Running in Circles

Well, we did the Hinson Lake 24 hour yesterday or in my case, the Hinson Lake 18 hour! That's a new PR for me: 18 hours! We stopped at 2:00AM. It was a great event and lots of fun. I wasn't sure what to expect but as soon as we arrived we were greeted by fellow MTC members with hugs and good wishes. We set up camp next to Marie and Chris and were ready to go. The event is very low key and after a few words of advice from the race director, we were off. The course was a 1.52 mile loop and although I thought it would be boring, it turned out great. Doing so many loops alloyed you to see everyone and to run with various runners as the day progressed. I had some stomach issues and had to visit the restroom on multiple occasions. Fortunately, I felt no pressure to do any particular distance or time so I took a couple of breaks of about 30 minutes and that was great as it allowed me to chat with various other runners and friends. There was no pressure and many of the runners that I hooked up with hadn't determined their goal yet either so I felt comfortable with my lack of decision about what I was going to do. As the day progressed, most of my loops with completed with a women I met from SC named Teri. She is a feisty lady with multiple ultras in her life with 4 starts and finishes of Western States. She was a ultra chick way before it was mainstream. Anyway, 34 loops seem to fly by when you're chatting away and chat we did. My voice is a little horse today from all the talking.
I ended up running about 52 miles which was much further than I thought I would and what I was trained to do but I walked after about 20 miles, so I was comfortable with pushing the envelope although I am wondering how I'm going to run a marathon next weekend as my legs are a little sore. No worries, all will be fine.
Frank came out about 11:30 and walked for a couple of hours and after 34 loops, I had made the top 10 on the leader board (I had been there earlier but dropped off after too many breaks) Once I was assured of my status, I decided to call it a day. For a brief moment I thought about going for a few more loops to move up the leader board with more miles, however, thought about my running plans and realized that if I continued, I'd be recovering for longer than I want to as the start of my "training" for Umstead kick-offs. I have to admit, it was not bad running for 18 hours, although many were actually spent walking. I walked at about a 15 minute miles so that allowed my to achieve my target loop time of about 25 minutes, very doable. My feet started to really hurt on the last loop and I am a little concerned about how I will be able to continue forward motion in the 100 if my feet continue to breakdown as they did in Umstead, but hopefully training will toughen them up.
Well, better go fix breakfast. A full day of relaxing and recovering. Makes it all worthwhile! Bring it on!

Prime time

Well, after 2 two days of painting, removing paint, priming and then repainting, we're done. At least for now. That was just the doors! We sure learned our lesson to prime before painting, especially metal doors! What a difference. Still more to paint and spruce up but I think we'll take a much deserved break. I can't get over how much there is to do around here. I don't think I realized just how much I'd want to change. We decided to order new coffee and end tables for the living room so I'm very excited about that and we're also going to buy a new refrigerator. This one is just too annoying. We'll be able to use it in the garage to store extra stuff in so it'll come in handy.
Tomorrow we're going to take our drivers test. I better do a little more studying tonight.
Gotta get ready for the long run on Saturday. I think I'm going to run/walk for several hours but not 24 hours. Frank will run a few hours, go home and get Chico and then come back to the race. That should be enough, whatever it is. The next weekend is the Triple Lakes Marathon so we'll be doing lots of running! (and walking)
That's all for now. I'm pooped and going to relax. No spinning tonight!

Ready Set Go!

Okay, I'm ready to start moving forward and doing what I need to do in order to fullfill my goal of running a 100 mile run. I've decided to use the 24 hour run around the lake event next weekend as a confidence booster. My goal is to walk/run/or simply stay awake for the 24 hours. I walked for 2 hours today (4 times around the the reservoir for about 8 miles) to check out the mindset. It was actually kind of fun. I mostly walked but did manage a little "running" every now and then but mostly it was walking and thinking and planning. I'm ready to get ready! Part of being ready will also include dropping about 20 pounds. A challenge but one that I know I can accomplish. Stay tuned!

The following week we're going to do the Triple Lakes marathon. Last year we did the 40 miler but decided that we really are not ready to do 40 miles. (especially after the 24 hour event this week. My training for Umstead kicks off on October 1. It actually works out perfect and I excited to start making plans. Currently the plan is to run Triple Lakes Marathon on Oct 6, the Raleigh Marathon on Nov 3, The Sunmart 50 Miler on Dec 9, the Frosty 50 on Jan 6 (unless baby Whiteside comes early), Rocky Raccoon 100 miler (I'm only doing 80 miles) on Feb 2, the Umstead Trail marathon on March 8 and then the Umstead 100 miler on April 5! So basically we have a long run every month and will work the rest of our training around that. I'd like to work up to about 60 miles a week but we'll see. I guess it will depend on whether I can find a job or not.
I will be creating a training schedule that I plan on posting so I can have a sense of accomplishment as well as a commitment. Look for it soon!
All for now!

Home at last

Well, I'm home and now recovering from the pysical as well as mental stress. I never expect such a reaction but I should be used to it. It seems to happen every time. I don't have the motivation to get back into it yet but hopefully that will return soon. I feel heavy and tired. I want to snap out of it, but it just isn't happening. I guess I need to detox! Anyway, back to working out and feeling better tomorrow. (in the words of Scarlett!)
Next weekend is the 24 hour run? What have I gotten myself into. I can't even run for 1 hour, how am I going to run for 24? I don't even know if I'll be able to stay awake for 24 hours! That will be my goal. Forget about running or evening walking. Just stay awake. I think it will be fun though as I will get to know the members of MTC a little/lot better!
Well, one of my goals today is to finish the hallway painting and the trim is waiting. I went to Lowes this morning to buy paint and an entry way light fixture and when I got it home, discovered it was broken! So much for finishing the room today. Isn't anything ever easy? Okay, no complaining. Back to gettiing in the game!

going Home

Well, I leave for home tonight with mixed emotions. i'm glad to be going home but I'm sad that I won't get to see Ada until thanksgiving. It's so hard when your loved ones live so far away. I'm still hopeful that one day they will move closer to us in NC and we can be a support for them. It's so important to have family around but for now that is not the case.
It looks like I won't get a workout in again today but I guess I have to realize that that just doesn't happen when I'm here. I am going to take Ada to the park this morning so that will be fun. I'll miss my little Adalyn but will be glad to be home agai. There's no place like homme, there's no place like home!

fly away home!

On being a Grandmom

Well, I'm still in cleveland with my little Adalyn. She is really growing up and soooo smart. She can count to 15! How cool is that. She's a lot of fun but being here visiting is very stressful. I guess having your parents visit causing stress. Tate and Julie seem to be doing well one minute and then the next minute it's chaos. I feel very uncomfortable and just want to disappear. I wonder how much of Tate's behaviour is my fault. As a parent you want the best for your kids and want them to be happy. I don't see them as being very happy. It seems that they are dealing with so much pain and hurt that they totally miss noticing that the other is hurting as well. I wish that they would stop and listen to what the other is saying. They seem so sad and probably depressed. They have started marriage counseling and I hope that that will help them to stop with the blaming each other for whatever they are feeling and start learning how to heal and listen to each other. I feel responible for the fact that Tate has so much anger. He had a tough childhood and I'm sure that that contributes to his anger issues now. I really hope that they can make it work and be happy. I don't want them to look back 20 or 30 years from now and wish they could do it over. We don't get a chance for do overs so it's important to do the best we can every day. I was watching Oprah the other day and it was about children of 9/11 and one thing struck me hard and that was that the children want to live up to their parents legacy! They will go through life trying to be as good a person as the parent that was killed that day, was to them. How great is that. They could be angry and sad and I'm sure at times they are, but they all said that they want to be the kind of parent that their parent was to them. Another similar topic was addressing how some people are successful and others are not with the same or similar scenerios (professional sports players making lot of money) and how different they live their lives. The difference according to one who made it says it's all about having a good role model or someone to look up to and to not want to disappoint. The athlete was Tiki Barnes who said his mother would have beat his butt if he did wrong and he still looks up to her today and still continues to live up to her standards and wants to make her proud. It made me realize that perhaps Tate never had that role model to live up to and is still finding his own way and learning how to deal with the anger and disappointment that he feels. I do hope that he can find his way and learn that life is to be lived and to be happy. Each day with a loving family is to be treasured not wasted feeling sorry for yourself or looking outside for happiness. It starts by looking inside and living each day as you would want to be remembered for. You are your childrens legacy. I wish I could have a do-over as well and I wish that I was as good a parent as I am a grand-parent. I guess that's god's way of geving us a do-over. We get to be grandparents. Tate and Julie are great parents and Ada couldn't be loved more or treated better however, children do live what they learn and learn what they live and it's important to know that they do understand much more than we give them credit for and they don't miss a thiing. I love Tate and Julie and want to spend time with them and Ada but I hope that life around here will get better before I visit again. I'll pray for them and support them as much as I can.

More later

Leaving on a jet plane

I leave for Cleveland tomorrow to visit with my little grandbaby, Adalyn. It doens't get any better than that! The weather will be much cooler there so that will feel great but different.
I'm feeling fine today after having my tooth removed yesterday. It seems to be healing great and everything is almost back to normal. I ran today on the treadmill again. I got in 7 good miles using my new "interval" training with my IPOD. I'm trying to mix fast pace and hills, doing each for a song. Now I'm sorry that I always try to buy the longest version of a song. Suddenly 2 or 3 minute songs, seems like a good idea. I'm going to venture back out on the trails tomorrow so that should be interesting. I'd like to get a two hour run in as I'm afraid that my training will suffer while I'm in Ohio no matter how good my intentions.
It'll be fun to be away and see Ada (and Tate and Julie too) but it'll be good to be back home and get down to finishing up the painting etc. Today I went shopping and started looking for accessories but I don't want to make any decisions yet but I'm getting lots of ideas. Happy hunting!
Tomorrow!