2014: Conquered Doubt

Setting goals is a normal part of starting a new year.  But reflecting on the past year can provide learnings and motivation to do bigger or better things.  Most importantly, reflecting provides the opportunity to celebrate doubts conquered and goals achieved.  In that spirit, Scott compiled some earlier video clips from 2014 into this one to celebrate three major goals met this year:  

Meaghan at her first Ironman (Lake Placid)

Carrie at her first 50 miler (VT50)

Me at my first 100 miler (Ghost Train)

I was honored to witness greatness in my friends’ accomplishments, thankful to celebrate my own accomplishment, and grateful to have such a thoughtful and creative Scott to capture the memories so eloquently.  Hope you enjoy!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Increased laundry – bring it!

Yes, that’s what I said.  Because ‘increased laundry’ means that Scott is running again!  Albeit slow and very low mileage, he’s been able to run outside (on trails) as well as on the treadmill at home and at physical therapy.  Progress!!!

Scott's also been experimenting with his new GoPro, so here's his first run on Christmas morning -

It all went very bad in late September.  That Saturday morning, we were heading up to Vermont so Scott could kill the VT50 race he had been training so hard and so well for.  But it would not be.  Just before our road trip, he went out on a shakeout run and severely sprained his ankle. 

Not realizing how badly it was sprained or that other tendons and ligaments might be involved, Scott continued to use his ankle.  He couldn’t run, but he could walk.  So he did.  As the weeks passed with no improvement to his pain or swelling, he relented and consulted an Orthopedic/Sports Medicine specialist.  Enter….the boot.

This has been Scott’s first major injury since….forever.  But it’s been tough.  It’s hard to sit out two major races (VT50 of course, but he was also planning to run StoneCat50), especially when he was so well trained.  He was also such a trooper playing the role of Crew Chief for my Ghost Train 100 miler, even though his plan to run me in was thwarted by the ankle injury.

So bring on the additional shorts, shirts, socks, hats, mittens….bring it on!  I’ve missed my running partner in crime and have felt his disappointment with and for him over the last three months.  Healing is never fast enough, but it appears he’s heading in the right direction!  Time to buy some more Tide to keep up with it all!

2014 in pictures

January

Sooo colddddd

February

20 miler in a snowstorm!

March

Registered!!

Mexico

April

First ever blogger meet up/run with Michelle

Poor mom fell at work

May

Pineland Farms 50K with Carrie

June

Key West birthday & anniversary celebration!

Gorgeous shot off of Southernmost Point, Key West FL

July

Meaghan killed Ironman Lake Placid!

August

TARC Summer Classic 50K with new friend Heather

September

Poor Bella injured her paw

Poor Scott injured his ankle

October

Mom's Retirement Dinner

Ghost Train 100 Mile Finish!!

My amazing Ghost Train Crew - best friends ever!

November

Wolf Hollow 1/2 Marathon Trail Race

December

Christmas Spirit with Mom!

2014 was a great year.  Excited to see what 2015 has in store....

Do you have any big 2015 plans?

Christmas Spirit

It’s no secret that, over the years, I’ve become less spirited and more Grinch like.  I do try to find the Christmas spirit, but when you’re not religious and you’re not a parent, some of the glitter of the holidays seems a bit dulled.

I abhor malls and prefer to do any shopping online.  Mostly, I love to give gifts that are handmade or are a result of sharing my time.  Sharing myself.  A couple weeks ago, Mom and I had plans to see The Nutcracker in Boston.  Mom got the tickets and we were excited to not only see the show, but to also spend the afternoon together.  The day before the show, Mom picked up a major plague that left her unable to function, let alone go into town for a show.  She found someone who could use the tickets and went back to bed.  I went out with Scott and bought furniture.  But I digress….

Fortunately, Mom and I also had another plan to spend some quality Christmas time together.  This past Saturday, we got together at my house and spent a solid seven hours baking and decorating cookies.  We enjoyed egg nog and Christmas music, we watched “It’s a Wonderful Life” and Chevy Chase “Christmas Vacation”, we poured Bailey’s…..

By the evening, we had created approximately 350 cookies, covered any and all topics of conversation, took fun pictures, and just enjoyed being together. 

Today, Mom baked her famous whoopie pies and delivered a gift box filled with the yummy treat to my house especially for our nephew Matthew.  She won’t see Matthew this Christmas, but knows how much he enjoys them.  Later this evening, she made a second trip by my house to deliver the awesome dinosaur she found to top the gift.  Matthew really digs his whoopie pies and dinosaurs!

This Christmas season has had its ups and downs, its chaos (especially since my new office is located directly across the street from a major mall), and some moments of Grinch-itis, but thanks to Mom, I’m officially in the Christmas spirit now.  With Christmas Eve tomorrow, I certainly cut it close.  But I say, better late than never!

Merry Christmas Friends!

Literally….getting it done on the run!

This morning, I had a brilliant idea.  I decided to don my ultra vest (stuffed with debit card) for my run and head to my local CVS.  What’s better than getting your run in AND accomplishing an important Christmas errand at the same time!

I took the longest route possible to get to the store while watching the pretty light snowflakes falling around me.  With temperatures at 28 degrees, I hid snugly behind my face mask and enjoyed the trip.  It felt like no time at all had passed as I arrived at CVS.  I found my cookie bags I needed (Mom and I baked over 300 cookies yesterday), paid for them, and then stuffed them in my ultra vest.  The only downside to my brilliant plan was the cool down I experienced while in the store.  Brrr...

My run back home also felt like it was over in no time!  I hadn’t run all week, so was happy to keep the pace comfortable (ended up with a 9:08 average pace over 8.1 miles).  The feeling of accomplishing something while completing my run was fantastic!  During the holidays or any chaotic time, it’s such a gift when you feel like you’ve accomplished something – more so when you feel like you did it in a creative, efficient way.

Now if only I could run to and from work…..

“Whether you think you can, or you think you can't….”

Last Sunday, I finally got to run the Wolf Hollow ½ Marathon.  I say “finally” because I’ve had an eye on this one for a couple years, but have always had some other race or recovery period conflict with it.  A month after GhostTrain 100, I was craving a little motivational race to jumpstart me.

Scott, Bella, and I set out early to find the place and pick up my number and a cute shirt.  With Scott still in a boot, I also wanted to make sure he had plenty of time to get wherever he wanted to be to watch the race.  Bella was beside herself with smells, lots of people and other dogs.  The day was gorgeous, finding me in shorts and a long sleeve light running shirt.  (Sidenote:  a couple days later, snow!)

While we waited for the start, I told Scott I just hoped I could keep a steady pace and that I didn’t really expect much.  I wasn’t sandbagging; truly, I just didn’t know what my legs were capable of.  They felt OK, but not overly strong.  So, I sort of set my own expectations rather low that day.  Scott reminded me that I didn’t lose all my fitness/strength/stamina this past month just because I hadn’t been running 50+ mile weeks any longer.  He also stated I should have no problem finishing in sub-2 hours.  It’s exactly what I needed to hear.

I started the race conservatively, talked to other runners, and enjoyed the perfect day on an easy/runnable trail.  The course was primarily trail with very few rooted or rocky areas to have to navigate.  A dream!

About half way through, Scott’s words floated back into my head; that I…”should have no problem finishing in sub-2 hours”.  Well, in that case:

The best part of this race?   The best part was not my pace or placement; it was how I felt during this race.  This race was all about having fun on this non-goal oriented race (unless you count the sub-2 part) and soaking in the race energy around me.  For me, what happened felt magical.

I started passing runners.  Lots of them.

Hopefully you know me by now to know that I’m not saying that in a braggy way.  I’m saying it in a truly surprised way.  It’s hard to finish strong in a race.  It’s easier to start out too fast and fade towards the end.  And it sucks to be passed when you’re feeling that fade creep in.  This time, however, I was the one doing the passing.  I felt so strong and a couple times wondered, “who has taken over my body?”.   A couple other times, I found myself wondering, “OK, what mile is it going to be where I can’t sustain this any longer?”.  Fortunately, that mile wasn't until somewhere in mile 12.  Knowing I only had 1.1ish miles remaining, I could keep it together.

Up to three days post-race?  SORE AS HELL!  I wasn’t this sore after Ghost Train and I guess that makes sense when you look at my Ghost Train pace vs. Wolf Hollow pace.  But still, I did NOT see that coming.  Ouch.

Just goes to show you, legs and lungs are important, but the mind?  The mind is a powerful thing…. 

“Whether you think you can, or you think you can't--you're right.”  ― Henry Ford

EPIC

Does EPIC describe my long day at work?  Nope.

Does EPIC describe tonight's nightmare commute?  Close, but nope.

Does EPIC describe the piece of a coworker’s birthday cake I scored today?  Nope.

Does EPIC describe the snow in upstate NY…..well, that one may deserve an EPIC.

So what is best described as EPIC?

• EPIC is the name of my treadmill.

• EPIC describes the 3 mile run I completed on my EPIC treadmill after my long day and nightmarish commute.

• EPIC describes the feeling after completing that run.  Instead of sulking over wasted time in the car.  Instead of “rewarding” myself with a glass of wine or other goodies.  Instead of regretting not having chased the EPIC feeling that only comes with meeting a goal.

Even an EPIC little 3 miler goal.

What is best described as EPIC for you?