Time to Get Elevated

I arrived to Lone Pine Thursday October 5, 2017. I went to the visitors center to see if I could obtain a day permit to hike Mt. Whitney on Friday. I waited with 9 other anxious people trying to get single or group permits. We drew numbers to see who would be helped first as we were told all of us would receive a permit. I drew number 9 and so two rangers alternated helping us until finally it was my turn. Ranger Mark was so helpful he told me where to find a BLM (bureau of land management) campground and that it was the best deal. He gave me instructions and handed me the toilet to go bag which I promised myself I wouldn't have to use. A doggy poop bag on a short run no big deal, but I'm not carrying my own crap off the mountain let alone sticking it in one of my pack pockets.

I drove to the campground that was $8 a night. I threw my $10 bucks in the envelope and sealed it.  Who ever maintains that land deserved a tip. I found cute campsite 10 where the creek runs behind it. I got all my hydration together and ready for the morning. As I was preparing my pack I got a text from my friend Ashley who was concerned and wanted to know if I had a contact and what time I expected to be done. I gave her my mom's phone number and discussed a time frame of when I'd start and hope to end. Thank you Ashley for caring so very much that really meant so much! She encouraged me to hydrate and I sent her a photo of my camelbak bladder one gallon jug of water, 3 fluid performance filled bottles and my Nathan bottle. I know I'm a fish during activity and I plan accordingly. I also didn't want to need my water filter although I put it in my pack anyway.

I woke up to my alarm at 4:00 am and pressed snooze and decided I didn't want to start in the dark or cold. At 5:00 I got out of my sleeping bag, put all my warm gear on and made the short drive from the campground to the Whitney Portal trailhead.

I began the hike shortly after 6:00 am. I had little knit gloves on and my hands were cold. I looked forward to sunrise and getting my hands warmer. 

I decided to try to take a picture each mile. Mile 1 was nice I was right where I wanted to be moving slow to avoid any ill effects the altitude might present.

Mile 2 I met a really nice couple from Quebec, Canada who had left their jobs to adventure travel and backpack. I enjoyed chatting with Pam and Joe.

Miles 3/4 were beautiful with flowing water and trees. I was right on pace to where I wanted to be.

Mile 5 is where my real test began. I lost the trail. I looked forward and up to see where it veered off to only to find a white pair of bare butt cheeks using the toilet to go and wiping. I hoped the hiker didn't hear me or turn around. I went down some rocks and did a loop. The hiker had finished doing what bears do in the woods and so I asked if he knew where the trail went. He said to my left up the rocks. Terrific which rocks? I found the trail and was back on my way.

At 10,000 feet I decided to grab a little snack. My personal favorite is the Vermont Smoke and Cure beef stick chipotle flavor.

Shortly after I met two brothers from Buffalo New York. They'd left their jobs behind for a backpacking travel adventure. The one brother said he'd been living in my favorite small town of Killington, Vermont the last few years. He was surprised to hear I knew it and had been on the mountain where he had worked.

I continued on with the brother in the front. We came across a funny shaped rock in the trail we had to climb over.

We found a hiker who was on his way down from the summit and out of water. I asked him if he had a filter to which he gave me a puzzled look and response. Filter? I took out one of my fluid hydration bottles and emptied its contents into another bottle and handed it to him along with my lifestraw with instructions on how to use the two together.

The New Yorker and I carried on, but I fell back when I noticed a crow land on a rock and begin pecking at a shiny object it had in its beak. I scared it away and it left the object behind. It was tin foil with little pieces littered to and fro. I picked it up and continued the hike to the summit. 

The last few sections to the summit are rocky and sometimes technical, but enjoyable. I arrived in more time than the 6 hours I wanted so I snapped some photos, signed the log (finally no dnf) and made my way back down.

On the way down I lost trail and there was two men hiking together that said the trail is up here. I scrambled back up the rocks and ran the sections I could. I wanted as much daylight as possible on the descent. I looked forward and thought the trail went downward only to have the two guys look at me and ask if I was on trail. I said no probably not as I climbed back up once again.

I got to 99 switchbacks and saw a hiker with a prosthetic leg. He was incredible he didn't mind my prying question and he shared he'd had ankle cancer. I asked if he would mind if I took a photo and thanked him for the inspiration and motivation. He shared stories of guiding newbies on the Whitney Summit hike, going to Denali, Kilimanjaro and his career. He let me stay behind him then allowed me to pass and continue on my own. I'd later find him through a Strava app and learn his name.

I continued the descent down stopping to take photos and to be cautious on the balance logs on fatigued legs.

I got a little nervous in the dark on the last mile, but I had a working headlamp. Anyone who knows my history of malfunctioning headlamps knows that was a big deal. I finished by watching the full orange harvest moon crest over the mountain. The total adventure took me just under 14 hours.

I drove to a rest area 35 minutes away, couldn't rest and made the remaining drive home to return at 3:00 am.

I am thankful I took my unexpected time off to have this experience and Get Elevated!

Fast forward to today Sunday morning. I had received a complimentary race entry for a local half marathon City to Sea. I've run it twice previously. My calf muscles were sore when I woke up and I told myself I had to go regardless. You sign up, You show up! I made a plan I'd just walk and try to come in under 3 hours. Well I walked, I jogged and sometimes ran complete miles. I finished in just over the amount of time my first half marathon took me 8 years ago. I was really surprised.

I went to church afterward, went swimming, relaxed in the hot tub and took a nap.

Someone asked me," what's next?" It's a trail run I didn't get to run 3 years ago because of some health struggles. I'm going to Santa Barbara Red Rock thanksgiving weekend and get redemption with a short 26 mile adventure on some beautiful trails.

Find what you enjoy, make goals and chase them!!!

Time to Run in Relay Legs

I arrived at the airport on Thursday afternoon to take a new to San Luis Obispo direct flight on Alaska Airlines to Seattle. 

Our previous relay team had won a video contest and we chose Seattle Northwest Passage as the next Ragnar Relay to run.

My teammates picked me up from Seattle airport and we traveled to the Westmark hotel we were staying at near the starting line. It was beautiful on the water and had the coffee I wanted for race morning.

Friday morning we went to the starting line and saw Tracey off to run the first leg. She is our Captain and has put timeless effort into organizing and coordinating our accommodations, rental van, seeing that we won't go hungry or dehydrate and numerous other tasks. She had also organized who would run and which relay leg as she needed to leave early Saturday morning to catch a flight, but still wanted to complete all three of her legs. Tracey was my co-worker at Santa Barbara County years ago and she had a terrier named Adam that was the coolest goofy drug dog ever. This is also the same weekend that he passed onto doggy heaven two years ago. It is no small feat that Tracey was able to be here. This was her dream ragnar as she had done many others previously.

Tracey passed the snap band off to Mikey. He was my Sargeant that worked with Tracey as well. He used to joke that he was the 400 pound fat man with a bad ticker. He's not that guy anymore he's lost weight, taken a new job and is tackling relay races and triathlons and living life. He's pretty awesome! He was also the only guy in our van bless his heart he kept us all laughing and also drove the van a big part of the time.

Tracey was up to run again. She would jokingly ask who the idiot was that planned that. I love her style. It turns out later on I'd be doing the same thing running two legs with only a short rest in between. Half way into her 8 miles her knee got aching and she let me fill in for her. I ran that first mile at a faster pace than I ever have. It turns out I can run less than an eight minute mile with the right support and motivation. We finished that leg 3 as a team. I was so glad for my Fluid Cinammon Vanilla Vegan Recovery drink I put on ice earlier that morning. I passed off to Marie for leg 4 and it ended at the business of Superfeet. They are a shoe insole company who sponsored that leg and Marie got a hat she would later let me have. I gave  I Marie the vegan fluid after her run to try and she loved it too.

We had three more legs to go Lisa, Marie and Leah finished their legs and we handed off to Van 2. We drove on down the road and got some lunch at Varsity Inn a little bar and grill and then rested waiting for Van 2 to pass off to us.

I was the first runner on the next leg and had 4.5 miles to run. I wanted to run a consistent pace and do well. I was running and someone had written on the sidewalk in chalk,"your dad is proud of you." I am an emotional runner and that brought out the best in me and watery eyes. My dad was a track and field coach but I never ran when I was younger. I barely remember walking the mile in pe class. In Ragnar when you pass a runner it's called a kill. I passed 2 more runners and crossed a big road only to have another team van pass me and cheer. It was team livestrong. A guy George from the ultra running community has stage 4 cancer and surgery scheduled for this upcoming Tuesday. This leg is becoming emotionally tiring. As the run went farther and neared the end I had passed 4 other team runners. On the last hill climb I slowed to a hike but saw a young lady in front of me I wanted to pass as lucky kill number 7. I sped up on the down hill only to see a small uphill to the transition area. That runner paused and I knew I had to sprint up the hill. Tracey took a picture shortly after I checked off lucky number 7. 

I passed off to Marie and sat down I was exhausted.

After Marie passed off to Lisa we drove to the next leg where Lisa passed off to Leah. It was dark by then and we went to the next major exchange snow goose produce. Some of us got ice cream. I got black licorice flavor that colored everything smurf blue. I also found a cooling balm from island thyme that I rubbed on my sore calf muscles.

We drove to a hotel shortly after showered and got some rest while van 2 ran their next six legs.

It was my turn again and I did a short 3 mile run. We needed to have legs run simultaneously in order  to finish before the course closure so our van dropped off Mikey and came back to get me. This part of the course doubles back so I got to high five Mikey as he was running down the hill. I turned and snapped his picture as he rounded the bend. That was a little boost and I jogged up the hill and to the finish.

We dropped off Marie and waited for Mikey. Then dropped of Lisa. 

It was my last and longest leg of 8 miles. I came to a downhill with a picturesque view and called my mom to check in. 

I hiked the hills and ran the flats and downhill. I took pictures and at the end made sure my watch ended at 7.77 as there was no formal exchange in this section of the relay. My hill climbs weren't fast, but I arrived right at scheduled pace.

Leah ran her last leg very well. She works for a company that has awesome sunglasses and cycling helmets. We got some sunglasses from her that we all love. We stopped at a little house with kids selling lemonade while supporting her. That was the best huckleberry lemonade ever.

 Leah finished her leg looking amazing and fast and passed off to Kien in Van 2. Kien is the one who made the winning video from Las Vegas and we met each other at a previous endurance event.

Van 2 finished their legs and we all crossed through the finish arch together and collected our medals to form a phrase.

To leave the event we boarded a ferry with the van. It ended at land and a lighthouse.

We all got a good nights rest and made our way to the airport. I started to read a book called Running With a Police Escort while on the flight home. So far I'm relating a lot to this author and her running journey.

My legs are sore, I had a great time and I learned more about teamwork and running. I also just learned about Sunday being a day of rest and slept 6 hours.

The most important thing in life is taking time to find improvements where weaknesses are or once were. I've learned to get better being on a team and I've also learned it's taken a long time to run a mile pace I once thought I could never achieve. 

Challenge yourself to change you'll like the results!

Time to focus on what you have

Today I had what I will call my best customer interaction to date in the short 3 months I've worked at my new job.

A family came in with their kids and I immediately noticed the smallest one an amputee in a wheelchair. My co-worker was so lucky he got to start helping them as I was busy assisting another customer at the time.

I received some feedback yesterday so I was hesitant to offer to help my co-worker so the family could have one on one attention. The mom caught my attention and I helped bring her some pairs of shoes she selected. This allowed my co-worker to go on his lunch break. She then asked me if we had smaller sized shoes for her son. I tried to contain my excitement as I had him follow me in his wheel chair to a computer screen. We narrowed down the selection to three pairs and he selected the one of three he liked most. I ran to the warehouse and brought back the shoes for him to try on. I took the left shoe out of the box as he wheeled over to dad to help him put it on. He looked at his dad and said,"these are quite perfect!"

The young boy's dad asked me if they were too big. I asked if his prosthetic that wasn't with him was a knob or a foot. His dad said a foot and it was determined a good fit.

His mom shared with me he has cerebral palsy. He also has a twin brother fully ambulatory without cerebral palsy. His twin loved the new pair of shoes he got as well. My co-worker got to help him and when he got back from lunch we shared stories of this family and it sounded like he was as touched by them as I was. 

I asked her son if he would use his artificial leg to wear the other shoe and he was hesitant. I think this kid has it right. He didn't focus on a missing limb he was so excited about one new shoe. I asked if he would race in his wheel chair and he told me how fast it was.

It's National Running Day today and I just did my best to run a full effort 1k.

Time to Run really far

No one would know why this run was significant or why I wanted to shoot the shotgun to start what would be my first 100 mile run.

It started over 8 years ago with heartbreak an overdose attempt and my second amendment rights being taken away. 

That's when I found running. I lost 30 pounds in a short period of time without trying and found a couch to 5k podcast. I promised myself I wouldn't gain the weight back and that I wanted to live. Those few months were dark and filled with so much anger. I found running made all the sadness and anger melt away. I had time to think, re-evaluate my self worth, decide what I wanted moving forward and finally stop caring what or who others perceived me to be. Through that hard work I scheduled a court date and hearing to have my 2nd amendment rights reinstated. After 3 court dates the judge told the district attorney my petition was being granted.

I sent a message to Luis Escobar asking if I could begin the 100 mile Born to Run Ultramarathons early and shoot the shotgun. He responded with a simple yes and made my whole day.

I arrived at the ranch a little after 11:00 am expecting to start at noon. I made my way to the parking spot I like near Jadd, Alejandra and Jadd's family. Jadd is a huge inspiration to me, let's me dog sit his running partner and is the best person I could have parked next to. Jadd would offer what he would call unsolicited advice but I tried to absorb every bit of it as he has the experience and race resume to back it up.

I grabbed my hydration pack and made my way to the starting line recited the oath and shot the shotgun to a yell of put it in your shoulder and laughed because my dad always says that.

I started out on pink loop running with Carly and at a pace I felt I could sustain throughout. I quickly learned pink loop changed from years passed, but I loved the new challenge. After roughly 4 miles it arrives back at the main festival area and I passed Carly off to Jadd and continued on. I came in after the first loop and saw Natasha and she put trail toes on my back making sure my pack wasn't causing friction or chaffing. I had planned to do this run self support no aid, no crew, no pacers or aid station assistance, but I was so thankful for Natasha. I set out on yellow loop and had a really great loop. I thought about my supervisor Tera who is a great ultrarunner but recently had surgery and I know she would love to be out running. Natasha had passed on a message that Tera said good luck and that meant a lot. I thought about how I wanted to go visit my Godson who's home from his first year away at college. I thought about all the moments that brought me there to that moment and dang it my eyes would not stop watering. I'm not sure it was heat, allergies or sunscreen in them, but no I wasn't crying well not yet anyway.

My next loop  was yellow and an awesome woman Kandie who I'd met at work last week caught up to me and stayed with me at my pace until she stopped to call her sweet family. I was so glad she did because her guidance came in handy later on. I finished yellow loop and Jadd was at my car and helped me transition and fill my hydration pack. I told him there went my self supported goal. He then said he would have everything ready in my cooler for my next lap. This too would prove crucial later on.

I set out on pink and it got dark and cold quickly. In hindsight I wish I'd kept my windbreaker in my pack. I climbed a hill and found Natasha. I absolutely adore her. We met a few years ago after I'd done a run with her soon to be husband. I tell everyone the story of pacing her at her second 5k and how willing she was to try to run a pace without stopping to walk.  She was beginning the 60 early with a goal to complete at least one loop. She was with her mom and got separated and was starting to back track that included a rough hill climb. I asked her to come with me and I didn't care what pace. I was cold and my foot began bothering me. I was tempted to quit after we were done. I went to my car saw the water bottles Jadd set up and put on ice and I knew I'd be upset if I didn't try to keep going.

The next yellow loop I went to a dark place and was cold the first two miles, but as much as I wanted to turn around I also wanted to finish that loop. Somehow I got warm and more positive tried to forget about wondering if it was soreness or a huge blister on the pad of my foot.  I took a wrong trail for a minute and two runners followed me then we all turned around and they showed me the right path. That was the same part of yellow loop I told Kandie I'd miss earlier in the day. I ran into Steve that I met earlier this year at a run I love to volunteer for. He's from Ohio and we had all called he and his friend Ohio. I yelled is that Ohio and he was so funny and positive on his 30 mile loop on the way to what was also his first 100. He's also a sports psychologist and I believe I'll be paying him for therapy in the upcoming months.

I finished yellow and knew I needed to accept defeat. My heart wanted to continue but my mind said be smart. Jadd saw me as he and Alejandra were getting ready to run the 30 mile and 10 respectively. I told him I was done and he insisted I get my feet looked at he popped the blisters, taped my feet, relaced my shoes and said I should walk around and go do another loop. I was still freezing I felt I couldn't move quickly enough to generate body heat and the slightest pressure bothered my foot. I went to my car and tried to get warm I got a little sleep and then went to talk to Jadd's dad and stepmom. Jadd's dad said that he hoped I wouldn't be discouraged and that I would keep running and try it again. He then told me there was a reminder they put on my rear view mirror. Hanging up was an amulet made by Tracy from marvelous mud with BTR 100. 

I had planned on this being my first and only 100 mile run, but the truth is I will be better prepared next time, I will accept help when it's offered and I will fix those things that need improved as best I can.

My biggest take away from this is I am so grateful for the hard lesson learned many years ago that has brought me to this point.