There's snakes in them there hills!

                                                   If you listen close you can hear the rattle!

Okay so this post could have a had several names and all would have fit....

      * Baking at Red Rock Canyon

Temperatures soared into the 100's as 53 runners took part in the inaugural "Flight of Fire" 1/2 Marathon Trail Run at Red Rock Canyon today.  Sure hope you remembered your sunscreen, head gear, sunglasses, and water.  It is gonna be a hot one!

* Since I am a Tortoise I belong in the Dessert

I could quote so many little feel good lines at this point.  You know we have all heard them and said them I am sure....At least you were out there, Run Walk or Crawl Just Finish, You did better then the ones who never tried.

 I love the positive thought and believe me I will love them tomorrow but today my only thought was I will not get another DNF (did not finish) at Red Rock Canyon.  Today my motivation was I will win my own personal battle in Red Rock NO MATTER WHAT! 

Today I was the tortoise in the dessert, slow and I wish I could say steady but with the mile taking me anywhere from 15 minutes to 36 minutes  I am not sure steady is the correct term.  But it is true at least I was out there and at least I did finish.

For this race I decided to wear my Vibram Five Finger Shoes.  This was my first race longer then a 5K that I decided to wear them.  I love my vibrams and do wear them everyday.  I have also worn them to hike up in Red Rock and I liked how well I can grip the rocks when I have them on my feet.  Since this race is a trail run I decided that I wanted the extra grip and boy I am so glad I did.  Not once did I slip on the lose gravel or on the big rocks as I climbed up and over the very narrow single track trails.  Only draw backs were that the rocks and sand were very hot and I could feel the heat on my feet and my calves were crying the next day. 

So for the snake story....lucky for me I never actually saw one.  Now mind you I am not afraid of snakes I just do not like things that can be lethal when they bite.  I can say now that I do know what a rattle snake sounds like though as I heard several as I ran my fastest hill ever once I realized what that rattle was. 

So I have now done something that I had never planned on doing....I have actually ran a Trail Run, will I do it again?  If you would have asked me the next day I would have said no....but....now that a month has gone by I say of course I will do it again! 

My Heart Still Skips a Happy Beat Just Before the GO!

There is something about the start of the race that always brings a tear to my eye and a little skip to my heart.  I love running in a race.  I love to see my fellow runners before the race in their various attire doing a variety of things to warm up.  My favorites are the ones who are running back and forth, as if the race was not going to be far enough for them to run, really do have to run before the race also.  I love asking random strangers to please take my picture thinking I do not want this moment to go unrecorded on my Facebook page or maybe in my BLOG and then taking pictures for them also. 

Each race is so similar and so different.  I know the distance today was a 10K or 6.2 miles (give or take) today had a little more give at 6.28 according to Map My Run.  I know that I will start out with the crowd and for about 3 minutes I will be a part of "the pack" and then my personal reality will set in and I will slow down just enough to be in what I know as my own personal "zone" the place where I am still able to breath and run at the same time.  

What made the "Las Vegas Run in the Sun" so much fun to be a part of.....it all started with getting up at 5am to do my pre-race prep which includes making a yummy race day drink, filling my water bottles with water and ice, making sure that I have put glide everywhere that I need to glide and not stick, getting dressed in my summer running gear because this is Vegas and it has been around 90 by 9 am lately and then out the door for the 40 minute drive to the other side of town where this run is being held, only to realize as soon as I walk out the door and close the door (alarm set) that is is only about 50 degrees and I will need a few more items of clothing for this morning.  Back in the house grab my long sleeve tech shirt and back out the door again.  Thank goodness for a smart phone that has a map app and shows me just where to go. 

I love arriving at the race and seeing all the people milling around just waiting to start.  I often wonder what is their story?  How did they become a runner?  Is this their first or their 50 race?  I have personally found the best place to glean information is the bathroom.  At this race where we all thought it would be warmer outside the bathroom which was heated was a real hot spot.  This is also where I met 2 women one from Kansas and one from Kentucky who had just flown into town the night before for their anniversary and were running this race with their husbands (nope they did not know each other before the race).  My thoughts were how fun is that, followed by, why are you not cuddled up in your hotel room. 

This race started like they all do with most of the runners crowding around the start line and me on the outside towards the back just enjoying that moment of teary eyed thankfulness that I get each time I know I am running my race, that I will finish this one not in first place, maybe even in last place, but the important part for me is that I am out there running the race.  That makes me a winner every time.

This course was 2 miles up a gradual hill, 1 mile of rolling hills and then about 100 yards of a steep hill where you then turned around and came back the same way(an out and back in runner's terms).  I loved knowing as tough as the hills seemed going up I would love them coming down.

In every race I try to find something amazing, sometimes it is a person, or the scenery, sometimes it is just a feeling I have as I run or a thought and sometimes it is all of the above listed items.  During this run it was the fact that for about 1/2 of the race I could see the Las Vegas Temple with the statue of the Angel Moroni visible.  What an inspiration to me as I ran, this became my amazing today both in vision and in thought.  I paused a moment to take this picture and to say a prayer of thankfulness for it is "but by the grace of God" that I am even able to run today.

All in all this was a great race for me.  Did I get a personal record? No my time was 1 hour and 30 minutes (making my pace just under 15 minutes per mile).  The race just felt great and that is why I love running.  I love feeling great at the end of each run.  I love knowing that I am doing what very few are willing to do or even want to do.  I am an athlete, and no matter how fast or slow or where I place to me I am an elite runner!

It All Began a Year Ago...Celebrating Being a Runner for One Year Today!

......it all begin on May 22, 2011 with the Weight Watcher's Walk It Challenge.  I was wearing my tennis shoes that I had been wearing in the garden because it was all that I had.  I drove to Salem alone telling my family that I was running a 5K but I did not ask anyone to go with me, after all I had not been running and I was not really sure if I could do the run.  I just knew I wanted to earn the 5K charm for my Weight Watcher's Key Chain and so off I went.  I got lost on the way trying to find the school where the race was being held (the website had the wrong school so I ended up really lost and having to call the number to find the way).  At last I was there and ready to run and run I did, okay really it was a very very very slow jog but I can say that I did not stop to walk during the whole 3.1 miles and it only took me 59 minutes a very long 59 minutes but I will always remember the feeling of running through the balloon arch and having them hand me my 5K Star that said "I did it" on one side and 5K on the other.  A simple toy star that will always be a treasure to me because it truly changed my life.  An amazing first step in what would become a life's journey.

A journey that has led me to run in 1 marathon, 5 1/2 Marathons, 7 10Ks and 5 5Ks plus put in an average of 20 plus miles a week with a month that I even ran 126 miles.  Running has become not just a healthy habit but it has truly become a life style for me.  I love running!  I love the feel that I have before a run, I love the feeling I have as I push myself to go further, faster and harder then I have ever gone before, to step out of my comfort zone and overcome my fears, I love the feeling I have after I have finished a run, a feeling that often stays with me the whole day.  I love the people I have met and the ones I will meet as I put one foot in front of the other and run on down the road. 

Story behind me crewing for Croix Sather

I belong to an amazing group called a Mastermind Group.  In this group I have been meeting at least once a month with four of the most amazing, strong, creative, courageous, spiritual and inspired women I have ever met...we have been together for more then 3 years and during our meeting we share our intentions and then together offer inspiration and power to those intentions.  So what did this have to do with crewing with Croix....it all started with my intention.  I set the intention to crew for an Ultra Marathoner....that is someone who runs more then a marathon.  A super running machine.

On a Sunday night in December right after Christmas I was inspired to check out Craigslist.  Looking at jobs in Las Vegas under spas.  The one at the very top caught my eye...Ultra Marathoner is looking for a crew member.  Must have massage experience but no need to be licensed,  be able to cook and drive an RV.

My intention stated right there!  If you know me you know that I am an excellent massage therapist but currently not licensed, I am an outstanding cook and I can drive almost anything  compliments of my Daddy who was a long haul truck driver.  This posting was just for me my intention in print right before my eyes.
So I answered the ad right then and there.  I knew this was a great opportunity for me and that the details would work themselves out.

Croix answered my emails, sent me his information so I could check out that he was in fact a real runner, really running from LA to Las Vegas and had already really ran across America.  There was only one glitch for me.

My grandson was going to arrive any day!  Could I really leave Las Vegas and my daughter for 5 full days?  Most of which I would be out of touch (there is very little cell service in the Mojave).  I decided to go on faith.  This opportunity had came just as I had intended and I would just ask for the baby to hand IN there just a little bit longer.

It was decided I would be massage therapist....chef and part time driver.  Alfred would be going along as photographer and main driver.

Let the journey begin!

Crewing for Croix Sather Ultra Marathoner LA to Las Vegas

       Croix, Alfred, & I when we picked up the RV in Las Vegas.

 We came from the mountains in the far distance....

 Heading for the mountains in the distance......

                  Entering the Heart of Mojave

                                                 Croix Sather

           This tree stump really looked like a human who did not take enough water on his run.

                  Route 66 Roy, California

                      We hike Hole in Wall on our last day

:

      Finished crewing on January 6th 2pm and my new Grandson Noah was born that evening.  Oma was home just in time to see my newest grandson enter this world.  His first time seeing his Oma in her full running gear.  I bet he will be our little runner!

Bumper Stickers....really back window stickers!

      Until running I have NEVER allowed anyone to put a sticker on anything....

                           Certainly never on my car.....

                       This one fits me the best!

                                                X 4

    Can't wait to run it again!

                             Coast to Coast!

October 29, 2011 Run Away Pumpkin 1/2 Marathon

    October 29th, 2011 Run Away Pumpkin 1/2 Marathon in Lebanon Oregon

I often wonder who makes the rules when it comes to running.  I decided myself early in my running career (like 3 months ago) that I would do what my body felt was right not just what someone else feels is right.  Now this does not mean that I don't read and pay attention to what other great runners have to say because I have read so many running books in the last 6 months and I have used so many of their words of wisdom.  But in the end I feel that every body is different and needs to find their own path.  So when someone said it was wise to take a break after running a marathon I thought really why?  I feel great, my body feels great, my feet feel great....so off I went and this was my best run to date! 

This was my first run where I passed more people then people passed me.  I was no where near the back of the pack and I had a personal best time of 3 hours and 2 minutes.  And yes I looked like a punk-kin!