Running with Tonks

Cold, Snowy, and Icy Training Block.   During my recovery after my Arizona 50k, I felt insanely good. I knew I wanted to go for a 50 miler.  It would be my first and it felt incredibly daunting. I decided to really go for it after meeting with my coach.  I researched and even made a google sheet comparing the different races. (The small portion of Ravenclaw in me had a field day with this! HA! If you are interested, HERE is the comparison chart.) I decided on The Antelope Island Buffalo Run in Utah.  It would be the start of Spring Break which would be a perfect recovery week. The training block was incredibly difficult with big snow storms corresponding with every long weekend back-to-back run.  It was miserable and lonely but I got it done.  I realize now that it was excellent mental training. Once I hit taper, I already felt so accomplished.  snowy shake out run with Kirsten The days leading up to the race I was riddled with a...

10 half marathons in 2017!       The idea of 10 halves in 2017 did not start in January.  Actually, my goal was originally to run the Prairie Dog Half Marathon Race Series.  This is a great series of half marathons- one each season in a different town.  (Winter-Louisville, Spring-Arvada, Summer-Castle Rock, Fall-Westminster) My goal was to eventually run a half marathon without being totally spent for the day.  Then I added on the Spring Equinox in March and then I decided to run the Slacker Half in June and it snowballed from there!  It was not until August that I realized I was set to run 8 half marathons and that was ridiculously close to ten.  So, I searched for two last runs during the last few months of the year.        On December 8th I packed my hydration pack with Ultima Electrolyte Powder and a buffet of nutrition (still trying to get nutrition right).  I did a final check of the weather and laid ou...

Up until this point I have been able to get my runs in at a reasonable hour.  I run during planning time/lunch at school and right after school.  However, on this particular day we had an all-day field trip followed by a staff meeting.  This meant I had to start my 6 mile run just after 5pm.  I knew it was going to get dark during the run so I made sure to have my dog with me. I even put a glowing collar on her.   But let me tell you, I was not prepared for my imagination.  It started out okay with the sun setting as we looped around our little park heading towards the trail.  The sunset was one of those amazing Broncos sunsets with the brilliant oranges and blues just screaming for a victory (just one, please?!?).  About a mile and half away from the house, we dropped down through what I call Prairie Dog Lane and onto Big Dry Creek Trail.  At this point it was fully dark and really cold.  I wasn't too concerned as I was covered...

The first time I hot tubbed went just fine.  No big deal, everyone back there is in a bathing suit (the access to the pool area is from the locker room) too.  We all have different body types, whatever.  I left feeling like it was ok and I will be just fine doing this.  Two days later I had to hot tub again.  I checked in at the front, walked back to the locker room and changed just as I had the last time.  I walked from my locker to the pool door just holding my towel with out a care in the world...until the door did not unlock with my barcode.  I tried it again and again and again.  Then I remembered that quote about insanity by Einstein.  I took a deep breath and decided I was insane. Yup, I tried the door again...twice.  It would not open.   At this point, I was taking calming breaths (thank goodness for all that mindfulness practice at school!) because I knew what must be done.  I thought to myself, ok I will wrap...

The only reason why I know it's been a month since I started all of this, is because payment was due on Friday for my 1:1 coaching program.  It has been such a blur.  So anyway, since it took me almost a month to decide to start this blog, here is a quick weekly review of the first month... WEEK 1: Missed a run right out of the gate, didn't see it in the plan.  I was mortified! Lesson learned here: check the training plan every morning no matter what!  The missed hour run was moved to Wednesday.  This was tricky as it was a school day with a staff meeting tacked on to the end.  I obsessed over this run for a while trying to decide if I could run a half hour during my planning time and then a half hour at the gym after school.  For a moment, I even wondered if this was a test from my coach to see what I would do- I can be crazy sometimes if I let my mind take over.  In the end, I ran through my planning time & my lunch time (I ate later) ...

Seriously.  I flip flop between thinking, "what have I done??!!" and "I've got this."  Wait, let me back up and explain... About three weeks ago, I stopped saying "some day" and sent an email.  Sounds simple but it took me months to finally do it.  Seven months and well my entire life to be exact.  I emailed a trainer for help.  Ok, now it sounds simple to me too but it really wasn't simple.  I emailed a trainer and asked for help to accomplish what most people's reactions were "really?" or "I don't want you to get hurt" or "is that a good idea?"  See I want to complete my first ultra marathon and I am not exactly what you would imagine an endurance runner to look like.  No, I am not huge or whatever but I am not the super sleek runner in those tiny shorts with the slits up the sides.  I am the type of runner that people say, "good for her" when I run by which is not bad, per say, but not exactly a ...