Run or Die!

Channeling Oprah!
That's right! It is mental armor time and let's get this mission nailed down. The Metro Health Grand Rapids Marathon has celebrity pace groups and it has been a goal all summer to finish in the "Team Oprah" pace group—4:29:20 finish time / 10:16 pace. That will be 10 minutes off my last PR in the Spring. Training for this goal has not gone as planned with PF and ITBS issues having me ditch my "Own It" plan from Train Like A Mother, and just getting the miles in without the tough runs for speed in the last month. A real shame as I was really feeling a surge on the plan and believing that more growth was possible. P. Diddy will be a far distant bouncing sign in this marathon. I will be picking back up the "Own It" plan after recovering in the next couple months and rebuilding some weaknesses—like fudge, cookies and cakes oh my!

I am still on the fence, but I have a hard time backing off of goals. So I may play it by ear and hang with "Team Oprah" for as long as I can without causing injury or making myself completely miserable. Yeah right…I am going to make myself miserable because that's how I roll and this is a marathon people.

Beyond the access to personal trainers and professional insight, Oprah has brass knuckles to fight the demons of self doubt and excel. I better get mine if I want to hang. I found the perfect shirt for such a mission. Run or Die! by www.inknburn.com, which actually means something true to my heart. When I run, I am truly living and taking my journey. My life is measured between the moments I am engaged with my husband, children and close friends, and those moments when I am free and on the run—sometimes both worlds come together. My heart races equally from the run and from seeing my son kick his first goal ever—which was last week! This is living. The way I see it, Live or Die—or Run and Die, I am just not choosing to die.

Find your Focused Drive and stay in the journey.

Hoka Hope!

Hoka One One, but I will just
keep calling them Hoka Hope.

It's amazing to me how I can go from feeling stronger than ever as a runner just a few weeks ago, to feeling weak and undertrained as a result of three weekends of long runs with some excruciating knee pain and stiffness (ITBS! iliotibal band friction syndrome). Not to mention the PF issues—yow! Just last weekend I was in agony at mile 10, and not wanting to let my run buddy down or cave on the 17 miler, I pushed thru. I found myself with one focus: to run thru this pain for 7 miles and get to the other side. I found pride in my moments on the other side, but every downhill turned up the volume again. One thing is for sure, I can not quit or sit idle with no resolution. I know, I know, running thru the pain is completely stupid. So time to resolve it and keep going.

Today I am excited to report a ray of hope. Besides all the feet, ankle and knee exercises I am doing daily—and the foam roller treatments I am screaming thru—I stumbled upon a fantastic running shoe called Hoka One One pronounced Hoka O-nay O-nay. I think the name is better described as Hoka Hope because that is just what they are giving me. Thank you to my running guardian angel. I know it's a little much, but I am grateful. Plus, if Marshall Ulrich can recommend these, then let me learn from one of the greats.

This amazing shoe is the opposite of minimalist in my opinion. It may be all the rage to run in less support, but right now, I need more. Less is sometimes, just LESS. Sure they are big and people compare them to clown shoes, but if they came in red, I'd buy them and strut like the happiest clown in town! After testing them all week, I ran 15 miles today—pain free/swelling free and felt like I could keep going.They really do deplete the impact, strain, and muscle fatigue. These shoes have a larger than normal wide-based bottom so rocking isn't an issue, plenty of toe room, and are made with a lightweight thick foam for cushion to keep them lighter in weight than most running shoes. Bottom line: they absorb shock without the weight. That is exactly what I need right now since the downhill is kill'n me. The foot actually sits a little lower in the shoe and not on top of the foam stack for stability and I am using a SuperFeet insole for more stability since I pronate. I have yet to try these on trail, but when I switched back to my favorite Sauconys they felt like I was wearing cardboard. I could feel every kernel under my feet.

What these might look like in RED.

The shoe company claims these wear longer around 500 miles, so the price should be worth it—time will tell.

I am sure I will keep experimenting with what will give me the best run in these, but I finally feel like my last two races in October are doable and that I can continue to rebuild and strengthen my weaknesses.

Weekend Update: Holy Hoka! 

Since writing this post a week ago, I ran a 21 miler in them today. I felt a little tension in my lower leg by the end, but no horrifying or debilitating pain or stiffness like I was experiencing before. This challenging run was made more difficult by going it alone, and it has been the longest distance since the flare up during the North Country Run 4 weeks ago and the two painful long runs that followed. 

A couple great things occurred today. Besides meeting this abandoned sun bleached flamingo on the side of a county road, I ran a negative split for the first time in a long run of 20 miles! I wasn't even trying. I have to consider that it may have had something to do with the first 10 miles of listening and kicking back to the Another Mother Runner Podcasts and music on the second 10 miles.

Then at mile 20, where I had already given myself permission to walk the last mile or part of it, I just kept going. At the risk of sounding like a freak, I am just going to be honest and say I past the cemetery as I hit 20 miles and saw the 1 mile stretch home. Every hair on my neck stood up and I had a tingling from my neck down through my spine. It's a beautiful moment when victory is right in front of you and you can take that last one as a glory mile. Who knows what other presence was right there tapping in? I NEEDED that last mile for mental armor and to give thanks.

Grateful that I found my Focused Drive.

Race Update! 

I ran the GR Metro marathon in these Hoka Bondi Bs. Although I read not to expect to PR in these shoes in a road race, I managed to run a PR just fine. I am no speed queen, but having legs that take a little less pounding worked in my favor. I ran without any ITBS issues. I credit both these shoes and the Train Like a Mother Own it Plan (which I just ran the miles in the last month and a half due to ITBS) to the PR. 

The PF Word!

Dear Plantar Fasciitis, 

I don't think this is going to work out. In fact I need to kick you to the curb. We have two very different value systems and although we both love my feet, you prefer that I sit around and do nothing while I would like to get out and get on with the run. I think I have someone just for you. Another achy and nagging companion—weak ankle and swollen knee—that is an equal match in flare-up and pain to your's. You will love each other! SCAT!


In the past two weeks I have worked my way through some depression about taking a few days off and what ifs regarding long term injury. I have been reading everything I can find on recovery and trying what ever I have to to get me thru a half in October and my Full the following week. Beating Oprah, may not be reachable this year. But I want to get to the starting line feeling good and finish pain free as I can. Then the training session for next year's 50m will be the main goal.

These couple of injuries have helped me stay focused in the current goals, and may even help be a stronger runner overall.

So far this is what I am doing for Plantar Fasciitis:
1) Strassburg Sock worn nightly (I am still getting use to this)
2) Multiple stretching and working the Plantar Facia throughout the day (used online video demos)
3) KT taping for condition
4) Feetures sleeve sock (worn daily)
5) Shoe heel gels in all day shoes and running shoes
6) SuperFeet insert for running shoes
7) No barefooting!

The balls of Toe Olympics:
Grab balls with toes and move from one place to another.

8) Starting each morning with writing the alphabet in the air with injured foot before stepping out of bed
9) Toe Olympics! Moving the kids' super balls with my feet from one place to another and then back again.
10) Took a few days off and no speed work:(
11) Icing








Weak ankle causing a swollen knee on long runs
1) Building ankle strength: balancing on one leg and holding 30 seconds at a time
2) One leg half squats moving the opposite leg front, back and side (10 reps each)
3) Stretching leg and IT
4) Foam Rolling IT (this one hurts a lot and I even bruised myself! But feel a release after.)
5) Back to wearing an IT/knee band on runs

Overall, I think I am seeing improvements and I have to add in more rest time after long runs. I could just keep running if it wasn't for these disappointing injuries. My knee seized up in last weeks 16 miler, but felt better after resting just 5 minutes. Ridiculous!

Here we go. More yoga and strength training for the next year. GO!

Hills for Breakfast, Lunch and Next Year DINNER…

Who Needs New Year's Eve for a Goal?
I am going after my first 50 mile Ultra! That's right, the "U" word has been said out loud and I already pre-registered for 2013. I have one year to fill my head and prepare my body for not just any Ultra, but a monster of a hilly forest—eating hills and then some more please—at the North Country Run (NCR) in the Manistee National Forest. Thankfully, my running buddy Evie is going for it too and NCR has a mentor program I am going to take advantage of.

Crista's reenactment of the
pain and her wounds.

I ran the half marathon just last weekend, and I really enjoyed the trails and even the continuous hills (seriously, they never end!). There was enough to look at to keep me occupied while I constantly had to watch my footing. I started to look forward to the next hill just to recover on the fast walk up. This was such a challenging course that it tool me 43 minutes longer than my PR on a flat road race and the 85-90 degrees didn't help. I found myself dehydrated and had poorly decided to only carry half my water pack. The trails are thin and provide ample tripping obstacles of stones, roots, sand and plant life. Many people fell and our girl Crista had the battle wounds to show for it. Props to Crista for getting up and pushing on.

And yes, this is what I think is fun. This is how I will celebrate turning 40. I was even more happy to see that although this run took the wind out of my sail—and I sweated enough to look like a greased up pig while some people looked like they had just showed in their own sweat—I place 9th out of 33 in my age bracket of 35-39 aged women and 1st for women of age 39. So next year it will be ON to see if I can finish this within the 14 hour cut off. It is going to be quite the year. I am collecting the wisdom of past runners of this course to help me succeed...that's what I do.

Next up…Plantar Fasciitis, please let it not be so.

Above Photo: Me with my NCR Medal. The NCR has the largest Half and Ultra awarded medal and the 3rd largest Marathon awarded medal in the nation. All three are the same USA handmade medal with the ribbons differentiating them.

The Body Says "Quit" And The Mind Says "NEVER"

2 Marathons + 1 Half within 30 Days = A Dragging Charlevoix Finish
I will never run that combination in 30 days again, unless I have lost my mind. In which case please remind me of Charlevoix 2012. Remind me that although I was heading into a PR at the half way mark that my quads were crying at mile 10 which never happens and the pain just grew. Remind me that I tried to get the next point in my head, but the moment without pain, never came. And by the last 4 miles I could not bend my left knee and was shuffling in with every step feeling like I was caring 300 pounds on my legs resembled a feeling of thunder striking. Remind me that the only reason I crossed and made it was because I repeat these words:"The Body says "quit" and the Mind says "NEVER."

Remind me that if I am going to overtrain, to bring a friend and stop at each aid station to enjoy licorice, pretzels, ice cold drinks and what ever else they may have.

Some of the highlights on the course came from this being an unexpected tough run.
• I made a lot of people feel good as they passed me after mile 20. That's right. You beat me.
• I got a fist pound by one male runner as he passed at mile 24.
• I talked to a mature runner afterwards who finally hit her PR and had passed me at mile 23. She asked me how my ankle was after the race. Yes, she could tell I was that pathetic as she passed me. How sweet of her to ask about my gimpy leg.
• I met a guy at mile 11 who was on his 100th marathon run since 2006. He had just ran a 100 mile ultra the weekend before. Seriously! I was missing my run buddy with this conversation.

This was my full circle race. This was my first Marathon a year ago and marked 4 in one year. Although I did not run well, I still beat last year's time and with two rest stops. That is the way life goes. No pun intended.

Traveling and hanging out with a couple running friends is something I look forward to. This trip involves going to the Taffy Barrel, and then to Cherry Republic to start the appetizers—I mean samples. After our purchases there and some shopping, we ventured to dinner with our tour guide Mike. Mike allowed us to pose with is Jeep and take lots of photos of us. He also ran the Half Marathon with a PR and showed up at the finish line with chocolate milk! Being Crista's boyfriend, that really makes him her milk man. But we really appreciated the kindness.

Becky arranged for a great hotel location call Pointes North Inn, and they were very accommodating with providing bagels the night before and a late check-out. Our back door was literally outside the finish line and maybe 50 yards to the start. The only odd thing was the pull-out sofa sleeper (my bed). It had a mattress made of springs and lacked the padding. WHO would be able to sleep on that?? I stacked the cushions on top of the bed and made my own ridiculous princess bed. Yes! I am a problem solver. They should have a diagram of this procedure next to each pull-out sofa.

'Till next year Charlevoix....keep the awesome aid stations, shirts, friendly people and righteous medals coming.

Getting My Freak On at the Finish Line

Glen Arbor, MI 
Solstice Half Marathon

Me, dancing and ululating at the finish line while running? Well… you bet!

I am thrilled that the ladies and tribe from Another Mother Runner and writers of Run Like a Mother and Train Like a Mother thought the photos of me at the finish line were just as hilarious as I thought they were. They made them their cover photo on their Facebook page this week.

With a Marathon the following weekend and a ferocious hill at mile 8, the realistic mission on this race was to keep it smooth and not set a PR. My running buddy was there with me the entire time and this was another awesome experience. We ran steady at marathon pace and passed the only 6 runners we saw going up Inspiration Point—because we never stopped running and everyone else had to walk at some point. I was barking "hills for breakfast" 3/4 of the way up. Evie said she need that right then. And thank you to the man who was saying "good job" as we passed him. As bad as the hill was, I needed it. I needed to find faith after last week's rough 15. I could feel the disappointment I would have had if I did not push thru this mental and physical barrier. Yes, I was inspired. 

After getting over the top I was firing my fists in the air and then it was a swift recovery DOWNHILL run. Translation: ululation time. yei yei yei yei yei yei yei

And oh yeah, this was a race were told to be quiet during since it might disturb the community. So I had to find the right surroundings to disturb. No houses at this point. And the hand slapping did start from here on out. I was zig zagging just a little to get some energy from volunteers. I admit it, I NEED them.

The last 3 miles were flat and entailed a beautiful view crossing between two crystal blue lakes.  We passed around another 6 runners who were just having a hard time. Every time I see this, I remember my own past rough moments, been there. Closing in on the finish line I saw my other two run buddies who were done and waving—so this is what happens: dancing, running and ululating all at once. Celebrate and live it up.

Thanks for taking my photo Fly Chics.

Now to find my Focused Drive for tomorrow's marathon.

FLY RUNNING CHICS: Becky, Jill, Crista and Evie

Soul Sister

Georgia, I'm with You.

Yesterday I was sleeping in to fight a cold coming on and the kids were behaving in front of the TV (home a week from school) when the phone rang at 8am from Georgia. It was my soul sister on the other line calling to tell me that her husband has cancer and that it is an aggressive kind. This day took on a whole new up-side-down twist. I had encouraged these two to date 14 years ago and they quickly became an item and were married within a year. I have loved that this man makes laughter in my friend's life.

It was actually an accident that they found the cancer, but found at his wife's insistence that his stomach pains were not just an upset stomach or something to be taken lightly. By demanding action and going through a few doctors an ultrasound showed much more. It's completely OUTRAGEOUS and unexceptable if you ask me—to have to fight for proper health care and attention where serious pain is involved. It's the same thing I tell my kids. "If there is a problem, tell somebody. If they are not listening or doing anything, tell somebody else until somebody does something." I just didn't realize that this applies to going to the doctor as well.

I spent the entire day in an awkward sadness, wondering what I could do. I felt useless—thinking of how terrifying this is for them and their family to not have answers and to deal with this potential loss. I needed that 5 miler like nobody's business. When I finally got it in later that evening, I was tired, worn, feeling bla, depressed and my right hip had been aching for a week, but I ran it. I ran it like the pain could just take the edge off of their pain. I wished it would work that way—that I could endure the 26.2 as a trade. I ran with my legs of lead since this is nothing compared to what they are going thru and what distance is ahead for them. I ran choking back tears just trying to breath. I ran praying for 5 miles and giving thanks for each breath and the lives I have met and love. By the time I returned, a little of my edge was scrapped off on the road and the tears could be mistaken for glistening sweat. I had a good limp, but I still felt useless for Georgia.