It's Never As Bad As You Think

When we quit our teaching jobs and started traveling around the U.S. I did have some fears lurking around in my head about our day to day living. Any change, especially a big one is bound to give you second thoughts. While I was excited to start our journey, I worried about specific things.

For example - Would I kill my children? I've had some previous bad experiences in the car with them and I knew some days we would be traveling for 8 or more hours in one day. When my daughter was an infant she was I think the only exception to the rule that kids love being in cars. She would scream from start to finish during any car ride we would take. I would dance like her puppet and try singing, playing peek a boo, bribing her with suckers and one time even putting a blanket between the front and back seat going with the theory that if she couldn't see us maybe she would quiet down. Nothing worked for long and I'm sure today I still have some of that residual anxiety riding in the car.

I envisioned the worst scenarios but what I found on the road wasn't any worse than trips we've taken around here, long or short. As bad as they were at our previous house was virtually the same on the road. The only difference was location. I feared something greater in my own mind and found out it's like anything else. Sometimes they're good, sometimes they're not but it wasn't the catastrophe I envisioned in my mind.

I've found this to be true of long distance running as well. I can be my own worst enemy at times. Doubting my abilities and telling myself all the reasons why I can't do something. I think of a given distance and think "there is no way in hell I can do that." While I'm still pushing through those barriers and finding my fears to be worse in my head than in reality, I still have a long way to go.

I am confident in my abilities to run marathons, 50k's and even though I haven't completed my first 50 miler I know I can do it...it just might not be quickly : )

I'm still surprising myself and want to push myself even farther. Two years ago I would have laughed if anyone told me I would run a marathon much less more than one. One year ago I would have laughed if someone told me I would run a 50 mile race.

I decided to take it even one step further outside my comfort zone, I have signed up for Javelina's 100 mile trail run. I've heard it's a fun race and one where people dress up and run in. Which is right up my alley!

I'm going to focus on my internal conflicts from now until then and trust the abilities of my body and train respectively.

After all, I will have an expert crew member/pacer with me, Jason!

Bouncing off Rocks

I've been in Colorado for a week now and I have been having the time of my life running up and down the mountains. The mountain kicks my ass every time and I love every minute of it! What I love the most is the sense of adventure, the eye popping terrain and how connected to nature I feel. No matter how good of a runner you are, the mountain will put you in your place. This week the mountain took a little nibble out of me!




Two days ago, Jason and I ran up one of the most beautiful and secluded mountains we've run to date. Elevation levels top out at 11,000 feet. The air is cooler, the terrain is rockier and and lakes were secret gems at the top. Along the way we saw waterfalls, rock formations and various mountain peaks. Needless to say, the views were breathtaking and we felt like we were all alone because from start to finish we only ran into a handful of people.

On the way down, during on of the rocky sections of the mountains I was not picking up my feet as much as I should have been. I was tired from running the past 4 days but mountain running is addictive and I wanted to soak up as much as I could with the time I had. I tipped the top of a rock with my foot and propelled myself forward. I thought I would be able to catch myself but the steepness of the hill was too great. In that split second I decided to brace myself for impact, knowing I would bite it hard. Some people don't like carrying water bottles because they're worried they won't have their hands to catch themselves when they fall, but I've found it to be a lifesaver on many occasions.


I hit the rocks, I felt my knee scrape against rocks, and both my palms went full force into two big rocks in front of me. Somehow (very luckily) I didn't hit my head. I also missed two large, sharp rocks near my head. I can be a very clumsy girl but somehow when I fall I avoid serious injury. Maybe because I have so much practice :) I heard Jason yelling in the background “Oh baby, are you ok?”


I felt bad that he had to witness this fall. I think I would have rather taken the fall than watch it because I know if I saw Jason take the same fall I would have freaked out. I fell downhill in basically a superman fall on very large, sharp rocks.

After I fell I laid there for about 30 seconds. Later, Jason would tell me he thought I was knocked unconscious because I didn't move right away. I was laying still trying to assess the damage I had done. Jason came up behind me and asked how I was.

I pulled myself up and felt pain in my knee. My first thought was “What the hell are we going to do if I broke something?” We were 4 miles from the trailhead and on very technical, rocky terrain. I moved my knee and knew I hadn't broken anything. Whew!

Second thought was I was really pissed at myself for falling in the first place. I know this isn't rational, I started crying and told Jason "I am so f-ing mad!"

Ok, suck it up.....Third thought. “My marathon in Colorado is this Saturday. What if I can't run it?”

Fourth thought “This marathon is a training run for my 50 miler in September. What if I can't run that?”

I finally picked myself up hoping my knee didn't swell up like a balloon and I was thankful it didn't. It was sore but only from the impact. Yay! Time to try running again.

The knee felt fine (bruised but not crippling) and I knew I would be able to run my race on Saturday. I ran the rest of the way down except for one or two really rocky parts,....didn't want to tempt fate too much after all!

I have scratches and bruises from my fall but nothing critical. It's just a humble reminder that mountain trails have to be respected and need your constant focus.

Tomorrow I'm running a trail marathon in Ouray, Colorado. I've heard it's one of the most beautiful spots in Colorado and if the drive down is an indicator of its beauty, I'm in for a treat! It's often referred to as the Switzerland of America for it's mountainous terrain.


The elevation levels will be between 7500 to 11,000 feet. I'm not sure what elevation level the course is but I'm hoping I'm acclimated enough after being here for a week. I know the course will be tough for me but I'm just looking forward to enjoying myself and a having a beautiful long run!

Signed up for my first 50 miler!

After seeing Jason finish Western States I got the bug to sign up for a race. I love being a part of the crew and watching so many people push themselves and accomplish their goals. At Western States I saw people throw up and keep on running, I saw blood stains from falls, I heard other crew members trying to coax their runner into eating or drinking even when they didn't want to. But mostly I saw a common bond among each other to push themselves past the point they might not have known they could.

I have been toying with the idea of signing up for a race in the fall in Michigan. Jesse Scott will be running his first 100 miler at Woodstock and I wanted to also sign up for a race. They offer everything from a truly naked 5k to other distances such as 5 miles, 13.1, 26.2, 50k, 100k and 100 miler. This is where Jesse took 1st place at his 50 miler last year and won a lava lamp. It's also the race I started a half hour late and only in the way I can mess up a race I ended up running the 5 mile course instead of the 13.1 course I signed up for.

The atmosphere of the race is truly awesome! They take the hippie theme to heart and have yoga on the lawn, people dressed in full hippie attire and live bands. I know I can complete a 50k. Running my last trail marathon gave me a confidence boost and likewise running in the mountains for the past 2 weeks has done the same. I know I can finish but is that enough?

My goal isn't to run fast but to complete something I never thought possible. While crewing I talked at length with Jeremiah (who paced Jason and is a much accomplished ultrarunner himself) about running ultras. I'm still in awe of people that run 100 miles. I will never say never but at this point in my life I can't fathom running that distance. Jeremiah and Jason have both assured me I could run one but I think they're just being kind or foolish. It's always a nagging thought in the back of my mind.

The day after Western States, we spent the night at our friend Michael's house who was gracious enough to put us up for the night. At dinner we traded running stories and I still couldn't get Woodstock out of my mind. After a few glasses of wine I told Jeremiah I was thinking about signing up for the 50 miler instead of the 50k. Of course, he's an instigator/enabler, I'm not sure which but he told me to go for it.

As Jason and I headed up to our room to go to bed I asked if he had his computer handy. I logged on and in an alcohol induced blur I signed myself up for the 50 miler. Of course I needed a partner in crime so I also signed up our friend, Mark Robillard for the 50 miler too! Why not make it a running party? I was so drunk/tired that I couldn't finish typing up Mark's form so I asked Jason if he could finish it for me. Luckily, Mark was up for the challenge too :)

We start living out of our trailer on July 18th and I'm excited to be able to run in a variety of new places. My hope is to find a marathon to run a month before in Colorado as a good training run for the 50 miler. I'm already missing those mountains so much I had to find an excuse to go back!

My goals for this race will be:

#1 Have fun!
#2 Finish!

Post Race Blues

Last Saturday I had one of the best races I've ever had. I felt great afterwards, I pushed myself but didn't feel like a complete wreck afterwards, I met great people, I ran with my heart and overall amazing time. The day after the race (Sunday) I was still feeling great. Still riding that post race adrenaline high.

The next day (Monday) was a whole different story. I crashed and I crashed hard. I was physically exhausted. All I wanted to do was sleep. I felt antisocial. I didn't want to talk to anyone I just wanted to sleep and keep to myself.

By Tuesday I felt even worse. I still felt sore but not so sore I couldn't get around easily. Mostly, the bottoms of my feet were tender from running over rocks and roots. I thought maybe I needed a little run to lift my spirits so I thought I would run some barefoot hills, one of my favorites!

The route I run is up a sandhill and down a hill, around, then back up. The total distance is .75 miles and I like to run it 4 times. I finished one loop and decided to call it quits. I was still a little too tender and my heart wasn't it in.

I thought my mood would have lifted a little but I was still down. I went home and took a nap. Overall, I was grumpy and couldn't seem to find a way to pull myself out of it.

I told myself on Wednesday I would go swimming. No matter how sore I am I love swimming. The cool water always soothes my sore muscles. I felt marginally better but still a little down.

By Thursday I was up for running again and ran 6 miles with Sharon. Whenever I run with her it seems to go by in a blink of an eye. I always feel like we're just chatting and the running is an after thought. I was feeling considerably better

By today (Friday) I feel back to normal. At first I thought it was just a post blues thing from road trips I had taken with my friends. But after this race, which I signed up for last minute, I'm thinking it's not necessarily from a big build up but maybe what running physically takes out of me and the recovery process.

I talked to some of my other running friends and I found that I am not alone and was curious if others have experienced the same thing. Does anyone else experience some post race blues?

A Year Later....

Last week I ran 17.2 miles on roads and the following weekend 21 miles on roads, some stairs and trails. It seems odd to me that just a year ago I completed my first ever 20 mile run and now I’ve become a running junkie.

Some of my best thoughts come to me while I’m running. It seems I can sort out any issues, frustrations, happy feelings or problems I might be having all with a simple run. My mind opens, my thoughts are clear and I am able to focus more completely. So on my last run, I thought about that first 20 mile run.

I remember how grueling it was, how tired my legs were and how with every ounce of my body I wanted to stop. To compare, I thought about my 17.2 mile run on roads and it seemed strangely easy to me. I never would have thought that running that distance would become easy. Admittedly, it’s not a fast 17.2 miles by any means but I’ve never been fast. And running for me has never been about speed. While I like getting faster it’s not my ultimate goal. For me running is my time to think, my therapy to sort the crowded thoughts in my mind and the lift that I need to be sane at times when I am feeling like I'm coming unglued.

My 21 mile run was more difficult because I ran on trails and stairs along with roads but nothing compared to that first 20 mile run. I will take more difficulty any day though when it comes to trails because while they can be more tiring physically, mentally they are good for my soul. I can always count on trails to bring out inner child by running down the hills faster and speeding up just for fun.

Lastly, I thought about why I was running long distances in the first place and last year my motivation was preparing for a 12 hour timed race in Rochester, NY. I will be running at Mind the Duck’s again this year and I am really looking forward to it. Last year it seemed unfathomable to continue to move for 12 hours but this year I will head into the race knowing what I'm capable and hopefully pushing myself even more!

I am so excited about meeting friends I have only chatted with online at this event. We will have our “Michigan Crew” headed out to Rochester, NY in less than a month! Can't wait!

Give it a Tri!

About 6 days ago, a FB friend posted he was doing an indoor tri at the YMCA. I was curious about the logistics of it. How would they run it, how do they manage that many people in the pool, what bikes do they use, etc? He told me the details and said I should give it a try. I laughed, ha ha! Sure! I just started swimming last summer and all of it has been somewhat awkwardly self taught. I tried to get a few pointers from fellow swimmers but I think my brain learns best from someone either showing me or directly working with me. Since I didn't have that luxury, I used a lot of trial and error. I never took swim lessons as a kid and in fact my mom still doesn't know how to swim.

I have really enjoyed swimming and find it to be a very gratifying way to cross train. I love the feeling when I first jump in the water and my arms start to move. I feel like I am one with the water. If my muscles are sore from running or lifting weights, they feel light in the water. Even if I'm only swimming for 20 minutes I feel like I got a great workout in.

For the next 24 hours I thought about that tri. The set up is great for a first time tri. It's 15 minutes of swimming, 15 minutes of biking (stationary bike) and 15 minutes running with 5 minutes in between to change. I wouldn't have to worry about having a bike or any other special equipment. While I haven't used a bike since last summer (we canceled our gym membership since we weren't using it enough), I figured it's only 15 minutes. So physically, I knew I could do it.

So all that was left was my own fears. It kind of scares the pee out of me to think about competing against other people in something that's unfamiliar. The first time I do anything new I get a bit anxious. Not knowing exactly how the process will go or what to expect, worries me.

I worried about all the things that could go wrong. "What happens if I can't change fast enough?" So I start a little later, no big deal. It's not like I'm training to win. "What if my legs are sore from the bike?" So they're sore, get over it! I've been much more sore and ran without problems. It might not be my fastest time but who cares?

"What happens if I look foolish in the pool?" Ok, in fairness this one happens a lot so I'm already prepared to deal with it. Just yesterday while practicing flip turns I managed to land up in the lane next to me, nearly colliding with a fellow swimmer. He asked me later what happened and I told him I'm learning turns and not so good at them. He complimented me and said I looked strong out there and I said "Yeah, I'm so strong that I flipped into another lane. That takes a special kind of talent!"

That led me to think about last year and the many changes I had made. It led me to think about all the things I tried that I feared and how they all have helped me become a better, stronger person. This ultimately led me to fill out an application and sign up this Sunday, February 27th - just 5 days away.

Once I actualized my fears, I realized there is no reason not to sign up. The only thing that would be holding me back is myself and the millions of excuses I could generate as to why I shouldn't do it. So instead, I'm going to challenge myself. Now the closer it gets, the more excited I'm getting. I'm looking forward to trying something new and pushing myself.

Running Highs & Lows

It seems I have been in a bit of a manic cycle when it comes to running. There have been great high’s (days I feel like I can run forever) and great lows (days I am mad at winter). I am keeping my fingers crossed that the fog has lifted and I will continue on with only running highs after yesterday’s run. Who knew 39 degrees would feel like the equivalent of running on the beach for me?

I’ll start with the low’s. I have gotten very angry at the blizzard 2011 we had a few weeks back since it heavily covered the trails I like to run on. I don’t mind running in snow, I actually find it very beautiful and peaceful but this wasn’t running as much as it was plodding through calf deep drifts. While it was a great all over work out and the first couple of runs I felt like a badass, I was quickly growing more and more agitated by the snow.

I didn’t want my love of running to be tainted by cold weather and drifts so I took my running to snow covered roads. Roads were mostly fine as well but when the temperatures hit the single digits I again grew very angry. Layering helped but I still wasn’t able to completely warm up on my runs. I decided to run outside on the roads when I could and use the treadmill when it hit single digits.

That led to the treadmill. Again, I felt like a badass when I was running 9 miles, 6 miles, etc. but I quickly grew bored from running in place. No matter what shows I put on or how I tried to convince myself this was great because I wasn’t freezing my butt off I still couldn’t muster enough motivation to keep it up.

So those were my lows and I apologize if they are a bit rant-ish. I really try not to complain too much about winter because that doesn’t really serve any purpose, I guess it helps me appreciate the really good runs. Which takes me to my high’s!

Again, the first few runs in winter or plodding through snow are very tough. I can feel all my core muscles being used and am sore the next day. I don’t mind wet feet as long as the temperatures aren’t too low and I’m moving at a decent pace. The first few times I don’t mind because I feel like I am really accomplishing something. I am running, using all of my muscles and if the snow isn’t too deep it’s just plain fun.

Visually, running the trails in snow is completely gorgeous. The first few times I ran trails I ran very slowly to take in all of my surroundings. The snow glitters like diamonds and when the sun is poking through the trees it takes your breath away. I feel very serene and connected to nature.

During one of my 6 mile outdoor runs the snow was coming down in wet, fat flakes and I felt like I was running in a snow globe. Nobody was outside and I felt like I was running alone and running free.

I have been very lucky to be able to run with my running buddy. This always makes me happy. I don’t even feel the run because we are chatting away. Even if it’s cold or blustery, running alongside her always makes my day.

Which takes me to yesterday’s run. I had a bad run the day before. I was tired, grouchy and run down. I cut the run short and went home and took a nap instead. I’m getting better at listening to my body and I don’t want to make running a chore.

On a whim, I texted my running buddy to see if she were free to run and luckily she was. The wind picked up just before I went outside so I worried that it would be biting cold again but I was pleasantly surprised when I took my first few steps.

I could have skipped the tights I was wearing entirely because it felt so warm to me. The temperature was only 39 degrees but compared to the week’s prior temps it felt like a little slice of heaven.

It made me excited to run again and filled me with hope that my winter blues might have finally turned the corner. The snow is melting fast and they are predicting temps in the high 40s to low 50s! I cannot wait for my next run outside!

Dreaming of an early spring.....

I've been on a little bit of a hiatus. I think I have a touch of winter depression. I'm trying to stay positive and embrace the fun things that can be done during the winter and snow but any such feelings have since left :)

I went sledding with the kids and saw each of their personalities come out. Ava is full of adventure and the faster the better. Reese is cautious and needed some reassurance that he wouldn't hit the trees. Ty is something else! He is 21 months and has no fear. He wanted to run down the sledding hill at top speed. He brought the sleds over multiple times and was trying to go down the hill by himself until I saw what he was up to and joined him in the sled.

I also took the kids ice skating. It was the first time for Ava & Reese (6 & 4). It was an indoor rink and luckily they rented out holders for the kids to hang on to. I was out on the ice with them by myself while Jason entertained Ty. Again, Ava went full force and by the end was skating on her own for short times.

Reese impressed me with him speed at the end. Those little holders were flying! He would knock himself down and get right back up. I was a little worried at first having both of them trying to skate for the first time with just me helping them but they had a great time and impressed me with how quickly they picked it up.

While I'm trying to stay positive, winter running is really starting to wear on me. I despise the cold and the latest arctic air we've had does not inspire me to run outside. I have gone out a handful of times. Running on trails in the winter is always an adventure but it becomes hard to find places that are runnable. One time I headed out and had to turn around because the trails were more reminiscent of an ice rink.

I've been forced to run more roads but the roads are snow covered, which is actually better for me. While it's tougher to run because it feels like running in sand, it gives me the illusion of a trail. I'm also using my treadmill but I'm not running the distances I would like to.

Instead, I will try and focus on cross training and swimming. I will cling to the hope of an early spring. Soon I won't have to pile on layers of clothing, I will be able to feel the sun on my skin and wind in my hair.

Running Blues

This winter has been a little tougher on me than last year. I remember running last year in 2 degrees and having no problem. This year anything in single digits and I'm shaking like a leaf. Since having my thyroid removed, I have noticed I am more cold than I previously was and maybe that has made a difference.

I have abandoned my treadmill for almost two years now. I love running outside, specifically trails and just thinking about the treadmill was unsettling. I didn't know if I had it in me to run any length of distance but I knew it would at least be warm.

Last week, my 4 year old was home with a fever. I was planning on running trails after school with Jason but wouldn't be able to. I was wracking my brain thinking of how I could get a run in. This is the point where I realized I think I'm a true addict : )

The only option would be hopping on my treadmill but I didn't know how long I would last. My son was resting in my bedroom, getting the king size bed all to himself. I put on a dvd to watch during my run and hopped on the treadmill.

The one really nice thing about a treadmill in your house is you don't have to layer up. I threw on shorts and a sports bra and felt totally liberated that I didn't have to dig up my gloves, compression top, hat, jacket, tights, socks and so on.....

It had been a while since I've had a longer run and my goal was to run 6 miles. The longest I've ever run on a treadmill before is 7 miles and I remember that feeling like I ran twice that distance. I feel like I can run much farther outside but only when it's not frigid temperatures outside.

I was watching an episode of Nurse Jackie which I was really caught up in so that definitely helped. Each episode was around 30 minutes long so I figured if I could watch 2 episodes I would be golden.

The first episode flew by. My son was watching Caillou in the next room...don't get me started about that show. So many questions float in my head when I'm watching it with him. Why does each scene seem to be in dream sequence with the white blurred screen effect? Why is Caillou bald but his younger sister has hair? How on earth does Caillou's mom seemingly have so much patience..is it Xanax, alcohol or is she an emotional eater? But I digress....

The other nice thing about a treadmill is I can go potty any time I need to without scouting out a place to go. Last week while running trails I think I flashed my ass to a fellow trail runner when I thought I went off to the side to enjoy some privacy and heard voices behind me. Apparently the trail looped back around right where I was peeing. I just told myself he was probably looking at his feet and making sure he didn't fall on the snow covered path, right? :)

3 miles done and I was ready for episode number 2. Surprisingly that episode flew by as well. The run was feeling really good. It felt great to be enveloped in sweat and heat. Both I have missed since the temperatures dropped. I decided to go for episode number 3 for a total of 9 miles.

I know this probably doesn't sound like many miles to others than run on treadmills. I've heard of women training for marathon distance on treadmills alone which I cannot even imagine. If it weren't for the warmth of my house, I would gladly go outside and run instead.

At the end of 9 miles I felt like a rock star which is probably silly but I didn't think I could run 3 miles much less 9. I really needed the mileage to boost my spirits and calm the voices in my head.

I'm going to try and continue running when I can on the treadmill. I'm still much more motivated to run outside and on trails but the allure of warmth will always tempt me on days when the temperatures are in the single digits.

What's that? I run too much?

The other day I had a conversation with my mom. She wanted me to go to the store with her and I said no. It was at the end of a long day and I was ready to relax at home with the family. I like getting errands done earlier in the day and with 3 little ones, night time is my time to decompress.

When I told her no she told me "If you weren't running so much, maybe you wouldn't be so tired." I said it's not the running that makes me tired, that gives me energy. What it probably boiled down to is my mom cannot say no to anyone so she doesn't expect anyone to say no to her. But it did get me thinking about other comments that I or my running buddies have often gotten.

Much go along the lines of "You're obsessed", "You're addicted to running", "Is running the only thing you do?" and the best, but really worst was Jesse had someone that wanted to schedule an intervention for him. Not a funny "ha ha" intervention but an intervention that you would use for drug or alcohol addicts.

Why is it that because I enjoy something I must be obsessed? If I worked really hard to earn a lot of money would people say I'm obsessed with working?

I can work hard when I need to but I can equally lounge around all day in my pajamas. One summer I took 27 college credits to finish my master's degree. I maintained a 3.75 average for that summer....darn math! I could have had a 4.0 : ) The point is I can be a work horse when I need to be but I am also able to let go and do nothing and just enjoy myself.

I do have that constant balance of work, family and running. In my experience, I've found that if I don't run I'm crabby. When I do run I have more energy and my spirits are lifted. Finding that balance can be hard but it's something I put a conscious effort into. I don't run to the detriment of my family or ignoring my spouse. I run because of them. I want to be healthy and the best thing I think I can do for my kids is to be a good role model when it comes to food and exercise.

There was a time I would worry about what others thought but these days I figure it's their own issue. Whether that issue is justifying why they don't have an outlet of some sort and making you feel bad about having one. Or trying to justify why they are too busy to exercise or like my mom who probably doesn't think I run too much but really needs to put herself first.

I want to stay healthy mentally and physically for my family and running allows me to do both. And let's be honest, its just a lot of fun!

One of my new fun things I've tried for cold weather running is spicing up my running clothes with colorful tights (see picture below). I have blue & pink and plan on wearing the pink tights to my next running event. I need another top that has more color though. Right now I only have 2 winter long sleeve shirts I like to wear.....and they're both black. That will have to go on my Santa list!

Trail Lover

After running the Grand Rapids Marathon, I realized my love of running trails and hills. While, GR boosted my confidence about my abilities to run faster than I thought I could, I really missed the trails.

I got horribly sick after the race and was itching to run but I let my body get the rest it needed. On Friday I went for a 3 mile trail run after school and felt great. The next day it was like I took 4 steps back and felt horrible (body aches, chills, fever, congestion). I loaded up on vitamins, water and rested.

I had a sitter for Sunday morning and I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about running. After my comatose state on Saturday I wasn't holding out any hope. Luckily on Sunday morning I woke up and felt refreshed and much, much better. Not 100% but far better than the previous day.

Jason and I decided to head to a local trail next to a ski-lodge. The trail itself is about a 5 mile loop and there are 3 ski hills next to the trail. We decided to run a 5 mile loop first. My legs felt a little stiff at first but after a half mile they felt good and loose.

It's a fun trail to run. It's fairly technical and lots of ups and downs. It's also used for mountain biking but we didn't run into anyone this morning. The last time I ran this trail there were far more bikers out. One that still makes me laugh a little is a biker that turned the corner and fell. Normally, I wouldn't laugh at another person that fell but I guess it was the way he fell. He was coming around a corner. Came to almost a complete stop, turned the corner and fell. Up ahead just a few seconds later, he ran into another biker. I told Jason about it (he was ahead of me running with Jesse) and he said he saw the same biker fall. The only conclusion we could come to is maybe he was drinking & biking.

I love the physicality of running trails. You use more overall muscle and I especially love the hills. I channeled some of my inner speed from my husband, Jason, whom I deemed the billy goat. He's so fun to watch on hills. Second to him would be Jesse, who I deemed the jackrabbit. He wasn't with us today but I think of their hill abilities every time I run hills. They run them so effortlessly.

I'm getting stronger on hills and genuinely enjoy them. I think part of the reason I got bored during my marathon is the terrain was basically the same. While there was beautiful fall leaves, a lake and other surrounding views, it wasn't the same as getting muddy, bouncing over rocks and pushing your legs up the tough hills.

After the run, on the way back to our car to get the camera, I ran past Jason and taunted him a little. I might have said something like "You can't catch me, old man". It was my version of speed work. He always beats me but I'm slowly getting faster. I still enjoy the game of trying to outrun him.

We wanted to run a few hill repeats and I wanted to capture the hills on film. We chose the steepest of the 3 hills. It's so hard to get the angles right and show the true nature of hills but I took the best shots I could. Jason at the bottom, side views and views from the top. We ran a total of 3 hill repeats, one with the camera and the other two without. I say run, but mine is more like a slow jog/walk. Jason is amazing and managed a 10:32 pace up the entire hill!

Jason at the bottom of the hill

Side view running up the hill

Jason almost at the top

The only downside to this trail is how far away from our house it is. I wish it were closer. I'm not sure which I like better, the trails or the hills. Luckily I didn't have to chose and did both.

This Saturday is my costume 5k. I am so flipping excited! I have a costume, a wig and a cape. I'll take lots of pictures and hope to set a new 5k PR!

One more marathon....

So I'm either a flip-flopper or a running junkie. Maybe I'm just a little of both. After I decided I would try and work on speed I was talking with my usual running crew about races. By crew I mean Jason and Jesse. Mark is also part of the crew but he wasn't with us.

I had decided (but not registered) for the Grand Rapids half marathon. They also offer a full marathon and I kept going back and forth between which I should run. The two marathons I have previously run are on trails which I love. The GR Marathon & half are both on roads. Roads are not my favorite but I was curious what type of pace I could run one in.

I went back and forth, back and forth and finally decided on the half. After talking with my crew about why I like running long distances they convinced me to run the full marathon (although they have no idea it was their influence). It scares me a little because I am back to work and busy with the kids schedules but that was ultimately why I decided to do it. I could take the easy route and try to PR my half marathon time (I've run that course 2 times in the past). Or I could possibly not train as much as I want to and jump in and do it.

That got me thinking about why I like running long distances. I love the adventure of long distances. You have to pack supplies like water, food, music if you like it, Garmin (sometimes I take it, sometimes I don't), get your clothes ready the night before (otherwise I wake up sleeping kids) and plan a route.

When I get all my gear ready and take that first step I feel like I am starting a great adventure. Who knows what I'll see along the way or if I'll see some wildlife. Depending on the path I take I'll get to see the shore of Lake Michigan and waves lapping. If I'm running trails I see the occasional deer. I love when it's foggy in the forest. I feel like I'm part of a surreal dream.

Most times I'm with my husband and even though we don't talk much during the actual run I feel connected to him. I feel like we're part of something greater when we're running through the trails. I love watching him climb the hills and he inspires me to run them more quickly. He's a phenomenal hill runner. I'm getting better but he is part billygoat when he's climbing those hills.

I love the feeling I get in the pit of my stomach after I've ran about 12-14 miles. The best way I can describe it is a soreness and I feel like my stomach is completely empty. This is usually just before I know I need to eat something but I put it off just to feel that feeling a little bit longer. I feel like I've accomplished something when I feel that tightness.

I love pushing myself through those miles that are tough. I'll talk myself through some of the miles knowing I have done it before and I can do it again. I know those feelings will come and go. I love the sense of accomplishment towards the end of a run. Even when my legs feel tired I know it will end soon and I will feel proud.

I love the feeling of soreness in my legs afterward and the next day. Sure my legs are stiff and it hurts when the kids are climbing all over me but it also feels so good at the same time. I've pushed myself and feel like I am invincible.

I love feeling strong. I love it when I feel strong and can wrestle with my kids and outrun them (at least for now). I hope they see how much their parents love running and whether they run or not get something from it. I hope they enjoy physical activity in some form knowing how much it can enhance their lives and just how fun it can be.

So, for all these reasons and more that I'm sure I'm missing I love running long distances and thought....just one more marathon on October 17th!

Love those hills!

Today my husband and I were meeting a fellow runner to run hill repeats...or so I thought. The person we were meeting just finished his first 100 mile race which just happened to be Western States. We met Roger by chance. While we were listening to the Western States lottery being drawn last December I noticed someone named Roger from Grand Rapids, Michigan had just been selected. I commented to my husband I wonder if he has a Facebook page, we put in a friend request and have formed an electronic friendship since.

My husband was very disappointed his name wasn't drawn but it would have been pretty tough for him to complete this year due to family commitments & timing. I hope next year his name is drawn!

Roger's Western State's pacer, Brandon, was also going to run hill repeats with us so it was a really great chance to talk to them about their whole experience there. I wanted to ask him to bring the buckle for us to see but didn't know if that sounded to stalkerish/groupie-ish. The fact that he finished any 100 mile race is cool enough but that Western States was his first was really cool. We talked about the terrain (Jason wanted to see if would be something that could possibly be done barefoot), how he was feeling, blisters, hydration and other fun running lingo.

We had actually met Roger before during the a winter trail run but this is the first time we actually had a conversation. I should preface that he is also an Ironman finisher and actively places 1st or 2nd in triathalons and duathalons. I mention this because Roger is FAST! But I figured running hills is at everyone's pace so no real pressure.

We were doing hill repeats at a local ski resort. Obviously, there is no snow on the ground now but it makes for a great place to get in hill work. The hills are long and at a great elevation. We started heading in that direction when they said "Ready?" and we realized they were headed for the trail (which is a 5 mile loop I have run previously with Jason). I had a water bottle but I had on Vibram's I normally dont' wear for running but I wear for short workouts. I drink Nuun and try to hydrate a little more before running and hadn't done any of that.

We told them "We thought we were only doing hill repeats" and there was some confusion. Our plan was to have our long run on Thursday so I was worried about running today. I told Jason let's run it. In reality, I'm a girl who when around boys feels the need to keep up. I get way more competitive with boys and am non-competitive with women. I think it's because I have 2 older brothers who would always tell me "Girls can't do that" so even though nothing was said to me I still have that thought in the back of my head.

So we were off for a 5 mile trail run. I figured if nothing else this would be good training since I didn't do my normal pre-running routine. Roger was first, then Brandon, me and Jason. Jason is always sweet for running with me even though he could have easily kept up with those guys.

When we first took off I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I couldn't breathe and it reminded me of my attempts at running after giving birth. Man, these guys were fast. They were talking to me about North Country Trail marathon I am signed up for because Brandon will be running the 50 miler (his first ultra). I tried to cough out some words but I couldn't talk. I finally stopped for a few seconds and caught my breath.

They got a few steps ahead of me but I caught up. They started out at an 8:30 pace which on roads is tough for me much less on trails. They slowed their pace down to 10:00 and I was keeping up! I kept up for the first half of the trail and slowly fell back. I could hear them talking in front of me so I figured they couldn't be too far ahead.

There were a few times I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to keep the pace but I took a drink and kept on running. At the end of the trail, they were only a minute or so ahead of me. I finished with an average pace of 10:30 which I was very pleased with. This particular trail has lots of various terrain, rocks, sand and hills.

In my head of course I was keeping up with a Western States & Iron-man finisher & a triathlon & duathalon winner - you know, I don't want to brag or anything : ) In reality, he finished WS a little over a month ago, just placed 2nd overall in a duathalon last Saturday, rode bikes Sunday, swam Monday and did track work on Tuesday. His legs weren't so fresh but when I retell this story nobody needs to know those small details. I was happy to somewhat keep up with these guys.

After the run, we ran 3 hill repeats. Jason was barefoot the whole time and I took off my shoes for the hill work. Brandon also threw caution to the wind and did all 3 hill repeats barefoot! These hills are pretty steep and long. For 3 hill repeats our total distance was 1.5 miles.

It was a great, unexpected workout. It reminds me that I need to push myself when I think I can't do something and that I'm an obvious sucker for peer pressure. I didn't want those boys thinking I couldn't handle those hills & run. I'm hoping it works out to run with these guys in the future and that I can push myself even further!

Trails, Cross Training & Rambling

Watching video posts of Western States and seeing the beautiful terrain and breathtaking views got me thinking of running trails. I am glad we have some good local trail systems but when I see what else is out there it makes me long for better running trails.

I love running trails even though it's so much tougher for me. I love the quietness, seeing the occasional deer, coyote and other fellow runners or hikers. The other added benefit is being shaded. I hate wearing sun screen and haven't come up with a good alternative as of yet to replace it so running in the shade of the woods without the hot sun blaring down is a great alternative.

My husband and I ran about 7 miles on the trails but I wanted a little bit more. I wanted to take advantage of every bit of grandma babysitting time available. We had about 20 minutes so we took a turn down the trails we hadn't been down before that led down the beach out onto Lake Michigan.

Before getting to the beach there was a loop of stairs. It was unexpected but I was up for the challenge. My husband tried to convince me he didn't know that the stairs existed but as long as he's been running these trails before me I'm thinking he was putting on a pretty good poker face. I actually like running up stairs and this loop provided an excellent way to practice stair work.

I can remember a time when just walking up stairs was difficult and put me out of breath. It's amazing to me that I ran almost the whole (I'm guessing here) 1/4 or 1/2 mile loop without getting winded enough to stop. When we got to the top of the stairs we had a gorgeous view of the beach below. It was such a nice little treat to have this view just outside of our regular train run. Knowing it is there, we will have to take advantage of it more often.

I have been doing a lot more cross training this year (and earlier) than I ever had which I know has made the hills and stairs less strenuous. Since my husband and I are both teachers we have a difficult time motivating ourselves to get to the gym or do exercises at home. I'm good about running all year, but I'm happy with being able to be a little more disciplined throughout the winter.

My transition to running barefoot has been much slower than I thought it would be. I always run in VFF's but since I've been running more trails, I am not brave enough to run it barefoot yet. I have the world's best role model when it comes to that (my husband) and am constantly amazed at the terrain in which he can run. If it's not a smoother type of terrain, I have a hard time being able to run it barefoot. I suppose one of these days I'll just do it and see what it feels like instead of worrying about it without trying it. I'm so clumsy that I think I get myself more worked up about something than I should.

Speaking of clumsy...one of the other cross training things I'm doing is an outside bootcamp with my running partner, Sharon. It's a group of 12 ladies and the first day we tested out our abilities like sprinting, how many pushups we could do and so on. The instructor also throws in some fun games like linking up with another person and playing tag. I was linked up with Sharon and she's done the class before (the previous 8 weeks) and mentioned that we ran together.

That put pressure on me to look like I knew what I was doing while running. I had on my new pink Vibram's so I stood out. The premise of the game is one pair of linked ladies has to tag all of the other linked ladies. Once you're tagged, you have to do jumping jacks. Sharon and I were the last to get tagged. We're both competitive so we were strategizing on how we would run and where we would go.

Once we saw them coming for us, we took off. About 5 steps later I hit the floor. My feet fell out from under me and I was down! I nearly peed my pants from laughing at myself. Some runner :D In my defense, we were running on hilly terrain and fresh cut grass. Never mind that nobody else fell...shhh! Luckily, I'm used to being clumsy and looking like a fool so it doesn't bother me. I liked that Sharon took off without me in an attempt to not get tagged. We had a good laugh about it the next day on our morning run.

I think my new addiction when it comes to cross training is swimming. I took my kids to the pool the other day and kept looking at the lanes and thinking...hmmm..I wonder if I could sneak over there for a few laps. I'm happy my swimming partner wants to continue swimming in the fall with me. It's nice to share a lane with someone you know and to keep each other motivated. She told me of a program to get discounted swimming lessons since the pool we swim at, I am an alumni. I know I need to work on my technique and it would be great to have a professional give me tips.

I've made a few changes to my diet recently. I'm going to try going dairy and egg free and see if that helps my overall health, weight and running. So far it's been a much easier transition than I thought it would be. I love cheese but have found some other good substitutes to eat so I haven't missed it as much as I thought I would. My next race, a trail marathon, isn't until the end of August but I will be helping pace my hubby at Burning River at the end of July!

Below and above are a few pictures from our run. Jason was having fun running on the rocks!

My First 20 Mile Run!

This was my second attempt at running 20 miles. I was better prepared with food and water and how to carry it all. I picked up a few packets of GU, stashed water beforehand at a park and Jason was carrying a backpack for the food supplies we were carrying. I am going to get a backpack for myself to carry in the future; I just need to do some shopping.

I decided to go earlier in the day so I started my run at 7:30 in the morning. We had childcare taken care of so I was lucky enough to have Jason join me and I was very glad towards the end. I’m not sure I would have made it running all the way back without his advice and support.

We started down by the beach. The temperature was supposed to be in the high 70s or low 80s so I dressed in layers. I ended up keeping them all on because it was super windy, especially down by the lakeshore. The wind worked in my favor on the run out but I was cursing it on the way back.

Our route was going to be a variety of terrain. It started on sidewalks in a residential area then along a path by the lake and water - which was oh so nice! I love seeing the lighthouse and waves crashing as I ran by. We crossed over a bridge and eventually ran about 7 miles of trails and made our way back.

The first 10 miles felt pretty good. I was keeping hydrated, eating and keeping up a nice pace. Last time I hit a wall at mile 14 and that happened again on this run. This time I decided to try some chocolate flavored GU that also had caffeine, sweet, sweet caffeine! At first I didn’t think it was helping but after a few minutes I noticed a difference. I wasn’t feeling great but I wasn’t feeling as bad as I was 10 minutes ago either.

When I hit these walls, some of it is mental and obviously physical. I am working on mentally pushing through the walls. Even with proper food and water the voice in my head was working against me and desperately wanting to quit. Some of the thoughts that entered my mind were how in the hell do people like running this far? What was I thinking running trails on part of my first 20 mile attempt? Look at Jason, he looks like he’s hardly breaking a sweat and I’m here dying. I am never going to run another mile after this run – ever!

I asked Jason what he did when he was felt like stopping and how he mentally pushed through it. I think I’m a strong person and have a high pain tolerance but this was a new type of pain so any advice was welcome. He suggested thinking positive thoughts, tricking your mind into thinking it feels good and just keep moving.

This strategy worked until mile 18. I wanted to lie on the side of the road in a fetal position and have Jason pick me up. Go on without me!!! I’ll be fine curled up here on the road. No one will bother me. I’ll just take a nice little nap and see you in a few minutes. I was thinking these thoughts and not sure if I was going to make it the last two miles.

It was taking all my mental toughness to finish. It didn’t help that this part of the run sand from the beach was blowing in my eyes. The wind that helped push me along earlier was working against me now. I kept telling myself how good it would feel to accomplish this goal, just keep moving and used my music to pump me up. At this point I was really feeling like I was in a tunnel. I didn't notice much of my surroundings. I just wanted to keep on moving.

It was a long slow two miles but I made it. It was a great feeling knowing I had made it. I pushed through and accomplished my goal. Even though it was rough I know it will get easier. I can remember feeling (not to quite this degree) this way when I ran my first 10 miles and now 10 miles actually feels good.

Eating more along the way definitely helped. Being able to recognize that feeling from the last run was very useful. I still have issues with hydrating and going to the bathroom. I feel like I go to the bathroom far too much and don’t know if I’m drinking too much or if that’s normal or if it will get better. I don’t want to dehydrate myself so I tend to drink more. It’s probably something I’ll have to figure out the longer I run.

I also felt really nauseous after the run. I had taken a prescription antacid prior to the run because it’s an issue I’ve had in the past any time I increase my mileage. I will have to bring something along during the run to take to help counter that. It took at least 3 hours, lots of Tums, Pepto and another prescription antacid pill until I felt better.

For this run, I bought a new pair of shorts. I was pleasantly surprised how much I liked them. They are now my new favorite short to wear. They don’t offer a lot for storage but I’m using my backpack as a trade off for any supplies I might need to carry. I tried the Race Ready shorts which had a lot of storage but I think I’m really picky on how things fit. I don’t like shorts that have tight elastic around my waist. I tried on a medium and a large but still feel like the elastic digs in a little too much for my liking. Maybe I just have a little extra around the waist :)

I found a pair of New Balance shorts which were a little longer which prevents rubbing against my thigh and chafing. They were really comfortable and lightweight. I like the wider band because it fit nicely without feeling like it was too tight or too loose. I didn’t have any issues with chafing with any of the clothing I was wearing. So far I've found I haven't had to use any Body Glide.


Jason ran the whole run barefoot and I wore Vibrams. I’m going to try and do more barefoot running this week and ditch the shoes altogether! The town we ran through is a resort town and populated with many wealthy individuals. It’s always funny to watch people’s reactions to Jason’s running barefoot. Some people point, some make comments, some have looks of shock but this time he had two people that actually laughed out loud. I’m used to the stares but I thought the laughter was a bit rude.

The next day, I feel surprisingly good. I’m not as sore as I expected I would be. I felt like my form was awful at the end but Jason said it was good. I know that is a huge reason why I am feeling so good today.

I’m looking forward to my next long run and having the whole 20 miles feel as good as the first 10 miles. Watching Jason run gives me hope and motivation. When I watch him run he appears to run so effortlessly even at the end of 20 miles.

Lessons learned

This Saturday I had it in my head I was going to run 20 miles. It didn’t work out as planned but I learned many things so I guess for that reason it was a success.

1. Planning a 20 mile run is kind of hard. You don’t appreciate how far it is until you try to map it out. My mom lives 5 miles from me. If I ran to her house and back it would only be half the distance. It’s one of the strange things you don’t think about before running long distances. For this run, I didn’t want to run loops. I figured if I ran 10 miles out I would have to run 10 miles back right?

2. I need to run earlier in the day. I loved having the sunshine in my face and the atmosphere was great but if I’m running along a bike path and have to go to the bathroom, it’s not convenient at all. I probably obsess too much about having to go to the bathroom when I run. I worry about when and where I’ll have to go. Will I be able to sneak away? Will someone see me and so forth. It’s one of the reasons I enjoy trails more - there are no people around to worry about.

3. I learned the peanut butter sandwiches I like to eat were really annoying to carry. Since I had stashed them in my car before and stopped to eat them it was a whole different experience carrying them. Between those, my keys, my phone and tissues I felt a little like a kangaroo with a full pouch. I’m going to have to figure out either a better way to carry these items or try other food supplements that are more convenient to carry or stash them along the route.

Feeling those things bouncing in my pockets was very irritating and distracting. I also didn’t think through where I would carry my phone. Normally I don’t run with it but I thought since I was running alone and a longer distance, I thought it would be better to have it.

4. I can’t run in Vibram’s without wearing socks. I have yet to run any long distances totally barefoot but I’m building towards it. The first six miles felt great until I started to feel the stitching of the Vibram’s rubbing against my feet. Thankfully after a phone call to my very lovely husband I had my socks! When I stopped to put them on, both sides of my feet were rubbed raw and bleeding a little. Nothing too bad and having the socks made them feel much better so I continued to run.

5. Around mile 12 I slammed into a wall….hard. I drank water but didn’t have anything to eat since I left it 3 miles back. I don’t know if eating would have helped but it would have been a good thing to try. In my head I didn’t know if I was going to be able to finish. I knew I could walk it out if need be but I really wanted to run, even if at a slow pace, the whole way. I thought I would be able to gut out the rest of the mileage but ended up deciding it was best to stop. I made it to mile 14 when my husband picked me up.

6. Having a husband who picks you up, literally and figuratively, is priceless. I was feeling bad that I didn’t finish and he always knows how to cheer me up. He helped point out that know I know what I can and cannot do and those are lessons better learned before a race. He also pointed out the point of training runs is to find out what works and doesn’t work for you. I don’t like feeling like I can’t do something so this will give me even greater determination next time!

7. After much thought about what I did right and what I could have done better I also think I didn’t taper enough. I was still running during the week and I think I really needed to take a break. I ran a 5k last weekend and 13 miles on the trails on Sunday. My original plan was to not run all week. But when the weather gets nice and I see other people out running the temptation is too great. I ran during the week and even though it wasn’t that far I think I could have benefited from the down time. I think tapering is very important and something I need to be better at.

I am scheduling my next attempt at 20 miles during my Spring Break!

My Lost Inner Child

My oh-so gracious mother agreed to watch the children for a few hours so my husband and I could run together again this Saturday. My plan was to try and run 12 or maybe 14 miles depending on our pace. I’m still trying to steadily increase my mileage for my race in May. I assumed we’d run our usual route we’ve been running for the past month or so. It’s mainly on backroads around our house that have less traffic.

When we were getting ready to drop off the kids, Jason suggested running a trail we never ran on before. One of the things I struggle with as a runner is getting too comfortable. If I find a route or a spot to run I stick with it. I don’t like to change it. Especially if it’s some place new. I don’t know if that’s a reflection of wanting stability or if it’s just a personality characteristic. I guess I like knowing we have 2 miles left or I’ve run 5 miles by looking at landmarks.



Some of the things I worry about is the terrain, if it will be crowded, will I like the route, will it be too muddy to get through, etc. This isn’t exclusive to trails or roads. I just seem to like running the same routes. I think I’m adventurous about many other things in my life like trying new foods - in China I ate snake and alligator and yes both tasted like chicken. I love traveling new places and have no problem running in new cities. I’ve jumped out of an airplane and walked down red light district in Amsterdam (saw lots of interesting things there).

So even though I was grumbling a little on the inside I agreed to the trails. Jason gets bored running the same routes and I’m the complete opposite. He’s good at making me push myself and do things that make me uncomfortable. Maybe I’ve gotten more comfortable running on roads and asphalt because it’s easier. I can run faster and farther. I feel like I’m actually a good runner when I run roads. It’s a bit of a boost to my ego. I don’t have to worry about stepping on anything, slipping and falling or hard packed snow. Having Jason there to push me is exactly what I need sometimes.

When we started running, the terrain was pretty good. It was muddy and slippery but manageable. We ran for a few miles and I was really getting into the trail and glad Jason suggested it. We ran around a hill and unfortunately encountered a pretty big stream of water which would make it impossible to run through (see pictures) so we were forced to turn around.



In my head I was grumbling again thinking I really need to get my mileage in. I wanted to increase the number of miles I ran from last weekend. My mom was only going to watch the kids for a few hours so this time was precious and we were wasting it!

At that point, I realized I wasn’t having fun. I needed to reassess why I like to run. I really do like running on trails because of how challenging it can be. I think the pressure of running road races was seeping into my consciousness and dampening my running spirit. Instead of worrying about running x amount of miles, I need to just run. Whether it’s trails or roads I have to remind myself it’s still running and I don’t want to lose sight of running for pure enjoyment.

Sometimes I’ll run farther and faster and sometimes I won’t. I’m still going to train for my race and increase mileage but I’m going to remind myself of why I run in the first place. I run for the freedom I feel while running. I run for the time it gives me to clear my mind and also as a form of exercise that I enjoy. I also thought a lot about a post from Barefoot AngieB’s blog and realized sometimes I lose sight of the big picture so thank you Angie!



This is the point where I noticed Jason running. He was hopping around, bouncing off of the terrain and having a good time. Time to join in! I shook free those thoughts that were holding me back and just ran. I also like to pretend I’m a ninja because I wear all black and usually when we run by someone they don’t hear us because of our soft footsteps.

We got to a section of water, really more like a small river and Jason asked if I wanted to try getting through it. Sure! That sounds like fun. Time to get muddy and wet. Honestly, at this point it felt nice and cool on my feet. It then became a game to see how far we could go through the water. We found spots where it was too deep and we had to turn around. Luckily Jason tested the waters, literally.

There were some places where we splashed through water and mud. I ran fast and hard waving my arms as I went down the hills. I love running down hills and that slightly out of control feeling you get. You don’t know if you’re going to make it down without falling but you still want to go as fast as you can anyway. It’s such a freeing feeling.

I bounced back and forth off the pathway and it started to remind me of when I was a kid. I used to run in our backyard as fast as I could. I would run countless laps for the pure pleasure of running.

We got to a spot where we climbed a hill, again trying to get around the stream and continue the path. Great for the legs and the soul! It was fun climbing up hills and running down them just to feel the wind in my face. I took pictures of Jason and somehow managed to only get shots of him when he was behind a tree. It’s kind of like looking at a picture of “Where’s Waldo” but instead “Where’s Jason?” Can you find him?



Trails are definitely much more challenging and more of an all over workout. I run at a much slower pace. I can feel it in my quads, glutes, obliques and other places I don’t reach while running roads. Running trails is a great way to cross train and works a multitude of muscles.

Sometimes I need to slow down and to remind myself of the bigger picture. Yes, I’m training for a race and I want to increase my miles but at the end of the day I want to have fun. Running those trails was a great reminder of that and I have my husband to thank. I’m lucky he pushes me to do things I don’t always want to do and we can both share in the fun of our inner children. I was a muddy mess at the end and loved it!

While I ran in my Vibrams because I’m not quite brave enough to try running through snow yet in my bare feet, I am excited to join Jason totally barefoot soon!