Pumpkin Holler Hunnerd

We headed to Tahlequah, OK this past weekend to run the Pumpkin Holler Hunnerd.  A multi-distance race (10M, 25K, 50K, 100K, and 100M), we listened to our heads (not our hearts) and both signed up for the 25K.   

Camping at the same place as race headquarters was a bonus.  Not only was it a gorgeous site alongside the Illinois River, the logistics of everything being right there gave it a great vibe.  And a campfire….it’s been awhile since we’ve had one!

Saturday morning, we meandered over to the race start/finish area to watch the 50K/100K/100M start.  We were greeted by this peaceful sight...

Got chatting with Karen, who was dressed in a super hero type of outfit (red cape included!).  She was preparing to cycle out on the course as a volunteer and gave us some intel about the course.  She headed off to volunteer; we headed off to get ready for our race.

The 25K included an out and back on a dirt/gravelly road, boasting of farms, cows, beautiful rock formations, and the most beautiful aqua-colored Illinois River.  And some legit hills…..(for my New England friends, these were Derry 16 Miler type of hills!).

We were both pleased with how we ran, but know we’ve still got some work to do to get back to solid ultra fitness. 

The best part wasn’t the shirt, the medal, or the placement; it was more about being outside and around “our people”.  As I was rounding the turn into the finish area, I heard “Let’s go New England!!”  It was Karen; super-hero-on-the-bike Karen 😊  Back in July at Dark & Dirty trail race, I met Sheila.  We were camping neighbors; she was running the 25K and I the 10K.  Another out and back race, we cheered each other on each time we passed each other.  When she finished, we congratulated each other as if we’d known each other forever.  I mean, that’s how running friends friend.  So who did we bump into at Pumpkin Holler Hunnerd?  Sheila…who rocked her first 50K!  Judging from our shared hunger for the distance, I suspect we’ll see a lot of each other on the trails.   

So many great things about the race, but the best part is meeting new friends who share the love of running.  Oh, and finishing....finishing is pretty great too!

Be Still My Heart – Lake McMurtry | Stillwater, OK

What a gem!  After signing up for Lake McMurtry Run (50K in April), we decided to check it out by planning a long run on some of its trails.  We dropped Bella off at daycare and headed out of town.

An hour later, we found ourselves in our element.  A lake, several long trails, camping, nature, fresh air….all the things we crave.  The drive was beautiful as well, as we quickly traded busy Oklahoma City area for Stillwater, where the cow population appeared greater than the human population!  Again, totally up our alley.

We chose the Orange Trail and, depending on how we felt, decided we might add another trail after.  Spoiler alert:  1) we felt great and followed the Orange Trail with the Blue Trail, and 2) we didn’t know when we were running it, but now know the 50K race will take place on the Orange Trail...score!  Gathered up 13.26 miles between the two trails, and LOVED.EVERY.MINUTE.

For my friends and family back in New England, these trails reminded us of home!  Some areas thrust us back in time to running StoneCat.  Lots of single track, some ankle grabbers, rocks, and switchbacks.  There was even an abandoned car (just like the StoneCat course)!

Other parts of the trail felt like we were running through the fields of Pineland Farms.  My calf sleeves show a collection of dagger-like prickers from some of the overgrown areas, and possibly from the bushwhacking we did to get back on trail at one point -

Can’t wait to go back!  They do charge $6 for a day pass, but they also offer bathrooms, trash receptacles and a manned gate.  The park is pretty and feels undisturbed.  The trails were clear and passable at all times.  So $6?  Totally worth it.  We loved it so much, we may even buy a year pass.  Totally worth the money and the drive.  I mean, how do you put a value on peacefulness, solitude, and happiness.

Run happy friends!

Weekend ramblings...

Oh social media, you are flooded with wonderful stories of 18 mile training runs this weekend!  

I’m rooting for all of you, but I’ll admit I wish I was in marathon shape and icing some twitchy muscles right about now.  Alas, I am far from it.  But that’s ok!   I’ve got a half marathon on the horizon and my training is, well, all mine.  So instead of others' 18 miles, I ran my 8.  Sometimes it’s hard to remain focused on our own goal and get distracted by others’ goals, but I stayed focused, completed my 8 (with the help of an avocado), and celebrated with an afternoon exploring my most recent new city, Oklahoma City.

This avocado literally SAVED.MY.RUN!  At mile 3, I planned to run by the house (water stop – super hot and humid) and felt ‘off’.  I almost pushed through it and then thought better of it.  While I filled my water bottle, Scott cut this gem up and I threw down a few chunks.  8 miles…done and done.  Saved by the avocado!

Later in the afternoon, we headed into Bricktown, which is a cool downtown area built up around a canal system. 

Restaurants, mini-golf, gondola rides, Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame, and other activities surround the canal.  We ended up at Bricktown Brewery.  

Burgers and beers (for Scott, I’ll take a pinot!) and a walk around Bricktown was a great way to close out the afternoon/evening.

Now back to our latest project:  Project Scan Family Photos!  That’s right, we’re doing it.  So watch out family and friends, I’ve already plucked a few gems I’ll be sharing with you soon!

Humble Half

This weekend was the inaugural City of the Palms Half Marathon.  Scott and I were looking for a race to keep us motivated, and this distance and the location felt right.  Running almost anytime in this southwest region of Florida is hot and usually humid.  This blog post is not to complain about those “captain obvious” facts.  This blog post reflects how humbling this race was for me.

Back to the “captain obvious” facts.  First, I was under trained.  Once again, I had high hopes, created a training calendar, and then peetered out when it came to the actual training part.  Secondly and related to the first, I was beaten by the heat.  Half way through the race, my melt-fest was in high gear and I began to feel like I was running through molasses.  The combination of lackluster training and full sun and heat found me grappling with rare mid-race calf and toe cramps from mile 10 through the finish. 

I finished with Scott screaming my name and catching my finish on video.  I found Scott (who won his age group!!) and we cheered friend Erin’s finish.  A mountain dew and a bag of chips helped me quickly feel more like myself, and a bee sting at the finish made me forget about the calf pain!

Also at the finish was Jeannie Rice, a local 70 year old runner who a) kicked my butt, and b) continues to kick butts all over the place!  She set an age group world record at 2018 Chicago Marathon as part of her amazing repertoire of running accomplishments. 

Once reunited with Erin, we cheesed for the camera with our over-sized medals and waited for Scott to collect his age group award.  As we started the trek to our cars, we noticed a runner finishing - dressed in full firefighter equipment!  Several of us stopped to cheer her finish and awarding of her finisher’s medal. 

I was humbled the fact that after more than 30 years, Scott is still my biggest cheerleader.  I was humbled by the woman who ran 13.1 miles in full firefighter equipment.  I was humbled by witnessing Jeannie Rice’s continued success as a runner – and breaking age barriers one race at a time.  I was humbled by the runners around me who were battling the same miles and heat I was.  

So as hot as I felt, the firefighter runner's layers of clothing and equipment had me beat.  At 52 years old, I got my butt handed to me by a woman twenty years my senior.   I was humbled by my own body and mind, that even though I gave less than I asked for, both showed up and got me through the race.  

And the bee sting?  I'll survive.  

Power of Kindness

Today, I found myself in that in-between space of wanting to crush a run and wanting to curl up on the couch.  I got myself moving by way of walking Bella and, out of the blue, received a text message from a friend up North:

Friend:          About to go for my first run since November and thought of you!

Me:              [ immediately inspired to choose the run over the couch ]

The text conversation went further, but that was the crux of it.  Someone ready to go out for a run (in the cold NH weather) thought of me and took a minute to tell me so.  Shucks.

Heading out for my suddenly-a-great-idea run, Scott offered up, “Hey just take it slow if you have to”.  I overdosed on Valentine’s Day homemade fudge the night before, so was definitely feeling it today.  I replied, “Definitely” as I hit start on my watch and left the house.  No expectations; just getting out to move.

Almost immediately, my run felt easy.  I glanced at my watch a couple times and noticed it was hanging in the 8:20/8:30’s range.  My negative talk shouted, “Your watch is always screwed up; that can’t be right”; my positive talk whispered strongly, “Let the run come to you”.  I respond better to the strong whisper. 

Running within the confines of my gated community, I end up running several loops – albeit changing up the direction at times to keep it somewhat interesting.  Because of this, I passed the same couple people walking.  Several times.  Each time, the man with the salt & pepper beard smiled and cheered, “Nice work young lady, keep it up!” and “Great job!”.  I think I passed them four times in total.  By the last time I saw them, he cheered harder, “Wow, doing great….keep it up young lady!” while clapping and making quite a big deal of my running.  That made me smile so hard.    

I’m big on telling people I appreciate them or something they did.  I also strongly believe in building people up.  When I find myself on the recipient end of that, it really makes my moment/day/run.  Kindness is awesome.  It takes nothing to deliver and BOTH sides reap the reward.

Everyone needs a "Papa"

Whenever I meet someone new, I wonder why that person has crossed my path and becomes a part of my journey.  Twenty or so years ago, our paths crossed with Sue and Wynn.  Liked them from the start!  We share a love of running, enjoyment of Patriots football games, and just being in each other’s company.  Through the years, we’ve been a part of countless parties, football gatherings, running events, important family moments, and endless days at the beach.  What we hadn’t counted on when we gained such wonderful friends was that we also gained a “Papa”.

Papa is Wynn’s dad.  This man welcomed us into his family with hugs, with stories, with generosity, with kindness, and with a hearty laugh.  Whenever we arrived at a family event, he smiled broadly and welcomed us as he’d welcome the rest of his family.  When they lived in Jacksonville, he insisted we use their car and their house while we were there.  We even had our very own “height measurement line” drawn on the garage wall, next to the other family members’ height measurements.

Papa passed last night.  It’s never enough time.  There are never enough smiles or hugs or stories to be told.  Everyone should have a Papa, whether by blood or by friendship, to show them the value of family, laughter, and love.  I know this is exactly why he was part of my journey.

Thank you Papa, I’ve got a special place in my heart and memories just for you. 

How do YOU respond when things don’t go according to plan?

It’s easy to respond positively when things go according to plan.  The race you want to PR at; and you do.  Perfect weather for your vacation; and it happens.  It’s when things don’t go according to plan that the response speaks volumes about the person or the organization.

I’ve been running somewhere around 20 years.  That’s 20 years of running clothes, running shoes, and miscellaneous running accessories.  I’ve been a loyal Asics customer for that same period.  I did try a random New Balance and a Saucony shoe, but the Asics just fit.  So, I stayed with what worked for me.  Back in August, I ordered my next pair of shoes, but due to some pretty low mileage (and throw a state relocation from NH to FL in the mix), I really wasn’t covering the mileage I usually would. 

Over the last couple weeks, I noticed part of my shoe seemed to be separating.  What?  First, I hadn’t been running a ton of trails or rocky areas and generally, I hadn’t been hammering my shoes like I have in the past.  What gives?  In no time, the separation grew into a 1-inch sized hole!

With only about 200 miles on my shoes, I knew this wasn’t normal.  So, I jumped onto Asics’ website, easily found their ‘warranty claim’ link, and filed a claim.  I needed to include some photos and a receipt, but the process was very easy.  Within a very short time, I received an email:

The process to order my new shoes with the promotion code was also quick and easy.  Now, I’m excitedly awaiting my new shoes, being shipped in 2 days with free shipping.  The easy warranty process, the fast response, and the fantastic customer service makes me not only want to continue using their products, but also makes me want to share how great they are.  

Well done Asics!  And just in time for my registration for another race....:)