiculously long post, and hopefully it shows you how far I have come in my life and why Fitfluential is so important to me.</span></i><br />
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Thanks, Ashleigh!! Are you "fitfluential?" Why are you "fitfluential" in your own way??<br />
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Enjoy your weekend. Get out there and MOVE. Happy Running (or whatever your movement is...)!<br />
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</i></span>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03902589811626771148noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7918472490658203767.post-7209739552842477472012-01-17T08:00:00.000-08:002012-01-17T08:19:52.904-08:00Tough Chik TuesdayAs I posted last week, I am going to start featuring other athletes each week to get a new perspective. We all are different and all have our stories, but are connected in one way or another. I am connected to most of you and to my guest posters by running and fitness. Tuesdays I will feature someone from <a href="http://lisasepiphany.blogspot.com/2012/01/tough-chik-tuesday.html" target="_blank">Team Tough Chik,</a> a great group of women that I have been so excited to get to know. <br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Today’s guest post is from <strong>Michelle</strong>. She writes a blog at<strong> </strong><a href="http://carpcorner.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><strong>Carpenter’s Corner</strong></a><strong>. </strong></span><br />
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-v5XVM3byi_c/TxUHvgeQWcI/AAAAAAAAELE/ZA8rb4wB-tg/s1600-h/tough%252520chik%252520logo%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="tough chik logo" border="0" height="244" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/--3Clspc1eQU/TxUHv_w7nBI/AAAAAAAAELM/r7B6khcWzu8/tough%252520chik%252520logo_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="tough chik logo" width="217" /></a><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><strong><em><span style="color: #333333;">What Makes Me A Tough Chik</span></em></strong></div><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-V2L6CLiiz3w/TxUHwOs9dFI/AAAAAAAAELU/yuiQdtJU_gM/s1600-h/michelle%252520carp%252520guest%252520post%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img alt="michelle carp guest post" border="0" height="348" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-phNyegjRo7U/TxUHwQQ-oSI/AAAAAAAAELc/MRfKpY8asws/michelle%252520carp%252520guest%252520post_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="michelle carp guest post" width="234" /></a><span style="color: #333333;"><i>Let’s be honest. I don’t think I’m the poster child for “Tough Chik”.</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333;"><i>I consider myself on the training roster. Oh sure. I’ve battled trials and tribulations in life—the loss of my dear friend to cancer, alcoholism, unemployment and depression. But that’s all in the past. I feel fortunate that I’m not fighting for my life, that I have a loving husband, healthy children and a good job; a warm bed, a roof over my head, good friends and a full belly. And through all the bad and good, I’ve got this wonderful body that has carried me many miles through life.</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333;"><i>I’m learning to push my body to places I’ve never been. My goal is that at the end of this life, people reflect on me and think “That was one TOUGH CHIK”. I don’t think that I’ve pushed my body to the depths of tough. I keep pushing the envelope and keep watching my potential grow. That’s a pretty cool feeling.</i></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333;"><i>I signed up for Tough Chik because it is what I want to aspire to be. It’s a good reminder of why I work hard. I had no idea when I signed up that I would be welcomed into a community of other women. Really! I thought I was buying cute clothes and supporting a great cause. Instead, I have gained MORE running friends. And what once were taboo words in my vocabulary….swimming and cycling, are becoming a little warmer thanks to many of YOU. Do I hear a TRI in my future? Hmmmm. But first up, is Boston baby!</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333;"><i>Training for any marathon, especially Boston reminds me of what makes me need to strive to be a Tough Chik. Balancing a full time job, a husband and two kids, a household and other “big girl” commitments takes up a large part of my day. I’m not an early morning runner because my husband works nights and is just going to bed at 3 a.m. I treasure those few hours we have together. I fit my run in at night, when I can. It is what it is. On the weekends, my family commits to Sunday mornings without me so I can get my long run in. We all make it work…for my sanity and theirs!</i></span><br />
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<i><span style="color: #333333;">In the past, I’ve trained alone or with my dad who bikes with me. As I’ve become more comfortable in my running skin, I’m learning to embrace running with other people. Joining Tough Chik was a good way to help me find enjoyment in running with a group. I’ve learned a lot, been pushed a lot and have encouraged others a lot, too. This is a new place for me and I love it. I recently wrote a post about “</span><a href="http://carpcorner.blogspot.com/search?q=Where+It+All+Began" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Where It All Began</span></a><span style="color: #333333;">” and I can’t believe where I am now!</span></i><br />
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<span style="color: #333333;"><i>So thanks for allowing me this opportunity. You ladies continually inspire me with your enthusiasm, honesty and athleticism. I can hardly wait to meet you on the road ahead. Push on, Tough Chiks</i></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333;"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-pKbifkSPmOA/TxUHwt17KNI/AAAAAAAAELk/SZBPsK5QDU0/s1600-h/michelle%252520carp%252520guest%252520post2%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="michelle carp guest post2" border="0" height="197" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-9bzXpYD7KUM/TxUHw3DtnxI/AAAAAAAAELs/tOSq3U6ePWQ/michelle%252520carp%252520guest%252520post2_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="michelle carp guest post2" width="293" /></a></span><br />
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Thank you, Tough Chik, Michelle! Happy Running!<br />
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Don't forget to enter to win some fabulous prizes on my<a href="http://lisasepiphany.blogspot.com/2012/01/favorite-things-and-couple-of-giveaways.html"> favorite things post</a>! If you already entered, you can get more entries by tweeting every day!Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03902589811626771148noreply@blogger.com2