Race Report ~ Weiser River Trail 50K

Race Report: 

Weiser River Trail 50K Relay and Ultra

04-27-2013

Most of you know this story REALLY begins either 20 years or 2 years ago when I started running the first and second times. But, we don't need to go back that far. How about to five months ago when I decided to train for a Marathon? To train, I used the Plan provided by my Run/Walk group and stuck to it. Week after week, month after month, logging the miles: building a base, increasing mileage, working in recovery weeks, then the taper.

On New Year's Eve, I ran 14 miles, which was my longest run yet. Then, a few weeks later I went for 16 miles. Then 18. Then 21 ... 23!

Somewhere along the way, I sent a message to the directors for the Marathon I had chosen asking about the route.  I wanted to drive it, bike it, and run segments of it before event day. This is when I discovered that the event I had so *carefully* chosen had changed from a loop all the way around a lake to an out-and-back. I was so disappointed! I didn't want just to run a Marathon, I wanted an *experience*, and now I wouldn't have that caché of saying "Yeah, I ran around the lake".  So, I decided to find another event within the same time-frame that fit my criteria, and discovered the "Weiser River Trail 50K Relay and Ultra".

Marathon Madness

(I doubt this Note will be of much interest to anyone but me;

but I have to get this out of my head and Husband is sick of hearing it!)

As I have heard from many and varied sources, training for a Marathon will take over your life. I accepted this as fact; but, academically, the same way that everyone told me having a kid would change my life. Also in the same way, I am discovering the reality is so much more than one can ever know beforehand!

My Run/Walk coach says, "We train using a textbook plan, but we don't lead textbook lives."  As my training plan progresses and the weekly long runs get longer and longer, I am realizing I will not be able to do my long runs on Saturdays. So, I am reevaluating my plan to figure out when to do my long runs.

An Open Letter to Slacker Radio Regarding Recent Advertising Practices

An Open Letter to @Slacker Radio Regarding Recent Advertising Practices.

Dear Slackers,

I have two advertising-related complaints.

1) PLEASE tell me you are not responsible for the full-screen ad (or something) that appeared on my android screen this evening while I was listening to Slacker Radio. The window came up saying something to the effect of, "Congratulations! You are the first US listener selected for a free gift from moblinks[dot]org. Click OK to claim your prize!"

What's Your Secret?!

Now that it has been a year and I've shed 70 pounds, people are starting to ask, "What's your secret?" It's no secret, and I am happy to share.  I am NOT on a "diet". If you are ON a diet, you can be OFF a diet! I am trying to make a sustainable lifestyle change for my long-term health and fitness. (The TRUE test will be where I am in January 2013 ... '14 ... '15 ... )  It all boils down to the classic phrase "Eat less, move more" ... but that is so VAGUE! How do you figure Calories In/Calories Out? Here are some specific tips I have picked up from reading and learning about health and nutrition:

* Don't Quit *

* Don't Quit * 

Don't quit when the tide is lowest, 

For it's just about to turn; 

Don't quit over doubts and questions, 

For there's something you may learn. 

Don't quit when the night is darkest, 

For it's just a while 'til dawn; 

Don't quit when you've run the farthest, 

For the race is almost won. 

Don't quit when the hill is steepest, 

For your goal is almost nigh; 

Don't quit, for you're not a failure 

Until you fail to try 

- Jill Wolf