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!

You Asked, I Answered PART 2

Just a few more questions to be answered!

zapmamak asked:

If you could be a superhero, what superhero would you be and why? (you can even make one up if you want)

Hmmm...tough question. There are a lot of cool superhero ladies I can't choose. Instead maybe I could pick a superhero power. I am a very curious person, ok nosey and would love the power of invisibility to find out what goes on in various places. I hate not knowing the answer to something and would love to have access to secrets from anything to conspiracy theories to mysterious deaths.

What mental strategies do you use to get through the "pain cave" and other challenging moments when running?

This is a tough one for me. In some ways, I have a high pain tolerance, when I am physically injured. Last year I broke my 4th toe and ran my first trail marathon 3 weeks later. I ran gently and it numbed up after I started running. When I run longer distances I get the "ultra hurt" which at first is a good feeling. You know you've really accomplished something and the pain is a reminder of what you've done. It's the persisting of that pain that I have a hard time with. I'm not sure I have found the best strategy for myself yet. When I run my 50 miler in September, I think that will be a good test for me. Some of the strategies I use are focusing on the accomplishment, visualizing myself finishing, distracting myself with other thoughts. It's nice if there is someone else running my pace because conversation with others is a great distraction for me.

What kind of music inspires you and what's the most played song on your ipod/MP3 player?

I like all kinds of music. Everything from Jack Johnson, Pink, Lady Gaga, La Roux to Nine Inch Nails. It all depends on the mood I'm in while running and how far I'm going. Lately, I haven't run with music but if I'm running a longer distance race I bring it with me because it helps during those longer hours (I'm slow so I spend a lot of time on the trails : )

Julie Bouesso Rehbein

Hi Shelly! I am just now getting to know you a bit and read with interest about your thyroid issue. I too have thyroid issues and was hyper before I opted for the radioactive iodine which now turned me hyper. I feel good nowadays but regret my decision back then. ***Has your thyroid improved through running, or has running effected it in any negative way? If so how do you battle it?***

Thyroid issues suck! I was diagnosed as hyperthyroid after my second son was born. I wasn't diagnosed until 6 months after his birth. During my pregnancy my OB noticed a growth on my neck and it was biopsied. At the time, my doctors said I was normal during my pregnancy (not hyperthyroid) but my endocrinologist looked at the results later and said I should have been on medication back when I was biopsied. Looking back on that 6 months I realize how sick I was. I had hot flashes, sweat all the time, lost hair, high heart rate, was anxious, fatigued, insomnia and was very paranoid. After I got on medication, I couldn't believe the difference. I thought I was dealing with normal hormonal changes due to pregnancy and having two children 20 months apart. I thought I was tired because I had two babies.

I had my goiter monitor and biopsied and regular blood draws. I opted for surgery to remove the goiter because it kept getting bigger and I was worried about cancer developing under the growth. My brother died from brain cancer so that was always in the back of my mind.

I had my thyroid and goiter removed and am now hypothyroid. I will be taking medication for the rest of my life but I can easily say dealing with hypothyroid symptoms is far better than hyper symptoms. I feel like I breathe better after the growth was removed and have found my running has improved. I can't say it's because of the surgery but overall I feel MUCH better post surgery running than I did before. I have made diet changes as well. I don't eat soy because it interrupts the absorption of my medication. I cut out gluten because research has shown that with autoimmune disease it's been shown to improve your physical condition. I tried it and I found out I felt great and if I ever cheat I have gastrointestinal distress and feel like I have a hangover so it's not worth eating.

I had surgery about a year and a half ago and don't regret it. I think the worst thing I deal with is hair loss. Since surgery, I lost a ton of hair and it still feels thin. I've been told it can take up to 3 years for your hair to recover post surgery so I'm hoping my hair thickness will come back. I take vitamin B and have switched to sulfate free shampoos which has helped.

You Asked, I Answered!

Thanks for all the great questions! Here are my long winded (sorry) answers!

Mark Robillard (Facebook brother) asked "Are you together"?

I'm sure he was kidding but it's a funny story so I'll answer anyway. At one of our Hobby Jogga (misfit band of runners) meetups for dinner and drinks we were sitting at a large table. The waitress went around the table to take everyone's order. When she got to Jason she asked "Can I take your order?" Jason disputes this and claims she said something else but we all heard otherwise. Jason's response to her was "Just so you know, we're together." We all started laughing and mocking him by saying "Whoa whoa, (_____) insert waitress name....he's off the market!.....They're together." So now it's become a constant running joke that Mark likes to tell at the most awkward times. He once asked a stranger in the woods at the end of a run to ask us as we ran by if we "were together".

Philip Whitley asked "What are you going to miss most about teaching?"

I will definitely miss the connections you make with students inside the classroom. A lot of people generalize that teenagers are self absorbed, annoying and criminal. When in fact, they can be the most caring and willing to support a cause. They are just going through self discovery, testing limits and finding their way in the world. They want to be given space, learn on their own and they don't like being told what to do. They can be incredibly sensitive and caring if given the chance and have direction. The ones that are the most defiant usually have a background of neglect or other problems happening in their lives that cause them to act out.

Liz Fazackerley "What do you eat on the road?"

I was worried about this one before I left but so far I've had an easier time than I thought I would. I'm a grazer and so is my family by default. I don't make or like big heavy meals. We all eat when we're hungry which is sometimes a pain in the ass for me because I feel like a short order cook getting all of the kids requests but it's what works for us.

Sometimes that's a handful of nuts, hummus & veggies and larabars are quickly becoming my favorite go to snack. They are gluten free which I am since having my thyroid removed. I cut almost all processed food and the few times I have cheated I feel horrible the next day. I feel so great without those foods that I'm rarely tempted.

I eat a pretty simply diet.I loosely follow the paleo diet but I eat some legumes and beans. I was never good at following all the rules! :) Since I don't eat beef, pork or soy products (because they interrupt with the absorption of my thyroid meds) I use those as protein sources. One of my favorite meals to eat is cooked lentils mixed with a TBSP of red thai curry paste & coconut milk and I mix in various meats (chicken or turkey) along with a veggie. I mix them all together and it keeps me full and satisfied for a long time. I like using the Green Giant veggie packs when I don't have as much time. They are quick and easy. I've also tried to grill in larger batches so I have extras on hand that I can take in the car. The other day I roasted sweet potatoes and made a hash out of the leftovers for breakfast.

My vices are chips and french fries which I try to limit. I have a salt tooth, not a sweet tooth.

Pamela Smedberg Yonkers (my sister) "Why did you always eat my candy when we were kids?"

Pam, I ate everyone's candy, not just yours! If you guys had found better hiding places (I was only 3 years old afterall) I wouldn't have eaten it all :)

Shannon Bergstrom Missere "With all of you sleeping under the same tiny roof, how does the sex thing work?? (or not work) :)"

Ha ha! This made me laugh. So far (18 days in) it hasn't been a problem. It's been pretty much the same as it was at home. We still have to be creative to find sexy time. So far we haven't had a walk in :) We have an accordion door that gives us "privacy" and when those doors are spread......stay out of our bed!

Vanessa Runs asked the following questions (I love that you asked a ton of questions)

"What is one topic or question you were worried people would ask about?"

I don't know if there was one topic but I was hoping there weren't any mean spirited questions and there weren't!

"What is one topic or question you hoped people would ask about?"

I was just hoping I didn't hear crickets from the lack of responses :) Thanks Vanessa for posting so many questions I didn't need to worry!

"What is one thing you know about Jason that nobody else does?"

Well, technically his parents knew but.....

When he was born he had an undescended teste......it's all good now though!

"How and why did you give your kids the names they have?"

I wish I had really meaningful reasons I picked out the kids names but I don't. I liked the way they sounded and I didn't want them to be too complicated. As a former teacher, I would see the most ridiculous spellings and names people chose for their children and I didn't want my kids to have to go through life correcting everybody.

Probably the most interesting would be my daughter, Ava. I heard the name when I was married to my first husband. His friend named their daughter Ava and I fell in love with the name. I thought I would never be able to use it because of their friendship. So, I got divorced just so I could use the name :) ...kidding of course, but it did work out to be able to use the name.

Ava's middle name is Marie after my grandma who passed away. Reese's middle name is Walter after my brother who passed away and Ty's middle name is Michael which is Jason's middle name.

"If you had to choose your own parents (can't choose your real ones), who would they be?"

This is a really tough question and you've stumped me. I'll keep thinking about it and try to answer it in a later post.

"Do you ever feel fat, and if so what do you do to stop feeling that way?"

Yes I do feel fat. I have had issues with my body image in the past and had some pretty self destructive behaviors where I made really bad choices. I went through a period where I tried diet pills, making myself throw up and not eating. I had many issues I needed to deal with that I eventually dealt with in therapy. I feel today I am about 95% satisfied with my body and the other 5% I try to deal with by focusing on my positive attributes and exercise helps quiet those voices in my head when I'm feeling not up to par.

"What's your favorite physical feature on your body?"

I think it would have to be my legs. I build leg muscle very quickly and love the look of my quads when I'm in a good cross training routine.

Lots of cross training then which I'm on my way to again. I'm loving our morning workouts!

"What's your favorite physical feature on Jason's body?"

It's so hard to choose just one! But if I have to I would choose his stomach. He has the best abs. I love the defined line he gets on the side of his abs.

So sexy!

"What's your favorite quality about yourself?"

I think it would be my sense of humor. It doesn't always come out in writing but in person I think I am very funny. I can have a very raunchy sense of humor if I'm around like minded humor lovers. That's why many times we can't reveal the nature of our jokes when we go on running trips with our friends because not everyone shares that same sense of humor. If I'm around Jesse Scott and we get going on a topic I can literally pee my pants. At the Huff we were joking around and I inhaled wine, spit it out through my nose and continued to choke in the bathroom. It was the kind of choking where you're not sure if you can breathe and you continue to cough for 10 minutes. The guys thought I was being funny and nobody came to my rescue :)

"What's your favorite quality about Jason?"

My favorite quality about Jason would be his overall outlook on things and he let's me be me. He doesn't try to limit what I want to do and is always supportive. We have a lot of the same quirky behaviors and he doesn't try to change them. If anything, he tries to encourage them to the point of "trying" to embarrass me.

"If you were suddenly single, would you ever date a non-runner?"

Well, all the guy runners I know are pretty hot so it would be tempting! If I were ever single, it really wouldn't matter. What I think would be most important is finding someone who allows you to be you and also has other interests. It doesn't matter what those interests are, they wouldn't have to be running. I see a lot of people get upset at their partners for doing what interests them because they don't have any interests of their own and rely solely on that other person to keep them happy. That leads to resentment in the end.

"What's your favorite book?"

I feel like I should have a favorite book but I don't. I would like to pretend to be intellectual but I'm not. I absolutely love reading and I read everything from memoirs to crime fiction to U.S. Weekly. Some of my favorite crime authors are: Lisa Gardner, Harlan Coban and Michael Connelly. I have always been an avid reader and read what peaks my interest at the time.

"Who is your best friend (after Jason) and why?"

I don't know if I have a single best friend but I have several friends whom I would trust with anything. Over the last couple of years I really evaluated the friendships I had and wanted to only surround myself with those who were positive. I had some friendships where we grew apart and some that were draining.

Here are some of my closest friends....my friend Scott is the type of person where I can pick up right where I left off no matter how long it's been. I recently visited him and his partner in Ohio. It was awesome! My friend Shannon, Jason's cousin. We don't see each other alot but we text and she is a lot like me. We laugh about our kids antics (or else we would cry). I have Sharon, my running buddy, whom I am so grateful to have met. She is a wise lady! The people I run with (Hobby Joggas) because when you spend so much time running together, you really get to know people well. Jesse, Mark, Ryan, Stuart, Tony, Rick and so on.

"If you could have any pet in the world, what would you get?"

I'm really not the best pet owner. We had a dog that we found a new home for before traveling around in our trailer. I feel like he was our fourth child that was ignored. With the 3 kids needs, it was hard for me to want to take care of a dog on top of that. I'm not sure I should be responsible for a pet :)

"Barefoot Angie Bee and Krista Cavender are competing in a bikini mud wrestling fight. Who do you place your bet on and why?"

Well, if Angie & Krista were mud wrestling in bikinis I would be drooling! They are 2 hot mamas! After I was done gawking, I would have to put my money on Angie but only because her hubby trains with mixed martial arts and she has 4 boys herself. Boys like to play hard and I'm sure she has lots of practice in defending herself!

Robin Ashton "What is your favorite race to do and why?"

I am a trail girl! I love any race on trails. Thus far, I would say marathon distance has been my favorite but I haven't completed a trail ultra distance yet. I ran the Huff 50k in December but it was 7 degrees and I'm a wimp in cold weather and stopped after 2 loops (about 22 miles). I'm signed up for the Woodstock 50 miler trail race in September in Michigan and I'm absolutely excited to run that!

Linda Piotrowicz asked "Many of your friends probably already know, but I don't and would love to hear about how you and Jason met. Was it instant chemistry or did it take awhile for you two to figure out you were made for each other?"

It's kind of a complicated story but Jason and I met when we were both married to other people. We taught at the same high school and would occasionally meet in large groups after work for drinks. At the end of the school year, I was laid off and Jason was the union rep at our school so I would talk to him about my options for the next year. After a few conversations, we both disclosed we were getting divorced.

We dated before we were officially divorced but at least in my situation even though it seemed like we moved quickly to the outside observer I was checked out of my marriage long before I decided to divorce.

In the beginning, I didn't want a relationship with Jason and told him to see other people. He was persistent and we dated for about 3 months, we got engaged and married 3 months later. I would definitely say it was instant chemistry. I didn't want to act quickly because I didn't know if I was rebounding or ready for another relationship but we are two peas in a pod and it worked out.

That''s not to say we haven't had our problems. Two years ago, we went through a really rough patch and were both making bad decisions. We both had baggage that we hadn't dealt with and after an extreme low we went to therapy and I can honestly say I've never been happier. While, it was tough to go through that time, it made us stronger and I will never regret that. I don't think I would be able to be traveling out of a trailer with my family right now if it hadn't been for that period in my life. I wish I could have come to that conclusion differently but it is what it is and I'm happy now.

If anyone has any other questions, feel free to post them!

Ask Me, I'll Answer

So although I wasn't tagged, I am tagging myself in the Q&A session. It's kind of like my self hug : )

With being on the road the last two weeks I haven't found a good system/routine for writing just yet so I'll take any help!

So ask me anything and I will answer. I may even overshare! Leave a comment with a question, use Facebook or email any questions you would like answered. I'm an honest girl and welcome any questions!

Calling All Procrastinators!!!

I am an avid procrastinator. I used to try and fight this quality of mine but I have long since given in. It's well ingrained in my personality and I've grown attached to it.

When I was in college I had a philosophy professor tell the class "Do not wait until the last minute to type this paper. I will know and it will be reflected in your grade." It was a standard 10 page paper and like most other papers I waited until the last minute to type it. So much so, and this is a little embarrassing, I called in sick to work to write it. In my defense, I was working nearly 30 hours a week while taking 16 college credits but I still procrastinated none the less.

I didn't just wait until the night before I called in sick to work the same day it was due. I furiously typed away and turned in the paper and curious what my grade would be after the professor's warning. When I got it back I quickly scanned to the top of the paper and there was a bright red A-! Sweet!

In my previous English class where we were typing multiple papers on multiple topics I actually tried to write the typical first draft, rewrite, second draft, etc. Every single time I tried to chunk it down into segments I received a B. The lesson I learned from all of this is I work best under pressure!

Sometimes well intentioned 'task masters' have tried to change my procrastinating ways but it just cannot be done. Just like I cannot change the color of your eyes, you cannot change that I will undoubtedly wait until the very last minute to do something no matter how great that task is.

People always assume being a procrastinator is stressful. It's not. It's actually a lot of fun! That's part of the problem. When I'm putting off important tasks I'm taking unimportant tasks and assigning more credibility to them than is required.

While in full procrastination mode I will play on the computer. Clearly I need to be well aware of the news of the world. It would be to my detriment to be ill informed.

I'll read a book. Every well educated person needs to continue to read, right? I'm using my brain.

I took my kids camping. Kids need to play and enjoy nature. I can get ready to leave on our trailer adventures when I get back!

I write blog posts, including this one. It's important to document the journey. I must get my thoughts out before I forget.

I will go for a run! Ok, this one is important because I become really grouchy if I go too long between runs. I'm really sacrificing myself for the better good of the family :)

Only 2 more days until we begin our traveling adventures. I will get what I need done even if it turns out to be the busiest 2 days of my life!

To quote Jesse Scott "If you wait until the last minute....it only takes a minute to do it!"

5 Ways to Drive Your Man Crazy!

It seems like a simple concept and it is. I'm probably gearing this more towards mom's getting sexy with their man because these are based on my own life experiences.

Some time along the way when you meet your mate and have children it seems some things get put on the back burner. Life gets busy, your focus is on figuring out how to raise these little creatures. You're tired, grumpy, not feeling life your former sexy self and an endless number of other things.

For women I think they're adjusting to the new demands of parenthood and sometimes guys get lost in the initial phase and in the back of your mind you think "It's busy now but things will slow down soon."

Days turn into weeks, weeks turn into months, and months turn into years. It's easy to forget what brought you together in the first place and all the love and affection seems to get misplaced.

I've found if it's important to you, you need to make it a priority. Just like I make sure I make time to run to clear my mind, I make sure I make time for my man.

Even though we have 3 kids age 7 and younger doesn't mean life is too busy to forget each other. Here are some of the things I do to drive my man crazy!

#1 Sexy Texts and/or Photos

Back when Jason ran his first 100 miler I wasn't able to go. In hindsight, I wish I had tried a little harder to find someone to watch the kids while I went on this experience with him. At the time, I was unknowingly dealing with thyroid issues that went undiagnosed and caused many health issues. To say the least, I wasn't thinking clearly.

Since I wasn't able to make it to the race with him, I wanted to send my support and help motivate him in whatever way I could. That way came in the form of a sexy photo I texted to him at a point in the race I thought it might help.

He was around mile 50 and I knew he was carrying his phone with him. But after a little while, I didn't hear back from him. I thought he would give me the thumbs up but figured he was doing his race thing.

Not long after that text, DNF'd. I asked him about the picture and it turns out he didn't get it. It was back when texting photos was fairly new and there was a multimedia error in which he had to download appropriate software. He received the photo at home so it was not wasted. Now you all know my secret to motivating Jason during his long races!

#2 Show Him Some Skin!

If texting a sexy photo isn't your thing try something just as effective but you don't have to worry about it being discovered! Flash your man! I'm pretty comfortable in my own skin and being naked is second nature but if it isn't yours I say give it a try.

Men are very simple creatures and I mean that in the most flattering sense. We women try to make them more complex than they are and attach all kinds of different meanings to what we think they might be saying but the reality is most men are "what you see is what you get". If they tell you that you look great, they think you look great! Take the damn compliment!

The reality is, most men dig naked chicks. We worry that our thighs are too fat or he might look at our stretch marks but most guys are just happy to be looking at a naked chick and the last thing on their mind is "I think I see a spider vein on her leg". You don't need to look perfect, confidence goes a long way!

#3 Date Nights!

I know as mom's we worry that we aren't there for our kids or are leaving them, but in reality kids are fine. I can remember vividly as a kid having a babysitter and it was the most thrilling experience. I got to talk with someone who was older and cooler. I would ask them about how to apply make up and other girly things. Most times I scored extra treats and got to stay up later than usual. Babysitters for kids can be exciting.

If grandma or grandpa are free that's even better! Everyone knows it's their job to spoil the kids and load them up on candy and as a grand kid you revel in that. Yeah sure, you pay the price the next day but the time away is well worth it!

#4 Compliments!

Don't forget to compliment your man! We ladies love the compliments but sometimes forget that guys like them too. Everyone likes to hear they look sexy or likes a pat on the ass.

#5 Do Something for Them

I can tell you after having kids and the added stress they put on a relationship I appreciate even more the little things that Jason does. He unloads the dishwasher (which I hate!), he cleans up the toxins from our children (vomit makes me want to vomit!) and he makes coffee every morning. I love and appreciate these things and I will say it's a good form of foreplay for me.

That being said, it's not his idea of foreplay. I know what he likes and try to make it a point to do please him. Whether it's being the initiator, making out or something else (have to leave something up to your imagination!) I want him to know I appreciate all he does for me and in the end, I'm really winning too! ;-)

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!