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Showing posts from January, 2012

Beast of Burden 50 Miler

             Wow!  What a race.              I wasn’t proud of last year’s racing season.  It caused me to question if I wanted to continue with ultra running, resume triathon’s/duathlons or try something completely different.  (Some of those other ideas are still brewing, but that is for another blog).  But, the BoB cemented in my mind that not only do I love ultras, but also I love them for reasons greater than just running.             The race really started for me on Friday night.  About 20 of us got together for dinner.  I know many of these people from racing with them or from their volunteering.   Running with someone makes friendships form faster and deeper than is possible in other situations.  It was nice to see them “with their clothes on” vs. in race gear.   I had a blast! As I drove away that night, I was thinking that I just wanted to skip the race and turn around and hang some more.             As I am currently unable to stop time, race morning did arrive.  I reconn

Taper Troubles

            I don’t know how to taper before a race.   Correct that, I don’t like to taper before a race.   Tapering is when you have to admit that you’ve trained all you can, and you must get ready for the starting line.   For me that means, running less, eating more, and sleeping sporadically.   For my family, it means I become a miserable old sock.             I’ve said it before running helps keep me sane.   Without it, I sweat the small stuff, and not even my hidden stash of Hostess Cupcakes can bring me out of my funk.             I come from a long line of people who like to keep moving.   My mom’s motto is “don’t sit before noon”.    My dad was a putterer.   Rick builds things, Mark has a very physical job, Danielle, well, go ahead and try to get her to stay in one place, I dare you.   Even Jeannie-If she was ever in one place for too long, you can bet it wasn’t her choice.             But here I am tapering.   This morning I heard my nine-year old mumble under her br

Evolution of a Real Runner

             I did my first marathon in order to fulfill a goal.  At almost 39, I planned to run “40 races by 40”.  The marathon was to be race number 40.  I worked my way through 5k’s, tri’s, du’s and half marathons, but felt I wouldn't be a real runner until I ran a marathon.  I ran it “Oprah style”.  I had friends and family rooting me on and finished somewhere in the 4:30’s.  It was painful and hard, and I assumed I’d never run another one.             Okay, the next week, I signed up for my second, to be held a few months later.  I wanted to make sure that my finishing was not a fluke.  Was I really a marathoner?  Things changed during my second marathon.  I finished it in 4 hours, and it was fun.  During the race, I kept seeing signs like “Boston or bust” or  “BQ Bound”.  Obviously, being a Cape Cod girl, I knew the significance of the Boston Marathon, but that was only for elite marathoners, right?  I found out that evening I was only 10 minutes away from my qualifying time.