It seems that nothing related to our Freedom Striders run club has come easy these days. The (loosely stated) mission of the group could be "freedom thru activity" and there is plenty of evidence we are seeing fruit. Perhaps that is why at times I feel under attack from forces that would oppose such progress.
The Crim is the focal point of the Freedom Striders each summer, and this last Friday & Saturday was just as rewarding as the previous three years. Despite all of the challenges, the Friday night pasta party was a huge success as I witnessed friendships forming and strengthening, hearty laughs and heartfelt sharing and listening - and a wee bit of smack talking about Saturday's race as well!
Saturday morning was a picture perfect morning and as usual the city of Flint shone bright for the 20,000 runners and walkers that participated in the series of races. Eating some post-race pizza while folks shared their joy in the sense of accomplishment and the stories from their race was inspiring (and more than made up for all of the trouble I'd faced).
And yes, I also did run and was also very pleased with my effort and pleasantly surprised with the result - running faster than I expected with a relatively easy effort (it was just a taper run for me, after all).
So with Crim 2011 in the rear view mirror I have only one more event to give any thought to - Run Woodstock 2011 and my 100 mile ultra-marathon attempt. 11 days and counting...
Shoes - check.
Clothes - check.
Fuel/Food - check.
Pacers - this needs to be my #1 priority this week!
Camping and other such details for family and friends that'll be around - yeah, need to work that out, too.
Oh, and I need to buy some Ivy Block! Last weekend I ran a loop of the Woodstock course (the race is 6 laps of a 16.6 mile course) to scope it out. My first attempt the week before that was a bit of a crash-n-burn as I led my friends Tim and Jocelyn miles off course...but, I digress...
So last weekend I met up with two others that are running Woodstock and we took to the trails. One section of the trail is obviously very rarely used and while only about 4/10ths of a mile, was a torturous few minutes - thick low branches, lots of thorns and thicket, calf deep water and mud...
What I came to learn, along about Tuesday afternoon, was that area also had some poison ivy. For the last week I've been battling that. It's akin to Chinese water torture! Here's hoping that section will be cleaned up a bit by race day. In case it's not, you bet I'll be laying the Ivy Block on thick!
My Running For RA inspiration, Lorrie, found out a few days back that she needs another surgery. This was tough news for her. She is going to have the surgery, but you bet it won't be until after the race! Nothing will keep her from being out there :-) I certainly covet prayers from my brothers and sisters in the faith as the race approaches. But more so, I ask you turn your attention to Lorrie. Pray for peace for her. Pray for her doctors and the entire medical team. Most of all - pray that she be healed!
You can read Lorrie's story on our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/runningforra.
Want to be part of our mission to raise funds for RA Research? Find us at www.crowdrise.com/runningforra.
Ok, guess I should get to work lining up some pacers...
Press on,
Chuck
Monday, August 29, 2011
Thursday, August 25, 2011
The Taper Day 3 - An unexpected twist
So it's day 3 of an 18 day taper leading into what will arguably be the most difficult day, physically, of my life. In the last 21 weeks I have logged 978 miles on the bike and 932 miles running. This works out to 44.4 miles per week of running on average (and a bit more on the bike - just a little cross training). The running miles are weighted toward the end and I've logged a number of weeks in the 70 miles range recently, and that was previously uncharted territory for me.
I'm tired. Most runners dread the taper. I'm anxious for it. Ready to heal the dents and dings of the training.
Most runners get grumpy, twitchy, irritable as they taper (like a race horse being held in the gate). Personally, I'm looking forward to finding a bit more balance again (and hopefully some fresh legs).
In the last several weeks my daughter has gotten married, #3 grandson has started taking steps, mom visited from Florida, my brother realized a dream by moving to the lake, and one of my sisters led another successful medical mission trip to Nicaragua. And that's just the highlights, just from the immediate family! Then there is the job, the run club and the bike night I host, the extended family and friends. So much to keep up on, so much to marvel at and appreciate, so many stories (and challenges - it's never all good news, is it?)
Then there's Lorrie. She is my inspiration for dedicating the ultra attempt to raising funds and awareness for RA Research (see us on FB and Crowdrise). My goals were lofty and my dreams were out of this world when we started this journey. Reality is that I've struggled to do the work necessary to really get the word out and raise the funds.
That doesn't detract from the worthiness of the cause. And it certainly is not to late to get involved (i.e. Please Give! :-)
As I started writing that last paragraph (its about 1:30 a.m. - couldn't sleep), I find the check to the friend that cleans our home every other week (since Pam's shoulder surgery). She left the check on my desk with a note that says "Please donate to the RA cause." Wow. That's huge to me, that's the kind of stuff that makes the world make sense to me.
Funny, I think that was a God moment. I couldn't sleep because I was wrestling with everything that I perceived to be out balance. Balls I had let drop, opportunities passing me by. Suddenly, looking at that note, I find myself smiling. I feel at peace. Maybe we are on the right path after all.
Until tomorrow then - or later today I guess, but whatever...
Press on friends.
I'm tired. Most runners dread the taper. I'm anxious for it. Ready to heal the dents and dings of the training.
Most runners get grumpy, twitchy, irritable as they taper (like a race horse being held in the gate). Personally, I'm looking forward to finding a bit more balance again (and hopefully some fresh legs).
In the last several weeks my daughter has gotten married, #3 grandson has started taking steps, mom visited from Florida, my brother realized a dream by moving to the lake, and one of my sisters led another successful medical mission trip to Nicaragua. And that's just the highlights, just from the immediate family! Then there is the job, the run club and the bike night I host, the extended family and friends. So much to keep up on, so much to marvel at and appreciate, so many stories (and challenges - it's never all good news, is it?)
Then there's Lorrie. She is my inspiration for dedicating the ultra attempt to raising funds and awareness for RA Research (see us on FB and Crowdrise). My goals were lofty and my dreams were out of this world when we started this journey. Reality is that I've struggled to do the work necessary to really get the word out and raise the funds.
That doesn't detract from the worthiness of the cause. And it certainly is not to late to get involved (i.e. Please Give! :-)
As I started writing that last paragraph (its about 1:30 a.m. - couldn't sleep), I find the check to the friend that cleans our home every other week (since Pam's shoulder surgery). She left the check on my desk with a note that says "Please donate to the RA cause." Wow. That's huge to me, that's the kind of stuff that makes the world make sense to me.
Funny, I think that was a God moment. I couldn't sleep because I was wrestling with everything that I perceived to be out balance. Balls I had let drop, opportunities passing me by. Suddenly, looking at that note, I find myself smiling. I feel at peace. Maybe we are on the right path after all.
Until tomorrow then - or later today I guess, but whatever...
Press on friends.
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Confidence restored
Fact: I made it to the finish line of Dances with Dirt - Devils Lake.
Fact: I knew, intellectually, that this was a much harder course than my upcoming 100 miler.
Fact: I have been running long enough to identify my mistakes, learn, and move on.
Fact: I have been running long enough to know that sometimes it's just not your day.
Fact: Even as miserable as I was after DWD, my recovery came pretty quickly and ran well at a race the following weekend.
But with all that said, a seed of doubt had been planted.
Was the 100 miler too big a mountain? Was I really ready for this?
And what would people say that donated to the cause of raising funds for RA Research?
Funny, not funny ha-ha, but funny sad, how quickly things can change. One moment we "know" in our heart of hearts that the path we are traveling is down right ordained, and then, just like that, a DWD moment happens and we begin to question.
The Lord has always been faithful and when I cry out He has always been there. In years past, He would take me to the answer, but oftentimes that meant going through something first in order to find it.
The Lord I know, the kindly Father that has adopted me as His own (not the Lord of the Law that I grew up with), knew that this time I needed restoration without a test. And that came at the Grand Island Marathon (+) over the weekend.
A very laid back event on a very beautiful island in Lake Superior, just off the coast line of Munising in Michigan's UP, the race is considered a trail marathon, but a dirt road route is more accurate. Saturday morning saw a wonderful sunrise peaking through the branches of the tree lined route and the temps started out in the low 60's. The temps would rise with the sun, but the the tree cover was pretty constant. A few breaks from the trees provided overlooks that would simply bring you to a stop and take your breath away.
The gameplan for the day was to run 5&1's (run 5 minutes, walk 1) and target 11 min/mile for the marathon (+). The miles simply flew by absolutely effortlessly. I spent a number of miles running alongside several different individuals, just talking about running, family, life. At the 22'ish mile point, the course merged with the half marathon course, and since they started two hours after us, there were still folks on that course. With a fresh influx of bodies, I found a fresh energy and found myself moving quicker and quicker. I never, however, lost control of the moment, stayed within myself and crossed the finish at 4:17 (the course was about 6/10ths of a mile short due to a required reroute - so figure an additional 6 minutes for an accurate marathon time).
The race organizers could learn something about putting on a friendly event, but the lack of love at the finish area just made it that much easier to fill my bottles and head back out. This is the "+" part of the marathon. My original goal was to run the marathon course backwards, but I worried I wouldn't make the final boat back, so opted to run the half marathon course. A half mile up the road I found that the flags marking this course were already pulled - but I had a map in my pocket, so figured I'd be fine. And I was...for the first 4 miles. The course map was not very detailed and I struggled to make sense of it. Instead I relied on the maps posted at intersections on the island (complete with distances) and made my own 14 mile course (I even found a 1.5 mile climb to the center of the island - that was work! :-)
The finish of the extra loop meant a solid effort - a 40 mile day. My overall pace was 10:04. My effort level was barely moderate. I felt like I could have continued running all day. Confidence restored.
Face your fears. Live your dreams.
A few quick miscellaneous thoughts to wrap up this wonderful weekend:
Fact: I knew, intellectually, that this was a much harder course than my upcoming 100 miler.
Fact: I have been running long enough to identify my mistakes, learn, and move on.
Fact: I have been running long enough to know that sometimes it's just not your day.
Fact: Even as miserable as I was after DWD, my recovery came pretty quickly and ran well at a race the following weekend.
But with all that said, a seed of doubt had been planted.
Was the 100 miler too big a mountain? Was I really ready for this?
And what would people say that donated to the cause of raising funds for RA Research?
Funny, not funny ha-ha, but funny sad, how quickly things can change. One moment we "know" in our heart of hearts that the path we are traveling is down right ordained, and then, just like that, a DWD moment happens and we begin to question.
The Lord has always been faithful and when I cry out He has always been there. In years past, He would take me to the answer, but oftentimes that meant going through something first in order to find it.
The Lord I know, the kindly Father that has adopted me as His own (not the Lord of the Law that I grew up with), knew that this time I needed restoration without a test. And that came at the Grand Island Marathon (+) over the weekend.
A very laid back event on a very beautiful island in Lake Superior, just off the coast line of Munising in Michigan's UP, the race is considered a trail marathon, but a dirt road route is more accurate. Saturday morning saw a wonderful sunrise peaking through the branches of the tree lined route and the temps started out in the low 60's. The temps would rise with the sun, but the the tree cover was pretty constant. A few breaks from the trees provided overlooks that would simply bring you to a stop and take your breath away.
The gameplan for the day was to run 5&1's (run 5 minutes, walk 1) and target 11 min/mile for the marathon (+). The miles simply flew by absolutely effortlessly. I spent a number of miles running alongside several different individuals, just talking about running, family, life. At the 22'ish mile point, the course merged with the half marathon course, and since they started two hours after us, there were still folks on that course. With a fresh influx of bodies, I found a fresh energy and found myself moving quicker and quicker. I never, however, lost control of the moment, stayed within myself and crossed the finish at 4:17 (the course was about 6/10ths of a mile short due to a required reroute - so figure an additional 6 minutes for an accurate marathon time).
The race organizers could learn something about putting on a friendly event, but the lack of love at the finish area just made it that much easier to fill my bottles and head back out. This is the "+" part of the marathon. My original goal was to run the marathon course backwards, but I worried I wouldn't make the final boat back, so opted to run the half marathon course. A half mile up the road I found that the flags marking this course were already pulled - but I had a map in my pocket, so figured I'd be fine. And I was...for the first 4 miles. The course map was not very detailed and I struggled to make sense of it. Instead I relied on the maps posted at intersections on the island (complete with distances) and made my own 14 mile course (I even found a 1.5 mile climb to the center of the island - that was work! :-)
The finish of the extra loop meant a solid effort - a 40 mile day. My overall pace was 10:04. My effort level was barely moderate. I felt like I could have continued running all day. Confidence restored.
Face your fears. Live your dreams.
A few quick miscellaneous thoughts to wrap up this wonderful weekend:
- My friend Kacey traveled with me when my revised plan fell apart, after my original plan had fallen apart. You made the weekend great fun and rocked the marathon! Sorry about the stinky shoes in your car :-(
- Jeremy and Bonnie - so great spending time with you. After having email buds for so long, it was great to finally get to know you guys!
- Kudos to the waitress at the Friday dinner. Single handedly serving a banquet room full of hungry runners. You got your workout in for sure - and did it with class!
- The Terrace Motel and the proprietor Larry - A super friendly guy running a great (cute, friendly, clean) little Motel. Two enthusiastic thumbs up!
- Kathy - it was great to see you and spend a few minutes chatting - both over dinner and on the course. Good job out there (as a runner and as a mom)!
- Rachel - my new friend who I found off course, pushing to make the marathon cut-off of her first marathon. With the flags already pulled, she made a decision about the course that meant she too climbed to the center of the island before heading for the finish (she tried to figure out how to get a full 26.2 in and her Garmin told her the actual route would be short). We spent a few minutes together and helped each other find our way, so to speak. She did finish. And she made me feel special - I simply offered a word of encouragement and confirmation she was nearly done. For that I received a finish line hug, a huge smile, and a new friend that can boast about being a marathoner! Well done!
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