Whirlwind Update!

Been a while since I've updated and a lot has happened! After the Bear run in July I developed plantar fasciitis.  Painful! Also knocked me out of the River Bound series' 15K trail run. This was most disappointing and had me a little freaked out because I was not able to train for a couple of weeks. I did not like the boot and wore it mostly at night to sleep in. It did help.

Then I got back on the horse, well I different kind of horse. I had my first duathlon! The Nutrithon event was a 5k run/25k bike ride/3k run. It was billed as good for a novice (that's me!) because it had gently rolling hills. My trusty Coach Tom thought this was just the challenge I needed. My trainer Kelly the Magnificent joined in as he said it would be great cross-training. I got to the event that morning and Coach Tom shove a chunk in my hand and said eat this....it was kind gross looking so I wasn't sure. He said it was carbs and I would need them. Then the ref guy proceeded to tell me I could not wear my ipod while I ran for the race. WHAT? OMG!Didn't see that one coming. I've been to races where they say that but it's not enforced. This time the guy was serious. So I had to suck it up. The 5K run wasn't too bad, I grabbed my trusty bike and off to the bike portion. Gently rolling hills my ass! During one particular climb I actually had the motorcycle cop stop and ask me if I was ok - I looked at him and said "Gently rolling hills my ass!" to which he replied "uh oh yeah, they totally lied about that". After this point every time he lapped me he gave me a big smile and thumbs up. Sometimes he was scream out the random number of tough hills left. I came to like the man. In any case by some miracle I made it to the transition point with the bike and started the 3k run. Now I have to tell you 3k is pretty much a nothing run, except after you get off the bike you feel a little weird running. And my legs in particular had decided to stop cooperating. Clearly they were pissed and wanted to rest. So basically I walked/ran the last part of the race. But I finished! Lucky for me Coach Tom was waiting for me at the finish line because I'm not sure I would have got my bike back on my car rack. Actually I think I might be doing more....it was hard but definitely different. The bike ride really makes you tough it out mentally which I hopes helps me on the half-marathon.

Race Update - THE BEAR - Assault on Grandfather Mountain

As most of you know back in February I signed up to run the Bear at the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games.  Oh my how time flies, before I knew it the race was upon me.   Now this is no ordinary five mile race as you can tell by the image above.

I rested most of the day because the race starts at 7pm.    I knew two other people that were planning on running it as well and spent most of the day anticipating their arrival.  We picked up our packets, stretched and talked a bit before start time.  The organizers cut off registration at 800 and the race filled up months ago.   There really wasn't a "start line", just a guy will a loud bullhorn tell us to keep out of the road until he directed.  All of a sudden we were off, and up the hill we went.  Very shortly we turned a corner to start our way up a winding road.   I had ran this part of the route on Monday and it certainly was tough.    I tried to keep the eye on the prize.   My goal was not to picked up by the sag wagon.  To prevent that runners must be at mile 3 in 50 minutes or less.    Normally that's not a big deal but when all you can see is a steep grade....hmm...let's just say I was really focused on mile 3.    After the side road the race leads you thru the campground.  This was great because I really enjoyed hearing my fan club cheer me on.  And at that point I really need the encouragement.   Next up we were on the track around the MacRae Meadows - nice time to catch my breath.  Then the real fun started up a grass hill to the blacktop...the blacktop that led to the top of Grandfather Mountain.  OMG - I thought it would never end.   The last mile of that race was the hardest I have experienced.   Normally when I see the finish line I can pull out a little more juice.  Not so much this time around.   There was more walking than I would have liked but at that point, everyone around me was walking.   BUT............I FINISHED!  It was worth every step.  I even got a little medal to prove it too.  Yay me!

A shout out to Kirk and Dave  - Without them I might have not made it up the hill.   And thanks for waiting for me at the top (er...even though you didn't have a choice and I had the car keys).

Kirk, Dave

Maybe just maybe I will run it again next year......

Overcoming the Upper Limit - Mental Toughness

It's been a while since my last posting.  I've had a lot of challenges.  Ever since the RiverBound 10K I've been going backwards.   I could not understand why since basically my whole training plan is building blocks of miles.  This is a proven strategy.  So why was I having so much trouble?


At one point I actually sat down in the trail during a run said I cant do this and declared I was done.  Lucky for me my trainer Kelly was with me.  He had repeatedly said that physically there was no reason why I could not complete the run.   And unless I was partying it up and lying to him about my homework - this had to be MENTAL.  I had hit a wall.  My mileage went down as well as my times.  The worse the session, the more confidence I had in anything I could do got sucked away.  At some point I wasn't even running a mile before stopping and walking.


Well, crap.   Mental.  That  sucked.  That really sucked because I wasn't entirely sure what was wrong so how the heck was I was going to fix it.   Even now that I'm working on this problem I still think this sucks.


Enter Laura - she's like a combination of sunshine and a stern fairy godmother rolled into one.   She helped me see I clearly had hit an upper limit problem.   I clearly was comfortable with the fact that I was capable of reaching my 5K goal and I had even achieved the 10K on the road.  But I really struggled with the 10K trail.  Instead of overcoming and moving on - I hit my limit.  And thus, the self-sabotaging started.   I'm really good at this!  :-)   Every run after that trail race that little voice got louder and louder.  "You can't do this, you have never been good at any sports, you're over 40 why are you even out here, remember how the kids pointed and laughed at you".  Yep - not that I have this market cornered on negative self talk but I do ok.


Well screw you little voice.  And screw you upper limit.   I'm not quitting on my training plan.  I'm not backing out of my race schedule.  I'm not the fastest peep out there but I am not going to quit.


Today I did not run on a trail.  I ran a 5K distance on a greenway.  I did not suck.  I finished and I did it around my PR time.   So yeah I'm coming for you "upper limit" and you better be ready cause I'm going to busting thru you.   And little voice - if you don't have anything nice to say - park it and shut the hell up.


Next up: Grandfather Mountain's Bear Run - 5 miles straight up the mountain.

Race, Race, Race Update!

Been a bit of a slacker on the updates.  I've run 3 races since I last posted! Quick update....

Run Ballantyne 5K (road race)

This was went pretty well, I was SO close to a new PR.  Alas it was not meant to be....maybe next time.   It was nice to get back to a road race after spending time on the trails.   Hills? Not when you compare them to the trails. Also the temps have been going way up so I finally switched to shorts.  Ah...the white white legs!  Don't I look determined?

Riverbound 10K (trail race)

This race kicked my butt.   I was so nervous at the beginning my trainer said I looked like I had one big stress ball around me.   I even blew off my buddy Tom during warmup.   I did not prepare enough and clearly after mile 4 of 6.2 I lost all steam.    I finished and I wasn't last but it clearly shook me up as the 15K is around the corner.  Speaking of the 15K I decided to go check out parts of the WhiteWater Center  trails I had not seen that were expected to be part of the 15K.   Below is Goat Hill. 

Run for Peace 5K (greenway/road/trail race)

First time at McAlpine Park.   I keep signing up for 5ks for two reasons 1) Ensure that I get mileage in on a Saturday 2) Keep my confidence up.   I was crushed after my RiverBound 10K.   I arrived last saturday far more calm and relaxed, looking forward to having a good time.   There was a bit of a misunderstanding at the beginning, I was hoping to run at 8am with they guys but they pulled me out and made me start at 8:30 with the rest of the women.  It had indicated on their website women could start at 8am but clearly something was lost in communication.   By 8:30 I had cooled down from the warm up I did with Tom (this time I didn't blow him off ;-0).  Again, I missed setting a new PR.   But hey there's always next time.

James and I took the pups to the park the next day.   McKinley and Sophie were still going strong but Gracie was adamant she had enough walking and was DONE.   Much like me after the 10K trail.   

 

RaceFest aka RAINfest Update

Saturdays are race days....when I have one on the books I usually have a mixture of excitement and nervousness during week.  This week was no exception as I prepared for a 10K road race.  Normally I check up on the weather once or twice, this week, however I watched it like a hawk.   Charlotte has been hit by some rather nasty storms complete with golf ball size hail recently.   The weather peeps were not painting a good picture for the race.   The officials even came up with a backup plan and sent it out.  

Rain.  Ugh.   My last 10K road race had a steady rain.  I knew that I could do the race in rain, but possible gusty winds and hail?  What if that came in the middle of the race? 

Interestingly enough I had several people ask me if I was still going to run.  I must have crossed some invisible crazy person mark because it really didn't occur to me not to show up.  I found this interesting as I can assure you last spring when I saw a runner in the rain I would think to myself "idiot".  Hmm, actually when it is raining really hard I still think that.   In the case of the race though, hey I picked up the shirt, I HAVE to go.

It turned out the weather was about like it was for my Greenville race.  Wet but not too overwhelming.  When I crossed the finish line it let loose for a few minutes, then it went light again.  I did feel sorry for those half-marathon runners because I think they had it worse.

All in all my results were ok - I did not meet my target time.  I struggled after mile 4 and a lot of that was mental.   I do however need to carry my own water on these longer runs.  The water stops are killing me and I live too much for them.  I lose my rhythm (if i have it in the first place) and that's when that pesky voice is screaming WALK WALK I'm tired!  So next time around gotta take my own.  I also need to find better ways of beating that voice back with a stick!

Racefest gave us all medals which is cool because this is the only way I will get one.  ;-)

I am collect quite the little stack of numbers though....

Next race is the Riverbound series 10K trail run.  Lots of training before then....

Race, Struggle, Race

It has been a little while since the update.   Let's see if I can catch everyone up. 

I completed the first race in the RiverBound series.  It was an 8K trail and I did ok.  Not great but ok.    The weather was nice and there was no FACEPLANTing.  Remember the goals people!  After that race however I had to add a new rule that involved not passing out.   Hello hydration and a little problem with anemia.   Back on those supplements!

After the 8K trail I started to really struggle.  It seems I get off plan when I go out of town or when work life gets more intense.  I also was having a lot of allergy problems....and it was hard adjusting to the warmer weather.   This is important because I felt like I was sliding backwards.  Actually I was sliding backwards - numbers don't lie.   As these races increase in distance, the bottom line is that you either make the commitment or you don't.   According to Kelly the transition from 10K to the 15K is a huge step.  If I had stayed in my current mindset, things weren't going to look good for me.  I completed a 10K trail and wasn't happy with my time either.   There were a couple people that actually quit after the first trail section but at least I finished.

All in all I had to take a step back.   Last year at this time I was barely into physical therapy.  I could barely stand to walk a lot or sit for a long time much less run.   I have completed several 5k races, 8k races and even two 10K races.  Not bad compared to last year.  

Now is the time to commit to being serious about this RiverBound series. The next RiverBound trail race is in May- a 10K.  With Kelly and all my other runner friends (Tom, Paul, Dave, Kirk) I can find my way for improvement.  I'm armed wth a new training plan and am paying more intention to my diet.

Next up - 10K Racefest Road Race in Charlotte next Saturday.....Wish me luck.

Reedy River Race - I went, I ran, I conquered

Last Saturday I participated in my first 10K run.  I was VERY nervous about this race.  As you may remember, my little brother wanted me to join him as this was his first race.  I thought he was going to sign up for the 5K but noooooo  he wanted to do the 10K.

As the race got closer it was obvious it was going to be raining.  Ugh.  I had a bad training session on Wednesday.  Ugh.  Was I going to be ready?  Well I could not back out.  After all, little brother was counting on me.

He called me while I was driving down and told me he got his packet.  I asked him what he was planning on wearing to run in.   He said a Tshirt and gym shorts.  I stopped by the Nike outlet and got him a couple of dry wick shirts.  He was thrilled and immediately tried one on.

Race day came and so did the rain.  Lucky for us it was light but steady.  I could tell he was nervous but we when lined up he was focusing. Gone was the smack talk about how he was going to kick my ass.  I never claimed I could kick his just that I was going to run my own race and we would meet at the finish line.  Then we were off.....

I was determined not to stop at the first water station and once I went by it I got into a groove.  At 3.2 mark I was same time as my PR for a road 5K so I was on cloud nine.  The run was thru a park at that point and it was quite pretty.   I made it to the next water stop at 4.97 and walked it thru then started up again.   That last hill seemed like a mountain but when I saw the finish line for the first time I still had a little juice left and sprinted the last few seconds.  Yay me.

The next day our names were in the paper.  Little brother was so proud....even though we both were towards the back of the pack.  It didn't matter to me as I beat my target time and it didn't matter to him...cause he beat his big sister.  :-)

I leave you with a pic of little brother as he approached the finish line.

Now we train....

Last week we had a bit of a transition.  Kelly the Magnificent and I had just completed 3 miles on a trail and he turned to me and said "now we train".  Now we train? We just ran 2 miles on a trail, what the hell was that?  Apparently that was "going for a run".  Who knew?  Well now I know the difference.   After the 2 mile trail run then we moved over to 2nd trail and start the "catch the rabbit" training.   This involves Kelly running ahead of me and I run as fast as I can to catch him.   Did I mention this was on a trail?  During this process when I can't go any further I am suppose to give a shout out and then we walk....then the whole cycle starts over.   This went on for another 3 miles I think.  By the time we were done I was a little blurry.

Gone are the days of merely the 3 miles.....now the bar must be raise so I don't kill over on the long trail runs during the series I signed up for.....oh yeah...that makes sense.

Another new curveball was being introduced to spinning.    Wow.  Who knew that a weird bike apparatus could be that painful.  

This weekend is the 10K with my little brother.   I'm pretty sure walking will be involved but remember - the goal is to finish, right?

I leave you with a picture of my last trail race.  After the faceplant there was minimal dusting off - after all - I didn't want to be last.  And even with the faceplant I was determined not to look like a zombie. 

:-)

Trail Race #2

Ok so today's race had some good points:

• It was not subzero temperature like it felt in January
• It was not muddy on the trail
• A buddy was experience his first race (shout out to Paul)
• My work buddy coach (shout out to Tom)
• I was defiant and brought my ipod

A few lessons were learned:

• It is not really a bad thing if you have not seen the course.  It made the run enjoyable and exciting.
• When you FACEPLANT like I did, get your butt up check and make sure you can move, then start back up again.  Don't think about it too much otherwise you will wuss out.  Fortunately I did continue on and finish the race. 

Scraped up the knee and hands but all in all pleased with the progress. Definitely better than my first trail race.

Next week I go to Greenville, SC to join my brother in his first race.  I still can't believe he signed up for a 10K.    I wonder if I will be able to drive home. 

And my knee: 

Build the strength challenge

So it is official - I do have a new PR after completing the Cupid's Cup. Yay!

So about the other goal/challenge/whatever you want to call it.   A friend of mine posted about this not so long ago as he was debating it too.

Running and core strength building are suppose to go hand in hand.  Getting better at running but my strength building has been slacking a bit lately.  Remember unless someone is standing over me - sometimes I'm a bit of a slacker.   I come home and well, quite frankly with all the channels I have, how could I not want to become a couch potato.  Hmm potatoes...I'm hungry..oh wait that's not what this is about....

So...I'm debating.....the 100 Push Up Challenge....it is a six week program.

http://hundredpushups.com/index.html

Still debating....any takers out there?

Cupid's Cup Update

Decided to sign up and run the Cupid's Cup 5K in Charlotte.  No pink t-shirts please (they were white by the way).  As far as courses go, it was pretty flat.  The results have not posted but I'm pretty sure I had a new personal record.  This is mostly because as I turned a corner I saw my buddy Tom and his lovely wife Mary.   This was timely as they both helped me focus and continued to move.  Tom was in coaching mode but I did take the opportunity to look at Mary when he was telling us to pick up and ask her if she had ever punched him at the end of a run.  She said no but I'm thinking it has crossed her mind.   Nevertheless without their help I'm pretty sure I would not have that assumed new personal record.


Let's take a minute to talk about preparation.  Now the night before a race I usually know what I'm wearing, make sure my ipod and garmin are charged and generally have a target time of when I am leaving the house.   That much I have down.  So...here's what I learned this time.   1) Make sure there is gas in the car.  My car is in the shop and when I got into the Xterra I found it to be empty.  And oh by the way - I did not notice till after I left the house which sucked more because I didn't carry credit cards with me.  2) Know exactly where you are going and when they are planning to block off the roads or you will end up driving around looking for a parking space somewhere, anywhere so you don't miss the race. I finally found a space on a side street, dumped the car and ran to the start line just as the race was beginning.  Brilliant stroke of luck I remembered where I parked it.  


This meant however no warm up and today....I'm feeling it.


Next race is in two weeks and it's a 5K trail one.  My buddy Paul is joining this one and it will be his first trail race.  So exciting!


I'm looking at another goal/challenge...maybe I will blog about it later.....

Up your Game and the Holy Grail Shoe

February has arrived.   To keep my focus I have signed up for a 5K Trail race on 2/26 in Huntersville.  I continue to try and apply peer pressure on one of my newbie running buddies to sign up for his first trail race (Yes, u Santos if you are reading this). I also signed up for the Bear at Grandfather Mountain.  While my buddies are at the Scotch tasting I will be enduring a five mile uphill climb to the top of Grandfather.   A friend of mine said she heard most people hurl at the top but that she would hold my hair for me (thanks Karla!).  Isn't that sweet?

With February comes the pressure, Kelly the Magnificent is upping the mileage.  I was finally warming up to the 5K mileage and now suddenly (or it feels like that) it's time to move it up.  I knew this was coming but my body isn't on board completely with this idea.  Thus the 4 miles starts.  Actually I'm a little behind I probably should be doing at least 4.5 now and realistically should be at the 5 mile marker but alas....I am slow and a bit of a slacker.  After the 4 mile trail race though, I no longer have any excuses.

Ok so now to most important part of this post.  I run on the road with Nike Free - they are awesome shoes.  My trail shoes however are lacking.  They are heavy and clunky at best.  Enter the Merrell trail barefoot shoes which just came out.    I ordered the Pace Glove.  Now...I can tell you I have built up in my mind these are the Holy Grail of trail shoes...so I'm REALLY hoping they are wonderful.   I have been flashing back to a scene from Ferris Bueller's Day Office where Ferris looks at the camera and says "Cameron has never been in love. At least, nobody's ever been in love with him. If things don't change for him, he's gonna marry the first girl he lays, and she's gonna treat him like shit, because she will have given him what he has built up in his mind as the end-all, be-all of human existence. She won't respect him, 'cause you can't respect somebody who kisses your ass. It just doesn't work".   I hope my new trail shoes don't disappoint because I have surely built them up to be the end-all.  

I've never really been this excited about a pair of shoes but we shall see....should have them in a week.  Here they are....

The Good, The Bad and the Ugly

The BAD  and the UGLY- One of the biggest challenges I have is doing anything during the week.  A lot of people have Sunday as their "rest" day.  Me? It's mondays.  I hate mondays.   Without fail work sucks me in and by the time I get home I just want to faceplant (can you tell this is my new favorite word?) in my bed.  It's even MORE challenging in the winter because I do not like exercising in the dark.  Nooooo.  My neighborhood has only a few street lights and a lot of older people that I'm convinced are out to hit me or at the least make me dive for a ditch.   Let's face it - winter sucks. Wah!  However if I'm ever going to make it to that 13.1 trail run alive I need to not wuss out during the winter.   I was doing ok until the snow.  The snow really threw me for a loop.  Slippery conditions and darkness = ...wait for it...yes you know....FACEPLANT.   I probably should talk to someone about this faceplant obsession.   So this is the part I think everyone faces when they are trying to either start exercising or step up their game.  EXCUSES.  Yes people that's what I'm talkin about.   AND guess what I'm southern which means I can excuse it up with the best of them.   My grandmother use to refer to my mother as a widow after my father died....even though Daddy was married to someone else at the time of his death.  Denial and excuses, we southerners wrote the book.

THE GOOD - I've been focusing on taking away the excuses.  So Kelly the Magnificant helps a lot as when you pay somebody for a service it's good if you actually show up.  Kelly is so cool I rather look forward to those sessions.  But as wonderful as he is, he can't be there every day.  Bad weather excuse? Well I've got options now so that's out.   Tired - aren't we all? That's out.  No time?  Well I got time to write this blog so that's out.  General laziness - hmm.....this one continues to fight.....

Rome wasn't built in a day....MARCH ON.....September and that half-marathon will be here before I know it....

I leave you with a pic from the 1st trail race.....  Although not my best look, definitely better than most of them I've seen in the past... Less zombie more stepping up....

The 1st Trail Race

Greetings All -

So the first trail race was this past Saturday....   The weather has been working against me for the last couple of weeks and I was not able to actually check out what the map looked like prior to the race.  The whitewater center trails have been closed for several weeks.   I was anticipating slippery conditions.  My goals were simple as I was considering this "practice" for the trail series that starts in March.

1. Do not FACEPLANT (visions of chipping a front tooth kept coming to mind)
2. Do not twist or sprain an ankle (I consider this not as bad as my chip tooth fear)
3. Finish

Normally I say Finish and not finish last but hey I was trying to keep those expectations low like I do at work.  I did not finished last but I was damn close to last.

So...how did I do?  Well, I met all 3 goals successfully but I was not very happy with myself afterwards.   My head was definitely not in the game. I should have been at least 8-10 minutes faster on my time.  I had a bad week (brother in hospital - he's ok) and rattled at work a bit.  On Friday I ran with my trainer Kelly the Magnificent and could definitely tell I had a focus problem.   I guess I know now how important having your head in the game is prior to trying to kill yourself on a run.   This also was the first race I attempted without my ipod.  That was one of the rules (they want you to be able to hear if someone is trying to pass you), however there were plenty of rulebreakers with ipods.   I am comfortable with being a rulebreaker (all that morally flexibility you know) so I think I will having the ipod with me next time.   Biggest lesson learned: focus on the task at hand not the assholes in your life when you are running race.

What did I sign up for again?

Ok so now that you know some background, let's look ahead.   Remember I said that Coworker...er...Pushy Tom convinced me that signing up for the trail series was a good idea.   The RiverBound Race Series consists of four trail races, with each one increasing in distance.

March 12  - 8K
May 21 - 10K
July 16 - 15K
September - Half marathon - yep 13.1 miles on a TRAIL.

I should note now that every one of these in the series has a 5K option.  If I ever take the 5K option I'm pretty sure I would get weeks of grief from Coworker Tom.  Don't be a wuss....and that would be some of the nicer of the comments.

Since I have not run a trail race yet, Kelly the Magnificent thought it would be a good idea to do one before the series starts...thus the 4 mile run Charlotte Running Company trail race at the Whitewater center on January 22nd.  This should be good practice.

Many of you know I attend the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games every July.   They have a insane marathon but they also have The Bear which is a 5 mile run straight up the mountain.   I'm inclined to sign up for the Bear.  I have two friends I'm pretty sure that are going to go for it as well, one who is a first timer like myself (Hi Dave if you are reading this)  and the other has run it several times (Hi Kirk if you are reading this).   I cannot tell you how many times that I looked at those people coming back from the Bear and said "you are nuts".    Hmm, I still think a 5 mile run up a mountain is nuts.  

I haven't really planned anything past September because I'm not entirely sure that I won't still be in the woods of the Whitewater Center passed out while attempting the 13.1 miles.   

I leave you with a picture the shirt that I will likely be using to run the Bear and the 13.1 (if I survive that long).

Here I am!

Inspired by another friend who is blogging about grad school, I thought maybe I should blog about my running quest for 2011.

Before we can talk about 2011, we have to go back to 2010, no wait, before that.  

You see, I have never been a runner.  Actually I've not been much of an athletic person at all during my lifetime, except for some gymnastics when I was much younger.

However in 2010 the birthday I've dreaded since I was 17 came about....the big 4-2!  My father's death age.  UGH!   I thought to myself, I simply MUST do something to celebrate I am ALIVE and kicking.   Well this was to be harder than I thought.  What to do...what to do....I know!  I will run one 5K!  That's the ticket.  Hmm, one big problem, I had a bulging disc in my lower back and I could barely walk at the beginning of 2010.   Oh how long could that take to heal I said to myself.  Turns out, pretty much until summer.  

Next up - Kelly the Magnificent.    Kelly is my personal trainer.  I told Kelly two things when we started training together: 1) I do not do mornings and 2) I do not run.   I think he found this amusing.   Somehow he got me to do both 1) 6am workout and 2)well, I think it's obvious now I am running.  Pretty much without Kelly I'm quite sure I would still be sitting on the couch.  He is awesome.

I did ok my first 5K but I was not able to run the whole thing.  And remember people that was the goal to RUN a 5K.  Turns out I did enjoy the whole race process however and decided to give it another shot.   And then another....and so on....oh wait I should mention someone else at this point....

Tom the Coach aka Pushy Tom aka Poke the Bear Tom aka Coworker Tom...there are many names for Tom.   Tom suggested I sign up for the Turkey Trot but told me not to wuss out by signing up for the 5K...go for the 8K.   Whew...that was tough but I crossed the line without hurling so that's a plus.

Next up - Pushy Tom catches me in a weird mood and somehow I am convinced that signing up for the 2011 Trail Run Series is a great idea!   How did that happen?  I'm still not sure.  When I told Kelly I signed up for the series, even he looked at me and said "you signed up for ALL the races?".  Yep....Kelly.."you know that has a 13.1 race at the end, right?"  Me..."uh I don't want to think about that"....and so that's where we are.....

Hmmm, it will be an interesting year for sure!

DISCLAIMER: I'm not focusing on spelling or my grammar during this process....so live with it people.