Eva Runs Through It

So, Rog and I got talking about races.   Imagine.   " Pine Creek Challenge" he said.   " You’ll PR" he said.   " Grand Canyon of the East" he said.   " Good tune-up for Oil Creek" he said.   " Watch out for snakes" he said.   " Lots of Amish" he said.   " It gets darker than dark" he said.   " Lots of wildlife" he said.   " You’ll love it" he said.    Rog----good thing you’re wife is a nurse. I was a bit rushed to get out of work and drive to the race site.   First week of school is always hectic.   I spiced things up with a bout of food poisoning.   Yuck. I tried unscessfully to defer to the 100k.   I was turned down flat.    Ok.   Time to do what I do.   I got up at 4 and headed to the Portal Potty.   Saw a bear in the distance.   This is off to a great start.  Did I mention this was my 13th 100 miler?  Lucky 13! The course starts with a 5 mile out and back ...

The blog is back.   Thank you Brooks! I’m taking a different approach with this blog.   I’m writing it the night before the race.   Tomorrow, I’ll wake up and be at the starting line for the Beast 100.   I have no idea if I will make it to the finish line, but deciding the start is a victory for me.   My head just hasn’t been in the game.   I’ve been running (lots), but not following my training plan. I'm too skinny.   I have a pretty yucky foot rash caused by an allergic reaction.   Anything can happen tomorrow. But, my victory is getting to the starting line. This past week, I ran away from home (in a manor of speaking).   I packed my tent, my running shoes, a few necessities, and me and I headed out.   I went off the grid.   Noah was busy with his job, the fire department, his girlfriend and his friends.   He recently was certified to drive emergency vehicles for the FD, and has been quite busy.   Natal...

Forgive me.   Brooks and I are still working out our privacy concerns, but this blog just needed to come out.   It is my intention that after you have read it, that you understand my exception to my "last" blog post. God is present in my life.  I pray...never for things, but always for strength.  No matter how late I am running, my first thought each day is always to pray: "Please Lord, give me the strength and courage to do what needs to be done today.  Please guide me and keep me from screwing up your plan". My prayer is obvious of two things.  One:  It's my own vernacular.  Two:  I believe in fate. I believe that there is a plan for each of us.  Over and over again, my life has been blessed with serendipitous moments that can not be explained by randomness.  These are intentional blessings sent to us to teach us and prepare us.  The universe gives us hints that we are being guided.  A chance meeting of a friend af...

I write this blog for Brooks.  Recently, they asked me to make it more public to increase my readership from my current several hundred hits per post.  I'm not sure yet, how I feel about that.  As such, this may be my last blog. I'll have to run on it. However, I am comfortable with this entry, as it is not about running....mountain climbing...travels...rafting..kayaking....camping....yoga...building stuff....or any of the other "crazy" things that I do.  This post is about Mark and the amazing transformation he has completed. We have always wanted to go to Chicago.  I pushed the envelope again.  I told him I signed up for a race and had already booked my airfare.  I then told him that there is a body building competition that has a "transformation" division that same weekend.  I planted the seed and relentlessly harvested it.   From the first week I met him, he has wanted to enter such a contest, but there was always an excuse. (more on ...

So….I work with this guy.   He wants to do an Ironman Triathlon.   I know if I see him walking down the hallway, he’s going to ask me about it.   He comes to my office to ask advice…he has my old bike….he’s researched races…I want to be at his finish line…he wants my help to get ready for the starting line.    He swims.   He bikes.   He runs.   He wants it.   The thing is, he hasn’t signed up for one.   Last week he asked me, “okay, what’s the hardest part?”.    Without blinking, I told him….transition.   In the tri world, it’s referred to T1 and T2.   It’s the time between the swim and the bike and the bike and the run, respectively.   It’s those few moments when you are not actively racing, but must prepare for the next third of the event.   The clock still runs.   You are not allowed any outside help.    You don’t have time to think about what you’ve done.   You must solely fo...

I’m just going to say it.   Running around a one mile course over and over again is crazy.   Put that course on a fair ground in NJ, make sure it has no shade, add a rodeo to the center of it all, and put Mother Nature in a bad mood, and it is positively nuts. That’s exactly what my friends and I did, and I couldn’t be prouder of our accomplishments. So, why did I do it?   It’s not about the running.   Well, not as much as you might think. I’ve compiled a list of the top 10 things Ultra Running has taught me: 1.     People who whine, tend not to finish.   Don’t whine, it accomplishes nothing. 2.   It’s a lot of work, but don’t forget to have fun 3.   Actually doing something pretty awesome beats the heck out of those pithy little inspirational         quotes you find on the Internet. 4.    It’s not about the finish line.   5.   Mother Nature hates me.   Screw it, I...

I fill my days.  I don’t write that lightly.  I like to be busy.  I allow for little down time.  I find comfort in to-do lists…schedules…check boxes.   I move, even in my restless sleep.  I’m up early.  I’m up late.  I accomplish a lot. I love the life I lead, and I am blessed.   I have a supportive family that feels the greatest gift I can give is my time.   I give it to the greatest extent I can.   I’ve learned to appreciate those simple quiet moments like playing with my ridiculously obnoxious dog, making dinner together, letting loose a belly laugh, or just being present. I have a fulfilling job, where I can make a difference.   I’m handy.     I know how to use a hammer and nails.   I can cook-well.   I give of myself both in body to the Red Cross and in time to those less fortunate.   I don’t say no when asked to help.   I train.   I train others.   I accept challenges. ...