Time to Catch Up

The whole Summer flew by without me taking any time to write about all life's adventures.

June was filled with trips to waterfalls and kayaking with whales.

July I volunteered throughout the night at Santa Barbara Endurance Race 100 mile and 100k. I got to make Dean Karnazes a peanut butter tortilla roll up warm and crispy. I drove a long windy road to return runners not wishing to continue back to the starting line and I got to watch my friend and inspiration Jadd cross the finish line taking first place and a course record.

I donated my last pint of blood to complete gallon 7 on my way to my 10 gallon donor goal.

I drove the Bus of Fun to MidState Fair 9 out of its 12 operating nights. It's like a shuttle bus with lots of great people having fun. I got to enjoy wine slush each night, great concerts, people watching, omg olive oils and lots of fun.

August I made a big decision along the lines of my health and fitness goals in preparation for an endurance event I chose to apply for. I quit CrossFit and it's a decision I am happy with. In life when something stops being beneficial or something I look forward to I know it's time for change. I make a decision and find the positive side of it.

I ran the second of 3 half marathons in a race series and traveled to Utah to surprise my mom for her 70th birthday and run another half marathon one week later. 

September was my birthday month and it was filled with so many surprises and great times.

I booked my flight and registered for Fuego y Agua in February 2016. I ran the 3rd half marathon in the race series and received a $100 gift card for donating blood again. My boss and the business partners brought me flowers and a gift card to my favorite salon. My friend's got me a machete that I need to sharpen and get comfortable using. My previous clients daughter and I enjoyed a movie and lunch. My mom sent me the best card and a special surprise.

This month has been just as busy as the Summer. Last weekend I traveled with my friend to Tahoe where we met up at the cabin with her boyfriend and more friends staying with us. I didn't want to race I only wanted to volunteer and follow the last runners as course sweep. It was a great opportunity. I wish I would have taken a photo of Ashley the young lady who showed so much courage and determination to get to the finish line. She placed a lot of trust in me, my strength and my headlamp. Sunday I got to collect on my hug from my friend Iram who is a brain cancer survivor I met in Vermont 2 years ago. He came from Texas and it was great to watch him race to the finish line of the charity sprint.

My friend Corinne gifted me a race entry 2 years ago when I did my first Spartan Race not knowing what it was. Her generosity struck again as she registered for a half marathon prior to her becoming pregnant. She gave me her entry and the race director accommodated making the transfer to me. I had said I was done running half marathons for the year 3 weeks ago. I liked being wrong. Today was fun and even though I ran just as slow today as I did my first half marathon 6 years ago I got to be outdoors running and see great friends.

Always Show Up On Time

This weekend was spent helping my favorite Santa Barbara family move into their new home.

Saturday morning I did a 10k run in Morro Bay where my mile pace was far behind where I wanted it to be, but I achieved my goal of finishing before the first half marathon runner came in.

I arrived to learn what my tasks would be. I moved pottery vases and pieces down stairs, helped dissemble and assemble beds, some lifting and other tasks and we finished with a nice dinner together. The best surprise was my Godson coming home from his trip early and having his bed in his new room ready to sleep in.

Sunday morning I went to Mesa cafe because they will make my spinach and tomato eggs perfect with a side of fruit no yucky toast and have the takeout order ready for me to take home to the still in bed sleeping 17 year old.

I then got to help load and transport the heavy temperpedic bed and when that was done there was another task to finish clearing out the new garage. There was so much teamwork and charity involved. I received a mirror. A refrigerator was given to a family and one of the cousins got a new mattress, the rest goes to goodwill. 

The last task was relocating the BBQ grill from the front yard to the back yard. I wanted to surprise my Godson's dad and have it finished while he was out running an errand. Chandler and I rotated the grill and together sled push style moved it. We had it moved just in time as his dad walked up. The timing was great.

I drove to my Godsons mom's office to tell her bye before I left to drive home and we ended up having the best talk. We talked about mine and the boys younger years and she expressed her love and appreciation. I thanked her again for trusting me enough to watch her young sons when I was only 19. She said sometimes you just know and she just knew. We talked about the place I was at 6.5 years ago verses now and how proud she is and of course I cried as she hugged me and rubbed my back. I told her she is that person that can call or ask me for anything and my response will be how high, how fast? Patty is not only my other mother, but a beautiful mentor and life coach. My favorite words and amazing humbling compliment from her was,"you always show up."

If there is anything I want to take from this enjoyable Memorial Day weekend. It is gratitude for those who serve and who choose to "Always Show Up!"

Time Hack

Friday I arrived in Monrovia fairly early so I had sushi with a fellow SISU IRON athlete. We had met a year prior at a Spartan Race 12 Hour Hurricane Heat where I had fireman carried him through one of the challenges because I was too heavy for him to carry.

I relaxed for a few hours then met my dear friend Joe for another quick bite to eat. I knew I wanted calorie surplus going into the event.

I arrived and joked with the sweet lady taking fees that I put my pants on one leg at a time and wouldn't need vip parking. I drove up the hill and was the only one in that area.

I walked down to registration turned in my waiver and tennis balls and learned my first challenge was to retrieve a small chocolate covered donut suspended from a paracord tied over a stream. I was not allowed to use my hands and if the donut fell in the stream I still needed to eat it. I began and for some reason put my head back a got light headed. I took a few pointers from Dave and Margaret laughed at their funny comments and ate that ugh thing that I can't remember the last year I had one actually I liked it or maybe it was just the challenge and patch that Dave handed me.

Some waiting and 9:00 pm arrived. We began by counting off and being put in two lines. I was instantly reminded of emt academy and was just waiting for staff to yell front lean and rest position and "down." Instead we started rolling drills. I absolutely hate rolling it makes me motion sick and I always end up being scared I'll pass out and have an ambulance called. I was so frustrated, upset, angry on the verge of tears and did not even care if I would be first to quit. We got to stand up. I grabbed my knees and leaned forward praying a staff member would not talk to me. I breathed and was okay.

Some athletes submitted essays as one of the tasks to complete prior to arriving. Those who had their story published received a break the next 45 minutes while we played in frog pond. The athlete I had lunch earlier with that day was one of the essays selected as he had written a SISU athlete had encouraged him to sign up for the IRON. He wasn't aware that I wasn't a SISU athlete at the event where I carried him. Next we would be separated into 4 teams and we got to swim in the dirt on land and do rolling again to Kevin's right which was our left that was entertaining. Luckily it was short.

We got to rinse off in frog pond again looking for our individually named tennis balls. We earned another cute patch.

We were then given an assignment to run and retrieve a cinder block up the hill and return with it. When we returned we were separated into two teams. Team one was to take the cinder blocks of team two along with their own back to the area we got them from. I was reminded of carrying all the gallon jugs up a trail last year to set up an ultra run aid station and also of all the bucket carries and trash bag carrying I've been doing the past two months to help clean the beach and pay for my axe, saw and knife. I tied a rope handle through one block and put my forearm through the hole of the other one. The following photo is a result of the arm carrying despite long sleeves.

Our next task was to eat a snack of crickets and meal worms (taste like French fries) and a Serrano pepper. I surprised myself I don't usually do very well with hot or spicy. We got a cute survival patch for this.

We then had our hand zip tied to our foot via our shoe and were given a challenge to take the cinder block around the loop course back to the starting point without using our hands to touch the block. I was one of the last ones on this task. There was a young man in front of me and another person in front of him. We were told we had 35 minutes and could go back the way we came or continue forward. The athlete in front of me chose to go back and I encouraged him to stay with us. I didn't want him to go alone. I took an independent study course in high school in time management and I value being on time and being in the right place at the right time. I created this blog a number of years ago centered around time and the excuses that are made surround it, but time hacks and I have a love/hate relationship. I like the challenge they present, but I also don't like the possibility of failure they create. As the time hack drew near I purposely stayed behind the young man I was ready to be done. One of the staff members Matt then announced we were allowed to remove our shoe but must keep it zip tied to our wrist. It ruined my plan to be done and up the hill I ran with the cinder block.

We had to go down the hill with one shoe to be given our next task. We were separated into teams of 5 and Schmitty my teammate from a race in Vegas last year was placed on my team. Now I knew I had to put my best foot forward and continue because if I didn't I would place an extra burden on four individuals. We needed to run to the chapel and check in then collect items we thought would add up to 500 pounds. We could make one trip or numerous trips. We had to go through the pond with our items. The first trip we collected cinder blocks and I grabbed logs and wood. The next trip we grabbed a large log and put a rock in one of our teammates buckets and decided we would use the water weight to help equal our 500 pounds. I took the teammates rock bucket into the water with me and I said a prayer we would make the weight. As I stepped out of the water her bucket had bulged out from the weight of the rock and all the water emptied. We waited our turn on the scale and as we neared our time to set it up a rock fell and the weight we had was 508. We were closest team thus far and had to do 8 minutes of jumping jacks.

Our next task was a hike. My hydration pack was empty and I wanted dry pants, socks and shoes. We passed my car on our way and I made a quick stop thinking I'd catch up to the last of the group. I closed my car and ran down the trail only to choose left when I should have gone straight. Having learned asking staff questions usually earns burpee penalties I didn't ask Matt which direction I should go instead I let him know I was choosing not to continue. I knew what the following challenge was and I had done recon of the area earlier and knew my chance of making the time hack was small. Keeping this in mind and knowing that I have my first ultra trail run in 2 weeks it was important to me to be true to myself and be content that although I wanted to quit in the first 30 seconds I made it through the night and past sunrise just over 9.5 hours.

I left camp and drove to Santa Barbara to shower and take a nap.  Soon after I drove home and unloaded my car and was determined to carry everything in up the two flights of stairs in one trip. Lucky for me it isn't a log or 500 pounds. Yes I park in a Fort. 

The quote on my bucket is:

Success is not final, failure isn't fatal, courage to continue is what counts. I was given success, failure and courage and now all I'd like is a nap.

Time for a charity run

I've been so focused on training for a 30 hour event coming up in just 3 short weeks that I decided to change my scenery.

Yesterday I worked a half day in the office then traveled to Santa Ynez to preview the Hotshots Extreme Run 3 mile course. I tested a few obstacles, checked where course markings were altered by the cattle and put in 2 extra fun miles.

Today I began the charity run to benefit Wildland Firefighter Foundation. I was in the first wave and we started running in the wrong direction, turned around jumped the fire and continued running. The course was missing a marker and volunteer so we all took another wrong turn creating an additional 1.5 miles. 

I jumped the fire again because my friend was there taking photos so I decided to have fun.

 I followed the same trail I ran yesterday and came to the first obstacle. They are large tubes filled half way with very muddy approaches at the beginning of each one along with a funny sign.

More trail running would come next and a sandbag carry. I found the heaviest one I could find to carry up the hill. A short run and I met Olivia, Kristine and Jamie all athletes from Killer B Fitness. 

We all came to the Barbwire crawl where I rolled and crawled and turned myself and my pack a dark shade of mud.

More running and we carried a bucket of rocks. I have no idea why I enjoy that 5 gallon bucket of fun so much. I've used every chance I get to train with it because I know it will be my best friend at the event I'm preparing for.

The cargo net made me nervous with the transition at the top when I tested it yesterday but today I felt more relaxed. 

We arrived at the slip and slide and I was reminded of being a kid again in our neighbors yard on their hill.

After that obstacle there was an option to continue onto the 6 or 10 mile course. Olivia and Kristine continued on the 10 just behind me.

There was a tire drag obstacle up a hill around an oak tree and back down. I just wanted to pick that boring tire drag up and run with it.

There was a short run on flat trail to a fireman's carry. Kristine let me carry her and then Olivia let me carry her. I was so grateful for them.

After that we arrived at another cargo net. Olivia was nervous and climbed her way to the top. We were on opposite ends of the obstacle and I told her I would coach her over, but with fear in the way climbed back down. I walked over to her put my hand on her shoulder and told her I'd like her to try it again. She was willing and I knew she was capable. This time Olivia got to the top and did the transition and finished the obstacle. I loved her reaction she said she felt lightheaded she was so happy and that her husband would not believe she did that.

There were wall climbs that I struggled with some of the higher ones. There was a ditch we got to hold onto fire hoses and go backwards down just like the rope I use at my favorite training area.

We came to a wall/rope/hose obstacle that I remembered struggling with last year. Today I chose the hose option to honor fallen firefighters and I climbed it. I got some scratches from descending down the back side of the wall with it too fast but I loved it.

The tire pull and tire carry were after this and of course it's tires so I had fun.

The big obstacles are at the end and I saw the quarter pipe. There were 2 guys at the top and I threw them a shirt to hold out for me so I have something to reach for to get to the top platform. Last year that obstacle earned a nickname (quad slapper) because a guy slapped my leg when I finished it. 

My favorite obstacle was the tyrolean traverse over the vineyard reservoir that is approximately 24-26 feet deep. It was not rope, but a cable covered in pvc pipe and I loved the new challenge. I wanted to see how far across I could get but I was also warm and the mud had dried and stuck to me so I traversed a very short ways and let go so I could go for a swim.

 I was cleaner, cooled off and ready to cross the finish line and collect my shirt and medal. Rob the owner of Fireman's Brew rewarded me with an ice cold bottled root beer and one of the photographers tucked his business card down my shirt. I can honestly say no run has ever ended like that.

I had a great time surrounded by great people with a great purpose.

Cleanup Time

This past weekend I decided to see where I was at time wise in hiking up a local mountain and running down after only a month of post surgery recovery. Taking two months off and the setback that followed the surgery took a toll on my physical fitness, endurance and running speed. I decided I wanted a baseline and something to gauge improvement. I'll revisit that mountain in 30 days...

After that activity I decided I would utilize the beginning of a 3 day weekend and go to one of the busiest sites in the area. It is also my favorite training hill, caving adventures, rope descent, ocean wall traverse, stairs, and beach run. 

I took my pack and my five gallon bucket to the easily accessed cave. This cave is also known for having hot tinders still burning from fires and almost always bottles and cans left behind. I filled my pack that I'm training with so we become comfortable with one another. I also filled my 5 gallon bucket. As I was walking to my car I noticed a huge black trash bag so I tried to drag it up the trail. It was so heavy I only succeeded in moving it onto half the trail half way creating a pass way blockage. I decided I would come back the following day with gloves and more equipment. I traveled to the recycle center and sorted the plastic, glass and aluminum and was given $3.87. I made a goal that the next day I would get the trash bag off the trail and I would try to double the earnings.

Sunday morning I drove back out to the area armed with my gloves, trash bags, bucket, new rope for the rock descent to the cave, paracord, trauma shears, sunscreen and hydration.

I made my way down to the trail and began digging in the big black trash bag. I put trash in a new trash bag and placed bottles and cans in my bucket and pack and I emptied the dirt and debris at the bottom of the bag onto the side of the trail. I took this load up to my car then returned to the cave I had left clean of all bottles, cans and trash only 20 hours prior. I proceeded to find one fire with still warm tinders along with an accelerant of lighter fluid. Unfortunately I left that alone as to not burn myself. More piles of bottles and cans were left as well so those made their way once again to my bucket and pack. I made another trip back up to my car and was on to my next mission.

As I was driving from the main road into the dirt parking lot I noticed several trash bags had been left by a sign. I started sprinting with my bucket to the sign. They're short 30 yard hill sprints. I began sorting each trash bag removing trash and separating out the bottles and cans into my bucket then running to my car and emptying the bucket into a bag. When I was finished I had 4 bags of recycling, 1 very large bag of trash, many empty beer boxes, a pizza box, men's perfectly great condition flip flops, a girls adorable Hollister tank top and a football.

When this was done I was on to my next task. This is my favorite thing to do and place to be and I'm always grateful for the friend that shared it with me as it isn't easy to find. The last time I posted a picture of myself there I received a lot of messages from concerned friends about the condition of the fraying rope.

My mission here was to anchor a new rope I would be leaving behind for all to enjoy. I would also leave the two existing ropes. I also wanted to descend with my bucket attached to me with a paracord. I was accessing this area to clean another cave. When I arrived at the area I met a couple and their daughter. They watched me anchor the new rope and I told them I would coach them down. The dad and daughter were curious and the mom was cautious, but also allowing fear to take priority. I descended then after a period of time the dad and daughter came down. I then watched the most awesome moment. The husband went back up the rock with the rope and assisted his wife in descending the rock with the rope as I was so excited and cheering her on. It was so awesome when she got down and smiled then said," now how will I go back up?"

I traversed the slippery wall really unsure of my ability and was thankful when I arrived at the cave and found it surprisingly void of any trash or recycling. I made my way back across the wall and up the rock to run my way to the next cave.

 In the next cave I found mostly cans and a back pack and towels, but no sign of the owner. This cave provides the most sheltered incredible view and the sound when the waves crash is breathtaking. 

The trash made its way to a dumpster, the football found a K9 friend, the flip flops will find a less fortunate man who needs comfort, the tank top will get bleached and the cans, bottles and plastic found their way to a recycle center where I earned $13.85.

Tomorrow is Tuesday where I am blessed with the opportunity each week to run 4 or 5 miles with an incredible group of individuals. You know who truly inspired this cleanup was one of the young men in that group who often times will grab a bag and pick up cans and bottles on our weekly run near this same area. I think tomorrow I will take my pack and run the beach section and see if I can find any bottles and cans left from the fun that was had over the 3 day weekend.

I'm not looking for a pat on the back here. I really want to be successful in the event I'm training for the first weekend in May and it was my way of giving back and getting paid to train. I would like to raise awareness and give gentle reminders to please leave no trace or when you find traces find a way to help remove them. Participate in local trail or beach cleanup projects.

Finally some words from a great person who shared this with me tonight. SISU IN TRASH OUT.