A week filled with great times

Sunday morning started very early as I wakened at 4:30 to prepare breakfast and begin my 2.5 hour drive North to Monterey for a Spartan 300 workout. As an official California Street Team member I was assigned to assist in checking in workout registrants. I had great street team members to work with and when all was done 175 participants would be accounted for.

Michael Ainis would lead them all formed in lines of 7-15 in each line. Burpees, crab walks, push-ups, lunges, running and a great time was had by all. Toward the end of the workout a partner carry was assigned. This is where I would observe one of the most amazing displays of strength and love. A couple in their 70's began the carry with the husband carrying his wife. As they went to trade for the carry back to the starting point he simply told her he'd walk by her side. Earlier I had watched this beautiful woman taking a knee to catch her breath and I had asked if she was okay with a gentle touch of her shoulder. She looked up, smiled and said yes I'm okay. 

At each Spartan Race event I attend I am always touched by someone. Today it was the eldest lady in the group giving it her best and always smiling.

Monday I attended CrossFit because my dear friend Terri held me accountable. Terri finished a 12 hour solo adventure race on Saturday and despite being tired and sore she still showed up to put in the work. Terri is an inspiration to me so driven and so kind I can't help but adore her. We did front squats at 70% of one rep max. I got encouraged by Chrissy and Terri and met a new woman Becky. We then moved on to the workout of the day. It consisted of running, back squats and toes to bar. For the first time I did 10 toes to bar without releasing the bar. I made the back squat weight heavier than prescribed for an increased challenge and I had a great evening. 

Last week I went a little out of my way to locate a Uhaul van to have available for a business needing to utilize it for Mother's Day floral deliveries. Today I got rewarded ten fold with 2 dozen gorgeous yellow baby and long stem roses.

Tuesday was the second Pub Run of the season sponsored by Running Warehouse and Salomon shoes. It was great to run a 4 mile out and back and hit a sub ten pace on mile 4. It was followed with delicious taco salad with friends for Taco Tuesday.

Wednesday is always rest day and I welcomed it, but I committed to a 30 hour endurance event in 2015 and registered for it today. It's called the SISU Iron.

Thursday I got prepared for Fridays travel to Born to Run UltraMarathon.

Friday morning I arrived at the event site. I was planning on doing the archery run, but was asked by the race director if I could spare a couple hours to assist his wife. I set my wants aside and jumped in to help with participant check-in. The couple hours turned into 9 and I had a great time meeting people and handing out race t-shirts. I met a guy that had the little event rule tattooed on his arm.

I slept in my car and woke up early to assist with the last of the race participants check in and tshirt distribution. 

The 50k, 100k and 100 mile runners were given instructions to begin with the pink ribbon marked course lap followed by alternating laps of pink and yellow. The 10 mile participants were told to follow yellow.

I began the run at a great pace and never stopped on the first few hill climbs. I stopped to hike/walk/lunge some of the climbs. I knew if I were to have a chance at achieving my goal I would need to improve speed on the flat and stay completely focused on the downhill and the few technical downhill sections. At mile 7 I started experiencing pain in a strange section of my legs, but I knew I had to keep moving. I was on my last 1.2 miles and I saw my friend Kevin. He passed me with a hand slap and encouraged me. I'm an emotional runner so of course I got all choked up, forgot to keep breathing and got weak in my legs. Then adrenaline kicked in and I said I have to go hard to the finish. I used to run with Kevin sometimes. He is fast and he always slowed for me.  I was almost to the end and ran into my friend Larry doing the 50k course who thought I was following the wrong course mark and he directed me up a hill. My friend Jadd saw me and had a puzzled look on his face. I knew something was wrong when all of a sudden a runner yells, hey 10 milers you're going the wrong way." I turned around, ran down the hill and saw that what I'd been directed to was actually the left turn taken earlier during the course. I ran to my car parked near the finish, retrieved my tire and ran to the finish line. I did 11.3 miles and was right on track to finish in sub 2 hours had I not had the detour. The course was gorgeous it was great training and I loved all of it! I was there to see Natosha complete her first lap of her first 50k and Kevin complete his 50k in right around 4 hours.

Today I began my day meeting 3 weeples for a charity run benefitting wildland fire foundation and honoring the fallen hotshots 19.

The course began with a wall jump start a quick spray down and some over under obstacles. We walked most of the course enjoying getting to know one another. We climbed walls and cargo nets. We assisted a team of women participating in the 3 mile course. One woman was discouraged by a teammate to do the obstacle because she was 7 weeks pregnant. I think the discouragement had the opposite effect on her and up she climbed. I even learned a new technique from her. I tried her technique as I climbed it a second time. We crawled through large plastic piping while a GoPro attached to a drone filmed us. The warped wall would require assistance that we received from other members on the course and we in turn would offer that same assistance. That was my favorite part of the run. I think the drone was filming there too. At that obstacle a guy slapped my leg and said dang look at those quads. That made me laugh. There was a rope/wall obstacle that defeated me a few times until I took the option on the left. There was a fireman carry. Ernesto carried Jorean and I carried Sai. That part was great because you needed a partner and it honored the fireman. We came to more wall climbs and an aid station where the canopy kept threatening to blow away. The weeples and I stopped to assist the aid station volunteer who we learned was the race directors wife. Sai and I also used the aid station for a tire photo opp.

We neared mile 7 aid station and our teammate Ernesto who had been carrying on strong with a knee strain decided he needed to end his time on the course. We wished him well, he cheered us on said he'd see us at the finish.

We came to a tire obstacle I was really excited about. I'd seen it in a picture. It was way harder than I anticipated it would be.

Just before the finish was a set of angled monkey bars set between two shipping containers. The reach to the first bar was a little far so I tried a jump grab successfully. Three bars in I'd learn I picked the one set that carried the greatest challenge. The bar was pushed too far away and despite my best efforts I'd have to let go. I watched Sai complete them with ease. 

Sai, Jorean and I did the last Barbwire wall crawl unders and jumped hay bail stairs to the finish where Ernesto was there to take our photo like he was so kind to do all along the course. We didn't receive a finisher shirt or medal because they ran out, but they took our info to get them to us.

I went back to try the monkey bars and used Sai's suggestion to take advantage of the shipping container on the side. I did it I didn't fall.

In life sometimes we fail once, but it's attempting twice that matters.

Checkpoint Challenge Time

Today's race would begin like any other with a challenge. One hour before starting time I took the bike I borrowed out of the car and much to my dismay saw that it had a flat rear tire. Lucky for me my friend left the bike complete with hand pump, spare tube and tire iron. 

I walked the bike to the staging area where a really nice guy offered to help me. Although accepting help isn't a strong point of mine, I was happy to let him pitch in. The tire was fixed, put back on the bike and I was set to wait for our wave to start.

My friend Kristin the co-race director saw me and asked if we'd take a third person on our team as the racer's partner had not shown up. I said of course especially because it was another female. The three of us reviewed the map, plotted strategy and the course we would take. The three of us were instructed to tether the kayak Denise was using to the kayak Corinne and I would be in.

Coming into this adventure race Corinne said she would be slow and hadn't kayaked much or ridden a mountain bike. I was here to have fun and also to let Corinne gauge where her knee was in it's surgery recovery. Time wasn't important. 

The three of us women started toward the area we believed the checkpoints to be. We are looking for an island, but we also are under the impression that checkpoint 1 and 2 can be run to one another. What isn't known is that I've volunteered at adventure races in years passed so I know the checkpoint is a bright orange triangle. We see another team shore their kayak and take off running up a hill. We choose to continue forward all the while looking for an island. We then see a boater who says something about a spillway and we go toward the spillway. We see another boater who says kayakers have come and left this area. Up ahead on shore we see a bright orange object on a box and start paddling toward it only for me to look left and start screaming that's checkpoint three the triangle is white with orange on it attached to a buoy. Corinne punches our two cards and we set off for the next checkpoint. It's on a hillside. Corinne and Denise stayed in the kayaks while I ran to get the cards punch on another checkpoint. Our strategy was to paddle to another shore and send a runner up the island to the next checkpoint while the other two carried or dragged the kayaks up and over a small hill. Garret a pro adventure racer for team Tecnu would spot us at this point. He had already finished and was kayaking out for fun. He made a comment about sending our teammate out to run and we responded it was part of the strategy. Garrett watched me lift the back of the kayak Corinne was carrying and grab the handle of the kayak Denise had been using and start dragging it. He yells, "go gun show." I had to laugh. I loved getting cheered on.

Corinne was a trooper with the kayak and scored herself a hat for her efforts. Just doing her part cleaning up the trace some fisherman had left behind.

Denise comes running down the hillside and we set off to paddle back to the starting line.

We made it back and transitioned onto our mountain bikes. The ride starts with nice flat flowy single track and fire road then takes a right turn where the volunteer advises to use those granny gears and get ready for the 1-2 mile climb. There may or may not have been some hike a bike taking place here.

The bike course was beautiful single track. It consisted of berms I could ride still clipped in, some very minor technical rocky sections most of which I chose to skip and really fun downhill and roller coaster sections. Corinne did a million times better than she tried to tell me she would.

Last was the run. It was hilly, involved a lot of bouldering and a little pond with a checkpoint Corinne swam out to get.

The checkpoint challenge ended with some fun obstacles. Corinne had Denise step on her to get into the closet climb obstacle. Denise grabbed the rope and finished it like a champ. I jumped up after Denise found the technique I wanted grabbed the rope and made my way up. Corinne took the side next to me and powered up it like the obstacle specialist she is. We climbed down wall steps and proceeded to the cargo net obstacle. We took turns holding the net for one another and we all ran to the finish line.

This was such a great new challenge for me to take on and every aspect of it was enjoyable! The scenery was beautiful most of which I'd never seen although it's minutes away from my home. The terrain provided different challenges. The course was the most well laid marked course I've ever been on and the kayak element provided a new skill I want to practice both the kayaking and navigating.

All-Out Events has been doing this adventure race for a number of years and each year Yishai is able to create a new element of surprise. He spends days prior removing poison oak, loading kayaks, marking course, loading boxes of finisher pint glasses into the trailer, assembling the finish arch and the list of work that he, his awesome wife, friends, staff and volunteers put in to make this great really shows. I received a phone call at 9:00 pm because earlier in the day I asked what our time was and Yishai was following up with an answer.

I highly recommend this to anyone who loves outdoors and seeks new challenges all while checking the points and directions their lives are taking.

Time To Test Limits

This weekend seemed to have a theme. Much of it revolved around tires. At it's end my car would get another 1,011 miles on it's tires.

I am so lucky my friend Joe is an early riser (literally we all question if/when he sleeps) and could direct me to the race venue I completely drove pass. I was able to later thank Joe for taking my call at 5:00 am when he woke up to a flat tire on his car the morning after the race. Joe, Seth and I took turns pumping the tire back up with the small Lezyne hand pump I had brought to air my personal flotation device that was part of my HH12HR checklist.

12 Hour Hurricane Heat began like the shorter version of the Spartan Race Hurricane Heat at 6:00 am. Teams were formed and names were chosen. I became one of ten on the team "Nothing Else Matters. The burpee fest began. I lost count at 143.

We then log rolled about 100 yards. This was the part where I got annoyed at my syncope and motion sensitivity and mentioned how glad I was I couldn't throw up.  A bridge of Spartans in plank position was created to crawl under. 

I'm going to leave the other details of this part of the day out as I want individuals to register for a Hurricane Heat and learn what it is all about for themselves. I will say one thing we all went to the rope climb and I watched incredible teamwork take place as a team assisted one guy in trying to get his rope climb to ring the bell. After a period of amazing effort another Spartan climbed to remove the bell from the top and it was brought down to ring.  I watched another guy struggle time after time without anyone noticing or without him asking for help. I walked to the young man who was alone and defeated and I coached him up the rope a short distance. He said he'd never tried or learned to climb a rope before. I was really proud of his drive. 

At approximately 9:25 we all finished together. Hurricane Heat0048 was dismissed and the 12 Hour Hurricane Heat 001 was given their first assignment. We were to run 3/4 of a mile, retrieve a tire and return to the starting point. I was excited about this I'd trained with my tire I kept in my car for the last 6 weeks.

We all returned in time where we learned our next mission was to complete the Las Vegas Super Spartan Race course and we had 4 hours to finish with our tire.

I climbed walls went under nets climbed more walls did some more obstacles and came to the bucket carry. It appeared some racers were choosing to burpee out of this obstacle and that may have been the better strategy, but it's a favorite of mine because it's where my stubbornness plays a key role. In the past I've always set a goal to do it as quickly as possible without setting the bucket down. I adjusted the tire to rest on my pack grabbed my bucket and off I went. Numerous racers asked why I had the tire. There were so many women that expressed appreciation and words of admiration. Numerous men called me crazy or badass. I must have said thank you 4,000 times throughout the race.

I would come to an aid station shortly after this where I would realize I couldn't find my banana in my pack and I also needed to refill my hydration bladder. I got completely annoyed and just at that time I saw a familiar face. It was Ben my friend from home who was a complete stranger I picked up last Thanksgiving to do a beach run with me as he was training for his first Spartan Race.

The monkey bars which are usually my favorite obstacle would earn me my first 50 burpee penalty. My tire was set and just as I reached my hand for bar number 3 my fingertips missed and down I fell.

I went over more walls. At one wall I heard my name yelled and it was Janice who I met at an expo last month. She introduced me to her nephew and off they ran. It was tricky reaching my tire up to push over the walls. The invert wall another favorite obstacle would prove to be the one where I would become creative with my tire. I'd done the wall in the earlier part of the day before earning the tire. I attempted to climb the wall with the tire. After one failed attempt and wasted energy I grabbed my paracord and tied it around the tire. I got myself over then used the paracord and tire like a Hercules hoist and pulled it over the invert wall perhaps even losing some skin on some fingers.

I got to the rope climb and chose to set my tire down as I saw another tire sitting nearby. Without staff or a volunteer to direct me I figured it was for safety reasons the tire wasn't used on this obstacle.  I was successful on bell ring number 2 for the day.

The spear throw would cost me another set of burpees. The one race that I have only had one penalty it was from this obstacle. I think I may be utilizing those hay bails my dad always has set up for archery practice when I am home in June just prior to the next race I will complete and earn my first Tri-frecta.

I did more running on the course and arrived at the Barbwire crawl. I pushed my tire with my feet as I crabbed walked and waited for race participants to move forward through the obstacle so I could continue. At one point smoke cloud canisters were opened and set on hay bales. The smoke came near my face somehow. I breathed it in and began choking. This just made me scared and determined to finish the obstacle as quickly as possible.

I arrived next at the slippery wall rope climb. I got to the top my feet slipped as I took the last step, my arms gave way and down the wall rope in hand I slid. Mr. Goodyear broke the fall. I tried it again with the same results and now a cut on the palm of my hand. No blood no glory. I saw two guys at the top and yelled to them I was going for attempt number 3. They saw to it I was successful, but got stuck with my tire around my pack at the top. I found a way to fix it and down the wall I went to the dunk zone. It was so awesome after being hot and tired. I don't know that I've ever had that much fun jumping into cool muddy water. I jumped the fire, crossed the finish line and was told to go to find the group. I knew I had missed the 4 hour completion time, but I wasn't sure if I was going to earn a penalty or be disqualified. This is where I got the best news. I could choose to quit or continue on unofficially without earning a patch or shirt. Of course I chose to continue. The ethos we chanted throughout the day includes two of four lines: I will never accept defeat. I will never quit. 

From here we were a team again. We did various challenges up and down a hill. We lined up and were given the partner in front of us then asked to move one person to the right which placed me running to the opposite end of a line to get my partner. We were to fireman carry our partner taking turns carrying one another one lap around base camp. Base camp consisted of 4 large shipping containers parked in a square. I told my partner I weighed his same body weight and I decided I would carry him all the way. I took two rests with my partner and was the last one in. We then got into 2 person teams and our team added a third person. We were given a mission to run to a tunnel collect our poker chip and return. I loved this part it reminded me of a Santa Barbara hash I once did that led to a tunnel and drink check. The only difference with this was we went without our packs and I could have really used a drink check at the tunnels end. We earned our chip with completion of 100 push-ups. 

We ran back to the starting point and gathered around where we signed our golf balls, did some squats, water burpees and other exercises then went on an Easter egg hunt for our golf ball. 

We finished the 12HRHH with an Indian run with a very large tire. The winds kicked up at that point and started wreaking havoc on the festival and staging area so we used the last 20 minutes to assist in breakdown then took a photo finish by the fire.

This was an incredible experience and training for life day. I wouldn't change a thing, but I will continue to strive to improve my speed as to better prepare for cutoff times.

Time to Prove It

A couple weeks ago my friend I've been adventuring, training with and calling my Spartner in crime let me know he had decided not to do the Southern California Spartan Race. My spirit was dampened and to be completely truthful it made me question if I was going to be okay going back to the area I associated with a lot of hurt that ended 5 years ago almost costing me my life. I needed/wanted his strength and support more than anything else, but on that same token it was more important to me to be understanding and supportive rather than selfish. I started doing everything I could think of to try to change things. Just a few short days before the race my dear friend Corinne who gifted me my first entry found a way to gift my Spartner in crime an entry. I had to make it a surprise so I registered him and told him to check his email. His response was awesome and my smile was back and I felt a complete sense of peace. 

He and I set off on what I called a mini-vacation. We made some fun stops along the way for me to drop off treats to my favorite kid in Santa Barbara and drop off birthday gifts for my dear friend and her daughter in Los Angeles and then enjoy dinner with his dad. His dad was so accommodating and let us stay in the guest rooms at his warm beautiful home.

We got up early and headed to the race venue. I volunteer for the street team so I received close parking so that was the warm up walk to the starting line on Saturday morning. I only had one goal as I prepared for the SoCal Spartan Race Super and Sprint courses. I wanted successful completion of the traverse wall and rope climb obstacles.

My Spartner and I got our race packets and went seperate directions. I climbed the wall to get to the starting line and I joined him there. I knew it would only be a matter of seconds and he would be far ahead of me. I hadn't asked him to wait. He later told me he had questioned if he should stay with me and I told him I was so happy he did what he wanted which was to push himself. I'm strong, stubborn and slow, but those are my strengths.

I went under and over walls and netting and on to single track, water crossings and up a hill and to more walls to go over under and through. Next was monkey bars (sure glad I shaved my hands). I came to the traverse wall and despite the same cramping that occurred the first time I tried that wall at my first race last year I was able to complete it. There was a short sand bag carry, but when I lifted the women's weight it was so light I decided the men's weight would be more fun. There was an atlas carry that I loved because I'd practiced those just days prior. Tire flips were fun. More running up a steep hill and some flat terrain on to a sand/rock bag carry up and over a tiny hill. I came to the Hercules hoist and took a shot at the men's weight and only got it half way up and went to do the women's weight.

There was a log/balance obstacle that would cost me my first 30 burpees. I thought of my Spartner knowing he crushed that obstacle since he was always jumping and balancing on bridge railings when we adventured during training.

There were more steep up/downhills and I came to the tractor pull. This obstacle consists of a cement block attached to a chain that you pull up a hill through soft sand and back down another hill. I know this is meant to break down and fatigue the muscles shortly before the spear throw so I tried to strategize. My strategy went well but I missed the target. 30 more burpees for me weeee. 

On to the rolling mud hills and water/mud pits. Here's where the real challenge began on the last 1/4 mile and 3 obstacles prior to the finish line. I stepped  into the water and my right calf completely cramped and ceased to move. Fear took over, crying and anger joined it for company. I balanced on my left leg and reached for my right foot and pulled as hard as I could and told my leg to work. I could move it again so I started climbing the mud hill. The cramping returned. I would step down hoping to stretch it. I just wanted to get to the rope climb so I struggled through the pain and tears. I ducked under the water under the wall, climbed one last hill and walked to the rope climb. I put my foot on the rope just like I'd practiced and I was faced again with cramping. I took a rest at the bottom of the rope in the water then began the climb. Up, up I went only one pull and leg transition and a knot left and I would hit the bell. My arms gave out and I fell hitting my jaw on a knot as I went feet and face first into the water. I was so bitter I'd failed my goal and my arms failed me again on the wall and rope obstacle following. At this point I said congrats Spartan Race Super course you broke me, but I have a fire to cross to the finish line and I'll be back tomorrow to hang out with your nicer shorter twin the Sprint. I cross the finish and see a familiar face the singing tortoise and he hugs me and asks if I'm okay to which I respond no and he replies asking what he can help me with and I'm at a loss for what to say as I walk away. I didn't know what I needed but I got rinsed off and headed to where I'd stashed my sweet potatoes and chicken tenderloin. I bit into my roasted sweet potato and it hurt to chew. I was annoyed all over again at that darn rope and I promised myself I would use the poor experience to my advantage the following day.

I hadn't set up a place to stay Saturday night so by some struck of luck my Spartner found a room in a casino hotel with two beds and the jacuzzi right out the window because why would we use the door when the window is the direct route. 

Sunday morning I was scheduled to volunteer with street team and set up the items I had organized and put away Saturday night. My Spartner didn't hesitate at all he jumped in and helped even while I was out on course.

I had a mission on Sunday it was to take it easy, avoid cramping, preserve my energy for the last mile and complete the rope climb. My Spartner and I took photos in front of the spartan race banner prior to running and I later found out they used it for marketing. I

started out right on the pace I wanted and I came to the area where a choice needed to be made. Do I take the harder shorter left as I'd done previously and be stuck walking the single track behind the line of runners or do I go right easier longer. I choose right because I wanted a change of scenery and to be alone. I finished that, climbed a hill did the same obstacles as the day before minus the sand bag carry it wasn't on the course and continued on. I got to the logs and decided to take my Spartners advice I went quick jumping from log to log. Success no burpees as I yelled, heck yes I failed that yesterday." A runner heard me and said dang you did this yesterday? I wasn't about to tell him the course I did the day before was double the distance.

I continued on hitting my mark of at least 3 miles in under an hour. Those that have never done OCR are thinking why did it take 20 minutes to go just one mile. I don't know I ask myself that same question all the time. I will get faster I promise. I arrived at the tractor pull again to it back logged just like the previous day. I was given the option to burpee out, but I decided I wouldn't care about my time anymore. I was set to finish in 1.5 hours had I not had to wait. I missed my spear knocked out 30 burpees and put a huge smile on my face. I was about to face the rolling mud where I had cramped on Saturday. I was on the third hill and I saw a familiar face. Tony from the pro team who I'd met at a beach workout previously and talked to in Vermont and Malibu. He snapped a photo and I continued on excited to get to the rope climb. I went under the wall in the water, jumped out and ran to the rope. I was at the bottom of the rope coaching myself as to what I would do differently. I reminded myself to envision the success of the first time I climbed the rope at CrossFit Nipomo. I also remembered my friend Corinne had told me to just have fun and climb that rope. I did it, I hit the bell. I worked my way back down and I ran to jump the fire and cross the finish line. 

I've been participating in a tracking challenge this month of completing 100k to earn the privilege of getting a shirt that says Prove It. I often say the only thing you have to prove anything to is yourself. I needed to prove that I had become stronger, happier and healthier as a result of the struggle I faced in that area 5 years prior. I also wanted to prove I could turn the previous days failure into success.

What are you ready to prove to yourself?

Time to Replenish

Last Friday I donated blood because I wanted to be a part of a special goal of 100 gifts of blood life January. 

Saturday I met up with a teammate I'd met at the last Spartan Race I participated in. I wanted to show Joe aka the singing tortoise the neat caves, rope and traverse sea wall. I had such a great time he is literally one of the most positive loving men I've met. When I got back to my car I had a tingly sensation in my hands and tongue and I just shrugged it off as dehydration and red blood cell loss. This feeling came and went along with a headache throughout the course of the weekend. It made me nervous, but kind of frustrated also because usually I feel great after blood donation. In the past I've worked out or ran the very next day. I was also worried how it may affect the upcoming races in just a few days. I made myself rest throughout the weekend and hydrate.

Many people know of my desire to be a ten gallon blood donor before my 40th birthday. I was right on schedule to achieve that goal even with the one year deferral in 2007 from getting a tattoo.

Right on schedule until today. I think I'm at 7 gallons so far on the local blood bank record though I'm right at 50 pints. I received a letter in the mail stating that because my hemoglobin level was on the low end of the donating scale that an additional test was run and I tested low on ferritin an essential protein used in helping build iron in the blood. I got put on a 24 week deferral even though plasma and platelet donation are still acceptable.

I learned I've been far more focused on training with iron rather than supplementing my body with iron nutrition. I put myself on an iron supplement and you may see me carrying around peppers, sweet potatoes and steak, but I will use this valuable lesson to remember to take time to replenish.

Time to be Charitable

Two weeks after I earned my first dnf at an event I was offered a complimentary entry into an off-road triathlon. I've said numerous times I don't want to do triathlons, but my friend wanted me to join her and the cost was only the administrative fee. I was one of the few participants who chose not to use a wetsuit. The water was the perfect temperature, the morning was beautiful and I was the last swimmer out of the water, but that didn't matter I only had something to prove to myself and it was that I would prevail over that DNF. I made up for some lost time on the mtn bike portion and finished the run with some walking limping jogging intervals and had a great time and earned a cool metal. 

A couple weeks later I decided I would be a pacer for a friend on a weight loss and running journey to better health. My spartan race training partner and I arrived at the midnight 5k run in Avila the third weekend in October it was a fun run to benefit Special Olympics. We joined my friend to offer pacing support. She was doing great and had planned walking intervals, but just before the half mile mark I asked how she was feeling and she said great and I asked her to make a goal to maintain that pace to the finish line. Not only did she achieve that goal, but shaved five minutes off her previous time.

The following weekend I participated in the 4th annual mudmash. I had a great time although I missed some course markings and had to backtrack to complete the waterslide and the rings obstacle I was unsuccessful on.

I participated in a 5k color run with my spartan race training partner. I had a goal to finish in under 30 minutes and to complete negative mile splits. I was only 38 seconds shy of my goal and I ran negatives with the straight away to the finish line at an 8 minute mile pace. That was a great event also benefitting Special Olympics.

On Veteran's Day I did an 8 mile run to benefit Operation Surf. I had a goal to PR on this course. Shortly before mile 4 a triple amputee runner fell on the road in front of me. My PR goal was no longer a priority and making sure he was not hurt mattered more than a PR. He got up on his own despite his left prosthetic having been rotated during the fall he made some adjustments and kept on running. I sped up on the downhills and ran some negative splits and I was content with my finish.

Thanksgiving morning I drove an hour North to pick up a guy named Ben who I hadn't met previously but learned he had just committed along with a group of friends to running a spartan race in January. I then drove 45 minutes south to pismo beach where we participated in the turkey trot benefitting the food bank. Ben did awesome and finished the 10k. I ran a much slower 5k than anticipated, but I had fun.

Well I'm not always running. Sometimes I stop and rest and learn of a need for quilts for Children's Hospital Los Angeles Oncology Christmas party. I made a goal to provide two quilts. One for a girl and one for a boy. I purchased the fabric and finished the girl one. I waited for a fabric sale and finished purchasing the material for the boy quilt. I wanted to complete them both on my extended holiday weekend time off work, but I may be a little shy of that goal, but I'm happy to use my hobby to be charitable.

Today I spent all morning and afternoon with my best friend and favorite mountain biking partner. It is amazing to have someone who truly values my friendship and expresses that and seems to know just how to encourage me and can even laugh at me carrying my bike down a section of trail I was intimidated by.  He isn't afraid to ask me to believe in myself and to say he wished I was less intimidated by difficult sections of the downhill technical parts of trail.  It's also amazing to ride back to the trailhead and be handed an apple that I'd never tried. That's not all though the last time I adventured out on a ride with him it started with him making me fresh wheatgrass juice he grows himself. I guess I kind of like when the charity is given to me.

I always have loved the saying,"focus on giving rather than getting and you will receive more than you ever gave."

Opportunity of a Lifetime

Wednesday the 18th I celebrated my 36th birthday with a beach run followed by burpees on the sidewalk with friends.

Thursday afternoon I went to Mountain Air Sports to find something to provide warmth for the upcoming race I was traveling to participate in.

Friday morning I arrived in Burlington, Vermont where I was met at the airport by my friend Corinne. She was a large reason I made the choice to take on this race. I waited in the car as I encouraged her to go check to see if the airline had her lost piece of luggage. Much to her excitement she was reunited with her shorty shorts and salomons. We then traveled a less than 2 hour drive to a little lodge in Killington, Vermont. I think it was at this point we each decided a nap was completely mandatory.

Later Friday afternoon we traveled to a press conference and dinner. I met some great athletes all so inspiring and kind and some just ridiculously attractive. I met a young man named Iram who is a brain cancer survivor and he became our roommate for the weekend. He was so funny and positive his great attitude was contagious and I enjoyed having him around.

Saturday morning I went to the race venue and volunteered to help with the volunteers. That afternoon I watched as top athletes crossed the finish line every one of them in agreement the race course was their most challenging physical athletic accomplishment. I watched as others talked about not finishing because of cramping or hypothermia and I watched the weather pattern. I was determined not to be discouraged by any of the elements that could be a factor in what I was about to take on the following day.

Saturday evening I packed my hydration pack along with my long sleeve cotton dry wick shirt complete with thumb holes. This is the only time I deviated from the general rule of thumb of nothing new for race day. I also had my clif bar nutrition and fluid performance for electrolytes. Corinne and I were given a small map of directions that said where to take our drop box along with simple instructions that said,"figure it out." This is where I thought geez at least give us a map with coordinates and make me figure that out. We talked to a security guard who told us where to go, however when we followed his instructions we thought we had gone too far, thus we turned around only to learn 5 minutes later we only needed to go a mile farther. This should have been the first indication of what Sunday's race was going to entail.

Sunday morning Corinne drove me to the venue. She had completed the beast distance 14 mile course on Saturday with a pre-existing hamstring injury and decided at the last minute not to do the ultra beast marathon distance course.

I began to make my way to the starting line as I looked back at Corinne she said something I didn't understand and waved. My eyes started to tear up because I knew how much she wanted to be at the starting line with me. I had to walk fast, be tough and wipe the tears away. Each of the racers climbed a wall to the starting line. At 6:00 am I began the world championship spartan race ultra beast course. I was nearly the slowest right off the starting line. I was determined to find a slow pace and stay there. The first obstacles were over, under, through walls and I loved them. The course continued up a hill to barbwire to crawl or roll under. There were hills and more hills to go up I began to wonder if this mountain had a downhill. My question was answered with the next obstacle of a downhill/uphill tire drag. That was followed by a downhill section of mud, roots, rocks and trees. I hear a voice behind me say, "hey Jen, Corinne is behind us." I realized queen of green Andi Hardy was talking to me and I thought she can call me any name she likes she's pretty awesome. I watched her crawl, scoot, roll and have the Barbwire obstacle for breakfast on Saturdays course. Corinne yells to me and my competitive drive sets in. Only this terrain is downhill, completely saturated from the previous nights rain and I know I have to exercise caution. I follow the same pattern I did at the first Spartan Race I completed a month ago. I do not follow the pack to the left and scoot on my butt, yet I look to the right and read terrain line and exercise caution and maybe too much. I can see this section is costing me valuable time as I know there are checkpoints and cutoff times on the course. Corinne goes cruising by as Andi does some crazy sideways skid laying on this downhill section. I'm led to believe these elites do the practice for these sections in their sleep.

The course then travels uphill winding through all the trees of this gorgeous mountain at the top of this section we are given a memorization task. Take the last two digits of your bib number then read the word and numbers on the chart accordingly and memorize them. I love numbers and memory so this is my favorite obstacle thus far. I'm given Delta 730-2007. I get to run again finally after all the climbing and I'm looking forward to the sandbag carry. I arrive at the sandbag carry which I learn is around 60 pounds and it feels pretty light as I throw it over my shoulder and begin my ascent up the hill. The terrain is grassy, muddy and wet. This makes for watching my footing and every step count. I slip once or twice drop the sandbag pick it up and keep going. I have my garmin going to time myself on this obstacle as it was the major topic of discussion for the shorter course the day prior. I'd later learn I set a STRAVA course record for that carry. I look up and Corinne is on the downhill part and I realize I want to be faster. I am at the turn around point of the sandbag obstacle for the open heat when I'm told the elite heat goes to the top. Okay cool to the top I go another 3/10 of a mile up this mountain. It's something to look forward to because as soon as that's over I can engage my quads I worked on strengthening by being the back squat junkie. A short period later an athlete named Elliott passes me and I know he's the first place competitor for the beast course wave that began at 8:00. I cheer him on and tell him he's got the lead and to keep it! I finish the sandbag carry and stop tracking myself on my garmin so I don't waste the battery and not know the time. I realize at this point I'm obsessing about those cutoff times. 

I do more climbing, hiking, running if it can be called that and come to a lovely balance obstacle where I earn my first set of burpees. I don't mind them I actually love burpees they remind me that I'm lucky so lucky that my body moves from standing to plank to knees tucked up to feet on the ground and I can jump and clap. 

Shortly after this I meet a guy named Eric he and I run and walk together for the next couple miles until I realize this easy grassy terrain is my chance to do a timed mile and make up for lost minutes from all of the climbing. I feel bad, but I have to leave him. I am here for myself and I want to complete this course.

There's another barbwire obstacle and more walls and I'm excited walls that used to be a struggle are fun now. The rope climb earned me my next set of burpees.

I arrive at the spear throw and earn some more burpees, but that's okay because here's where some strategy comes into play. The next obstacle is an open water swim from side to side of a pond. Burpees generate body heat and I'll want that when I hit the water. My IT band had also been a nuisance so cold water therapy will soothe that. I jump in the pond and say wow this is awesome it's nearly the same temperature as Lake Lopez where I did some training. I submerge my torso and arms and think no, no this is definitely colder than Lopez. I know I just need to keep that frog kick arm moving going all the way to the shore. I refuse to use the floating balls and rope for assistance. I know my stubbornness has played an essential roll this entire time.

I get out of the water and am looking forward to running to my drop box, but I'm stopped dead in my tracks. I get told to go flip a log in gravel the distance of the flag markers and back. I like this obstacle too. It's like the tire flip, but it's half a tree. I'm soaking wet, not cold and flipping a log at a ski resort with amazing scenery and positive people surrounding me. I run over to get to my drop box and I'm told I have two options take a penalty and go to my box or return in 6 miles. I take the penalty as I've used all my fluid its just after 2:00 pm and I know the weather changes around 3:10 from my observation of the previous day. I transfer out of my wet fleece to my dry thumb hole zip up. I kept my wet FLUID t-shirt on under it. I climbed a wall and continued on course strait up another hill. I'm trying to make 3 miles to the 3:00 pm course cutoff. I was nervous and thinking of everything I could tell the volunteers or course marshalls to let me continue in case I'm late. I arrive at 3:02 pm am told the cutoff time was extended and I'm allowed to continue with an elastic band around my ankles bunny hopping up and down flights of stairs and over posts on a bridge. It's like box jumps meets Peter Rabbit or the hobie hop as some refer to it.

On to the next obstacle they call commando chain bars. These are not anything like the monkey bars in the last Spartan Race or the set at Laguna Middle Scool I trained on. These are gorilla bars. Large rusty pipes too high for me to reach with a chain attached. I attempt twice to pull myself up with the chain and grab the bar. No luck burpees it is where I'm completely annoyed and may have cursed Norm the race director/course designer...sorry Norm. On to a 12 ft wall that I wish was more challenging to climb or an invert wall. 

Somewhere I get to climb a cargo net and I'm hanging at the top and the female volunteer says to me,"I really hope you don't take this the wrong way, but you have amazing legs." All I can reply is thank you as I'm willing said legs to propel me over to the other side. 

It's back to up and down more hills back to the pond where I get to carry a log and roll it and me under barb wire. I finish getting down the hill with the log and the course Marshall tells me I have 15 minutes before his cutoff so he wants me to continue, but the next aid station is 4 miles away and I need to show him my headlamp. I pull it out of my pack quickly and I take off uphill where I say didn't I just do this. The Marshall laughs and said he said the same thing during the week on course build and he encourages me to catch up to the two individuals ahead of me. His kindness toward my success and well-being instilled a new energy and I keep plugging away and I catch up to a young lady named Lisa. Her IT band is hurting her and I tell her mine is too, but at my knee not my hip, but I encourage her to stay with me. We reach the top then come to a section that has slippery bridges the one is curved and reminds me of the eucs bridge that I hiked on just two weeks previously at home. Lisa tells me it's snowing. I disagree and tell her it's precipitation not real snow and we continue on through these trees and up more hills. I ask her about the other young man she had been with as we see a light up ahead that isn't moving. She said she didn't know him. We reach the young man. His name is Sean he's wearing at short sleeve shirt and shorts and says he is freezing. Lisa had a emergency solar blanket in her pack, but it served useless. I shine my light on the green flagging marking trail and I'm thankful for my 3 years of "hashing" experience searching for true trail. We arrived to the next obstacle and two volunteers. I asked the volunteer to radio the race director as I felt Sean needed immediate medical aid and warmth. It was at this point my time on the race course ended. I was willing to continue, but I knew I'd hit the nhttp://share.spartanrace.com/x/m8JgA6ext obstacle after the last cut-off time and I'd be alone on the mountain until I reached it. The volunteers and two other runners were being picked up and I wasn't asked if I wanted to go on it was just assumed I wanted a ride back to the festival area so I held my head up high and I went. The ride in the truck was an adventure. The driver Chris was incredibly chivalrous and patient and a great 4 wheelin truck driver. The girl in front of me questioned how I just came off the course and still had energy and was positive. In my mind I'd been telling myself this was a once in a lifetime opportunity, meaning I was only going to do this once, but the truth of the matter is that course didn't defeat me my spirits are still high I had an excellent time. The area was completely unlike anything I have ever experienced. I've already developed a game plan to go back and try it all over again because I didn't like earning my very first DNF.

I got off the plane on my flight home and my legs protested the stairs, but I went to lunch and donated blood because I couldn't think of a better way to celebrate than sharing life with someone in need.