Training for My First Ultra - My First Trail Marathon

There comes a point in every runner’s life when they must decide to challenge themselves and “up the stakes.” And that is what I decided to do for 2013 when I signed up for my first 50K for March, giving me about 2 ½ months to train for it.

For those of you who may not know my story, I’ve been a runner since about 2005, when I decided to train and run my first marathon. Up to that point I had never even run a race/event before and I had about 3 months to train for it. I vowed I would run or walk it, but I would finish it no matter what and no matter how long it took me. I have never looked back since the day I crossed the finish line of the San Francisco Nike Women’s marathon. I proceeded to run 6 more marathons after that, countless half marathons, 10K’s etc. and even got into obstacle course racing in 2012 because I needed a new challenge.  

At the end of 2012 I needed a new challenge that the road marathon was just not offering to me anymore, so I bit the bullet and decided to sign up for my first ultra. I knew that by signing up for an ultra I would be running trails which I knew would be tougher than training on roads and involved training on hills which are almost non-existent where I live and require about 1 ½ to 2 hours of travel time in order to train or race. But I wanted this. I had run some small trail events earlier in ’06 and ’07 but had gotten away from them when I got heavy into road racing, but I recalled how I felt out on the trails and how it combines two things I love dearly: hiking and running. So I signed up for the lottery for Way Too Cool and I got picked. Now what?!? There are very few trails around where I live and practically no hills even worth mentioning. Travel I must.

My first training for the ultra took me up to Mt. Diablo where I ran 12 miles of hills with an elevation gain of about 2000 ft. The following week, I kicked the training up a notch when my friends asked me if I wanted to run a trail marathon in Woodside amongst the redwoods, ferns and banana slugs. How could I say no to something new and exciting like that? Did I mention the elevation gain was about 3700 ft?

 

So with my ultra about 2 months away, I signed up for a trail marathon on January 5^th at the suggestion of two outstanding friends and ultra-runners; trail rock stars really (you know who you are). A husband and wife team that are just all around AWESOME people and not just because they’re runners.

 

January 5^th I woke at 4 AM after getting about 4 hours of sleep (who can sleep before a marathon?!?) and got ready. Body Glide was slathered everywhere I suspected I might get a blister or chafe, and I dressed in UA long pants, long sleeve UA shirt and waterproof NF running jacket as rain was predicated. It was COLD. Weatherman predicted the lows to be in the mid to low 30’s and the highs to be in the low 50’s. This California girl doesn’t do cold too well and my idea of “fun” is at least 80 degrees. I’m in heaven when it’s in the 90’s. But I digress…

My rock star friends picked me up at 5 am and I scarfed down a piece of toast with peanut butter and some orange juice in the car. My Camelbak was packed with gels, Sport Legs, jelly beans and Shot Blocks. I was nervous and excited all at once. After all, I’d already run 7 marathons to date. This would be my 8^th. I know what 26.2 miles feels like. I know what my body feels like at about mile 20. I know how my knees hate me the last 6 miles. I know what my brain begins to do when I hit my wall. I got this. I knew it was going to be tougher than a road marathon, mainly because of the hills and the elevation but running on dirt is also better on the body than running on the blacktop so I was ready for this new challenge. As we neared Huddart Park and King’s Mountain, the beauty of the area engulfed me. My resolve was the same as my first marathon: FINISH NO MATTER WHAT.

 

 

One of the coolest things about trail racing is the laid back environment of the start line and the casual attitude of the runners. Typically I have heard that these event are much smaller venues and this run had about 250 runners. Similarly, the welcoming of runners as they got out of their cars and approached the bib pick up was so drastically different from the often stressed culture of the road racing expos. Obviously the trail events are much smaller venues but nevertheless it was a drastic change from what I was used to as runners called out each other’s names and hugging commenced and stories of past trail races ensued. I was grateful I was an outsider this one time so I could always look back and cherish this moment, as I knew that next time it would be my name that would be called out and I would be the one hugging these rock star trail racers. I drank it all in. The smiles, the enthusiasm, the support each runner gave to one another.

Bibs on. Camelbaks checked. Gloves on. Laces tied just the way I like ‘em. Directions about the trail were given. I was listening but did I hear everything? Apparently colored ribbons were tied to trees and bushes along the way. One color for the 50K, another for the marathon, another for the half marathon etc. I had this brief moment of panic where I hoped I would remember the color I was to look out for as there would be no “mile markers” along the way as most road racers are used to. Was it the blue and then the pink or the pink and then the blue? And the polka dot ribbons? What were they for?!? Oh crap… the “gun” went off and we were heading toward the trail head. It was 8:30 am and it was a beautiful day. The three of us stuck together for the first mile or so and then it was just “rock star wife” and I and her “rock star husband” stayed behind to pace us and make sure we made the cutoff by 11:45. He is an experienced trail runner and has done many ultras before, so it felt good knowing he would make sure we made the cutoff. This was not going to be an easy elevation gain and in fact was going to be harder than my ultra.

 

How can I show in words the absolute beauty of this place? It’s no wonder many trail runners don’t and won’t run road races; the beauty they would have to give up would be an enormous sacrifice. As I settled into a comfortable pace, I was elated to be running my first trail marathon and I took in all the beauty around me. I kept my focus though, as I knew that despite the beauty around me this was NOT going to be easy.

The first 12 miles were a constant climb. I remembered what a fellow runner and good friend had told me days before: “Run the flats and walk the hills.” So I took his advice and did that for the most part, but honestly there were moments where I ran the hills too just because it felt SO GOOD!! The second water station was at mile 12 and we had to be there by 11:45, which was the cutoff time for the marathon. I was at mile 8 around 10:20 when I saw Mr. Sunshine (another awesome trail runner) who told me to hurry as I had a little over an hour to get to the cutoff. I was a little nervous only because I didn’t know the trail and I knew it was ALL UP HILL, and I had no idea how my body would react to the extra push. But I RAN. There was NO WAY I was not going to reach that water station by 11:45. I passed “rock star husband” along the way as he had passed me at some point and he told me that as long as I stayed ahead of him I would make the cutoff. He was making sure his pace stayed consistent.

 

The closer I got to the water station the tougher the hills became. And the switchbacks never seemed to end!! When I thought I had to be getting close to some FLAT part on the trail, I saw yet another hill and another switchback. And then, there it was: water station  #2 (which would also be water station #3 on the way back), never looked so good. And the buffet! Did I mention the BUFFET?!?

Salty and sweet. Whatever you wanted was there. Even SODA! Yes, SODA! Little white Dixie cups filled with Pepsi (at least I think it was Pepsi). It could have been Coke which is not my favorite but at that point I didn’t care. It was SODA!! I don’t know about you but when I run road marathons there comes a point in the marathon (usually about mile 18 – 20 or so), where I begin craving a nice tall glass of soda. Preferably a Pepsi. And there they were, these little Dixie cups filled with the bubbly goodness of soda. I ate potatoes dipped in salt, potato chips, and Shot Blocks for dessert. Gosh that food was good!! I refilled my Camelback with water and we were off running again. 12 miles down, 14.2 to go. I got this.

There was something about reaching that water station that was somewhat miraculous and beastly all at the same time and now that the toughest part of the trail was behind us, we relaxed a bit. We were no longer pressured by time, and while we did not just take our time, we did not have the pressure of a cutoff time anymore so we were able to relax a little and get into our groove. From mile 12 to 14 we were travelling uphill again. I was feeling really good especially after all the food so I ran and got a really good pace going. We had been consistently taking our gels and Sports Legs the first 12 miles and I was feeling really well. Around mile 17 we came back to the second water station (now #3) and once again took in some fluids and a tiny bit of food.

Now for the downhills. Ha! Who doesn’t love a good downhill? I know I do, and thankfully I had been smart enough to trim every single one of my toenails to guarantee that I didn’t get an “instant pedicure.” LOL… The three of us got into a really nice groove and we ran for quite a bit. Now that the up hills were done for the most part it felt like we were flying!

I cannot say enough good things about the other runners on this trail. Not only did many of them know each other, but even the ones who didn’t were friendly and supportive. No matter the runner’s pace, almost every runner had something positive to say to other runners as they passed or as they were being passed. It was very motivating.

Mile 21, we come up on water station #4 and I was VERY happy to see everyone there. I immediately went looking for the potatoes on that buffet table. I dipped each one in salt again and tasted each carb for the goodness it was. Then I was eating peanut M & M’s and then I was eating Oreos. Oh my gosh! Oreos never tasted so good!! I don’t know how many I ate but I washed them down with soda. I know, gross right? Oreos are meant to ONLY be eaten with MILK but that was BEFORE I became a TRAIL RUNNER. LOL

 

The last 5 miles were in many ways the hardest. Despite not having to deal with hills, my knees were beginning to ache a little and the tips of my toes were beginning to hurt and I was taking some walking breaks here and there. At about mile 23 or 24 I got a bit dizzy and had to stop and take some more Shot Blocks. The dizziness went away but my knees were still whining. We started to run again and we ran until we saw Mr. Sunshine waiting for us not too far from the finish line. He said something about “so many mile to the finish line,” but all I heard was “FINISH LINE” so I dug down DEEP and found every bit of energy I had left and ran to the finish. I crossed that finish line like I do EVERY race, both hands in the air, fingers in a “V” for victory and smiled for the camera.

My first TRAIL MARATHON was in the books.

My body felt SO GOOD. My core was strong, I wasn’t winded and I still had some energy left. My knees were hurting a bit but I knew that was to be expected considering all the hills. Overall, I had to admit that my body actually felt BETTER after running a trail marathon than it did when I run road marathons. The way I felt at the end of this race is typically how I feel around mile 20 of a road race. I could handle that.

I once again headed to the buffet table. I had lentil soup (YUM) and pumpkin pie and bananas. Then we piled in the car and headed for the nearest restaurant with a bunch of the other runners. Refueling is a MUST.

 

It was a two hour drive back after we ate and by the time I was dropped off at my house, I was a little stiff getting out of the car. Have you ever seen the YouTube video of runners AFTER they have run a marathon? Ha! Yeah, I looked like one of those people on the video. I was a sight I’m sure as I tried to maintain my dignity as I hobbled to my front door.

What ensued is pretty hilarious because after a hot shower I literally CRASHED. I fell asleep on the couch and that is where I remained until someone woke me up to eat. I managed a few bites and was out again until morning. I remember nothing except a VERY deep sleep. I hurt so good!! By morning, and despite feeling it in my quads, I was ready to go back and do it again. Oh yeah! I proceeded to get online and start looking for another trail run that I could sign up for before the Ultra in March. I found one: Montara Trail run in Pacifica on February 24. Just about two weeks before my Ultra.  Another Trail Marathon. BRING IT!! I’m hooked!

 

Confessions of a Nighttime Runner

Yesterday (Sunday) I woke up feeling energized and grateful. Grateful for a day to stay home with my kids (a rarity because of working two jobs), and I had made plans to go on a long run to support Stacey at Stacey Runs and Eats on Facebook who was doing a 50K and running in memory of the lives lost in Connecticut on Friday. I planned my day around my kids and my long run and was excited at the prospect of going out running with no predetermined time or mileage. And then, everything that could happen in a day happened: leaking roof at my house, leaking pipes in my kitchen, and car breaking down. As the day wore on and I made trip after trip to the local home improvement store, I began to get concerned that this run would never happen. Multiple times as I stood in line at the home improvement store, I kept looking at my watch and telling myself that even if it got dark and no matter how late it got, I would still go run. As the afternoon wore into the evening and it got later and later, my mood did not improve I am ashamed to say. It was finally 9PM when I finally strapped on my head lamp and started out on my run and I was not in a good place. I was tired and cranky. I was in a bad mood because the day had not gone as I had planned. And so I began this run slightly annoyed with the day and the amount of money I had had to shell out for the house and car repairs. And so began my thoughts... It wasn't until I reached about mile 2 that I acknowledged that I had let the events of the day dictate how I would react and that the whole point of the run was to honor and celebrate the lives that were lost in Connecticut on Friday. Feelings of guilt seeped in as I realized that I here I was, complaining about my problems when there were parents who would never hug their children again. Never again be able to tell them they loved them. Never see them smile again. Never watch them grow up.

 Somehow, as each mile wore on and I stopped focusing on my own problems and instead began to pray for people that I didn’t even know, my worries seemed to lift and my anger at my own situation began to dissipate. As I remembered each child, parent and teacher in that tragedy, the gravity of my own situation seemed to dim in comparison to what the family of the victims were dealing with. With each prayer came gratitude for being able to run, hug my children, smile, teach my students, and even live in a house with a leaky roof that was costing me money I didn’t have. Yes, it is possible to be thankful for a leaky roof.

As I ran each mile, my thankfulness increased. They weren’t the best miles, but they were GOOD miles.  Necessary miles. Thoughtful miles. Angry miles. Repentant miles. Grateful miles. Pretty much in that order.  Running through the dark streets of my neighborhood instead of the trail I had originally planned on running earlier that day, I saw the houses lit up with Christmas lights and Christmas trees shining through the windows with brightly colored ornaments and it made me grateful to be able to run even if it was at night. Lately I have had to do a lot more night running which has never been one of my favorite things to do, especially in the winter and doing so has moved me out of my comfort zone. Being out there on the streets with just my headlamp and a couple of streetlights made me grateful that I was even able to run at all. I made peace with a lot of things last night, including running at night and in the cold. Sometimes we need to be moved out of our own comfort zone where everything feels safe and comfortable as this propels us towards new horizons that we may never have known otherwise. On those horizons we often encounter parts of ourselves that we may never even knew existed. Running will do that to you if you stick with it long enough.

Peace my running friends. Tomorrow is a brand new day, one in which you get to choose how you live it. I pray you too seek out new horizons as you move beyond your comfort zone and find the peace you seek.

 

 

Bulldogs Need Their Rest Too

 

WARNING: This post is going to be about REST and could potentially be VERY LONG. :) Keep scrolling if you are against both. I won't hold it against you. :)

I have been called a "bulldog" at various times in my life. I've always taken it as a compliment, even when it was meant as an insult. It's true though. Once I decide to do something, I finish it or die trying. I don't quit. It's just not in me to quit. Once I decide on a goal, I focus and put all of my energy into accomplishing what I have set out to do. Whether I am digging trenches in my yard to put in my own sprinkler system, finishing up my degrees in college, training for a marathon or preparing for a Spartan Beast, I will give it 100% every time.

That said, being a "bulldog" can often lead to not having much balance, and over the course of my life I have struggled to find that "perfect balance" between "living life" and "accomplishing my goals." Basically, I don't have much down time, as I am usually focused on accomplishing the "next goal." Granted, there is nothing wrong with having goals and setting reasonable timelines to accomplish them, but so often those of us that train and race for different events can often become so consumed with our training, that we forget that at some point our bodies need to rest. Sure, I sleep at night and get my 6, 7 or 8 hours (if I'm lucky) of sleep. But as runners, it is so hard for us to just STOP and take a day off. An ENTIRE DAY. Maybe even two days. God forbid!! The guilt sets in. You begin to feel "flabby." You think your body might "forget" the training you've done and you'll have to start all over etc. Worse yet, is the day you're taking a DAY OFF and you happen to drive by someone who is running. You can't take it! You want to go home, change and go run. Tell me it isn't so.

I've been in this situation more times than I can count and despite learning something from each of the times that I was finally "forced" to rest, I still play the little mind games with myself. "Rest is bad." "Nooo, rest is GOOD." And I bet if you're like me (and I’m guessing that a good majority of you are), your body is finally the one that says: STOP! because it simply cannot go on any longer; because it refuses to go on and perform the way you want it to. So your runs begin to “suck” and yet you push on, determined to run/train every day. And then the aches set in, or your runs aren’t as enjoyable or worse yet, you get injured.

Why is it so hard for us to REST? Because as RUNNERS we are determined individuals. We persevere.  We are BULLDOGS. Once we establish that goal in our mind we set forth to accomplish it no matter what.  Sometimes at the cost of our own bodies. Or our sanity.

Lately I’ve been training and racing like crazy amidst a VERY busy work schedule and home life, and yet I just keep pushing myself. Racking up the miles, jotting down my times and tracking the upcoming races. I’ve been feeling tired and my body has been nudging me to rest and yet I have quietly whispered: “Just a few more days and I’ll take a day or two off.” And I keep going until finally my body says: ENOUGH! and I am forced to take a rest day or two because my body is simply DONE. It’s not a very difficult concept to understand but I know there are many of us who struggle with taking days off. If you have reached that level in your training where you no longer struggle with this, my hat is off to you. However, I would venture to guess that there are many of you out there who were “forced” to take a rest day this week when you would have rather not and you beat yourself up about it. You felt like a “failure.”

Ha! First, you’re not a failure, and secondly, you’re not alone. We condemn ourselves despite all the miles we log and the hours we train because there is always one more hill to conquer, one more road to pound, one more trail to discover. Why must we be so hard on ourselves? The determination and the perseverance often outweigh the "logic" behind a good 'ol rest day and so we push on. Another mile. Another hill. Just one more training run.

I’ll end with this. My body said enough about four days ago and yet I kept at it and even went out and ran 13 miles. I finished, but it wasn’t a very strong run. I struggled the entire time. I had neglected once again to listen to my body and simply take a day or two off knowing full well that I would come back stronger and more mentally aware. Yes, we are stubborn that way. As runners we often think we are invincible, but we know full well that we are not.

Today at work I lagged and was not performing at my peak. I knew it was time. Time to give in and rest. I’ve been running, doing Crossfit, training for Spartan and still keeping up with work and family and I am run down. So as I drove home from work today I decided to give in and give my body the rest it needs. For me, it’s never easy to do that. I literally have to be at the point of crashing before I will give in and rest. So I showered, put sweats on, made myself and the kids some yummy food and decided to blog about running.  Well if I can’t run, I can at least blog about it right?


Happy trails runner peeps and take a rest day every now and then.

- Runnerchik

Missing my Runs

I hit Day 45 today in the 60-Day Bikram Yoga Challenge. I have to say that my balance, core, posture and strength have improved DRAMATICALLY. It simply amazes me how we can transform our bodies with just a little dose of determination and persistence. It certainly pays off! Postures that I was previsouly having issues with are now some of my favorite postures. Namely TRIANGLE, which previously always seemed to knock me to my knees and I'd end up sitting out the during the second rep. Not anymore!! My hamstrings have become incredibly stronger as have my hips, quads and glutes;and my flexibility has improved quite a bit. I cannot wait to see the results at the end of the 60 days. My daughter is doing the challenge along with me and is doing fantastic despite this being her first challenge. She's already lost 10 LBS and has gained a TON of flexibility. All this yoga has also done wonders for my running as a way of cross-training and building stamina.

Both of us however, have been craving a nice long run and we are looking forward to getting back to our running routine, so last Sunday I hooked up with my Commando Weeples Team from the Ragnar Relay we're running in September and ran a 10K in Concord put on by RoadRunner Sports. Simply AMAZING! I started out a bit stiff from not running for over a week and half, but surprisingly I felt light on my feet after about the second mile. Best 10K I've done in a LONG time! Finished in 1:02 and felt AMAZING!!!


Commando Weeples Team

 As soon as theYoga Challenge is over, the official training for Ragnar and Tough Mudder will begin. I see RUNNING in my future. :)

Have you gone for a run lately?

Ragnar Relay - 2012

Ragnar Relay is coming up on September 14-15, 2012 and I've got exactly 3 months to train. While I am not fearing the miles, I am a little anxious about the night running and how I will feel sleeping and eating in a van with a bunch of other runners. It's not being in the van that concerns me, it's more the night running and how I will feel about running different legs of the 200-mile race after potentially not getting enough sleep. However, I have ALWAYS wanted to run a Ragnar for as long as I can remember so it was an honor to be invited to be a part of this team. There is no way that my fears or anxieties will keep me away from this race. I know it will be an experience of a lifetime... As soon as my Bikram Yoga Challenge is over I will start training for Ragnar. :) I would appreciate tips from anyone who has done a Ragnar before. :)

Have you gone for a run lately? :)



From Runnerchik to Yogachik - Conquering Triangle

Ha! TWO posts in the SAME month?!!? Runnerchik must have some extra time on her hands...

Summer school can be a killer but the good part is I only work Monday - Thursday instead of Monday - Friday. Loving my Fridays OFF! So I thought I would do some catching up (the story of my life) on what's been going on.

My daughter and I are still doing our Bikram Yoga Challenge at http://www.bikramyogastockton.com/ and loving every minute of it. OK. Maybe not every minute but almost every minute. :) Some days are very hectic because of school (I'm teaching and she's taking college classes) and then of course there is life to handle and take care of. I miss logging my miles but with teaching and doing yoga for 1.5 hours every day, there is not much time left in the schedule. We take each day and handle it as it comes, keeping the goal in mind. I am so very proud of my daughter for committing to this challenge and not giving up. Her determination to do this reminds me of her determination to train and run CIM (http://www.runcim.org/) last December. This girl is going to do just fine. I am so proud of the young woman she has become and I cannot wait to see the things she will accomplish in her life. Even with the challenges that come up throughout the week, we both have managed to keep up with the rigorous schedule of taking a 1.5 hour Bikram class 6 days a week.

The physical and mental changes that have occurred in just 30 days have been fantastic! Stephanie's back bends are phenomenal and my right hamstring is getting better everyday. Several poses I could not do previously, I can now do and HOLD for the full required minute. My balance and flexibility has improved and so has my strength, which have helped improve my running. One of the MOST challenging poses for me has always been triangle, precisely because of my torn hamstring. Sometimes it felt like running made it worse and then sometimes when I would do yoga consistently it felt like I was tearing it even more. I have always backed off a little each time that happened and that way have always been able to continue doing what I love: working out. This time around even though it still hurt, I kept at it. Somewhere along the line it just stopped hurting and I was able to do both sets of TRIANGLE without coming out. Feeling like a ROCKSTAR!! I have to say TRIANGLE POSE ROCKS!!

33 days down and 27 more days to go in the Bikram Yoga Challenge and then I will be training for Tough Mudder (http://www.toughmudder.com/) and Ragnar Relay (http://www.ragnarrelay.com/) both happening in the month of September and two weeks apart. Ha! We'll see how this Runnerchik survives... LOTS of running coming up in my schedule as soon as I finish the yoga challenge.

In the meantime, I'm enjoying the summer and my H O T Yoga. :) It's going to be 93 degrees today and 104 degrees tomorrow. Can't wait! These are the days to train life a fiend, mow lawns, and then lounge by the pool. All of these are on my To-Do-List....

I'm thinking of skipping yoga tonight and going for a run instead. This means I'll have to do double classes to catch, but I think it just might be worth it.... more on that later. :)

Have you gone for a run lately?

Life on the mat

On May 13, 2012 my daughter and I started our 60-Day Bikram Yoga Challenge at Bikram Yoga Stockton. My third. Her first. It's called a "challenge" for a reason. It's not for the faint of heart. You have to be truly committed and determined to finish otherwise it just won't happen. One could say the same thing about running, but the cool thing about running is that I can almost run when I want to. There is no scheduled class that I have to be at. No doors that will be locked if I get there late. If work has been hectic and there is a TON of stuff to do when I get home, I can always run at night. Even if it means wearing the ugly reflective vest and the "miner's headlamp." Ha! Not the case with Bikram yoga. Classes are only held at certain times so you're either there or you're not. You're either meeting the challenge or you're not. This is often a bit too structured for most people.

In order to complete the 60-Day challenge, the yogi must take a minimum of six classes per week. One a day, or you can double up if you miss a day. In order for this to happen, one must schedule one's day around the classes available. This means an hour and a half per class, plus the driving time (30 minutes round trip for me) which adds up to two hours of my time every day. Not an easy task when you're working full time and caring for your kids etc. Everything from laundry to meals has to be scheduled so we can get it all done. It's exhausting and exhilarating all at the same time, however the mental and physical changes that go on during a challenge are astounding and are the reasons I keep showing up on the mat. There are days that I feel the same way I do when I hit the proverbial "wall" in a marathon: "Why am I doing this?!?" "Why did I sign up for this?!?" "Would the instructor just shut up already?!?"

And then there are days when I feel like a million bucks! "I'm a rock star for completing this challenge." There are days I manage to do EVERY posture without taking a break and I  feel like I could do yoga forever. This week I did double classes twice to make up for days I had to miss and I felt empowered. Three hours of yoga a day?!? Yeah! I rocked it! Kinda like running. The days when I feel so light on my feet that I feel as though I could run forever. I love days like that! The valleys and the mountaintops...you can't have one without the other.

Despite being very different, yoga and running have a lot in common. Namely, structure, commitment, endurance, determination, and integrity.The structure part of it is obvious as yoga requires structure in order for there to be any real change in ones body and running requires structure in order for one to improve one's pace etc. Commitment and endurance are also required as both sports demand a real commitment in order to see improvement in the postures/pace and endurance if one is to finish strong in either sport. The determination in both these sports is what allows one to reach the finish line. That "bulldog determination" where one refuses to give up no matter what the obstacles are and the joy that comes from the challenge.

I've often said that I could go into the Bikram yoga studio and simply "go through the motions" of doing the postures without any real integrity and still get credit for the class and tell myself that "at least I went to class." The same could be said about running. I go out on my runs and I am accountable to no one but myself. I push myself as much or as little as I want to or feel like. I could tell myself: "Well, at least I got out there." The instructor in the yoga studio may or may not notice that I am not pushing myself as hard and I can also "fake it" to a certain point to make it seem like I am exerting all my energy. The point is, I either have the integrity to do all the postures and to push myself to my limit or I don't. I either have the determination to stick to the plan or I don't. No one can give that to me or do it for me. Only I know what my limit is. Likewise, only YOU know what your limit is. I can feel my body telling me to run just a little faster or to push a little harder on that hill and it is up to me to listen to that voice or ignore and it. I can feel the muscles on the back of my legs begin to engage to give me the strength to hold the posture in yoga for one full minute without falling out. I KNOW when I can give just a little bit more and I also KNOW when giving just a bit more will make the difference between an OK run and a GREAT run and an OK Bikram class and a class where I kicked butt and my body knows it. There is something to be said for the integrity in that. I would venture to say that most non-runners simply do not get it. And that's OK.

I was having a conversation with a friend the other day about this topic and I commented about the amount of miles he was putting in and the time spent doing it. I said to him that to most non-runners, people like us simply DO NOT HAVE A LIFE. Ha! At least it appears that way. In fact, we DO have a life, it's just different. It simply revolves around running. I often schedule my runs at the beginning of the week and for sure before I go to bed at night so I know what workout I'll be doing the next day. I guess that's too structured for most people and perhaps it is, but my runs/workouts would never happen unless I schedule them that way. I have found that most people who "talk about working out" but never end up doing anything or start and then quit, usually give up because they don't want to live such a structured life. With jobs, kids, errands, bills, friends, relationships, appointments, church and whatever else takes up your time, how do you fit in a workout everyday? Life is busy and its crazy that taking care of one's body is usually at the bottom of the "to do list." It takes determination, structure, commitment and integrity, with a little bit of endurance thrown in. :) Whether you're hitting the mat or the pavement, you need a little of each.

Namaste.